Park Planned In Coopersburg To Honor Memory Of Ayden Scharper, 19, Mom Says
A local park honoring Southern Lehigh graduate and standout athlete Ayden Scharper is being planned in Coopersburg, his mother announced in a fundraiser launched just days after his death.
Ayden J. Scharper, 19, died by suicide in Allentown on Friday, June 6, and now his family is working to preserve his memory by building a recreational space that reflects his love for sports and the outdoors.
His mother, Jessica Scharper, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $30,000 for a park in Coopersburg. In the first four days, it has brought in more than $22,000 from over 200 donors.
“New homes an…
Speeding Tesla Driver In Hanover Crash That Killed Veteran, Father Gets Prison Time
A Maryland man who was driving nearly double the speed limit when he slammed into another car, killing a popular youth football coach and father of three, has been sentenced to jail time, prosecutors announced.
William John Sternhagen, 63, of Severna Park, pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter and reckless driving in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Tuesday, June 10, officials said.
A judge sentenced Sternhagen to 10 years, suspending all but 18 months of active incarceration. He will also serve five years of supervised probation after his release, according to the State’s Attorney’s…
Promising College Athlete, Photographer, 19, Found Dead On Allentown Sidewalk: Coroner
A 19-year-old standout athlete from Upper Saucon Township was found dead on a sidewalk in Allentown late Friday night, officials announced on Tuesday, June 10.
Ayden J. Scharper, a 2023 Southern Lehigh High School graduate, was pronounced dead at 11:49 p.m. on Friday, June 6, on the 800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
Scharper was discovered on the sidewalk at the scene. An autopsy determined the manner of death was suicide, the coroner said, adding that no foul play was suspected, the coroner’s office noted.
He had been a standout ki…
Hey, Patriots Fans: It’s A New Era In Foxborough—And You’ll Want A Seat For It
It’s hard to swallow losing when you’ve spent decades winning. But that’s where the New England Patriots found themselves in 2024—stumbling to a 4–13 record, their worst season since 1992.
It was a painful shift for a fanbase used to banners, playoff runs, and double-digit wins. But after three straight losing seasons, change is finally in motion.
It all starts this August, when the Patriots open their preseason at home against the Washington Commanders on Friday, August 8. Tickets are already on sale, starting at fan-friendly prices, through StubHub, Ticketmaster, and Vivid Seats.
T…
‘My Baby Was Shot': Hershey Grad Paralyzed After Gunman Opens Fire Outside Home
A rising football star from Pennsylvania has been left paralyzed after he was gunned down outside his home in a shocking overnight attack.
Michael Blidi Jr., a 2023 graduate of Milton Hershey School, was shot on the front sidewalk of his Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, home early Thursday, May 29. The unknown shooter pulled up in a vehicle, got out, and opened fire around 12:32 a.m., hitting the 19-year-old in the abdomen before fleeing, according to the police.
He was left critically injured with a spinal cord wound, paralyzing him from the waist down, according to his father, Michael Blidi Sr. …
Former Penn State Star Julian Fleming Seriously Hurt, Girlfriend Killed In ATV Crash: PSP
Former Penn State football player Julian Fleming was seriously injured in an ATV crash that killed his girlfriend in Columbia Township, state police announced on Saturday, May 24.
Fleming, 24, was driving a 2024 Yamaha ATV with his girlfriend, 23-year-old Alyssa Boyd, in the passenger seat when a deer jumped into the roadway on Painter Lick Lane around 8:13 p.m. on Friday, May 23, according to the official crash report from Pennsylvania State Police and crash reconstruction specialists.
The ATV struck the deer, causing the vehicle to crash. Boyd “sustained extensive injuries” and was pronou…
Michael Quartey, Tropical Bowl Founder, Voorhees Sports Agent, Dies Suddenly At 47
Michael Quartey, a devoted father, attorney, professor, and the force behind several major college football bowl games, died suddenly on May 15, 2025, his family confirmed. He was 47 years old.
Quartey, of New Jersey, founded the Tropical Bowl, FCS Bowl, and National Bowl, giving under-the-radar athletes a real shot at pro football careers. Over the past 15 years, his events drew scouts from the NFL, CFL, UFL, and beyond.
“The late Mr. Michael Quartey opened doors for many small school players to showcase their talent,” wrote @scouting777 on Instagram. “While he was taken from us far too so…
