Lehigh County residents had a chance Oct. 24 to rid their households of outdated, or no-longer-needed, prescription drugs at a number of police-staffed locations across the area. Several sites reported “very productive” activity. In a normal year there would have been spring and fall drop-off opportunities, but COVID-19 safety protocols limited take-back activities to this one initiative. Federal drug authorities will take control of the medications and safely incinerate them. Pictured is Emmaus Police Department Sgt. Bryan Hamscher accepting medications from Lower Macungie resident Ellen Winkler. PRESS PHOTOS BY JIM MARSH

Macungie Police Department officer Todd Bernhard assists Macungie resident Sally Trexler Oct. 24. All take-back activities took place outside to observe COVID-19 health precautions.