High weeds on private property in Denver behind some South Fourth Street homes continue to vex borough residents and officials. Photo by Alice Hummer

When it comes to some of the greenery growing in Denver Borough, some residents are seeing red.

“I’ve been coming up here to the borough office and talking with Mike Hession for five years about the weeds on Madison Street and the alley going down from it,” Fred Hartranft, a 40-year South Fourth Street resident, told council members at their July 10 meeting.

Hession is the Denver Borough manager.

“The weeds are now as high as a car,” Hartranft said. “I’m not asking the owners to mow every week like I do, just keep them down.”

He contends that “the high weeds hold moisture and could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It’s a safety issue.”

Councilman Mike Gensemer shared Hartranft’s concern.

“What you’re talking about is something we’ve been talking about,” Gensemer said. “People aren’t going to want to set up business in Denver or move to Denver if we don’t address property maintenance. We are now revising our ordinances.”

Hession said that he knows the two owners of the properties with the weeds. One owner is local and was cited once this year.

“The owner mowed,” he said. “The other owner lives in Florida and rents some of his land to a farmer.”

The repeat offender situation was addressed by Councilman Jason South when council previously discussed issuing fines for property maintenance offenders. South said that the amount of the fine needs careful consideration in order for it to be a deterrent to recidivism. Otherwise, a person will neglect mowing, wait to be fined, pay it, and then mow.

Hession will investigate the matter and take the next appropriate steps.

Farley Fry, Hanover Engineering Associates Inc., presented an overview of the Denver MS4 Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan (CBRP).

“Denver’s been filing reports since 1994, and probably a few years before that,” said Fry. “Our urban run-off is getting worse. Agricultural run-off is a different category, and we’re not addressing that now.”

Fry reviewed several of the many projects listed. He emphasized that these projects are not “cast in stone.”

“For example,” he said, “the 35 feet required for riparian buffer work may not be feasible at the Denver Memorial Park with the way the Fitness Trail Stations are set up.

“The four proposed rain gardens could end up being three or five.”

He explained why it is economically prudent to figure out the reduction of sediment load each project will yield. Rain gardens don’t result in the biggest sediment load removal compared to some other projects.

The bulk of Denver’s projects, which attain optimum sediment reduction, are streambank restoration along Cocalico Creek and the Little Cocalico Creek in the borough.

A copy of the Denver Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction Plan is available for review at the borough office, 501 Main St., and on the Web site, www.denverboro.net.

Written comments are accepted for 30 days. Any questions from residents will be answered. The plan, and Denver’s reapplication for a waiver, which if approved would release Denver from MS4 requirements for five years, will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by Sept. 16.

In other business, council approved, after discussing information from two other possible providers, staying with Constellation Energy for Denver’s electricity contract. Council approved a 36-month contract with Constellation beginning Jan. 1, 2019, with a rate not to exceed .050 per kilowatt hour.

The post In the weeds… Resident asks Denver officials to address ongoing issue appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Joey Current.

Remember that name.

I expect you’ll be hearing it a lot in the years and decades to come.

Right now you’re hearing it because Joey Current, age 13 with nearly a decade of baseball experience under his belt, is preparing to play in the 2017 Latin America Baseball Classic.

The classic, which includes competition between teams representing 27 different nations in the Americas, will occur Aug. 2 through 8 in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

The classic has been held in the Dominican Republic for the past 34 years and there’s a good reason for that: Major League Baseball statistics show that Dominican-born comprise the largest percentage of all foreign-born professionals in the sport.

When Joey, a Cocalico Middle School student, gets on that island and competes on its well-used baseball fields, he’ll be hoping to absorb some of that MLB-sized talent. But Cocalico born and bred, it’s clear he’s already on his way.

Joey Current.

Joey’s mom, Joielynn Current, administrative assistant at West Cocalico Township, said her son started playing T-ball when he was about four. Even before that, though, when he was watching his older sister Taylor playing T-ball, Joey came to the games wearing cleats and Philadelphia Phillies gear and toting a wiffle-ball bat.

He was a part of the Cocalico baseball program till he was about 9 and then started with the Spooky Nook baseball program in Manheim. The teams played in venues from Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md., to tournaments in New Jersey and closer to home in Hershey and Harrisburg.

Joey is a utility player, filling in posts from pitcher to catcher to shortstop. He played with the Keystone State Bombers for one season but then moved on to the Reading Bluerocks, an organization affiliated with the former Grand Slam located in the Reading Regional Airport business campus.

Joielynn said her son’s skills really blossomed under the guidance of coach Todd Louviaux.

“In the last three years, he has really excelled,” she said.

In January, Grand Slam, which has since been acquired by principals with the Reading Fightins organization, was holding tryouts for the Latin American Classics. Louviaux asked his Bluerocks players to participate.

Joey decided to try out in the older of the two age groups, 14 and up. On Martin Luther King Day, he received the good news that he was selected. While he was one of nine local youth chosen (including his cousin Tristin Current, 14, and Austin Ruzika-Porter, 15, both Cocalico High students), he is the only one traveling to the Dominican Republic to actually play in the classic.

“I was very excited,” said Joey of the day he learned the news. “It just shows how all the hard work I put in paid off.”

He is one of five boys in his age group from the Northeast who will join others from the four other U.S. regions (Southeast, Southwest, Central, Northwest, and Northeast), to form two teams in the 13U level.

Joey said Louviaux, who will not be at the classic, is however, working his young charge.

“The coach has a special class for me — hitting and going over what is needed for when we get down there,” he said.

Joielynn said professional baseball scouts attend the classic, with an eye for those who will go on to be high school and college standouts.

She credits Louviaux for paving the way for many of his Bluerocks to attain scholarships to play college baseball. She’s hoping that for her baseball diehard son, that will be his path as well.

The August classic falls in the same month as Joey’s birthday. It’s a Current tradition to visit a major league park to mark Joey’s special day.

Joielynn said the family, all of whom will accompany Joey for his star-making turn in Santo Domingo, will first take a trip out to Pittsburgh. They’ll see a Pirates game which will be preceded by a wooden bat tournament.

“He lives and breathes baseball,” she said. “MLB is on in my house all the time.”

In his summer off, Joey tries to better his skills with camps and classics with the Bluerocks. He also participates in the John Good program for athletes at Cocalico High.

Joey’s love of baseball must, at least in part, be in his genes.

Parents Joielynn and Joe, a service technician at Al’s Service Center, run the old Zinn’s Park fields behind what is now Park Place Diner. It’s where the Bluerocks practice outdoors. It’s also the site of a variety of weekend tournaments.

“We’ve had it for seven years,” said Joielynn.

Joey knows the field well and appreciates that playing with the Bluerocks, which is comprised of youth from well beyond Cocalico, offers him an up-close perspective of what his regional academic competition will be as he plays with his home team.

He expects the competition in the Latin American Classic to be cutting-edge.

“I heard the kids are going to be great,” he said.

In time, Joey, who says he practices “hitting, fielding, pitching, and catching” may face one his young international rivals on a Major League field, maybe even the Philadelphia Phillies to whom he stays loyal despite this year’s dismal record.

What advice does he have for young children just starting to play baseball?

“I would say to have fun and play the game and enjoy it,” he said.

What is his personal goal?

“I’d like to be the best of the best.”

The post Cocalico Corner: Fielding some (future) dreams of his own appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Residents recall good times and great baseball in Schoeneck

The glory days of Schoeneck baseball ended more than 60 years ago, but some locals still remember the crowds that visited the Usner farm to watch league teams slug it out, in the days when playing at the Schoeneck field could bring you toward the majors.

Drive past the Usner farm today, and what you’ll see is a cultivated field just like so many others around the county — but during the 1920s and for many years afterward crowds sat in a set of wooden grandstands to watch full nine-inning games. League scores would be reported in the local newspapers.

“We played there until ‘53 or ‘54,” Harlan Shirk told The Ephrata Review on July 4, reminiscing about the days when local business owners or random strangers would recognize him as a member of the Schoeneck team.

For Shirk, Schoeneck baseball was a family tradition; his father played third base in 1930.

Shirk himself played left field in the later years, after the local Lancaster-Lebanon league added some Berks towns, and eventually became the “Eastern County League.” In that time, Shirk said, Schoeneck’s field was a popular place to watch a game and it had more going for it than just its neatly manicured grass.

Schoeneck’s field, Shirk said, was the only local field to have lights, years before electric lines were brought out to the town itself. As a worker for the Denver and Ephrata electric company, Shirk remembers working on some of those lines — he also remembers the many years when Schoeneck field’s 300-watt lights were powered by a gasoline generator. It wasn’t until 1948, he said, that the farm got electrical power. Sometimes games would be shut down after the sixth inning in order to refuel the generator.

Friday and Saturday nights would often see a crowd of hundreds packed into the stands, and sometimes the league would hold games on a Sunday. In 1929, admission was one quarter.

Players got paid, Shirk said, and paid well.

“Sometimes they’d get $25 to $30 per game,” Shirk said. “That was good stuff in those days.”

There was also the chance for advancement. Shirk remembers one player from Reading who went from batting against Terre Hill and other local teams, to eventually join the roster of the Boston Red Sox.

“I remember playing left field,” Shirk said, “and when he would hit one, I would keep looking up…”

Two other local league players, David and Dick Ricketts, ended up with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Donald Netcley is another Schoeneck resident who remembers how it was in the old days. As he sits in Shirk’s living room on a hot Fourth of July afternoon, Netcley remembered the days when he would earn 50 cents to go after foul balls.

“They were either in the pig pen or the cow pasture,” Netcley said. “There was no other place for the ball to go.”

Netcley’s father also played in the league in the early days, and his old uniform is still in the family, a wooly shirt with felt letters sewed across the front.

As for the host, Ralph Usner, he never played. But he certainly had quite a baseball legacy as the owner of the field.

“He was so baseball-minded,” Shirk said. “He was Mr. Baseball.”

Eventually, the league’s local attraction began to peter out. The first World Series was televised in 1951, and television began to compete for the fans’ attention. In 1954, after Hurricane Hazel came through, the baseball diamond was plowed up.

But those many years of long-ago baseball games still hold a place in local memory — for those like Elaine Bowman, who attended games as a child and shared her memories by phone right before the holiday, it’s mainly the impressions of the games: the cheers of the crowd, and drinking Coca-Cola from the concession stand out of glass bottles.

Walt Hackman is another Schoeneck resident with vivid memories; he was around in the old league days, and owns a few pieces of memorabilia, including a framed poster advertising a game.

Standing in that calm field in front of the old Usner barn on the fourth, with the sun slowly descending behind him, Hackman described driving down Schoeneck’s South King Street, down the hill, toward the area traditionally known as the ‘Schoeneck flats.’

“As you get to the ball field,” Hackman said, “If you’re in the right frame of mind, you can still hear the umpire call: ‘Play ball!’ … you can hear the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd.”

The glory days are long gone — but not forgotten.

The post Field of (Past) Dreams appeared first on Ephrata Review.

The East Cocalico Police Department reported the following:

DUI: Mallory Ross, 19, was stopped for erratic driving in the 1600 block of North Reading Road, East Cocalico Township, at 12:40 a.m. June 27. She displayed signs of impairment and could not perform roadside sobriety testing as instructed. She was arrested for suspicion of DUI and a subsequent blood test revealed she was under the influence of marijuana. Charges were filed and a summons sent by mail.

DUI: Steven Irvin, 36, was stopped for erratic driving at North Sixth Street and Main Street, Denver Borough, at 12:04 a.m. June 28. He displayed signs of impairment and could not perform roadside sobriety testing as instructed. He was arrested for suspicion of DUI and a subsequent breath test revealed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.174 percent. Charges were filed and a summons sent by mail.

CRASH: Officers responded to a crash on Route 222 North at mile marker 43 in East Cocalico Township at 3:09 p.m. July 4. It was learned the driver of one of the vehicles, Pedro Rivera, 35, made statements of attempting to crash the vehicle. He and a passenger of the car wrestled for control of the steering wheel, which resulted in striking another vehicle. While the officer was investigating the crash, Rivera and his passenger engaged in a physical altercation. The officer, along with personnel from Reamstown Fire Company, were able to separate and control the two individuals. Recklessly endangering another person and related charges were filed.

POSSESSION: Nicholas O. Augustine, 18, of the 300 block of Laurel Ridge Road, Reinholds, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driver’s required to be licensed and registration of vehicles after a traffic stop in the first block of North Ridge Road in East Cocalico Township at 9:19 p.m. May 10. Augustine’s vehicle was stopped after an officer determined the vehicle’s registration was expired. The officer detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and located several items of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, including a glass pipe, a scale and two grinders. The officer also discovered Augustine did not have a valid driver’s license and he was sent a summons to appear in District Court. Two other individuals in the vehicle face similar charges.

POSSESSION: Kyle M. Vincent, 19, of the 100 block of South 4th Street, Denver, was charged with possession of marijuana after a traffic stop in the first block of North Ridge Road in East Cocalico Township at 9:19 p.m. May 10. Vincent was the passenger of a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. The officer detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and located a small amount of marijuana on Vincent’s person. Vincent was sent a summons to appear in District Court. Two other individuals in the vehicle face similar charges.

The East Cocalico Police Department provides coverage for East Cocalico Township and Denver Borough.

The Ephrata Police Department reported the following:

CRASH: Police responded to a vehicle accident at the intersection of North Ridge Road and Route 897 in Reinholds, West Cocalico Township, at 8:27 p.m. July 15. Sarah Kurczewski, 19, Mohnton, failed to stop for a stop sign and struck a vehicle traveling through the intersection. No one was injured in the accident and both vehicles were towed from the scene.

CRASH: Police responded to a vehicle accident in the 2600 block of West Route 897 in West Cocalico Township at 10:37 p.m. July 15. Alyssa Merkey, 41, Reading, crossed over the oncoming lane, sheared a utility pole and crashed into an occupied residence. No one was injured in the accident and the vehicle was towed from the scene. Merkey provided a blood sample for a DUI investigation.

CRASH: Police responded to a vehicle accident in the 2700 block of North Reading Road in Adamstown Borough at 1:54 a.m. July 16. Cody Martin, 19, Mohnton, crossed over the oncoming lane, went onto an embankment and sheared a large business sign and crossed back over both lanes again before coming to rest on the northbound shoulder. Martin was not injured and his vehicle was severely damaged. The driver said he fell asleep while driving.

The Ephrata Police Department provides coverage for West Cocalico Township and Adamstown Borough.

The post Police Reports, July 19, 2017 appeared first on Ephrata Review.

At least two groups of residents attended the July 11 Adamstown Borough meeting regarding concerns about replacing sidewalks and curbs at their own expense.

“How do we know what needs to be replaced?” asked Stephanie Scheifley.

Councilman Mike Wetherhold, who has taken on this responsibility, said he’s had about nine calls from residents so far on the subject.

“I’d be happy to come to your house to discuss what the committee and inspector found,” said Wetherhold. “In some cases, we found there were some errors in the letters; it’s hard to be real detailed because in each letter it has to be real specific to that homeowner.”

Resident Tracy Cox said she doesn’t want to be responsible for replacing her “lifting” sidewalk because UGI has pipes installed underneath, contending “it’s their fault” for her lifting sidewalk.

Cox was asked by council members if she contacted UGI.

“Are you kidding me?” responded Cox. “That’s like banging your head against the wall.”

Conversation at the meeting turned to Wetherhold speaking for a Boy Scout from Troop No. 4318. For an Eagle Scout project, the youth is proposing to provide and install one or two fire pits in The Grove.

“The point this gentleman told me what he sees in various places, people are having a bonfire, and he felt that having a formal firepit, that it would better control it and be safer,” said Wetherhold.

“Isn’t the park closed at dusk?” asked Councilwoman Cindy Schweitzer. “This actually kind of scares me. I have no problem with the Boy Scouts, but just to have them out there for anyone to use?”

“They were recommending that they would install them with a grate over that could be locked,” said Wetherhold. “At night, you would have to reserve it through the borough.”

Schweitzer was concerned for the trees in the Grove.

“I don’t like the idea and we’d have to ask police to double-check it that at night,” said Schweitzer. “If there’s a fire, those trees are gone.”

Councilman Alex McManimen noted that Troop 61 wheels out a fire ring when they have camp fires.

Wetherhold said when Community Days, which he helps coordinate, has events a few times a year, they also have camp fires at The Grove.

“You have a vested interest in that Grove,” said Schweitzer.

“I think you’re opening up a big area for abuse,” said Council Vice President Dave Matz.

The idea was turned down.

Mayor Dean Johnson is expected to speak at the Cocalico School Board meeting this month concerning the lack of a morning school crossing guard at Adamstown Elementary. This comes after complaints from parents and residents. Johnson will provide a review of comments at the next borough meeting.

Also in the news, Schweitzer is looking to possibly change the borough’s trash disposal service which could save each resident some money.

Johnson said he pays $69 per quarter, and Wetherhold said Terre Hill and Christiana may pay $100 per year.

Scheifley asked council if there is an ordinance where residents are required “to have to have trash pickup.”

“We have a problem with a neighbor where the trash sits for months and months and months,” said Scheifley.

Council responded that it probably falls under a property maintenance ordinance.

“If a complaint is made, you would have up to five days to clean up the area,” said McManimen. “If nothing’s done after five days, the borough has the option to clean it up for you and charge you a fee and a penalty on top of that.

“If they don’t pay the fee and penalty, we can throw a lien on the house.”

The post Cracking up…Sidewalk issues, responsibilities focus of Adamstown meeting appeared first on Ephrata Review.

The vacancy on the West Cocalico Township board of supervisors has been filled with the July 18 appointment of Jeff Sauder.

Supervisors James J. Stoner and Leon Eby cast their votes for Sauder, a director of operations at Windstream, who fills the post vacated by former Supervisor Ray Burns, who has moved out of the township.

Burns resigned June 23, but Stoner and Eby formally accepted the resignation at the July 18 meeting when they made the appointment of his successor.

The duo said filling the vacancy was not a matter of an easy choice.

In June, three residents came forward as candidates: Sauder; Lori Berger, a career educator; and Michael Geller, a member of the township zoning board. On Tuesday, Berger and Geller were in the audience. Sauder was away on vacation.

“There’s no question in my mind that we have three good candidates,” supervisor Chair Stoner said, opening the conversation. “I’m just trying to make this as fair as it can be.”

Stoner cited Geller’s experience on the township zoning board and Berger’s passion for following township business, as well as Sauder’s business experience.

“Qualifications here, there’s no lack … we are exceeding in qualifications,” Stoner said.

Supervisor Leon Eby agreed.

“We’ve had some excellent people,” Eby said. “That’s what makes it tough to decide … unfortunately, there’s only one spot available.”

However, Eby cited Sauder’s career experience at Windstream. Sauders was also endorsed by the local Republican party committee.

Eby initiated a motion to appoint Sauder supervisor.

Stoner went along, but stressed the importance of working with all three candidates and finding them places in local government. Geller, he said, can stay active on the zoning hearing board. Stoner suggested looking for a spot for Berger on another township board.

“I have lost more sleep over this one than I have over a lot of them,” Stoner said.

Part of the expedience of going along with Sauder’s appointment, Stoner said, is the ability to move forward quickly without bringing in a third party as a tie-breaker, a process he said could become difficult.

“Thank you for throwing your names in the hat,” Stoner told the two present candidates. “I appreciate it.”

In other business:

* Supervisors reviewed a presentation by Melissa Kelly of engineering firm Rettew, who said July 19 begins the 30-day public comment and review process for the township’s Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction plan, including a streambank restoration project along Harnish Run. Stoner said he has fielded complaints from residents about sedimentation reduction requirements from the state. Kelly said there is a digital option for residents to check out the plan and give input.

* Supervisors and township staff discussed traffic issues with Ephrata Police Department Lt. Thomas Shumaker, who presented the police report for the month.

Township Manager Carolyn Hildebrand said drivers are “rolling through” a stop sign at Route 897 and Sportsman’s Road, a three-way intersection. Hildebrand also cited traffic problems in the ‘Schoeneck flats’ area south of the town of Schoeneck.

“It’s still a regular accident spot.” Hildebrand said.

Stoner said problems at the Sportsman’s Road intersection may have to do with sight distance.

“They can’t really see around the corner.” Stoner said.

Shumaker said the department will look into issues with the troublesome intersections.

The post Jeff Sauder is new West Cocalico supervisor appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Reamstown Pool snack bar received a third published report of inspection violations. The news was published in LNP’s Sunday, July 23, edition.

At the East Cocalico Township supervisors July 20 meeting, township Manager Scott Russell reported that he met with Donny Stover, snack bar operator, after the first inspection, more than a month ago.

The second published report, following a June 29 inspection, appeared Sunday, July 16. Two of the three violations were repeat ones. Russell said he’ll be scheduling another meeting with Stover.

Russell said the supervisors were not aware of the third inspection, despite the fact that Supervisor Alan Fry is in charge of the pool. Fry has denied responsibility for the snack bar there.

The public became aware of this third inspection with the July 23 published restaurant inspection report.

“A meeting with Donny Stover, snack bar subcontractor, was held Tuesday, July 25,” said Russell. “The township takes the inspection findings very seriously and they’ll be corrected by the end of the week.”

Russell indicated deficiencies cited, such as failure to have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view, and using sponges on food contact services are procedural types of things. There is no deficiency in facilities and equipment.

In the third inspection report, one deficiency noted in the second inspection was corrected. The original certificate for the certified food employee is posted.

Repeat violations for the third time included sponges, as evidenced by a dirty sponge on the three-bay sink, being used to clean food contact services. Utensils used for timed controlled safety foods aren’t washed, rinsed and sanitized every four hours, only at the end of the day.

New items noted in the third report included: the food handler had no knowledge of sanitizer concentration, donned single-use gloves without washing hands first, chewed gum, had food equipment stored with no protection from flies, and had an unlabeled bottle of water on a shelf with chemicals.

Repeat snack bar violations, as well as safety concerns for young people employed, were conversation topics with several residents in the municipal hallway after the supervisors went into executive session. One particular safety concern expressed was thorough training for operating the fryer when pool patrons order funnel cakes so no one is burned by flame ups of hot oil.

A spokesperson reached at the Department of Agriculture said follow-up food inspections will continue until there is compliance. Russell said he’ll report on progress monitoring at the Aug. 3 meeting.

The post Reamstown Pool snack bar cited for violations appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Residents of East Cocalico Heights will have the opportunity to connect to gas through a program designed to provide natural gas service to additional areas currently unserved or underserved, the East Cocalico Township supervisors learned at their July 20 meeting.

UGI representative Michael Ast explained many details, including the connection or tapping charge, which will be about $3,800. A monthly budget plan of approximately $54.99 is available to homeowners. This includes the option for an earlier pay-off.

Ast said this year and next year UGI is offering a $500 cash rebate if a homeowner is replacing a furnace with gas.

East Cocalico Heights has 175 residents. UGI is looking at having about 60 percent of the market share of the development become UGI customers in the next 12 years. Homeowners in this development have received questionnaires and other correspondence from UGI within the past year.

An East Cocalico resident from another area of the township who switched from oil to gas for his home commented that “his heating bill with gas is half of what it was with oil.”

UGI is working with township officials on a formal kick-off to this gas extension program sometime in mid-August. Residents will be able to talk to UGI representatives and pick up more information. Tentatively the location of the event will be Stoney Point Park, adjacent to East Cocalico Heights.

In other business:

* Scott Russell, township manager, reported that “the township had a total of one written comment to the MS4 plan for stormwater management. It concerned agricultural practices.

“If the state would change their mind and allow us to address agricultural practices, we have the ability to make changes to our plan,” said Russell. “The township plans to tweak the plan a bit and present it in September to supervisors for approval. We don’t have a true cost yet, but it looks like about half a million dollars over the next five years. Our plan focuses on stream bank restorations and retention basins.”

* Supervisors accepted the resignation of East Cocalico Police Officer Kerry L. Sweigart. His last day of employment is Aug. 17. He is a 28-year veteran of the force.

* Sgt. Chris Progin, reporting for Chief Terry Arment, said police are in favor of replacing keys with key fobs as part of Yarnell Security System access and security upgrades.

* Supervisors authorized Arment to sign title paperwork for a new SUV to replace car No. 4. The car was totaled in an accident. The other driver was at fault. The insurance check will cover the replacement cost, minus the depreciation cost of the totaled car.

* Supervisors accepted the resignation of Jim Irwin from the recreation board. His work conflicts with meeting times.

* Supervisors adjourned into executive session for a personnel matter. They reconvened and voted to authorize Arment to start the process of hiring another police officer.

The post UGI ‘Get Gas Program’ available to 175 in East Cocalico appeared first on Ephrata Review.

The posts, woodwork, doors are most original. Shutters were added later and slightly cover the date stone. Remnants of white paint are found on the frame of the side porch. Photo by Michele Walter Fry

A well-located property at which Adamstown residents see little activity will be auctioned Saturday, Aug. 19.

Sonny’s Country Store Antiques sits at the intersection of Routes 272 and 897. It may not be busy now, but it’s a ghost of Adamstown’s bustling past, starting in 1851 when the building was built.

“If you look at the front of it, you’ll see it has two front doors,” said Jennifer, who is the daughter of the owners, Sonny and Mary Hartman. “The one on the right entered a living room, and the one on the left entered the general store.”

Mabel Graeff operated the then Graeff’s General Store, and was assistant postmaster until 1930 at the property which also tripled as a post office for the town of Swartzville. The town still exists but many ignore the name and refer to it as Adamstown.

“The woman (Mabel Graeff) who my parents bought it from lived there and had never been anywhere overnight except to go to the hospital right before she couldn’t live alone anymore,” said Jennifer.

In an old executor’s sale notice, the store is was noted to be “One of the best store stands in the northeastern part of Lancaster County.”

In the Journal of the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley, 1987, Graeff said that customers came in horse and buggy or walked miles to the store.

“Some came at 5 a.m. with butter in baskets so it wouldn’t melt,” wrote Graeff.

Graeff wrote a story which explains why there are holes in the front door.

“We had a hole upstairs where we could look down to watch if someone was stealing or trying to break in,” wrote Graeff. “A robber was drilling a hole in the door and when the neighbor came around with a lantern, the robber shot at him and jumped over the banister and ran off. The hole is there, yet.”

The outside of the building keeps most of its original features.

Hess Auction group will start with antiques and collectibles at 8:30 a.m. with real estate at noon.

Three auctioneers will be working simultaneously, auctioning spool cabinets, counters, decorative trade signs, country store-related furniture items, primitive items including wooden advertising boxes and farm-related smalls, tools, cast-iron items, troughs, stoves, and pans.

Shady Maple will be at the auction serving food.

The post A part of Adamstown’s past on sale block Aug. 19 appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Librarian Sharon Heaney and Jennifer, daughter of the late Mary Hartman whose American Girl doll collection was made available to the Adamstown Area Library, marvel at some of the collectibles. Items in the photo, along with 600 others will be for sale. Photo by Michele Walter Fry

Extensive American Girl collection to aid library fundraising efforts

The Adamstown Area Library received a surprise donation recently about which the public will be excited to hear — boxes and boxes of American Girl dolls and items, which will be for sale to help the library reach its fundraising goal to renovate a building on Main Street for a new and bigger library.

Mary Hartman of Sonny’s Country Store Antiques had an entire room full of more than 600 American Girl items at the store — but no one knew.

“It wasn’t open a lot as my parents got older,” said Sonny and Mary’s daughter, Jennifer. “They would always joke around and say they would open when they were in the mood!”

Sharon Heaney, lead circulation assistant, said she has pulled out of the boxes, evening gowns, fur stoles, velveteen outfits, accessories, watches, purses, glasses, backpacks, veils, hand-knitted items, even christening gowns.

“Everything you can imagine for the dolls, they are gorgeous!” said Heaney.

“There are tea sets in there, too,” said Heaney. “Molly’s bicycle was spotted at one point. Every time I pull something from the box, I say to one of the other girls: ‘Look at this! They’re so cute and adorable!’”

Mary passed away in September 2016 which is why her children are clearing the store.

“My dad died in December,” said Jennifer. “He had Alzheimer’s and we felt he really knew she wasn’t there.”

Mary liked to sew and some of the items are not American Girl, but her own creations.

“She just kept making them,” said Jennifer. “Some items are handmade to fit the dolls and some are purchased American Girl items. Most all the dolls are American Girl dolls.”

“There’s a couple that aren’t, but some girls can’t afford the real American Girl go to Target and those places to get the look-a-like, so we have some of those so the girls can still have the American Girl experience,” said Heaney.

“A few girls don’t have dolls but come for the enjoyment,” said Heaney.

Heaney has been leading American Girl events at the Adamstown library for more than a decade and currently hosts three a year.

“I usually have a program where we learn about the culture of the doll and the time setting that the doll was in,” said Heaney. “We usually do a craft and a game and a snack. In October, we’ll have a masquerade party where the dolls can come dressed up in costumes.”

The events are popular for girls ages six to 12.

“Sometimes we have to turn them away,” said Heaney. “Sometimes I can do 20 girls, sometimes 25 depending on the program and how much help I have.”

The sale will be Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the borough room in the same building as the library at 3000 N. Reading Road in Adamstown.

“We’re going to have everything priced with stickers and laid out,” said Heaney. “Dresses will be on one table, shoes on another table, quilts, hats.”

Library staff decided there are too many items for one sale, so the second will be next spring.

“We are going to price them accordingly, but we also want people to get a good bargain, too,” said Heaney. “They will be priced fairly. Some of the shoes will be a $1.50, some will be $3. It’s going to be color-coordinated.”

“It’s going to be so exciting,” said Heaney. “I’m so happy that the children will come in and have smiles on their faces. It will be like coming in toy land. It’s going to be a busy day here!”

Mary Hartman had a store at Doneckers, so Mary’s doll handmade clothing might be better quality than American Girl clothing.

“She would have parties for girls at Doneckers where she first started making doll stuff,” said Jennifer. “She would be thrilled with this. She always thought the library was important and education was important.”

Heaney profusely thanked Jennifer and her brother, Michael Hartman.

“This will go a long way with helping us with our goal,” said Heaney.

The post All dolled up in Adamstown appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Jeff Sauder

The newest West Cocalico Township supervisor comes onto the board with a positive view of a place where he has lived from birth.

“I love the township the way it is,” Jeff Sauder told The Ephrata Review on July 24. “I enter this board with no agenda.”

Sauder was appointed by the board on Tuesday, July 18, and will officially take office at the Aug. 3 meeting. He fills the vacancy created when Supervisor Ray Burns resigned and moved to another part of Pennsylvania.

Sauder has worked locally in the telecommunications industry for more than 29 years, first as a technician with D&E communications, then in management. Now, D&E has become Windstream, and Sauder is director of operations for central and eastern Pennsylvania. His work, he said, takes him to many communities in the state, and has shown him a lot about working with contracts and managing people.

Sauder’s wife Laurie works at Fulton Bank. His son Nate is 22 and works in heavy equipment operation after graduating from Penn College of Technology in Williamsport. Sauder said he benefits a lot from having the support of a great family behind him.

Sauder’s family ties to the township also go back a long way. His maternal grandfather, he said, owned part of the now-defunct Hershey Brothers Feed Mill and Coal Co. that many Reinholds residents remember as an iconic landmark.

Sauder said his father, John, instilled in him the value of giving back one’s time to the community by being heavily involved with the Reinholds Fire Company and the Reinholds Ambulance Association in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sauder’s hobbies include hunting and golf, and he has served on the boards of two local golf associations.

Looking forward to his imminent addition to the West Cocalico board of supervisors, Sauder said he wants to bring a sense of integrity, dependability, and fairness to his seat and work hard for township residents.

“I’ve always been interested in how changes happen in the township,” Sauder said. “I’m proud of West Cocalico … this is just a way for me to give back to the community.”

Sauder said he hopes he is seen as attentive to the needs of residents.

“I do want to listen to people,” he said. “I know that decisions that we have to make sometimes aren’t the easiest.”

Sauder recollected watching Terry Sheetz, a long-time former West Cocalico supervisor, serve on the board, and his sense that Sheetz cared about the township.

“I knew that Terry Sheetz had our backs,” Sauder said. “I knew he would do what’s right for the community.”

Thinking about some of those decisions, such as budgeting or managing public works departments, Sauder said it’s important to him that workers have what they need to get the job done.

“I’m a tools and training person,” Sauder said. “If you don’t have the right tools, you can’t get the job done.”

Another value that Sauder feels is important is agricultural preservation, a hallmark of county planning and a major aspect of working with how county communities move into the future. The beauty of the township’s farmland, Sauder said, is something that he feels is worth protecting.

“We want to preserve the integrity of the township,” Sauder said.

Sauder also mentioned anther issue that he wants to keep an eye on: the cost of doing business for local governments.

Township costs, he said, tend to push up property taxes.

Sauder said he’ll be dedicated to looking at township costs such as equipment, purchasing and salaries, to make sure that the results don’t drive taxes through the roof.

The post Jeff Sauder, incoming West Cocalico supervisor, devoted to his native municipality appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Take a good look at these photos taken of Reamstown Memorial Park following the heavy rainstorms of Sunday night into Monday morning. Water stood feet deep and ran swiftly through the park, displacing picnic tables and benches, and strewing debris throughout the grounds. That was the bad news. But the good news followed as members of the park association as well as their neighbors and friends of all ages came out Monday, tools in hand, to clean up the grounds. By that evening, the park’s grounds keeper reported that all the pavilions will be ready for their scheduled events.

The post All wet…but not anymore appeared first on Ephrata Review.

The Reinholds Road bridge, which spans Swamp Creek in East Cocalico Township reopened to traffic at around Friday afternoon, July 21.

Reinholds Road is officially designated as State Route 1055. This bridge was replaced as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project and allows PennDOT to remove it from the state’s structurally deficient bridge list.

The bridge was closed the week of May 22 for the replacement project. The original closure was scheduled for 75 days, but the project team was able to expedite construction and complete the project 16 days ahead of schedule. Replacement work was performed by Walsh Construction II.

The new crossing is longer and wider than the one it replaced and is designed with a 100-year lifespan.

The bridge is referred to as JV-272 and is one out of the 558 bridges being replaced under the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. JV references the joint-venture partnership between Walsh/Granite, which is leading construction for the entire project.

The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project is a public-private partnership (P3) between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners (PWKP), under which PWKP will finance, design, replace, and maintain the bridges for 25 years. The P3 approach will allow PennDOT to replace the bridges more quickly while achieving significant savings and minimizing impacts on motorists.

To see the bridges included in the statewide initiative and to learn more about the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, visit www.parapidbridges.com. Additional information on P3 programs in Pennsylvania can be found at www.p3forpa.pa.gov or by calling the project hotline at 877-444-9990 or email info@parapidbridges.com.

The post Reinholds Road Bridge over Swamp Creek reopens ahead of schedule appeared first on Ephrata Review.

It’s time for a night out!

The invitation is out for everyone to enjoy free games, food, bucket rides high in the air in a fire truck and meeting local police, firemen and ambulance personnel on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m., in Reamstown Park for the annual National Night Out observance.

Lots of “freebies” will be distributed to both children and adults.

“We couldn’t do this popular night without the assistance of so many organizations and businesses,” said Sergeant Chris Progin, the East Cocalico Police officer coordinating the event. “Everything is free.”

The event, which last year drew several hundred people, offers the opportunity for lots of fun.

Attendees can eat a free hot dog, chips, cookies, crackers and drink and talk with neighbors and friends from the area. Children love the games and hand-outs plus meeting local emergency responders and examining police car equipment, huge fire trucks and the gear firemen must wear.

“This is a night for us as a police force to give back to the community,” said East Cocalico Police Chief Terry Arment. “It would not be possible without the many, generous donations of so many area businesses and groups.”

The post Free activities at Reamstown’s National Night Out appeared first on Ephrata Review.

A traffic signal allowing alternating single-lane traffic at the South Fourth Street bridge replacement construction site should be operating Wednesday, Aug. 2.

Borough Manager Mike Hession explained this is pending UGI finishing the gas main relocation from the southbound side of the bridge to the northbound side of the bridge. The extended time needed for this task delayed the project and destruction of the southbound lane.

Cocalico School District Director of Transportation David Lutz will meet with Hession and others to discuss bus transportation concerns with the bridge construction. Within a six-minute period each afternoon more than a dozen buses normally travel over the South Fourth Street Bridge. Alternate routes need to handle safely the weight of the buses.

Another construction site issue is the “End Road Work” sign which extends out over the sidewalk.

This sidewalk will be used by pedestrians and students during the first phase of the bridge project. The sign needs to be replaced with either a smaller sign or sign on a pole in the grassy strip between the curb and sidewalk to permit pedestrian traffic.

The first half of the bridge completion date is April 2018. At that point a more accurate completion date can be determined. Right now completion is targeted for November 2018.

“Hope for a mild winter,” said Hession.

In other business:

* East Cocalico Police Chief Terry Arment reported 910 calls in June for the department. There were 68 traffic citations, 57 traffic warnings, and 15 parking tickets issued. Vehicle crashes totaled 35. Criminal cases totaled 43 and 29 of these are cleared.

* Arment said a medical call to a Denver residence with a total of 13 cats (nine of which were two litters of kittens) saw two emergency responders scratched and bit. Since the owner could not show paperwork indicating up-to-date feline inoculations, the first responders need to undergo additional medical treatment.

* Public comments regarding Denver’s stormwater management plan (MS4), will be heard at the next two council meetings — Aug. 14 and 28, beginning at 7 p.m. Hession said Denver proposes four rain gardens, and the borough has two grants to help construct these.

Other projects include the Denver House riparian buffer project and the “big item” will be 850 feet feet of stream bank restoration at the Bonview Linear Park. The borough has received no written comments about the plan.

* Public Works Director George Whetsel reported working on the municipal lot rain garden, flushing fire hydrants (two are in need of repair), and a sewer clog due to tree roots at Orange Alley and Locust Street.

* Hession reported the tall weeds behind the second block of South Fourth Street were cleared by a subcontractor. The owner will be billed.

* Council continued discussion regarding the content of a quality of life ordinance, specifically about what fine amount is appropriate following notification of a violation and no compliance after a specific number of days. The ordinance will address issues like tall weeds, furniture on exterior property areas, location of rubbish containers and vehicles not licensed or inspected on the property (excluding automotive businesses). The goal of council is to not permit these issues to continue for long periods of time.

The post South Fourth Street Bridge construction site in Denver set for signal appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Summertime means construction time for schools, and the Cocalico School District is no exception to the rule this year.

Work is ongoing at the administration building, where crews are painting walls and installing new carpeting this week. Some offices were shifted to accommodate the work, but the building remains open.

At a school board meeting July 24, the board also agreed to make $183,212 in payments for other projects around the district. They include:

* $148,968 for new roofing fascia at Cocalico Middle School;

* $24,719 for ongoing changes to the Cocalico High School guidance office, which was no longer using much of its career counseling space. The area is being redesigned to accommodate more technology and better advising services;

* $8,900 for bench refinishing and painting at the high school;

* $98 for new outlets and power splinters to be used in the renovated high school library, now designed to reflect increased use of technology.

In related news, the board approved the upcoming sale or donation of 2,711 used and sometimes “antiquated” books from the library’s print collection.

Business Manager Sherri Stull said this would be an opportunity for the district’s library staff to offload titles on everything from geography to Tupperware, including no-longer popular fiction titles dating to the 1960s and 1970s.

In other action, the board agreed to new contracts with special education providers in the region. ELANCO, Ephrata, and the NHS School will be tapped to provide autistic and emotional support services, life skills classes and programs for students with multiple disabilities on an as-needed basis.

The board also signed off on nearly $500,000 on extracurricular coaching and advising salaries for staff members who lead teams and artistic and academic activities outside of normal school hours. Staff members are paid on a point basis over and above their annual salary.

The board, with four members absent, also agreed to a new, three-year salary guide for such supplemental contracts.

Positions range from nine points for several assistant varsity sports coach to 41 for the marching band director and 48 for the head football coach. They are currently paid $162 per point, but that increases to $166 next year and will jump again in 2019 and 2020.

The post Improvements underway in Cocalico school buildings appeared first on Ephrata Review.

Corey Bean, National Merit Finalist, visits his alma mater. Photo by Kimberly Marsellas

During his freshman and senior years at Cocalico High School, Corey Bean dabbled in electronics, harnessing power and learning how it can change the way our world sounds.

A guitarist and member of his church youth band, Bean is considering a career in electrical engineering that would allow him to design and improve audio equipment like amplifiers.

He will begin his journey at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg later this month, complete with a $1,000 scholarship awarded in recognition of his status as a National Merit Finalist.

“I like learning how the world works, and the cool ways math can be exploited,” says Bean, a member of the Class of 2017, who lives in Reinholds with his mom, Valerie, and his dad, Kirk.

At Cocalico, Bean took the highest level courses in math and science, but his love for electronics dates to childhood. Talking about electronics makes the quiet Bean animated.

“It’s something I was always good at,” he says humbly. “It’s fun to work on things.”

A member of the student government and National Honor Society at Cocalico, Bean played varsity golf and served as co-captain of the tennis team.

He’s also a music lover with an interest in Christian rock bands, such as Young Oceans. He’s volunteered for several years with the youth group at Calvary Bible Fellowship in Sinking Spring, first helping behind the scenes with lighting and stage performances for summer camp and sound mixing.

He’s played in the youth band for about six months now, a fact that didn’t distract from his senior year work. After finishing the requirements of his Electronics II class, Bean closely studied an amplifier to better understand how it worked and look for possible improvements.

In addition to maintaining his 4.0 GPA, Bean earned a 1,560 on his SAT, including an 800 on the standardized test’s math portion.

Both Cocalico High School and the East Cocalico Lions Club named him student of the month in 2016.

At the beginning of his senior year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation notified Bean he’d been selected as a semifinalist.

The 62-year-old National Merit Scholarship competition recognizes top performers on the PSAT, a practice version of the SAT taken during junior year.

Semifinalists are the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represent the top half percent of a state’s seniors.

About 16,000 students are named semifinalists annually based solely on test scores; to become a finalist eligible for a share of scholarship money, students must submit a detailed application, including essays, recommendations and information about extracurricular activities, awards and leadership roles.

In 2017, colleges sponsored about 4,000 awards for finalists at a range of $500 to $2,000 per year.

Bean will be the third child in his family to attend college. His sister, Cassandra, attends Alvernia University in Reading, and his brother, Caleb, graduated from Temple University, Philadelphia, and works in urban development.

The post Recent CHS graduate, National Merit finalist, to attend Messiah College appeared first on Ephrata Review.

The East Cocalico Police Department reported the following:

DUI: Brenda Brown, 55, Bernville, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and a traffic violation after an incident at 1:14 a.m. July 16. Police were notified that a witness was following an erratic driver and the vehicle was located in the parking lot of Denver Elementary School, 700 S. Fourth Street in Denver Borough. Officers determined Brown was impaired and a breath test indicated she had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.169 percent. Charges were filed and Brown was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

DUI: William F. Killough IV, 23, Sylacauga, Ala., was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and two traffic violations after a one vehicle accident in the first block of West Church Street in East Cocalico Township at 2:10 a.m. June 9. Killough admitted to losing control of his vehicle and striking a traffic sign and landscaping. Officers determined Killough was impaired and a breath test indicated his blood alcohol concentration was 0.16 percent at the time of the test.

WARRANT: Brooke N. Butler, 25, no address, was picked up on a criminal warrant at 8:59 p.m. July 24 after a traffic stop in the 1800 block of North Reading Road. Butler was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine) Feb. 11 after she was found in a vehicle in the 1400 block of North Reading Road. Butler failed to respond to the charges and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was taken to Lancaster County Prison and arraigned in front of District Judge Bruce Roth. Bail was set at $5,000 and Butler was remanded to prison after failing to post bail. Butler faces additional drug charges after this previous incident.

THEFT: Tara L. Coble, 35, Strickler Road, Denver, was charged with summary retail theft after she was observed taking approximately $150 worth of cigarettes from the Turkey Hill store at 2501 N. Reading Road.

An employee observed Coble walk behind the counter and remove three cartons and five individual packs of various cigarettes July 10. Coble then fled the store. An officer saw Coble walking along North Reading Road and she was taken into custody July 11. She was charged with retail theft and turned over to the Ephrata Police Department on an outstanding warrant.

Coble entered the same Turkey Hill Store July 18 and stole approximately $10 in food items. An officer located Coble walking on North Reading Road and she was again taken into custody. Coble was charged with retail theft and defiant trespass. Coble was sent a summons to appear in District Court on these charges.

THEFT: Barry E. Griffith Jr., 58, Wyomissing, was charged with retail theft after an incident at Weaver’s Markets, 2610 North Reading Road. Police were dispatched to Weaver Markets for a male who ran out of the store with grocery items July 26. Griffith was stopped by store employees, taken into custody and charged with taking $259.31 worth of items. He was taken to Central Booking to await arraignment.

DUI: David B. Thompson, 45, Gehman School Road, Denver, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence after a minor vehicle accident in a parking lot in the 2300 block of North Reading Road. Police were dispatched to a private property accident at 1:37 p.m. July 12 and noticed the driver of the one of the vehicles, David Thompson, appeared to be impaired. A breath test indicated Thompson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent at the time of the crash. Thompson was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

DUI: Robert E. Rhinehart Jr., 26, Elizabethtown, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, careless driving and driving without insurance after a single vehicle accident May 16 at 5:11 p.m. involving a vehicle that struck a building. Rhinehart was illegally passing another vehicle when he lost control, swerved off the right side of the road, through a fence and into the side of a building. Rhinehart suffered extensive injuries and was taken to the hospital. A subsequent blood test indicated Rhinehart had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.21 percent at the time of the test. The Reamstown Fire Company and Reamstown Ambulance assisted at the scene.

THEFT: Harry J. Regester, 36, of the first block of Poplar Drive, Denver, was charged with retail theft after he was observed taking a cell phone charger from the Redner’s Quick Shop, 1304 North Reading Road. An employee witnessed Regester place the cord, valued at $31.78, in his pocket at 1:56 a.m. July 8. The employee confronted Regester and he fled the store. Regester was identified by video surveillance. He was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

DUI: Dana C. Shugarts, 19, Jefferson Avenue, Denver, was charged with four counts of driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, underage drinking and a traffic violation after a single car accident in the 400 block of Reinholds Road. Police were dispatched to an accident involving a car, which had struck a utility pole at 4:09 a.m. April 2. The driver had significant injuries and was taken to the hospital. A subsequent blood test indicated Shugarts had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16 percent at the time of the test. She also had high levels of marijuana in her blood. Drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle. Shugarts was sent a summons to appear in District Court. The Reinholds Ambulance and Reinholds Fire Company assisted at the scene.

The East Cocalico Police Department provides coverage for East Cocalico Township and Denver Borough.The East Cocalico Police Department reported the following:

DUI: Brenda Brown, 55, Bernville, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and a traffic violation after an incident at 1:14 a.m. July 16. Police were notified that a witness was following an erratic driver and the vehicle was located in the parking lot of Denver Elementary School, 700 S. Fourth St. in Denver Borough. Officers determined Brown was impaired and a breath test indicated she had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.169 percent. Charges were filed and Brown was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

DUI: William F. Killough IV, 23, Sylacauga, Ala., was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and two traffic violations after a one vehicle accident in the first block of West Church Street in East Cocalico Township at 2:10 a.m. June 9. Killough admitted to losing control of his vehicle and striking a traffic sign and landscaping. Officers determined Killough was impaired and a breath test indicated his blood alcohol concentration was 0.16 percent at the time of the test.

WARRANT: Brooke N. Butler, 25, no address, was picked up on a criminal warrant at 8:59 p.m. July 24 after a traffic stop in the 1800 block of North Reading Road. Butler was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamine) Feb. 11 after she was found in a vehicle in the 1400 block of North Reading Road. Butler failed to respond to the charges and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was taken to Lancaster County Prison and arraigned in front of District Judge Bruce Roth. Bail was set at $5,000 and Butler was remanded to prison after failing to post bail. Butler faces additional drug charges after this previous incident.

THEFT: Tara L. Coble, 35, Strickler Road, Denver, was charged with summary retail theft after she was observed taking approximately $150 worth of cigarettes from the Turkey Hill store at 2501 N. Reading Road.

An employee observed Coble walk behind the counter and remove three cartons and five individual packs of various cigarettes July 10. Coble then fled the store. An officer saw Coble walking along North Reading Road and she was taken into custody July 11. She was charged with retail theft and turned over to the Ephrata Police Department on an outstanding warrant.

Coble entered the same Turkey Hill Store July 18 and stole approximately $10 in food items. An officer located Coble walking on North Reading Road and she was again taken into custody. Coble was charged with retail theft and defiant trespass. Coble was sent a summons to appear in District Court on these charges.

THEFT: Barry E. Griffith Jr., 58, Wyomissing, was charged with retail theft after an incident at Weaver’s Markets, 2610 N. Reading Road. Police were dispatched to Weaver Markets for a male who ran out of the store with grocery items July 26. Griffith was stopped by store employees, taken into custody and charged with taking $259.31 worth of items. He was taken to Central Booking to await arraignment.

DUI: David B. Thompson, 45, Gehman School Road, Denver, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence after a minor vehicle accident in a parking lot in the 2300 block of North Reading Road. Police were dispatched to a private property accident at 1:37 p.m. July 12 and noticed the driver of the one of the vehicles, David Thompson, appeared to be impaired. A breath test indicated Thompson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent at the time of the crash. Thompson was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

DUI: Robert E. Rhinehart Jr., 26, Elizabethtown, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, careless driving and driving without insurance after a single vehicle accident May 16 at 5:11 p.m. involving a vehicle that struck a building. Rhinehart was illegally passing another vehicle when he lost control, swerved off the right side of the road, through a fence and into the side of a building. Rhinehart suffered extensive injuries and was taken to the hospital. A subsequent blood test indicated Rhinehart had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.21 percent at the time of the test. The Reamstown Fire Company and Reamstown Ambulance assisted at the scene.

THEFT: Harry J. Regester, 36, of the first block of Poplar Drive, Denver, was charged with retail theft after he was observed taking a cell phone charger from the Redner’s Quick Shop, 1304 North Reading Road. An employee witnessed Regester place the cord, valued at $31.78, in his pocket at 1:56 a.m. July 8. The employee confronted Regester and he fled the store. Regester was identified by video surveillance. He was sent a summons to appear in District Court.

DUI: Dana C. Shugarts, 19, Jefferson Avenue, Denver, was charged with four counts of driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, underage drinking and a traffic violation after a single car accident in the 400 block of Reinholds Road. Police were dispatched to an accident involving a car, which had struck a utility pole at 4:09 a.m. April 2. The driver had significant injuries and was taken to the hospital. A subsequent blood test indicated Shugarts had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16 percent at the time of the test. She also had high levels of marijuana in her blood. Drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle. Shugarts was sent a summons to appear in District Court. The Reinholds Ambulance and Reinholds Fire Company assisted at the scene.

The East Cocalico Police Department provides coverage for East Cocalico Township and Denver Borough.

The post East Cocalico Police Log, August 2, 2017 appeared first on Ephrata Review.

East Cocalico Police sponsored National Night Out at Reamstown Park, Tuesday, Aug. 1. Similar events occur all over the United States at the same time.

“We had a wonderful turn-out and the well-planned event was coordinated by Corporal Chris Progin,” said Chief Terry Arment, surveying the action at the park. “We often see people at some of the most stressful times in their lives. It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know the residents we serve better and for families to get to know us at this event.”

Several hundred people enjoyed music, food, games, demonstrations, exploring police, fire and ambulance equipment, and best of all, everything was free.

This event and others marked the 33rd year for the annual National Night Out community celebration in the United States.

The post National Night Out a busy one in Reamstown appeared first on Ephrata Review.

A Lancaster County man died after a crash during a benefit motorcycle ride Sunday in Schuylkill County.

Harry T. Heckathorn, 49, of Denver, died of his injuries Tuesday at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, according to his obituary.

A GoFundMe page established to help with medical expenses indicated that Heckathorn suffered head trauma, as well as broken ribs, a broken arm, broken leg and broken neck in the crash on Route 54 just north of Natalie.

Heckathorn reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and struck a guardrail during a poker run benefiting the Sacramento Community Fire Company. Police said his helmet came off when he impacted the guardrail.

Officials said speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash, according to media reports. Police said other riders noticed the front wheel on Heckathorn’s bike was wobbling prior to the accident.

According to his obituary, Heckathorn served in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania Army National Guard before retiring from the military in 2016 with the rank of Master Sergeant.

A funeral service will be held Monday at John P. Feeney Funeral Home in Reading.

The post Military veteran from Denver dies after crashing during benefit motorcycle ride in Schuylkill County appeared first on Ephrata Review.