Three Locals from Berks and Montco Sentenced to State Prison

Issue #055

Author

Drew Griffin
25 Jul

In this Pottstown Local Scoop Issue…

 🚦 U.S. 202 Reopens Following Sinkhole Repairs, PennDOT Announces

🏛️ for Fentanyl-Related Overdose Death

🗞️ Record High Orange Juice Prices Due to Crop Disease Concerns, Amidst Declining Prices for Eggs and Bacon

🌤️ Pottstown PA Weather

⚾️ Phillies Lose to Baltimore in the 9th

 

Pottstown PA Weather

U.S. 202 Reopens Following Sinkhole Repairs, PennDOT Announces

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) declared on Monday the reopening of U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) in both directions, between Henderson Road and Saulin Boulevard in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County. This follows the completion of repairs to a sinkhole.

This segment of U.S. 202 had previously been shut in both directions from the evening of July 10, owing to the uncovering of a large sinkhole. The road was reopened on the night of July 12, after PA American Water completed the necessary sinkhole repairs.

Further issues arose on the night of July 15, when the left lane of the northbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike), just beyond Henderson Road, was forced to close due to pavement failure. The following night, July 16, led to the complete closure of the northbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike), along with the right lane of the southbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike).

Road users can verify conditions for over 40,000 miles of roadway by accessing www.511PA.com. This complimentary service, available round-the-clock, offers alerts for traffic delays, weather forecasts, traffic speed data, and connects to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

For a comprehensive compilation of construction projects influencing state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, refer to the District 6 Traffic Bulletin.

Details regarding infrastructure in District 6, inclusive of finalized work and significant projects, can be found at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. For information about PennDOT's intended and ongoing construction projects, visit www.projects.penndot.gov.

To stay updated with PennDOT District 6 news and traffic alerts, subscribe at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.

Three Locals from Berks and Montco Sentenced to State Prison for Fentanyl-Related Overdose Death

Three individuals, Marrissa Dyan Roman, Michael Tyler Lavelle, and Jonathan M. Heffren, from Berks and Montgomery counties have been sentenced to state prison in connection to their involvement in the overdose death of a woman due to fentanyl and xylazine intoxication.

Roman has been sentenced to 8 to 16 years, Lavelle to 7 to 14 years, and Heffren to 6 to 12 years in state prison.

They pleaded guilty to felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death and conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver controlled substances. The trio also pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in a separate incident, however, they were not charged with drug delivery resulting in death as the autopsy did not conclusively prove fentanyl as the cause of death.

Record High Orange Juice Prices Due to Crop Disease Concerns, Amidst Declining Prices for Eggs and Bacon

Orange juice prices have hit an all-time high, according to Bloomberg data, due to increased worries about citrus greening, a crop disease affecting supplies from Florida and Brazil. In New York, orange juice futures rose by 1.8% to $3.052 per pound.

Brazil, the world's top juice exporter, is predicted to export 1.7% less orange juice to the US this year, as per a Department of Agriculture report from July 20. Disease-related concerns in both Brazil and Florida, the largest orange-producing state in the US, have resulted in reduced production forecasts.

Judy Ganes, president of J. Ganes Consulting, expressed to Bloomberg that the widespread impact of the disease in Florida means recovery in production for the new season is unlikely. She also noted increasing prevalence of the disease in Brazil, which is confronting long-term crop issues.

Consumer demand for the beverage has descended to its lowest point in at least five years as retail prices have soared. Data from Nielson, shared by the Florida Department of Citrus, indicates that US retail prices peaked at nearly $9 per gallon this month, an increase from under $8 during the same period last year.

In contrast, the prices for breakfast staples like eggs and bacon have decreased over the recent months. A dozen eggs and a pound of bacon are now 27% cheaper from their peak in January, with the drop largely due to easing inflation.

The Federal Reserve, which has increased interest rates ten times in the past year and a half, is anticipated by analysts to announce a quarter-point move this Wednesday.

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PHILLIES

Colton Cowser's Ninth Inning Double Secures Baltimore Orioles' 3-2 Victory Over Philadelphia Phillies

A crucial double by Colton Cowser in the ninth inning, after a key defensive play in the eighth, allowed the Baltimore Orioles to secure a narrow 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg both recorded home runs, contributing to the team's recent winning streak of 13 out of 16 games. This victory places Baltimore 2 1/2 games in front of Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber each scored for the reigning NL champion Phillies, who have unfortunately lost five of their last six games.

Cowser came in as a substitute for the injured Aaron Hicks in the third inning and contributed significantly to the Orioles' 2-1 lead in the eighth. When Castellanos hit a single to center with two runners on base, Schwarber managed to score from second. Bryce Harper, however, was prevented from scoring the go-ahead run by Jorge Mateo's accurate throw home to catcher James McCann from Cowser's pass.

Baltimore Orioles' manager, Brandon Hyde, praised the team's defensive efforts. Following a walk and a wild pitch in the ninth, Cowser's double to left off Craig Kimbrel allowed Gunnar Henderson to score, solidifying the Orioles' win.

Despite being on the mound for Castellanos’ hit, Bryan Baker (4-3) was awarded the victory, while Cionel Pérez handled the ninth inning to claim his first save.

In the second inning, Westburg launched a solo homer, his first in his career, putting Baltimore ahead. The Phillies managed to tie in the fifth with Schwarber’s sacrifice fly, but the Orioles regained their lead in the sixth with Mountcastle’s homer.

In other news, Bryce Harper returned to his DH role for the beginning of the three-game series after playing two games at first base over the weekend. Despite a pair of fielding errors and his ejection in the fifth inning, Harper defended Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner.

Orioles' right-handed pitcher Dean Kremer permitted only one run on three hits across seven innings. On the other side, Cristopher Sánchez allowed two runs on four hits in the same span, reducing his ERA to 2.97 in eight starts.

Before the game, Phillies' owner John Middleton and team president David Dombrowski awarded Orioles' right-hander Kyle Gibson with his National League championship ring.

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