Pottstown Hospital - Tower Health Celebrates Half a Century of Service with Community Event

Montgomery County's Pottstown Hospital - Tower Health has reached a significant milestone, marking its 50th year of operation.

A community event was held at its East High Street premises to celebrate this golden anniversary. The event featured the reveal of a historical timeline, and speeches were delivered by the hospital's executives and local dignitaries.

Philadelphia Eagles to Unveil Kelly Green Jerseys

Philadelphia Eagles enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated the unveiling of the kelly green jerseys, and the team has announced the wait will end on Monday, July 31.

A glimpse of the new uniforms was shared in a social media teaser on Thursday afternoon.

You’re Invited To Join the Pottstown Local Scoop - Official Community Discussion Group on Facebook

We’re so glad you’ve joined the Pottstown Local Scoop - Official Community Discussion Group! This group was created as a place for residents to come together and discuss everything happening in our great town.

Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or just moved to Pottstown, we’re excited to have you as part of this community forum. Here are a few things we hope you’ll use this group for:

• Share local news and events - help your neighbors stay in the know!

• Recommend your favorite local businesses - help support our local economy

• Ask questions and get advice about the area

• Join or organize community groups and meetings

• Stay up to date on town issues and developments

• Connect with fellow residents who share your interests

• And more! Everything Pottstown-related is welcome.

This group is for residents to discuss news, events, businesses, issues, and anything else related to our town. Let’s keep the conversations friendly, relevant, and productive.

We can’t wait to see members sharing local insights, tips, and perspectives.

Introduce yourself in the comments!

• What brought you to Pottstown?

• What do you love about the town?

• What would you like to see happen here in the future?

Thanks for being part of this community forum. We’re looking forward to the great discussions ahead!

Jackass Star Brandon 'Bam' Margera Faces Trial and Rehab following Family Assault Allegations

Brandon "Bam" Margera, known for his role in the reality series "Jackass," left the Chester County Justice Center facing possible trial for alleged family threats and assaulting his brother. In response to concerns over Margera's potential drug abuse, Magisterial District Judge Albert Iacocca revised Margera's bail terms, ordering him to stay in Pennsylvania and report to a Tredyffrin drug treatment center for evaluation. Iacocca suggested Margera might need to stay at the center beyond the initial evaluation, citing Margera's history of substance abuse issues.

During a two-hour preliminary hearing, Margera's older brother, Jess Margera, testified about Bam's erratic behavior during a visit to his previous residence in Pocopson, known as "Castle Bam." The visit involved Bam threatening to shoot his parents, Jess's girlfriend, and assaulting Jess multiple times. Bam now faces misdemeanor charges of simple assault, terroristic threats, and harassment.

The defense attorney Michael van der Veer argued that the threats and the impact of the punches were trivial, characterizing the situation as a mere disagreement between two brothers. However, the prosecution argued that Margera's actions were serious and constituted threats, thus justifying the charges.

Despite a delayed flight, Bam Margera arrived at the justice center around 12:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing. Family members, including his brother Jess and parents Phil and April Margera, had arrived earlier, with Phil Margera in a wheelchair.

During the hearing, Jess Margera shared an incident involving Bam becoming aggressive, threatening him, and attacking him. Following this incident, Bam disappeared for a few days before turning himself in.

The court's concerns about Bam's drug abuse were amplified due to a recent incident where Margera had been placed on a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold by Los Angeles police following alleged suicidal threats. These threats were linked to a custody dispute with his estranged wife, Nichole "Nikki" Boyd, over their son, Phoenix. Despite entering a rehab facility, Bam left shortly afterward.

In questioning Jess Margera, the defense attorney alluded to social media comments downplaying the seriousness of the incident and insinuated that Jess wanted to sue his brother for defamation. Jess, however, denied these allegations, saying he simply wanted to get Bam the help he needs.

Reading Man Facing Chop-Shop Charges Accused of Armed Robbery of Nephew's Car

A man from Reading, currently facing charges for involvement in a chop-shop operation, has been accused of robbing his nephew's car at gunpoint.

34-year-old Jose A. Lopez was remanded to Berks County Prison with a bail set at $70,000, pending a hearing after his arraignment in Reading Central Court. He is facing charges of robbery, making terroristic threats, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The criminal complaint states that Lopez had arranged to buy a 2018 Maserati from his nephew on June 25, and during a test drive, he pulled out a gun, pointed it at the owner, and ordered him out of the car before the sale was finalized. After the owner complied, Lopez fled the scene.

The car owner later identified his assailant to the police as his uncle, who had recently served jail time.

Court records show that Lopez was arrested in November 2021 by Reading police for allegedly participating in a chop-shop operation, where stolen vehicles are disassembled for parts. After failing to attend court hearings, his bail was revoked by Berks County Judge Thomas Parisi, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest.

Apple Launches iOS 16.6 with Key Security Updates and Bug Fixes for All iPhone Users

Apple has formally rolled out iOS 16.6 for all iPhone users, a software update incorporating key bug fixes and security enhancements, as outlined in the release notes. The company also unveiled iPadOS 16.6, tvOS 16.6, watchOS 9.6, and macOS 13.5, all carrying identical release notes, while a distinct update for HomePod provides performance and stability improvements.

The iOS 16.6 update has been in both developer and public beta since May and was preceded by the release candidate version sent out last week. This summer's update doesn't introduce any notable user-facing features, which are all reserved for iOS 17, expected to arrive in September. This likely makes iOS 16.6 one of the final updates for iOS 16 before the shift to purely security-centric updates, with the addition of Hebrew language support for Apple TV and HomePod being an exception.

Apple will discontinue support for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus with iOS 17, marking the end of updates for these models under the current iOS 16 development cycle. However, Apple maintains its tradition of releasing security updates for devices running older versions of iOS for several more years.

These software updates are now available to all users.

Veterans Testify on UFO Experiences in Anticipated Congressional Hearing

In a much-anticipated congressional hearing on UFOs, three military veterans, including a former Air Force intelligence officer, testified about their experiences and knowledge regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) — the military's term for UFOs. The conversation primarily revolved around refining the reporting process for UAP sightings and removing the negative stigma associated with them.

Ex-Air Force intelligence officer and whistleblower, David Grusch, who was previously part of the Pentagon's Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force, claimed that the U.S. government had been involved in a covert reverse engineering program of recovered vessels for many years. However, he was unable to provide proof to back up his claims.

Grusch also suggested that the U.S. has obtained non-human biological material from alleged crash sites. While he didn't elaborate further in the public hearing, he offered to share more details privately. Grusch, who has not personally witnessed any alien bodies or vehicles, based his statements on the accounts of over 40 witnesses he had interviewed during his tenure with the task force.

Additionally, the panel heard testimonies from former Navy fighter pilot Ryan Graves and retired Cmdr. David Fravor about their alleged encounters with unexplained aircraft. Graves recounted an encounter with a flying object off Virginia Beach in 2014, an incident which he claims was neither rare nor isolated in that region. Meanwhile, Fravor detailed his experience of sighting a peculiar "Tic Tac"-shaped flying object off the San Diego coast in 2004. Both urged for more transparency and a centralized reporting system for UAP sightings.

The hearing represents Congress' latest attempt to push intelligence agencies for more transparency on UAPs, arguing their potential threat to national security and the safety of civilian aircraft.

Upcoming Local Events

• Bad Slice / Free Outdoor Show at Rivet! - July 28th 6-10 PM

• Bobcat Goldthwait debuts at SoulJoel's - July 28th - 9:30 PM

• Wine Tasting & Art Show at Rivet! - July 29th - 6-9 PM

• Special Event: Line Dancing Saturday at SoulJoel's at SunnyBrook - July 29th at 7 PM

• The Alley Arts & Craft July Event - July 30th 12-5 PM

• Variety Dance Party w/ Lessons inside SunnyBrook Ballroom - July 30th - 2PM - 6 PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

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PHILLIES

Phillies to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening at 7:05 PM EDT

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