In this Pottstown Local Scoop Issue…

📆NEW EVENT CALENDAR

⚖️ Chester County Man Charged Over Year-Old Fatal Crash in South Coventry

 🚦 Shapiro Administration Allocates $30 Million to Upgrade Traffic Signals Across Pennsylvania

 🪰 Spotted Lanternfly: A Decade Later, Fears of Devastation Subside

 🏡 Montgomery County’s Housing Market Challenges First-Time Buyers

⚾️ Phillies Focus on Hard Work, Not Meetings, During Slump

Chester County Man Charged Over Year-Old Fatal Crash in South Coventry

Over a year after a fatal head-on collision on Route 100 in South Coventry, John Girling, a trucking company owner from Chester County, has been charged with homicide by vehicle in the death of 41-year-old Christopher Michael Seachrist from Pottstown. The crash occurred when Girling's truck crossed into the opposite lane, causing a multi-vehicle collision. Although Girling admitted to having a beer before driving, his blood alcohol level was not high enough for a DUI charge. He awaits a preliminary hearing in August.

Shapiro Administration Allocates $30 Million to Upgrade Traffic Signals Across Pennsylvania

The Shapiro Administration has announced an investment of over $30 million to upgrade traffic signals in 63 municipalities across Pennsylvania through PennDOT's "Green Light-Go" program. This initiative aims to improve safety and mobility by reducing congestion and enhancing traffic flow with advanced technologies. These grants will fund various projects, including LED technology installation, traffic signal retiming, and modernizing existing traffic signals to respond better to real-time traffic conditions.

For more details, you can visit the full announcement here.

Spotted Lanternfly: A Decade Later, Fears of Devastation Subside

Ten years after the spotted lanternfly first invaded Pennsylvania, the feared agricultural devastation has been less severe than initially predicted. While the pest has caused significant damage to the wine and grape industry—some vineyards have lost up to 90% of their grapevines—other sectors, like hardwood trees, have been less impacted than expected. This outcome is a relief for Pennsylvania’s $39 billion forest products industry, which was initially thought to be at great risk.

Montgomery County’s Housing Market Challenges First-Time Buyers

First-time homebuyers in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, are increasingly frustrated as home prices continue to rise. In June, the average home price in the county surged 4.4% from last year to $470,000, far exceeding many buyers' budgets. With interest rates above 6%, monthly payments have also become more expensive, adding to the challenges. Despite these hurdles, realtors encourage buyers to explore available first-time homebuyer programs and resources to make purchasing a home more affordable.

Phillies Focus on Hard Work, Not Meetings, During Slump

The Philadelphia Phillies, despite a strong 65-42 record, are struggling, going 3-8 since the All-Star Break and 10-13 in July. Trea Turner, a key player, has hit a rough patch, batting just .167 in his last 48 at-bats with 13 strikeouts. After a 12-inning loss to the Yankees, Turner admitted that everything feels off in his game and he’s missing pitches he should hit.

Turner and several other players were given a break for the series finale, with the Phillies hoping rest will help them reset. Despite the struggles, Turner doesn’t believe a players-only meeting would help, stressing that the team’s hard work and good culture aren’t the problem. He suggested that team meetings often serve more to give the media something to write about than to solve real issues.

Manager Rob Thomson agrees, preferring a calm approach over dramatic measures. He emphasized the need for players to get back to basics—hitting strikes, trusting their skills, and avoiding overthinking. With a challenging road trip ahead, the Phillies are focused on steady improvement rather than drastic interventions.

Pottstown Local Scoop Launches
New Community Event Calendar

We’re excited to announce that we’ve launched a New Community Event Calendar! Introducing Pottstown Live!

To better serve and provide quick turnaround, we thought providing a resource that provided value through promoting local and community events more efficiently.

We invite you to check it out, stay informed, and submit your events to Thousands of Pottstown Locals!

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