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Monday, nov 18
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Community Support
Obituaries
Mom Dies In Fatal Berks County Apartment Fire, Community Rallies To Help Family
After the death of a Berks County mom in an apartment fire, the community has rallied to help her grieving family. Amy Valentine couldn't escape from her burning apartment building in the 3400 block of Kutztown Road in Muhlenberg Township on Friday, Nov. 1, a GoFundMe campaign started by Valentine's daughter, Lexi Shuey, states. "I'm raising funds for my mom's funeral. These are words no child should ever have to say," Shuey said on the campaign page. Valentine had a partial handicap and lived alone when the fire tore through her apartment building, according to Shuey. The cause…
News
Boy Injured By Float In PA Halloween Parade: Community Comes To The Rescue
A Berks County boy was tragically injured after he was run over by a float at a local Halloween parade, according to a community member trying to raise money for the family. Nico Rizzo, 8, of Boyertown, was on a float with his football team in the Boyertown Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 19, a GoFundMe campaign started by Abby Mackey, his friend's mother, states. "As Nico went to step back onto the trailer, his foot slipped and got caught under the wheel," Mackey said on the campaign page. "He quickly became trapped under the wheels of his float's trailer." Members of the communit…
Obituaries
Philadelphia 5-Year-Old Girl Dies Suddenly, Community Rallies For Family
A Philadelphia 5-year-old girl died suddenly in her sleep and now her community is rallying for her family, according to multiple fundraisers. Olivia Joy Spotts "passed away peacefully" and "surrounded by love" on Tuesday, Oct. 22, as written in her obituary posted on Galzerano Funeral Home website. She "found delight in the simplest pleasures—her obsession with school buses and fire trucks, her beloved stickers, the joy of bubbles dancing in the air," as stated in the obituary. She like to watch the Mickey Mouse Club House, riding her bicycle, and spending time with h…
Police & Fire
PA Farming Community Rallies For Family For Massive Barn, House Fire
The Chester County farming community is rallying behind their neighbor after a massive home and barn fire. The fire broke in the 100 block of Isabella Road in West Nantmeal Township around 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, as Daily Voice previously reported. The property next door is the Kurtz Fish Farm, owned by Shannon Kurtz. She's launched a GoFundMe for the Aumen family. Writing: "We are asking the community and all around to pull together and try to help this kind family out as much a you can in this time of need. Other donations will be excepted at our farm 153 Isabella Rd (…
Police & Fire
Crews Battle Blaze At Solebury Home (
Photos
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A fire broke out at a home in Bucks County on Wednesday morning, Oct. 16, police announced later that day. The fire was reported in the 3000 block of Sugan Road at about 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Solesbury Township Police said. Multiple units responded. The home's Occupants were evacuated, and there were no injuries reported, according to police. Emergency crews responding to a house fire in the 3000 block of Sugan Road on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Solebury Police Department (Facebook) Sugan Road was closed between Creamery Road and Route 263, police said. However, a…
Police & Fire
Fire At Popular Bucks County Restaurant Destroys 10 Businesses: 'Devastating'
A fire at a popular Bucks County restaurant and bar damaged approximately nine other businesses in the strip mall. Flames erupted at Andalusia Bar and Grill at 971 Bristol Pike in Grandview Plaza around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, Bensalem Township Fire Battalion Chief Robert Sponheimer said. Responders were met by heavy flames in the back of the building, bringing approximately 70 firefighters to the scene, Sponheimer said. The two-alarm blaze was under control by 5 a.m., but completely destroyed the Andalusia Bar & Grill, along with the 8 or 10 other businesses in the shopping …
Police & Fire
2-Alarm Fire Guts PA Catholic School (
Videos
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A two-alarm fire destroyed a Catholic school in Springfield Township on Monday, Oct. 7, according to authorities. Multiple fire departments responded to the report of a fire on the second floor of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish School, located at 112 Saxer Avenue, the Springfield Fire Company said on its Facebook page. Firefighters arrived on scene within 2 minutes of the report and found fire coming out of the second floor and extending to the building's roof at 5:08 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, according to the Springfield Fire Company. On October 7, 2024 at 508 pm Springfield Fire …
News
NJ St. Joe's Student Critical After Struck By Car Walking From Class In Philly
A St. Joseph's University student from New Jersey remains in critical condition one week after he was struck by a vehicle, according to a GoFundMe launched to help his family. Russell Hollister, a junior student whose social media pages show he hails from Denville, NJ, was struck by a 2021 Mazda CX-5 traveling south in the 200 block of City Avenue in Philadelphia at 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23, as Lower Merion Township police told Daily Voice. Hollister was crossing the "midblock from the west to the east side of City Avenue," Operations Commander Captain E…
News
Fleetwood Teen Dies Days After High-Speed Crash With Tractor-Trailer
A 17-year-old boy from Fleetwood died on Friday, Sept. 20, three days after the car he was a back-seat passenger in struck a tractor-trailer, his family said. "Armani Campos was in a serious car accident when the vehicle he was riding in collided with a tractor-trailer, pinning the car under the trailer and leaving all occupants in critical condition," Levi Yoder, a close family friend, wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. The driver and a second passenger remain in critical condition, but are expected to survive the crash, Yoder told Daily Voice on Tuesday, Sept. 24 when nearly $4,500 had been ra…
News
Freak Accident Pins PA Man Under His Car Killing Him, Family Says
The community is rallying to support the family of a 22-year-old man from Brecknock Township killed when his car fell off a jack, crushing him, according to a GoFundMe organized by his Uncle, Zachary Drenning of Mohnton, on Sunday, Sept. 22. Ethan Ayscue died "in an accident while working on his car, the jack fell and he was crushed under the vehicle outside his home," Drenning wrote on the GoFundMe. The fatal accident happened on Thursday, Sept 19. Daily Voice reached out to the Pennsylvania State Police and the Berks County Coroner for more details. "He left behind hi…
News
Lunch Lady Killed In Allentown Murder-Suicide, Daughter Says
A 44-year-old Allentown mom "didn’t deserve to die the way she did," her daughter wrote in a GoFundMe on Friday, Sept. 6 following a murder-suicide. Livi E. Beltran Fernandez was found shot dead in a home in the 2000 block of East Cedar Street around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, as explained by the Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio and previously reported by Daily Voice. Her cause of death was ruled a homicide. Jesus J. Cruz Ortiz, 53, of Easton, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot at the same address, Buglio said. His cause of death was ruled a suicide. Livi, a native of Puert…
News
Nearly $55K Raised For Family Of 5 Displaced By 'Devastating' Levittown Fire, Campaign Says
More than $55,000 has been raised for a family of five displaced by an explosion and house fire on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Snowball Gate section of Levittown. Three dogs escaped the blaze while Tim and Jenna Campbell were out to dinner, according to a GoFundMe campaign and news media reports. Their children, 16, 13 and 10, also were not in the home during the 7:30 p.m. inferno. Jenna Campbell got a call from their son that the home was on fire, 6abc.com reported. The Campbells said they rushed to Silver Spruce Road, where at least seven fire companies were working to contain the…
Obituaries
Drexel Student Raises $102K After NJ Crash That Killed Parents, Teen Sister
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Max Dryerman said his final goodbyes to his parents and his younger sister. The college student from Woodcliff Lake lost his entire immediate family in a crash on the Garden State Parkway over the weekend. A joint funeral service was held for David and Michele Dryerman, both 54, and Brooke Dryerman, 17, Tuesday morning at Temple Emanuel of Pascack Valley. A burial service followed at Sharon Gardens on Lakeview Avenue, in Valhalla, NY. Max, whose LinkedIn shows he's studying engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, launched a GoFundMe page to help put himself t…
News
Reading Firefighter, Dad Battling Cancer Gets Support From Ambulance Corps
First responders have come together to help a lifelong firefighter and father of two from Reading who is battling cancer. The Lower Alsace Volunteer Ambulance Association is raising money for Christopher Bixler and his family as he ongoes chemotherapy treatments, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched Sunday, Sept. 1. Chris is a career firefighter and paramedic with over 20 years of service to his community. "The physical nature of his line of work combined with the intense toll chemo takes on his body has forced Chris to take extended leave from his work," the GoFundMe expla…
Obituaries
13-Year-Old Found Dead ID'd As Shippensburg University Football Coach's Son
A 13-year-old child was found dead in Shippensburg has been identified by his family late on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Levi James Maciejewski "went to be in the arms of Jesus" on Tuesday, Aug. 20, his family wrote in a statement. Pennsylvania State Police had been called to investigate the death of the 13-year-old in the 300 block of Britton Road in Shippensburg around 2:08 p.m. on Aug. 20, as Daily Voice previously reported. "There are no other details available at this time," PSP Trooper H PIO Megan Frazer said, adding that "The investigation is ongoing." The Shippensburg Sc…
Obituaries
Heartfelt Final Facebook Posts By PA Fire Police Officer Struck Dead In Line Of Duty
A volunteer fire police officer who was struck dead in the line of duty has been identified by the York County Coroner's office on Sunday, Aug. 18. Brian Peek, 67, of Wilson Court, in Goldsboro, Newberry Township died after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Red Mill and Corn Hill roads in Newberry Township at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, according to the coroner's release and FEMA. A coroner had been called to the intersection at 2:45 p.m. on Friday, as Daily Voice initially reported. "The fire police officer was directing traffic at the inte…
News
Recent HS Grad Suffers Burns On 85%Of Body, Lehigh County Community Rallies
An 18-year-old graduate of Emmaus High School has died as a result of burns from a bonfire, authorities said. Julian Díaz died on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 4 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, after suffering bruns on 84 percent of his body, according to the Lehigh County Coroner. "He was a funny loving caring son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend," his uncle, Jonathan Gring of Emmaus said on a GoFundMe page. "He always made everyone laugh and if you knew you were going to be around Julian, you knew you were in for some kinda entertainment." The deadly incident occurred on Wednesday, …
News
SPCA Rescues 124 Animals, Largest Farm Cruelty Case In Bucks County History
The Bucks County SPCA rescued 124 farm animals neglected in horrendous conditions in Wrightstown, authorities announced late on Thursday, Aug. 8. The animals were at Narrow Way Farm at 887 Worthington Mill Road in Wrightstown Township, the SPCA said. Among the rescued animals were 58 goats, 49 chickens, 10 pigs, five sheep and two steers, the SPCA said on Facebook. Two other animals were found dead on the property. The non-profit agency called it the "largest case of farm animal cruelty and neglect in the collective memory of the Bucks County SPCA." "Our team has been fast at work buying …
Police & Fire
PA State Trooper Peter Conforti Dies: 'Beautiful Human'
The Pennsylvania State Police Department has announced the death of Trooper Peter K. Conforti. On Thursday, Aug. 1, the department said Conforti, who had been assigned to Troop L in Hamburg, died while off-duty. Conforti enlisted in the PSP in April 2016. Records show he was 30 years old and lived in Tamaqua. Condolences from loved ones shared to Facebook say he leaves behind his wife, Alexandra, and at least one child. Many years ago, I started teaching at West Penn Elementary with some very special students. One, however, stood out to... Posted by Michele Bittner on Thursd…
News
Chester County Man On 'Road To Recovery' After Being Struck By Falling Tree: Fund
Neighbors and community members are collecting donations for Will Dusinberre, according to organizers on GoFundMe. Dusinberre, a Chester County resident working a summer job on a Wyoming ranch, was injured during a hiking trip in Montana on June 28, according to the fundraiser. "While sitting by a river, enjoying the sun and reading books, a gust of wind caused a tree to fall on Will and two friends at the base of Porcupine Falls," wrote organizer Ann Demilio of Devon. Dusinberre was airlifted to St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings then flown to another hospital …
News
Grindr Meetup Ends With Dismemberment Of PA 14-Year-Old: Affidavit
A 14-year-old transgender teenager from Western Pennsylvania met their alleged killer through the dating app Grindr, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by Daily Voice. Dashawn Dale Depree Watkins, 29 of Sharon, is in the Mercer County Prison after bloody clothes and surveillance videos linked him to the brutal dismembering of 14-year-old Pauly Likens, the Pennsylvania State Police explained in a press release and court documents. Likens was reported missing by "his" father (who does not acknowledge his son's transition to become a girl, the police explained in the affida…
Obituaries
US Air Force Member, Dad Killed In PA Motorcycle Crash, Fund Says
Edgar Guadarrama Jaimes, a Coopersburg father and husband, died in a motorcycle accident last Wednesday, June 26, officials have said. He was 30. Guadarrama Jaimes was pronounced dead at the scene of the Interstate 78 crash, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. Two other drivers involved in the accident were not injured. His obituary from Stephens Funeral Home says the 30-year-old served in the United States Air Force and was a server at the Coopersburg Diner. The restaurant was closed on Monday, July 1 in Guadarrama Jaimes' memory. Dear friends …
News
PhD Student Accused Of Killing Infant Twin, Abusing Brother In Pittsburgh, Report Says
Support is on the rise for a Pennsylvania family grieving the loss of one of their twin boys allegedly at the hands of their babysitter, who is accused of abusing the other as well, multiple news reports say. More than $50,000 had been raised as of Saturday, June 22 on a GoFundMe for first-time parents Savannah Roberts and Ethan Katz. The couple is mourning the loss of 6-week-old Leon, who is survived by his twin brother, Ari. Nicole Virzi, 29, is accused of causing the skull fracture that killed baby Leon, causing him to suffer a brain bleed and fracture on the side of his head, WTAE …
News
Argument Over Bicycle Leaves Philadelphia 9-Year-Old Dead, Campaign Says
A child was pronounced dead after rescuers found him in Tacony Creek on Sunday, June 9, authorities told Daily Voice. Police were called to the creek near the 100 block of East Wyoming Street around 6 p.m. The victim, 9, was found unresponsive and taken to St. Christopher's Hospital where he died, city police said. Citing the city Medical Examiner's Office, Fox29 identified the boy as Philadelphia School District student Ernest Harmon-Tague. Harmon-Tague's loved ones have launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to assist with funeral costs. The campaign, launched by&n…
Obituaries
Fundraiser Launched For Lehigh Valley Teen Killed In Motorcycle Crash
Community members have raised thousands for the 19-year-old who died in a Walnutport crash over the weekend. Eliam Buchanan-Ramos' motorcycle collided with another vehicle on Riverview Drive around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, officials have said. He was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg where he died from complications of multiple traumatic injuries on Sunday afternoon, according to the Coroner's Office. His death was ruled accidental. On GoFundMe, his older sister said Buchanan-Ramo was a "beloved brother, son, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend and brother in Christ…
Obituaries
Pequea Valley High School Student Killed In ATV Rollover Crash
An all-terrain vehicle rollover crash has led to the death of a Pequea Valley High School student. Tyler Yoder, 18 of Narvon previously of Rohrerstown and Lancaster, passed away following the ATV crash in the 5800 block of Northeimer Road in Salisbury Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police. That crash happened around 8:41 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, PSP explained in a release. State police continue to investigate this deadly crash but they have explained that "The victim was operating an all-terrain vehicle in a field when the vehicle flipped. The victim was partially ej…
News
Gone In 6 Minutes: Hatboro Officer's Family Watches Helplessly As Home Burns, Campaign Says
Six minutes was all it took for one Montgomery County officer's home to burn to the ground. That's according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by Amanda Karns Hatboro Sgt. Alex Bruckner. The campaign says the officer's home "rapidly burnt to the ground" due to an electrical fire on the family's back deck around 2 p.m. Saturday, June 1. Bruckner, his wife, her mother, their three young children, and the family pet escaped unharmed — but the property was a total loss, colleagues said. Please SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Friends this is why we are here. Hatboro Sergeant Alex Bruckner, h…
Police & Fire
East Berlin Church Volunteer Killed In Head-On Crash Going Home
A 33-year-old was struck dead in a head-on crash "on his way home from volunteering at church," Freedom Valley Church officials wrote in a Facebook post. Eric Sterner of East Berlin died in the back of an Adams County UPMC Ambulance at the scene of a crash on West King Street in East Berlin Borough on Saturday, June 1, Pennsylvania State Police in Gettysburg detailed in a release the following Monday. For an unknown reason, Sterner drove his 2011 Honda Civic over the double yellow lines and entered the opposing lane of traffic — fatally striking a 2012 Dodge 5500 truck around 9:21 a.m., th…
Obituaries
Boyertown Community Rallies For Late Youth Baseball Coach
Community members are raising thousands for the family of Steve Batten, a youth coach who died suddenly on Sunday, May 26, according to colleagues. Batten coached the Boyertown Black Bears of the Boyertown Midget Baseball League, friends said on GoFundMe. "Coach Steve was a major contributor to BMBL as a coach from t-ball all the way to majors and advanced play," organizers wrote. "He served as the president of the Jr. Division and has been a board member and the director of marketing." "Steve Batten will remain one of the most passionate individuals when it comes to promoting a posi…
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