Devoted PA Dad Dustin Peterka-Rahn Dies, 28: ‘Brought A Smile To The Faces Of Those Around Him’ Devoted PA Dad Dustin Peterka-Rahn Dies, 28: ‘Brought A Smile To The Faces Of Those Around Him’
Devoted PA Dad Dustin Peterka-Rahn Dies, 28: ‘Brought A Smile To The Faces Of Those Around Him’ Dustin Peterka-Rahn, a beloved Royersford dad, son, and brother, died at home on Thursday, June 15, loved ones said in his obituary. He was 28.  Born in Pottstown to parents R. James Rahn and Veronica (Peterka) Rahn, he was a Spring-Ford High School alumnus and later graduated from the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center in 2013, his obit says.  In addition to his parents, Peterka-Rahn leaves behind two sisters, Abigail and Lucy, as well as a 7-year-old daughter, Estella Mae Wise, and her mother, Courtney Wise, loved ones wrote.  Peterka-Rahn was most recently employed at the O…
Pottstown Wawa Sells $590K Lottery Ticket Pottstown Wawa Sells $590K Lottery Ticket
Pottstown Wawa Sells $590K Lottery Ticket A Pottstown area resident picked up more than half a million dollars during a Wawa run last week.  The lucky winner matched all six balls pulled in the Saturday, June 24 drawing for the Match 6 Lotto to win the $590,000 jackpot, state lottery officials said in a release.  The Wawa location, 1417 South Hanover St., will receive a $5,000 bonus check for selling the winning slip, they added.  All Pennsylvania Lottery Match 6 winners have up to one year to claim their prizes and have their tickets validated. Winning players should always sign the back of their slip imm…
Pottstown Man Peeped Through Windows At Area Apartments, Police Claim Pottstown Man Peeped Through Windows At Area Apartments, Police Claim
Pottstown Man Peeped Through Windows At Area Apartments, Police Claim A Pottstown man is accused of prowling around area apartment buildings and looking into windows, authorities say.  Warren Jeffries, 58, is charged with misdemeanor loitering and evading arrest, North Coventry Township police said in a release.  It happened on Feb. 20, the department claimed. Officers were called to the CVS at 351 W. Schuylkill Road for reports of a "suspicious male" standing around outside, they said.  Jeffries fled the area when police arrived, authorities said. Investigators now believe he was peering into windows at the nearby Vally View Apartme…
Drop Something? Police Seek Owner Of Diamond Found In Montco Parking Lot Drop Something? Police Seek Owner Of Diamond Found In Montco Parking Lot
Drop Something? Police Seek Owner Of Diamond Found In Montco Parking Lot Missing anything?  Authorities in Pottstown are looking for the owner of a diamond that was discovered in the parking lot of the Home Depot at 295 Armand Hammer Boulevard, Lower Pottsgrove police said in a release.  The precious gem was found on March 29, officials wrote. Anyone wishing to claim the diamond will have to provide a description, they added.  If you know who the owner is, call LPPD at 610-326-1508. 
Burglar Sentenced For Home Invasion Murder Of 'Hero' Pottstown Teen Burglar Sentenced For Home Invasion Murder Of 'Hero' Pottstown Teen
Burglar Sentenced For Home Invasion Murder Of 'Hero' Pottstown Teen An accomplice in the botched 2017 Pottstown home invasion that killed 17-year-old David Doyle III will spend the next several decades in prison, a Chester County judge has ruled.  Juan "Coco" Ortiz-Encarnacion, 31, of Reading, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years behind bars after pleading guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy, and robbery, said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan's Office in a release.  "Coco" joined Jonathan Malave and Ricardo Rivera on Sept. 24, 2017, to rob a home on Worth Boulevard where they "believed there were drugs and money inside," t…
Legacy Of PA National Guardsman Lives On With Scholarship Fund Legacy Of PA National Guardsman Lives On With Scholarship Fund
Legacy Of PA National Guardsman Lives On With Scholarship Fund Christian-Michael Keyes, a Pottstown resident and former Pennsylvania Army National Guard member, died on February 11, his loved ones wrote in his obituary. He was 27.  Now, his friends and family members are raising money for a memorial fund in his honor.  Between in-person donations and digital support, the Christian Keyes Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund has raised "just over" $3,000, said his mother Dana Gentile on GoFundMe. The effort aims to ultimately raise $10,000 in total.  "We hope to either establish a scholarship for a high school senior that exemplifies simi…
Pottstown Fire Erupts In Flames Near Scene Of Deadly Home Explosion Pottstown Fire Erupts In Flames Near Scene Of Deadly Home Explosion
Pottstown Fire Erupts In Flames Near Scene Of Deadly Home Explosion Firefighters worked the scene of a two-alarm blaze in Pottstown early on Tuesday just steps away from the site of a deadly explosion that killed four children and their great-aunt last year.  The two-alarm blaze happened at around 4:15 a.m. on March 21, affecting two empty homes and a "roll-off dumpster," said the Limerick Fire Department's Station 51.  Footage from the scene recorded by area resident Antonio Gallardo showed multiple fire companies on Hale Street near the intersection with Jefferson Avenue as smoke billowed from a dumpster.  The Gilbertsville company said they were on the…
Suspect Charged With 2016 Killing Of Berks Biker Suspect Charged With 2016 Killing Of Berks Biker
Suspect Charged With 2016 Killing Of Berks Biker Nearly seven years after the fact, a suspect is charged with the 2016 murder of a motorcyclist in Berks County, District Attorney John T. Adams announced.  Darrell A. Johnson, a 37-year-old Pottstown resident, was charged with murder, robbery, aggravated assault, and related counts after he was taken into custody Tuesday, Feb. 28, the DA said.  According to investigators, Johnson was responsible for the botched robbery that killed 28-year-old Michael Shields on Aug. 6, 2016. Prosecutors say Shields and his friend were on the 600 block of East Ben Franklin Highway in Amity Township…
Serial Retail Burglar Strikes In Berks County, Police Say Serial Retail Burglar Strikes In Berks County, Police Say
Serial Retail Burglar Strikes In Berks County, Police Say A suspected serial burglar robbed a Berks County hardware store in what police say is his 15th theft from area retailers.  It happened on Thursday, Feb. 16 at around 1 a.m., Caernarvon Township police said in a statement.  The suspect pulled into the Lowe's at 340 Crossings Blvd., walked behind the store, and stole a Craftsman Zero Turn Lawn Mower, they continued. The same model lawn mower is valued at $3,099 on Lowe's website.  Investigators believe the same man is responsible for no less than 14 similar thefts at Lowe's locations throughout the region, inclu…
MontCo Man Masturbated During Chat, Harassed Teen Girl For Sexual Photos: Police MontCo Man Masturbated During Chat, Harassed Teen Girl For Sexual Photos: Police
MontCo Man Masturbated During Chat, Harassed Teen Girl For Sexual Photos: Police A Montgomery County man sits in a Bucks jail cell after police say he sexually harassed a teen online.  Louis Tran, 34, of Pottstown, is charged with sexual abuse of children, harassment, criminal use of a communications facility, and related counts, said the Plumstead Police Department in a statement.  Investigators say Tran harassed a 13-year-old girl by sending inappropriate messages on social media and calling repeatedly on Facetime. Police said the 34-year-old requested the victim send explicit photographs "on multiple occasions." In one of the video calls, the department sa…
Bystander Shot In Face At Montco Wawa: Police Bystander Shot In Face At Montco Wawa: Police
Bystander Shot In Face At Montco Wawa: Police A bystander was airlifted to the hospital after being shot in the face during an attack at a Pottstown Wawa, authorities say.  The incident began just after 8:15 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 at the 1520 East High Street store, Pottstown police said in a statement.  A 37-year-old man was fueling up at the gas pump when a 19-year-old man approached him with an accomplice, according to investigators. Police said security footage shows the 19-year-old and his companion assaulting the 37-year-old as he tries to retreat.  At some point, police said the 37-year-old drew a handgun and fi…
Montco Shopper Buys $150K Lotto Ticket Montco Shopper Buys $150K Lotto Ticket
Montco Shopper Buys $150K Lotto Ticket Philadelphia didn't win big at the Super Bowl, but one area resident received something of a consolation prize.  A shopper at the Giant at 180 Upland Square Drive in Pottstown matched all five white balls drawn in the Saturday, Feb. 11 Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 with Quick Cash drawing to win $150,000, said state lotto representatives in a statement.  The store will now receive a $500 bonus for selling the lucky ticket, state spokespeople added.  the winner will not be identified until their prize is claimed and their ticket is validated. Winning players have up t…