Official: Pedestrian struck by vehicle on Route 422

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Police and emergency crews are on the scene of an accident on Route 422 where a pedestrian has been hit by a vehicle.


The Montgomery County Communications Center confirms police have closed Route 422 westbound from Route 100 to the Stowe interchange in North Coventry Township because of the crash.


It happened shortly after 11:00pm Wednesday night.


There's no word yet on how seriously the person was hurt or what lead to the accident.


Stay with 69 News for more on this developing story.






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Police: Scammers call cab for elderly victim

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Dispatchers at Grab-A-Cab in Muhlenberg Township work day and night arranging rides for people across Berks County.


But, what they were not prepared for was to become wrapped up in a scam targeting elderly people.


"Honestly I think it is cowardly, getting someone else involved to try and help you perpetrate the scam that you are benefiting from," said Michael York, the manager of Grab-A-Cab.


Michael York, the manager of Grab-A-Cab, tells us last Wednesday, someone called for a cab to transport an elderly woman to Wells Fargo and the Western Union inside the Giant in Cumru Township.


The driver at the time thought the woman was being scammed and tried to warn her. But had no luck.


Then just two days later, the scam artist called again. That is when York decided to cancel the cab ride and instead send police.


Bern Township Police responded and found the woman had in fact wired money three separate times to supposedly claim a prize she thought she had won through Publishers Clearing House.


The woman sent $1,800 in all before Grab-A-Cab called police.


"To this day, she still feels she may win this prize. Even with her family and myself sitting there in her living room with her, saying this is a scam," said Officer Steve Seidel with Bern Township Police.


Police warn that these scammers are so sophisticated and persistent, that they even continued calling after police told them they were investigating.


Officer Steve Seidel says there may be other victims in surrounding townships and warns people to never give out personal information. He also reminds people that you should never have to send money to claim a prize.


At this time police believe the scam originated in Jamaica, but they have not caught the scammer.


They along with the cab company hope they can prevent this from happening again.

"I am really glad that we were able to help her and I hope that by getting this out on the news, maybe we can help other people too," said York.






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Sandy Hook teacher speaks in Berks County

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A teacher credited with saving her students' lives during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary brought her message of hope to Berks County.



Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis spoke at Penn State Berks Wednesday night as part of the school's Arts and Lecture Series.



She acted quickly when a shooter opened fire at the school in Connecticut back on December 14, 2012 locking her 15 students in a small bathroom.



She says she hasn't let the tragedy define her and says people have the power to choose hope even during their darkest hour.



"It's a moment that myself and I'm sure millions of people could have never anticipated, have never foreseen," said Roig-DeBellis. "In the days and weeks following, I had to make a choice for myself and my students that that day wasn't going to define us, and a choice that we were going to get our control back."



Twenty students and six school employees were killed in the shooting.






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Proposed tax hike discussed in South Whitehall Twp.

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The second public reading of the 2015 South Whitehall Township proposed budget didn't have any better news for residents than the first.



A roughly 36 percent tax increase is not welcome news no matter if it's discussed once or twice, but it's something that - at least one commissioner said during Wednesday night's meeting - simply had to be done.



"Through the years we've depleted our reserves," said Commissioner David Bond. "We're paying the piper."



While the budget has been available for public viewing, some residents may have decided it's better to look at something else.


A shortfall of more than $1.53 million has caused township officials to request a .6 mill tax increase that would generate more than $1.35 million in revenue next year.


The increase will mean a home assessed at $100,000 would see a $60.01 increase, while a house assessed at roughly $280,000 would see a tax increase of $168.48 annually.



The township's current millage rate is 1.64.



"We've made some significant cuts," said Commissioner Glenn Block of the budget process.



But commissioners said that despite their best efforts at frugality, rising pension and medical costs are "out of our control," according to Block.



Bond added that the township has done a good job at extending the life of certain goods and items to keep costs lower, but eventually things wear out and must be replaced.



"We don't anticipate doing this every year," said Bond of the percentage of the proposed tax increase.



Should commissioners approve the budget at their next meeting, this will be the first tax increase South Whitehall Township residents have had in 29 years.



In other news Wednesday night, officials from Coordinated Health presented a sketch of their request for zoning relief for signage improvements to their facilities, located on Cedar Crest Boulevard in the township, during a public comment session.



The campus currently has six buildings and the company is seeking zoning relief to place a digital sign on Cedar Crest Boulevard and the placement of banners on 11 different light posts to add direction and continuity to patients who are driving on the facility, in addition to a larger sign on the south end of their property that would be visible from Route 22, according to Jim Tsokanos, president of Coordinated Health.



In other business, commissioners granted preliminary and final approval to the first phrase of development for the Cedar Creek Parkway West, the 139-acre recreational area in the 4200 block of Broadway in the township.


The approval grants construction of two additional soccer fields and parking area.



And commissioners also heard a presentation of potential updates to the township's master fee schedule.


Commissioners rendered no verdict on the proposed changes, rather taking them under advisement, and instructed township staff to compare the proposed fees to other municipalities in the area of at least one category - flood plain permits.



The township's holiday tree-lighting ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. on December 6 at the municipal building.



Commissioner Thomas Johns was absent from Wednesday night's meeting.






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