Severely abused pet pig that narrowly escaped death is now a mom

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A new turn in a story of remarkable recovery. Remember Cheesedoodle? She's the pet pot-bellied pig, left for dead back in December.


"Oh my gosh she was horrible, somebody tried to chop her head off," Last Chance Ranch Owner Lori McCutcheon said. "It was bloody, it was right down to the bone, I don't even know how she survived."


Ranch hands at Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue in Quakertown took her in, gave her food, water shelter and most importantly affection. Initially it was thought the humane thing to do was to euthanize the pig. But it was Cheesedoodle's miraculous recovery and charming personality that won over her caretakers.


"It is amazing to me how forgiving she is, and how trusting she is," Last Chance Ranch Kennel Manager AnnMarie Petitto-Thomas said.


They say a mother's instinct is one of the most powerful forces on Earth, and it may have been just that, that got Cheesedoodle through one of the toughest times in her life. The pot-bellied pig was making a speedy recovery, impressing ranch hands while simultaneously wiggling her way into their hearts. No one could have guessed what would happen next.


"She was healing really, really well and we're thinking, pretty soon we can put her up for adoption," McCutcheon said. "We walk in Saturday morning and 'oh my gosh!'"


Cheesedoodle had brought four baby piglets into the world.


"I think she just had that will to live," McCutcheon said. "I'm a mom of three and nothing is going to stop me from my kids!"


The group is affectionately referred to as the 'snack pack' complete with Chex, Triscuit, Chip and Pringle.


It is an ending to a story that McCutcheon could have never imagined.


"People should get along this well and not be as miserable to each other," McCutcheon said. "Because this is just a miracle."


In six weeks when the piglets are more mature, the entire snack pack will be up for adoption. McCutcheon says she will do everything in her power to make sure they head to loving homes.


McCutcheon also says her ranch is in need of donations. For more information, click here.






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Patriots topple Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX

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Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns and Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson's pass in the end zone with 20 seconds left, helping the New England Patriots hold on to beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 Sunday night for their fourth Super Bowl title.



The Patriots had lost three straight Super Bowls since winning three in four years a decade ago.



The 37-year-old Brady led them back, hitting Julian Edelman with 2:02 left for his 12th career Super Bowl touchdown pass, breaking Joe Montana's record.


The Seahawks pulled off a miraculous rally to beat Green Bay in the NFC Championship game and were in position for another improbable victory when Jermaine Kearse made a juggling, 33-yard catch while on his back.



With the ball on New England's 1, Seattle appeared to be headed toward a second straight Super Bowl title. Butler spoiled the Seahawks' bid, stepping in front of Ricardo Lockette for the interception.






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Rush Township police investigating another two-car collision

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Rush Township police say they are investigating a head-on collision at the intersection of Claremont Avenue and East Main Street.


According to authorities, the crash happened around 11:00p.m. Saturday night.


Police say 47-year-old Edward Farley of Sugarloaf was driving a 2011 Ford Taurus on East Main Street as he approached the fork in the road at the intersection.


Farley then crossed over the double yellow line and traveled north in the south bound ramp.


Farley entered Claremont Avenue, still traveling north in the south bound lane when he collided head-on with a 2002 Nissan operated by 24-year-old Gabrielle Lech of New Ringgold.


Officials say Lech was taken to a local hospital for unknown injuries.


Police say Farley showed signs of intoxication and was taken to Pottsville Hospital for a blood test.


DUI charges are pending.


This is the second alcohol-related accident within 12 hours in the same area.






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Army vet recalls infamous WWII Nazi massacre in Belgium

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Former World War II U.S. Army battalion Cpl Harold Billow still can't believe how lucky he is after all these years.


In addition to being 92, Billow is one of two remaining vets alive who can still recall his surviving the notorious Malmedy Massacre in Belgium -- the result of about 130 American soldiers cutoff by a German offensive which forced them to surrender.


This massacre by the Germans during the infamous Battle of the Bulge was a Nazi war crime where 87 trapped American prisoners of war were shot in cold blood on December 17, 1944, at the Baugnez crossroads just outside of Malmedy on their way to St. Vith, Belgium.


Billow of Mount Joy, Lancaster County, spoke before a crowd of nearly 200 veterans and their wives during a monthly meeting of the Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project held at the Center for Lehigh Valley Active Life on Elm Street in Allentown.


Dressed in his vintage uniform and just over five feet tall with a slim build, Billow said, "It felt like days, even weeks" lying in the snowy ground face-down as the Germans fired machine guns positioned atop tanks at the mass of American soldiers standing before them.


He also noted how the Nazi SS soldiers sifted through the slain bodies looking for any signs of life and how he had to stifle his breath to remain undetected and continue "playing dead." He said if he had moved in the slightest he would have been detected instantly and shot in the head.


Billow said the Germans stated there was no time for them to take any prisoners; therefore the captured Americans were to be killed.


He pointed out when a number of prisoners fled the gunfire and hid in a nearby café, the SS doused the building with gas, set it on fire, and shot anyone fleeing the scene on foot.


He said he eventually was picked up by another American battalion nearby before he could be recaptured by the Germans.


Billows said he hoped to survive the ordeal in the hopes of testifying about the atrocity. He added although he himself never appeared at the Nuremburg war crimes trials, he knew of several fellow survivors who managed to testify against the Nazis.


At the end of the war in Europe, Billows said he left for England where he married his wife Vera before returning to the U.S. to work for Tyco in Reading.


For every national holiday celebrated, Billows said he decorates the front yard of his Mount Joy home with 87 flags to commemorate the men who perished in Malmedy at the hands of the Nazis.


U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA 15th District) presented Billow with a special citation in recognition for his bravery and service to nation.


Local students such as Salisbury High School student Catherine Kenyon said Billow's speech is recorded on digital video disc (DVD) and transcribed by students such as herself as part of their senior history project.


She said the students' efforts are forwarded to the Library of Congress where they become part of the National Veterans History Project archives.






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Man escapes from Wernersville Community Corrections Center

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Police say they are looking for a man who escaped from a corrections center in South Heidelberg Township, Berks County.


According to official reports, John William Diven pulled the fire alarm at Wernersville Community Corrections Center and escaped.


Officials say Diven then ran from the building and got into a red passenger car.


Anyone with information is asked to call PSP Reading at (610) 378-4011.






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Two-alarm fire severely damages home in Lehigh Township

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A two-alarm fire in Lehigh Township, Northampton County has left one home severely damaged.


Officials say the fire happened in the 4600 block of Steven Lane, Lehigh Township around 9:00a.m.


No injuries were reported.


There is no word on whether or not the two-story home was a total loss.






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Suspicious activity reported along Lehigh Parkway South

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Local police and fire officials have responded to reports of suspicious activity along the route of the Super Bowl 10k on Lehigh Parkway South.


Police say a suspicious package was located along the running route.


Police and fire officials have set up a perimeter around the area and are taking precautionary measures.


Scanner reports indicate police are also looking for a possible male suspect who was watching the area with a pair of binoculars.


Standing around 5 feet 9 inches tall, he is described as wearing all camouflage with a grey beard and brown eyes around 45 years of age.


Scanner reports also say he is suspected of driving a black Dodge Ram.


Anyone with information is asked to call police.


The Super Bowl 10k has been cancelled.






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Death investigation in Reading

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Reading police and the coroner are involved in a death investigation.


Authorities were called to the 600 block of North 11 Street Saturday night.


At this point, the only information police are providing is that they are carrying out a death investigation. As of early Sunday morning, authorities are not saying if the death or deaths are considered suspicious.


Stay with 69 News and WFMZ.com for updates as they become available.






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Snow could cause problems for Monday morning commute

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Temperatures will make it into the low to mid 30s Sunday afternoon under cloudy skies.


The approaching storm system will push some light snow into the area later this afternoon before quickly picking up in intensity for tonight into Monday.


The heaviest time period looks to be from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday, which will cause problems for your morning commute. Depending on where the rain/snow line sets up we may see some sleet, freezing rain, or rain mixing in for a while in parts of the area, which could lead to less accumulation.


Snowfall amounts will generally be heavier to the north and less to the south.


Northern Schuylkill, Carbon, Monroe, Sussex and counties northward are looking at 8-12 inches of snow. From this point southward, we expect 4-8 inches of snow through southern Berks, central Bucks, Montgomery, and Mercer counties.


Look for 2-4 inches just north on Philadelphia and across northern Chester county. Around 1-2 inches will be possible through the Philadelphia area with less than a inch across southern New Jersey. Any slight change in the track, precipitation type, or intensity could alter the amount of accumulation we ultimately see, stay tuned for the very latest. Bitterly cold conditions take over behind this system, so watch for a rapid freeze Monday into Tuesday morning as low temperatures dip below zero.


Today: Cloudy and not as cold with snow arriving in the afternoon. High: 34


Tonight: Snow, becoming heavy at times. Sleet and freezing rain mixing in late. Low: 26


Monday: Cloudy with sleet and freezing rain early, changing back to snow after noon. High: 33 Low: -2


***Winter Storm Warning for Schuylkill and Pike counties from 4pm Sunday through 4pm Monday***


***Winter Storm Warning for Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Warren, Bucks and Montgomery counties from 7pm Sunday through 1pm Monday***


***Winter Weather Advisory for areas south from Sunday night through Monday Afternoon***


CHANCES FOR SNOW TOTALS (Sunday evening/Monday)

<4" - 25%

4-8" - 40%

8-12" - 30%

>12" - 5%






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