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The circus is in town.
The first show of the 53rd annual Rajah Shrine Circus took place Wednesday night at the Hamburg Fieldhouse in Hamburg.
Thursday's show has been cancelled because of the snow, but shows are still on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the circus featuring elephants, lions, tigers and clowns.
Proceeds benefit the Rajah Shrine organization.
"What we do is, we support our clubs and units, and in turn they generate money, or raise money, for Shriners Hospital for Children," said Glenn Sattizahn, potentate, Rajah Shrine.
Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for children under 12. Children under three get in free.
The accumulation of snow from our latest storm ranges from just more than an inch in some places to more than a half-foot in others around the region.
The National Weather Service provided the following unofficial totals that were reported by NWS employees, trained spotters, road crews and members of the general public.
You can report your own snow totals to the 69 News StormCenter.
PENNSYLVANIA:
Berks County:
Huffs Church - 10.0 inches at 3:30 p.m. on March 5
Boyertown - 9.0 inches at 4:35 p.m. on March 5
Spring Township - 7.5 inches at 3:26 p.m. on March 5
Douglassville - 7.0 inches at 5:10 p.m. on March 5
Bucks County:
Perkasie - 7.8 inches at 5:23 p.m. on March 5
Langhorne - 6.5 inches at 3:38 p.m. on March5
Bensalem - 5.5 inches at 1 p.m. on March 5
Carbon County:
Albrightsville - 4.0 inches at 4:30 p.m. on March 5
Chester County:
Malvern - 10.0 inches at 3:03 p.m. on March 5
East Coventry Township - 8.5 inches at 5:20 p.m. on March 5
East Vincent Township - 8.3 inches at 4:58 p.m. on March 5
Coatesville - 8.0 inches at 2 p.m. on March 5
Exton - 7.0 inches at 2:56 p.m. on March 5
West Chester - 7.0 inches at 5:19 p.m. on March 5
Spring City - 6.0 inches at 1:57 p.m. on March 5
Lehigh County:
Macungie - 10.1 inches at 4:10 p.m. on March 5
Salisbury Township - 9.7 inches at 4:15 p.m. on March 5
Coopersburg - 9.0 inches at 2:15 p.m. on March 5
Emmaus - 8.5 inches at 1:40 p.m. on March 5
South Allentown - 8.2 inches at 4:45 p.m. on March 5
Lehigh Valley Int'l. Airport - 6.4 inches at 1 p.m. on March 5
Monroe County:
Saylorsburg - 2.0 inches at 4:22 p.m. on March 5
Long Pond - 1.5 inches at 12:22 p.m. on March 5
Montgomery County:
King of Prussia - 10.4 inches at 5:43 p.m. on March 5
Eagleville - 8.6 inches at 4:50 p.m. on March 5
Royersford - 7.9 inches at 3:30 p.m. on March 5
Graterford - 7.2 inches at 4 p.m. on March 5
Northampton County:
Williams Township - 9.0 inches at 5:20 p.m. on March 5
Easton - 7.8 inches at 4:12 p.m. on March 5
Hellertown - 6.5 inches at 4:45 p.m. on March 5
Forks Township - 4.3 inches at 4:20 p.m. on March 5
NEW JERSEY:
Hunterdon County:
Whitehouse Station - 7.0 inches at 3:33 p.m. on March 5
Lambertville - 6.5 inches at 3:45 p.m. on March 5
Clinton - 6.0 inches at 1:55 p.m. on March 5
Warren County:
Stewartsville - 7.2 inches at 5:21 p.m. on March 5
Hackettstown - 5.5 inches at 1:10 p.m. on March 5
In light of the brutal winter, city officials in Reading are cutting residents a break when it comes to snowy sidewalks.
For the time-being, "quality of life" citations will not be issued to people for failing to clear their sidewalks of snow, a decision meant to benefit the city's elderly and disabled.
According to Mayor Vaughn Spencer, even city workers have been struggling to keep up with all of the work.
"It's become a task, even for us, even for our crews," he said.
Therefore, in an effort to be fair, residents won't be punished for facing the same struggle - at least temporarily.
"There was a time when neighbors looked out for neighbors. We don't always see that happening throughout the city, so how can we cite somebody for sidewalks when we were having problems ourselves?"
Spencer spoke to 69 News while joining public works crews outside Barbey's Playground.
While those workers had spent hours shoveling, Spencer said that the city needs help.
He is requesting that volunteers assist in shoveling sidewalks throughout the city, whenever and wherever possible. So far, several local organizations have agreed to help this week, including Adappt Inc.
"We need to get out. We need to talk to the people. We need to get support and help them keep our sidewalks clean," Spencer said.
Some residents have already been assisting, like Carlos Mitio, who told 69 News that he had spent roughly four hours helping to clear walkways in his neighborhood on Thursday.
"Just to help 'em out," he said. "Some single parents that have to take care of their kids. We have to make sure that everything is clean."
Over at City Light Ministries on North Ninth Street, Lloyd McCauley was helping to shovel the nearby sidewalks.
"I try to help out the best I can here with the shoveling and trying to make people laugh. That's what I like to do," McCauley said.
"We appreciate the fact that we have some people willing to help us," said Spencer, who hopes to round up more helping hands.
So far, there's no telling when the "quality of life" tickets will be issued again for snow removal.
"There's been some ambiguity with the language," said Spencer, adding that he hopes to review the issue with city council members in the near future.
Actor Harrison Ford was seriously injured Thursday in California small plane crash, TMZ.com reported.
The website said the plane crash-landed at a Los Angeles-area golf course.
Ford has been transported to a local hospital, TMZ said.
The state basketball tournament tips off Friday evening. The Berks Catholic boys drew a tough customer in their opener, District 12-runner up Imhotep Charter.
The game is scheduled for a 7:30 start at Archbishop Carroll High School. It's a shorter trip for Imhotep and their fans, but the Saints are not intimidated by that.
B.C. has played in front of tough crowds and under bright lights all season. This is no different.
In fact, the Saints are welcoming the challenge of playing in a hostile environment Friday night.
The key to John Adamek's happiness is getting behind the wheel of his truck or cruising with his camper, but he had to put the brakes on with hardly any warning.
"They found it by accident, in essence. I had no symptoms," Adamek recalled.
After routine blood work and lots of tests, Adamek learned he had cancer of the esophagus. It needed to come out.
"A lot of things can go wrong if you are an inexperienced surgeon, doing it alone," said Dr. Sharona Ross, director of surgical endoscopy at Florida Hospital Tampa.
Ross and Dr. Alex Rosemurgy teamed up for a delicate, robotic surgery.
"Robotic esophagectomy is unique," Ross said.
With one surgeon bedside and a second at the controls of the robot, incisions are made in the neck and the abdomen, and the esophagus is removed. Surgeons are able to avoid the chest area, meaning less chance of serious complications.
"We, in fact, were able to completely bypass the intensive care unit," Ross explained.
The robotic surgery also meant a faster recovery time. Adamek was out of the hospital in six days, and he's getting used to life without his esophagus.
"My stomach is now up here. It doesn't feel any different. Internally, I feel fine. I feel like I have my original strength," Adamek said.
That meant he could get right back on the road.
Doctors say not every esophageal cancer patient is a candidate for minimally invasive, robotic surgery. Experts say it's important that the cancer has not spread.
Adamek said his health insurance covered most of the $134,000 cost of the surgery.
A Philadelphia police officer was shot in the line of duty Thursday afternoon.
The shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. inside a GameStop video game store in a strip mall at North 21st Street and West Lehigh Avenue in North Philadelphia.
The wounded officer was shot three times, including once each in the head and chest, and rushed to Temple University Hospital, according to WPVI-TV, our partner station in Philadelphia.
The 22nd District officer's identity has not yet been released.
The Philadelphia Police Department tweeted, "Prayers for our officer - Philadelphia's officer - who was shot while protecting all of us."
Two suspects, one of them wounded, are in custody, police said.
An official at GameStop's Texas headquarters declined to offer any details on the shooting. He said only, "our thoughts are with the officer."
Refresh this page for updates as information on this developing story becomes available.
aaa bouts at 10:30.The state basketball tournament tips off tomorrow evening. The Berks Catholic boys drew a tough customer in their opener...District 12-runner up Imhotep Charter....the game is scheduled for a 7:30 start at Archbishop Carroll High School.A shorter trip for Imhotep and their fans, but the Saints...not fazed by that. b.c. has played in front of tough crowds and under bright lights all season...this is no different.In fact, the Saints are welcoming the challenge of playing in a hostile environment.>>>>>> More on the Saints tonight.The Kutztown men's basketball team was well- represented on the PSAC's year-end awards list. The ku women also have a strong showing in the form of Advia Campbell.The senior has been named to the All-PSAC East first team.The forward...also taking home Defensive Athlete of the Year honors for the second straight season. Campbell was a
Wyomissing's Robert Dunbar was the only wrestler to advance to the AA quarterfinals at the state tournament Thursday in Hershey. However, a handful of Berks wrestlers were able to win preliminary matches.
Brandywine Heights' Hunter Gimbor and Schuylkill Valley's Jon Tindall won their 100th career bouts in preliminary round action.
Hamburg's Iggy Reynoso and Kutztown's Cody Kody Reichart also won prelim bouts.
For Thursday's full AA results, click here.
facility in central Florida by 2018. >>> rob vaughn: Now Berks Sports.>> wendy davis: Here's Dan Moscaritolo. Even the snow can't stop one of the premiere stretches on the piaa wrestling calendar. Berks County's top grapplers hit the mats inside the Giant Center today for the opening rounds of the state tournament. >>> Beginning with the aa guys and prelimi?ary round action... - 138 pounds...In Overtime...Brandyw ine's hunter gimbor takes down South Williamsport's nate jones...gimbor wins 6-4...Earns 100th piaa Victory - Next, at 182...Again in overtime...Hamburg's iggy reynoso takes down Juniata's taylor foster...reynoso wins 6-4...Hes through the next round... -195...Schuylkill Valley's jon tindall runs the arm...gets the near fall on MoShannon Valley's cody hamilton...tindall wins 8-2 for his 100th piaa Victory... - at 220...Kutztown's kody reichart pins Western Wayne's cole fuller at 3:41 to advance out of the prelims... - To first round round action...At 132..In Overtime...Reynold's michael bartolo takes down Schuylkill Valley's josh giorgio...bartolo wins 3-1...giorgio out of gold contention... -At 285...Wyomissing's robert dunbar scores the takedown on United's andrew deitman...dunbar wins 3-1 to advance to the quarterfinals... dunbar is the lone surving berks wrestler still in contention for state gold at the aa level...>>> Troy will have highlights from the early
The Lehigh County district attorney said it was a drug deal turned deadly. Now, charges have been filed in the shooting death of Ian Juma, 21, near 744 Eighth Ave. in Bethlehem on June 29, 2013.
District Attorney Jim Martin said Kawan Morrison, 25, is a member of the Bloods, who got into a fight with the victim during a drug deal, and allegedly killed him.
Three cell phones Juma, a small-time street dealer had on him, led investigators to a web of contacts and customers who texted with him before he died, police said. Police also searched the car Juma was driving.
"The Bethlehem Police Department forensic sciences services unit processed the crime scene, collected latent prints from the exterior of the vehicle and pieces of a cigarette butt from inside and outside of the vehicle," Martin said.
Officials said the DNA found on one of the pieces of cigarette matched Morrison.
"The defendant is also known as Kopone. That is his street name. He was identified as the person who shot the victim twice after a physical altercation in the rear of 744 Eighth Ave., and he was identified by an eyewitness," said Martin.
Investigators said Morrison was supposed to buy marijuana from Juma for a friend, but an argument during the transaction allegedly led to murder.
Bethlehem police said they were able to assemble the evidence needed for the arrest with the resources provided by the Lehigh County Intelligence and Investigation Center and the David M. Petzold Digital Forensic Laboratory at DeSales University.
"This is the second case in Bethlehem, Lehigh County, where RIIC played a crucial role in solving a homicide," said Chief Mark DiLuzio, Bethlehem Police Department.
Morrison was being held on a parole violation at the Northampton County Prison, so police didn't have to go too far to find him. He is now charged with criminal homicide.
A man who was shot by Reading police last month has long been sought by prosecutors in New York as a material witness in a homicide that happened nearly five years ago.
The Bronx district attorney's office is working to return Johan Santiago so that he can testify against a man accused of kidnapping and shooting him on April 16, 2010.
Santiago's friend, Jonathan Torres, was also shot. He did not survive, officials said.
Zarnoff Taylor, Wander Acosta-Mejia and Adonis Jimenez are facing charges of first degree murder, second degree attempted murder and related offenses, according to court documents.
Santiago's mother told investigators in 2014 that her son was unwilling to cooperate in the case because he feared for his safety, according to the DA's material witness order.
A Reading police officer shot Santiago while he was allegedly firing a gun near the Puerto Rican Association Club in the 200 block of South Fourth Street in Reading on Feb. 8, 2015.
No one else was hurt.
Santiago, 28, is currently behind bars in the Berks County Jail on $800,000 bail, charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
A man accused of robbing a bank in downtown Reading is now in custody.
Jason Lee Serrano has been committed to the Berks County Jail on $20,000 bail. He's charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
Serrano, 32, of Centre Township, robbed the National Penn Bank at 21 N. Sixth St. in center city on the afternoon of Jan. 28, police said.
Serrano stood by the podium next to an ATM and wrote on a piece of paper, "All the money from top drawer. No die [sic] packs," according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Serrano then passed the note to a teller, who handed over $764 in various denominations, police said.
Tips from 69 News viewers who saw surveillance photos of the robbery on TV and WFMZ.com quickly helped police to identify Serrano as the suspect, investigators said.
Thursday's snow storm has forced travelers to scramble for alternate means of transportation.
Bieber Bus has canceled New York City routes 108,116, 129, 135, 149, 151, 152. Also the following routes to Philadephia are canceled: 306, 307,309, 310, 316, 317, 319, 320.
TransBridge Lines officials have canceled runs to JFK Airport, and the rest routes are operating according to schedule.
The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) buses are operating under full snow emergency detours.
Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) is operating on its regular schedule.
Several flights leaving from the Lehigh Valley International Airport or scheduled arrivals have been canceled. Airport officials urge travelers to check with their airline for any cancellations or delays.
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