County to schoolchildren: Yes, you can

Elementary students invited to win prizes for collecting aluminum cans The county is calling all school-age can collectors for a competition with cash prizes. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade throughout Chester County are invited to collect as many aluminum cans as possible in an attempt to win first-, second- and third-level cash prizes as well as promotional items, a county news release...

Art Watch: Ellie Byrom-Haley

Associations with assemblage By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times This week’s local art watch is focused on the multi-media work of local artist Ellie Byrom-Haley. Byrom-Haley creates multi-media artworks that combine photography and painting with the textural aspects of assemblage. Found materials and man-made objects are assembled onto a hand-painted surface. Byrom-Haley considers her work a journey,...

County reminds residents to change clocks, batteries

End of daylight saving time provides chance to check detectors Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 3, and county residents are reminded when turning clocks back an hour, change and test the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. “This one simple step can help save lives,” said Chester County Chief Fire Marshal Harrison “Digger” Holt in a county news release. “Each year...

Police: Foot pursuit yields suspected cocaine, weapon

19-year-old Coatesville man faces multiple charges On Thursday at 1:45, Coatesville Police Cpl. Jonathan Shave observed a man who matched the description of an actor involved in an earlier robbery and stopped Sheron J. Purnell, 19, of Coatesville, after a brief foot pursuit, police said. Purnell was found to be in possession of several bags of suspected cocaine and a CZ52 7.62-caliber firearm, police...

26-year-old city man convicted of rape

Jury took about 2 hours to find Coatesville resident guilty of Ash Park assault By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Desean M. Thompson, 26, was convicted of rape Wednesday night by a Chester County Court jury. A Chester County jury convicted a 26-year-old Coatesville man Wednesday night of rape in connection with an early-morning attack on Aug. 6, 2012, in Ash Park. After slightly more...

County offering safe disposal of hazards

Toxic waste, computer collection event to be held Saturday All seventy-three Chester County municipalities are hosting a Household Hazardous Waste and Computer Collection Event for county residents on Saturday at the Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, 19380, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a county news release said.  Residents – the event is not open to businesses or contractors...

Remnants of tropical storm may threaten area

County could get gusty winds, heavy rains late Monday Tropical Storm Karen may make a name for herself in Chester County late Monday night into Tuesday, weather forecasters have warned. Although the evolution of the system remains uncertain,  remnants of the storm could bring gusty winds and as much as two inches of rain to Chester County. As a result, officials suggest that its tentative threat...

County to host forum for landlords

Topics will include conflict resolution, service-provider partnerships Attention landlords: Chester County’s fourth annual Landlord Forum offers a wide-ranging series of interactive workshops and discussions on relevant topics. The forum will take place on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until noon at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus, 137 Modena Road, South Coatesville. To attend, contact Laurie...

First Niagara helps build community – and homes

Financial group donates $50k to Habitat for Humanity, works at Cambria Terrace By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times First Niagara employees Susan Hernandez and Lindsay Schaub discuss how to paint a ceiling without dripping. Wednesday was Schaub’s first time painting a ceiling. COATESVILLE – First Niagara Financial Group announced a $50,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity on Wednesday. The...

County receives budget presentation award

Only three others in Pennsylvania earned same recognition Chester County Chief Operating Officer Mark Rupsis (left) and Chester County Director of Finance Julie Bookheimer display the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 2013. Chester County has received the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal...