HARRISBURG – State Fire Commissioner Edward A. Mann wants Pennsylvanians to remember to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and to test the units when they turn their clocks back one hour this weekend.

“Autumn is a good time to make sure that your alarms are working properly because, as the weather gets colder, many people start using fireplaces and other supplemental sources of heat, which, if not used safely and correctly, present a potential fire hazard,” Mann said. “When you change your clocks in the fall and in the spring, smoke alarm batteries need to be replaced.”

When turning clocks back, homeowners should replace the batteries in each smoke alarm and test the alarm to ensure that it is working properly. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, especially inside each bedroom and near sleeping areas.

Mann said any smoke alarm more than 10 years old should be replaced, even if it seems to work properly. The useful life of a smoke detector is usually 10 years.

After making sure smoke alarms function properly, Mann said families should create and practice a home fire escape plan. Each member of the household should be able to identify more than one way to get out of the home and a meeting place away from the home, such as a neighbor’s porch or a telephone pole across the street, so that each person can be accounted for in an emergency.

Since January, 132 people have died in residential fires in Pennsylvania.

More information about fire prevention and safety is available online at www.ReadyPA.org. For more information about the Office of the State Fire Commissioner and the fire service in Pennsylvania, visit www.osfc.state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded the West Vincent Township Police Department with a $5,000 Route 100 Safety Initiative Grant.

The grant will cover the salaries of police officers who will conduct random traffic safety patrols on Route 100 in West Vincent through a cooperative agreement with East Nantmeal. The initiative will be executed in 2008 and 2009 and target aggressive drivers, speeding, DUI, improper passing and commercial vehicle violations.

In West Vincent, over the past year, the department said serious accidents fell 32 percent. Additionally, no fatal crashes have occurred.

Last night Andy Chambers was sworn in as the new police superintendent for the Tredyffrin Police Department. Chambers was selected after a search conducted by the Board of Supervisors. He was one of 12 candidates interviewed by supervisors.

Chambers has been with the department for 27 years during which time he rose to the rank of Captain. He has been serving as acting superintendent since March when Richard Harkness stepped down.

Chambers is a 1980 graduate of Penn State and has a master's degree in public administration. He graduated from the FBI Academy in 1995.

City spokeswoman Kristin Geiger passed out this press release at Monday night's City Council meeting. Gordon_Release.pdf

Kristina Quercetti, of Landenberg, pleaded guilty last week to vehicular homicide while DUI and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from a March 27 accident, which took the life of rookie state trooper Kenton E. Iwaniec. Judge Nagle will sentence Quercetti Jan. 12.

First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Carmody, who is prosecuting the case, told Nagle that he would be seeking a maximum sentence of 11 to 22 years in state prison for the crimes. The charge of homicide by vehicle while DUI carries with it a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in person.

See the full report from the DLN's courthouse reporter here.

Over the past few weeks a slew of rumors have been swirling around the county regarding Al DiGiacomo's employment with the county. For the past several years he has served as chief of the Chester County Detectives before becoming suddenly unavailable. Officials finally addressed the issue this week. Check out reports from DLN Writer Mike Rellahan at our Web site.

Federal sentencing for Richard Legree Jr., 29, of Coatesville, was slated for today but was postponed until Dec. 9.

Legree was one of 22 people arrested as part of a two-year investigation into cocaine trafficking between Philadelphia and Coatesville conducted by federal and local law enforcement, including the Coatesville police.

The charges follow a grand jury indictment from September 2006 accusing the defendant of participating in two drug deals, one on July 19, 2005, and a second on July 6, 2006.
He has agreed to plead guilty to three of the charges filed against him. Each is related to distribution and possession of crack cocaine.

The offenses carry a five-year minimum prison sentence.

In the 2005 incident, Legree sold drugs to an undercover officer. The second offense, a year later, took place within the 1,000-foot drug-free school zone surrounding St. Cecilia Catholic School at 605 E. Lincoln Highway in Coatesville, and was observed by police.

In May, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly recorded a phone call between Legree and an informant allegedly discussing the sale of crack.

Coatesville Police Chief William Matthews placed Lt. Matthew Gordon on paid inactive duty on Oct. 3, 2007. The matter remains unresolved. For the latest details check out the DLN. Check out the links below for related reports published over the past year.

Aug. 7, 2008
Feb. 3, 2008
Oct. 23, 2007
March 25, 2007