Pennsylvania State Police are asking people for help in finding the vehicle and driver involved in a hit and run homicide that happed in October of 2018 in Concord Township.
On Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at approximately 9:45 p.m., troopers from the state police Media barracks were dispatched to the area of Route 202 northbound in the area of Pyle Road, for the report of a pedestrian struck in the roadway.
Upon arrival, troopers located the deceased victim on the right shoulder of the road.
Investigation revealed the striking vehicle to be a platinum white, 2009 – 2010 Ford Edge in an SEL or Limited trim level. This vehicle is believed to have sustained damage to its right front end and had an inoperable right headlight as a result of the collision. The vehicle may no longer have the mentioned damaged and attempts may have been made to alter the vehicle’s original appearance.
After striking the victim, the vehicle proceeded to make a U-turn at the intersection of Route 202 and Naamans Creek Road, then continued to flee southbound on 202 into Delaware. The last known location of the vehicle was southbound Route 202 in the area of Powder Mill Road in New Castle County.
Any persons with information regarding this incident or the vehicle being sought are asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police, Media Barracks, Criminal Investigation Unit at 484-840-1000 and ask to speak with Tpr. Matthew Smith, or call Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477), or report online here.
All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.
George E. Sipala, 90, of Chadds Ford, died peacefully at his home on Monday, Feb. 10. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Helen Murray Sipala.
George E. Sipala
Born 1929 in Wilmington, he was the son of the late Frank Sipala and the late Mary Lamonica Sipala.
After graduating from Brown Vocational High School, George continued his education at Goldey Beacon Business School and later Mt. Vernon Law School.
George also proudly served our country as a member of the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, at which point he was transferred to the Army Reserve.
Throughout his lifetime, George worked as a code enforcement officer for Elsmere, was the town manager for Newark and then went on to own his own business as a real estate broker.
George had a passion for collecting antiques, attending auctions, and entertaining with his wife, Helen. He enjoyed following foxhunts and spending time with his wonderful friends of the Radnor Hunt Club. For 20 years, the Sipala family entered the Fourth of July Parade in Rock Hall, Md., where they never failed to bring home a prize. George had a fantastic sense of humor and always had a prank or joke to share. Coupled with his sense of humor was a generous heart. When George was working as a broker and began to work with builders in selling new homes, he often gave up his commission so that a family could afford to purchase a home from him. George’s kind, witty, and loving personality will truly be missed by all.
In addition to his wife, Helen, George is survived by five children, Linda DeCecchis of Kelton, Del., Arthur Sipala of Coatesville, Richard Sipala of Longwood, Susan Drumheller of Rock Hall, Md. and Carol Sipala of West Grove; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
George was predeceased by his five siblings, Jenny, Mary, Lucy, Frank and Joe.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, at Penn Oaks Golf Club, 150 Penn Oaks Dr, West Chester, PA 19382.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Brandywine River Museum, mailing address, Suzanne Regnier, Director of Development, Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317.
Arrangements by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square.
In the upcoming months, school districts will prepare budgets for the next fiscal year and make the hard decision about whether to increase property taxes to deal with rising costs.
One of the fastest-growing costs for all school districts is charter schools—publicly funded, privately operated schools that offer education wholly online or at a site within a community. School districts pay 100 percent of charter school tuition bills, and rapidly increasing tuition payments are a top reason that property taxes continue to rise. Although charter school students represent only 8 percent of all public school students, in 2017-18, 37 cents of every new property tax dollar raised was sent to a charter or cyber charter school.
Pennsylvania taxpayers are spending more than $1.8 billion on tuition bills for students to attend charter and online cyber charter schools. Tuition rates are set by the state, but flawed calculations in Pennsylvania’s 22-year-old charter school law mandate payments well beyond the cost to educate a child. After more than 20 years, the time has come to retool charter funding to bring payments in line with the costs, eliminate questionable and wasteful spending by charters, and bring property tax increases under control.
Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a funding plan that will do just that: eliminate overpayments and provide $280 million in savings to school districts while providing sufficient funding to allow charter schools to appropriately serve students. Wolf’s proposal should receive the enthusiastic support of Pennsylvania taxpayers and state lawmakers alike.
Taxpayers are not well served under the current system. Cyber charter schools, which educate students at home on a computer, receive the same payment rate as brick-and-mortar charter schools, despite having no buildings, no janitorial staff, no cafeteria, and much higher student-teacher ratios.
Not surprisingly, cyber charter schools are awash in excess funding, so money intended to educate children is instead wasted on billboards, TV commercials, and internet advertisements for cyber schools. Cybers also pay considerable amounts to public relations firms, lobbyists, and the CEOs and shareholders of private management companies. This is why national organizations that promote charter schools have urged states to change laws and rein in cyber charters.
Gov. Wolf has proposed a flat tuition rate of $9,500 for students who attend cyber charter schools, a generous amount totaling almost twice the cost of a district-run cyber program. This would save $133 million.
Charter schools are also exempt from the Fair Funding Formula for special education payments. It’s time to close that loophole.
School districts receive state special education funding based on the cost of the services that students need, whether it is a half-hour of speech therapy weekly or a full-time aide. Charter schools receive a flat payment based on the schools’ average costs, so the charter receives the same payment regardless of how much they spend providing services. The formula provides millions in excess funding to charter schools and creates a financial incentive for them to provide more students with speech therapy, while not providing sufficiently for students with significant needs who want to attend the charter school. That’s not fair.
Gov. Wolf’s proposal would apply the special education Fair Funding Formula to all schools. If enacted, school districts will save $147 million each year and the perverse financial incentive for charters to enroll only students who need low-cost services would be eliminated.
These proposals would save school districts $280 million, end the excessive profiteering that has occurred in the charter sector, reduce pressure on property taxes, and help ensure school districts are able to provide the resources necessary for all students to succeed. They deserve our support.
Susan Spicka, Executive Director,
Education Voters of PA
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office has received reports regarding scam phone calls originating from unknown phone numbers, or possibly a spoofed number, appearing to be from the Sheriff’s office.
The scammers may represent themselves as a County employee. In a recent case, the caller used the name “Captain Walker.” The caller tells the target that there is a warrant for their arrest, or they are subject to arrest for failing to appear for jury duty.
Typically, the scammers will request payment of some type, often MoneyPak, GreenDot, or some other type of prepaid money, or gift card as payment to avoid arrest. They may also ask for personal information including a social security number and/or bank account information.
Residents who receive this type of call are advised to hang up and not give any personal information, account information, or purchase any type of money card, or gift card.
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office or Delaware County Jury Services will never contact anyone by telephone and ask for personal information, bank account information, or payment of any kind to avoid jury duty or arrest.
If you receive a call, please contact your local police.
Big changes are afoot at the Delaware Museum of Natural History with the public phase kick-off of a $9.8 million capital campaign to reimagine the museum’s galleries and public spaces. This is the largest redesign since the museum opened in 1972.
Over the past four years, the museum held focus groups, collaborated with community partners, and consulted leading-edge institutions to create a vision for experiential programs, innovative exhibits, and 21st-century approaches to nature and science education. Plans for the new museum will be unveiled to the public in June.
To bring this vision to reality, the museum will close for construction in early 2021 and reopen in early 2022 as the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science.
To date, five government entities (federal, state, county), six corporations, 15 foundations and 66 individuals contributed 54 percent of the campaign’s funding goal. This includes a major grant from the highly competitive Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“We are deeply appreciative of—and invigorated by—endorsements from many supporters who have told us, ‘we see the need for your programs, we agree with what you are doing, we are confident in your abilities, and we support where you are going,’” said Museum Board President Richard F. Cairns.
“Our community expressed that science, the environment and education are more important to them than ever before. They expect us to be up-to-date, hands-on, action-oriented and relevant, said trustee and Campaign Co-Chair Ian R. McConnel.
“By switching from static, taxonomy-based dioramas to interactive, ecosystem-based areas, the new museum will inspire people to discover, examine, and uncover the wonders of science in the natural world,” said Executive Director Halsey Spruance.
Highlights of the transformed museum will include:
Discovering the amazing biodiversity of our area in the Delaware Regional Journey Gallery, · Exploring how we are all connected in the Global Ecosystems Journey Gallery, · Traveling back in time and roaming with dinosaurs in the PaleoZone, · Tracing the evolution of life on Earth along the outdoor Evolution Trail, · Connecting nature with science in compelling ways in the Discovery Gallery · Learning about cutting-edge science at universities and conservation organizations
The Museum Metamorphosis campaign budget includes the design and construction of new exhibits and outdoor components, as well as installing an up-to-date fire suppression system.
This is the second capital campaign the museum has undertaken. In 2005, the museum completed a $5 million campaign, which created a new entrance vestibule, a sky-lit atrium in the center of the museum, and a new gallery dedicated to traveling exhibits, among other updates.
• State police arrested five teenagers on drug charges following a Feb. 9 traffic stop on Route 202 at Naamans Creek Road. Police said they stopped the vehicle for multiple traffic violations. The driver was determined to be DUI of alcohol and a controlled substance. The passengers were arrested for marijuana possession. All five were processed and released.
• Police said a $700 laptop and $55 noise-canceling headphones were stolen from a car parked on Darlington Road in Concord Township sometime between Jan. 25 and 27.
Troop J, Avondale barracks
• A 20-year-old woman from Lawrenceville, N.J., not named in the report, was arrested on drug charges in Kennett Township on Jan. 31. According to police, the suspect was observed driving at 80 mph on Route 1 and weaving in and out of traffic. After stopping the vehicle, police determined the driver was in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
• Amir Miller, 27, of Newark, was cited for excessive speed following a one-vehicle accident on S. Wawaset Road in Pocopson Township on Feb. 7, police said. According to the report, Miller was driving too fast to negotiate a curve south of Wawaset Farm Lane at 11:12 a.m. He lost control, police said, ran off the roadway, struck a utility pole, came back to the road but crossing to the other side and slid down an embankment into a ravine. No injury was reported.
• Police are investigating a theft of service claim in Pennsbury Township. A 43-year-old resident on Fern Hill Road said he paid a $6,000 down payment to a contractor for repair work in October but no work has yet been done.
• Police are investigating a Jan. 15 retail theft at the East Marlborough Township Walmart. A report said a woman used $540 in counterfeit bills to buy five items.
• Tianna Gomez-Stewart, 20, of Kennett Square, was arrested for retail theft on Feb. 6, police said. She is accused of stealing $22.80 worth of food products.
• A salon owner in Pennsbury Township reported that sometime between Aug. 1 of 2019 and Jan. 22, seven salon chairs went missing. Police are investigating.
• Police said they arrested Mark Rodgers, 43, of Chesapeake, Md., on retail theft charges. A report said Rodgers was taken into custody without incident after responding to a theft in progress. He was allegedly trying to steal nine items valued at more than $1,000 from the Walmart in East Marlborough Township on Dec. 24.
Southern Chester County Regional Police
Luis Miguel Acosta-Espinoza
Luis Miguel Acosta-Espinoza, 22, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with 12 counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with minor, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, indecent assault, and indecent exposure, police said. The arrest came as a result of an incident that occurred on Jan. 16 in New Garden Township. According to the report, police were called to the scene, after the father of a 15-year-old female came home to find the vehicle of an adult male, whom he suspected of spending time with his daughter, parked in the lot near his apartment. When officers opened the door, they found Acosta-Espinoza laying completely naked on the living room floor, next to the clothed 15-year-old. He was immediately taken into custody and was transported to SCCRPD HQ. Through additional investigation, it was determined that Acosta-Espinoza and the victim met through social media and that he was aware of her age. It was also determined that Acosta-Espinoza and the victim had a dozen sexual encounters beginning in the summer of 2019 when the victim was only 14 years old. Acosta-Espinoza was transported to Central Booking where he was processed and held for arraignment. He was committed to the Chester County Prison on $1,000,000.00 bail, where he remains pending a preliminary hearing.
Upon arrival, troopers located the deceased victim on the right shoulder of the road.
