‘Operation Silent Night’ returns, 40 arrested

COATESVILLE — With urban crime again on the rise around the country, local and county law enforcement moved to bring back “Operation Silent Night” in an attempt to stem violent crime and drug dealing in the city, with this summer’s operation leading to the arrest of 40 people. Chester County district Attorney Tom Hogan announced the results of the reconstituted program, Tuesday,...

Wolf visits Coatesville redevelopment projects

Gov. Tom Wolf, pictured with James DePetris, CEO of DEPG Associates (left) and City Council member Ed Simpson (right), greeted residents at Fuel City Cafe as he visited Coatesville Friday to tour the revitalization project that is now underway in the city. By Lauren Parker, News Editor, The Times  COATESVILLE – Gov. Tom Wolf paid a surprise visit to the city Friday afternoon to observe the...

Police make arrest in hate gaffiti

COATESVILLE – City police say they’ve arrested a city man in connection with a series of Neo-Nazi inspired hate graffiti incidents in the city and in neighboring Valley. George F. Rissell, 24, was taken into custody after police received an anonymous tip via a smart phone app, combined with images from various surveillance cameras near where the incidents took place. With that information,...

Officials denounce Neo-Nazi graffiti in Coatesville, Valley

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Police are looking for information about who tagged walls, signs, pavement and a car with racist graffiti in Coatesville’s West End and neighboring Valley Township, late Tuesday evening. According to police, a person or persons spray painted swastikas and racial epithets on walls garage doors and a Mercedes Benz, along with Neo-Nazi/White Supremacists codes....

Why we all should care about the revitalization of Coatesville

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times COATESVILLE — It was a good a day as the city has seen in recent memory — finally, a real, honest to goodness revitalization project is underway, with the start of demolition for Coatesville Gateway. But if you live in fashionable Unionville or Kennett or elsewhere in Chester County, you may shrug and say “why do I care?” You should care for the simple...

Coatesville redevelopment kicks off — for real

By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times DEPG CEO Jim DePetris and a bevy of state, county and local officials celebrate a ceremonial start to demolition for the Coatesville Gateway project, Tuesday. COATESVILLE — For nearly a generation, plans to begin to revitalize the city have appeared on the horizon, only to disappear like a distant mirage, leaving city residents thirsty, time and again, for real...

It’s not just Coatesville: funding crisis coming to your school, too

As poorer districts struggle, they are everyone’s future without state action By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times If you’ve been in and around Coatesville recently, you may have seen picketing teachers — as was the case at the district’s three middle schools Thursday night. The contract between the district and the Coatesville Area Teachers Association expired in late August and there...

Red Raider Rumble brings players, communities together

Teams from around Chester County and from as far away as Harlem N.Y. at initial event By Lauren Parker- Gill, News Editor, The Times The first-ever Red Raider Rumble brought lacrosse teams from around the region and as far away as New York City to partipate in a day competition, fun and sportsmanship. After a very close and exciting game, these players from Coatesville and Harlem came together...

Huntzinger named to lead Coatesville development

Sonia Huntzinger WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Board of Commissioners, members of Coatesville Area Partners for Progress (CAPP), and Coatesville representatives of CAPP’s 2nd Century Alliance initiative announced the appointment of Sonia Huntzinger, CEcD, as economic development administrator for the City of Coatesville, Friday. Huntzinger’s appointment is the result of the agreement...

Coatesville-area water plant honored for quality

From left, Valley Township Board of Supervisors Chair Patrice Proctor, Don Vymazal, aide to Sen. Andrew Dinniman; John Bartol of the PA Section – AWWA, Robert Burton, Pennsylvania American Water; Jennifer Milakeve, Pennsylvania American Water; State Rep. Becky Corbin; Paul Hoffman, Pennsylvania American Water; David Bolig, PA Department of Environmental Protection; Chris Abruzzo, Pennsylvania...