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Lower Merion Expels Two Students for Living Outside District
Two students were expelled from Lower Merion School District on Monday night after the school board approved an examiner's determination that they do not live in the district, and in fact never did.
The students, both rising eighth graders a
Fire Forces Evacuation of One Bala Plaza
A fire of still indeterminate cause forced the evacuation of One Bala Plaza in Bala Cynwyd on Friday afternoon, causing damage to the building and a brief period of radio silence on at least one of the radio stations that operates out of the high rise.
When the fire struck, employees were evacuated into the parking lot, where they waited for less than an hour while emergency personnel got the fire under control, according to NBC Philadelphia.
Mike Missanelli, a popular radio personality who hosts a talk show on 97.5 The Fanatic—a sports station that operates out of One Bala Plaza—had his show interrupted by the fire. He explained when he returned to the air that the blaze seems to have been electrical in nature.
The extent of the fire or the possibility of injuries were not immediately clear Friday afternoon. Patch will provide more information when it becomes available.
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Are you looking for a job? Here are some positions available in the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood area, all advertised on Craigslist in the past week.
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Rosemont Woman Pleads Guilty to Lying About Cop Assault
In May of 2011, Gabrielle Drexler stood in front of the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners and alleged that a township police officer had groped then stalked her the previous summer. On Wednesday, she admitted it was a lie.
Drexler, 28, pleaded guilty this week to perjuring herself in front of a grand jury, according to the Times Herald. Though sentencing will be deferred for 90 days, she faces up to seven years in prison, the paper is reporting.
The prosecution maintains that the Rosemont woman also falsified evidence during the investigation that resulted from her claims, adding damning lines to emails the officer had written her.
According to court documents, Drexler altered emails to include statements such as: “I am sorry for groping and trying to kiss you as you backed away in confusion that day at the park…” and “i (sic) knew you were my dream girl and that is why i (sic) pulled my police car over to you and told you that i (sic) was the officer at your house the night that incident occurred with your dad…”
The Herald is reporting that Drexler and the officer had a "consensual" relationship for several months, at which point she learned he had a wife and family and "the relationship soured."
PhillyBurbs.com added that the grand jury, in its 19-page report, offered a pithy, if retrograde, explanation for Drexler's bizarre behavior: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Previous Patch Coverage of the Case
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Odd Crime from Eastern PA: Careful With Those Jell-O Shots
If You're Going to go Down, go Down Big: According to a report from Nazareth Patch, a Bushkill Township man who is not allowed to have weapons because of a prior criminal conviction was found with six rifles inside his home when a search warrant was served. Read the full story here.
Not Dead, Just High: According to a report from Bethlehem Patch, a Wendy's employee feared the worst when a man locked himself in the bathroom and wouldn't respond when called or alerted. The worker called the cops, fearing the man dead. Turns out, he was just shooting up, police said. The full story is here.
The Headline Says it All: Normally, I try to write something up about these different police stories, but this time I'm going to let the headline from Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch speak for itself; "Two Skeletons Accused of Harassment." See what I mean here.
This is Why I Steer Clear of Jell-O Shots: According to a report from Limerick-Royersford-SpringCity Patch, a Royersford woman faces multiple charges, including simple assault, after she allegedly guzzled all the Jell-O shots at her mother’s birthday party and then topped it off by beating the birthday girl. Read the full story here.
Fancy New Doorframe: A stolen dishwasher, I can understand, but the stolen doorframe reported by Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airy Patch kind of escapes me. Read the story / share your theories here.
A Period of Theft: According to a report from Roxborough Patch, Two women stole $40 in “various feminine products” from an area Family Dollar store. Get the full story here.
About this column: OMG PD reviews the surprising, shocking, stunning and occasionally silly police-related incidents reported by Eastern Pennsylvania Patch sites over the last week. All people mentioned in these stories are innocent until proven guilty. Charges and arrests do not indicate guilt. Reach out to Nate at nathana@patch.com with questions about this column.
Wording of L&I Inspector's Video Suicide Note Being Debated
Ronald Wagenhoffer, 52, blamed himself for the collapse of a building in Center City that killed six and injured 13 in a video, according to NBC Philadelphia. A Narberth woman, and two other woman with Lower Merion ties died in the collapse.
"It was my fault. I should have looked at those guys working, and I didn't," NBC Philadelphia reported Wagenhoffer said in the video to his family.
But that the wording of that video suicide note is being questioned.
The mayor's office told media that in the video, Wagenhoffer actually said "It wasn't my fault."
Police told Philly.com that Wagenhoffer was the L&I building inspector who inspected the building that collapsed in Center City last week.
Police discovered Wagenhoffer's body in the 100 block of Shawmont Avenue in Roxborough about 9:10 p.m. Wednesday.
NBC Philadelphia told Philly.com that they saw the video and are "standing by their journalism."
Police found Wagenhoffer in the front seat of his pickup truck with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Police are investigating the matter as a suicide.
People have been sending their condolences to the family on Roxborough-Manayunk Patch's Facebook page.
"Kim & Steve Krystopa would like to offer our deepest condelences to the Wagenhoffer Family. Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you all in this tragic time. God Bless you Ron, You were a Good Man, and you will be sadly missed by us and many others," commented Kim Krystopa.
Wagenhoffer left behind a young son and a wife, according to Philly.com.
SB700 Could Empower Anti-Urban Backseat Drivers to Decide Allegheny County’s Transit Future
Lower Merion Expels Two Students for Living Outside District
Two students were expelled from Lower Merion School District on Monday night after the school board approved an examiner's determination that they do not live in the district, and in fact never did.
The students, both rising eighth graders at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, were registered using a fraudulent lease, according to the Main Line Media News.
The district caught on when the family filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Court against the driver of a car that hit one of their children on school property. The website is reporting that the district saw the mother's address listed as Philadelphia on court documents, at which point it began its investigation.
Read the full story, including information on the family's right to an appeal and the students' ability to advance to high school, here.
Merion U.S. Open Compared to Old Dog that Needs to be Put Down
ESPN columnist Rick Reilly writes that there are many reasons the U.S. Open should never return to Merion Golf Club in Ardmore. And he doesn't mince words about the storied course
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Merion U.S. Open Compared to Old Dog that Needs to be Put Down
ESPN columnist Rick Reilly writes that there are many reasons the U.S. Open should never return to Merion Golf Club in Ardmore. And he doesn't mince words about the storied course in Thursday's piece, At Merion, smaller may not be better.
He starts with a tale from a neighboring homeowner named Thomas Gravina, who "came downstairs Thursday to find a bunch of golf pros eating muffins in his living room."
"Because Merion is the size of a casserole dish, the Gravinas' kitchen, living room, dining room and library are now the U.S. Open Player Hospitality Center, which means he can walk in his front door nearly any time of the day and find Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or some other touring pro loitering around his house," Reilly's column continued.
He writes that Gravina and others "turned their lives upside down (for no money), so the USGA could shoehorn one last U.S. Open into this little jewel box. But this is getting ridiculous."
"Property owners have the right to not allow their homes to be part of the Championship," the USGA stated. Haverford Patch unsuccessfully tried to contact Gravina.
The USGA said in a statement that "We extend our gratitude to local homeowners, many of whom are members at Merion Golf Club, for their cooperation and generosity in using their property as needed space for facilities such as hospitality and other services such as scoring and media."
The USGA also commented that it "chooses U.S. Open sites that are unique, special and historic, and that deliver the most comprehensive examination in the game that tests players and excites fans."
"We recognize the fact that Merion represents a smaller footprint than most U.S. Open sites, however we are confident that our operational plan is delivering a player and fan experience worthy of Philadelphia and the U.S. Open. We have closely collaborated with Merion Golf Club, Haverford College, neighbors, local municipalities and state agencies, and have put many initiatives in place to provide the best experience possible," the statement continues.
Because some residents living within a few blocks of the course can earn $3,000 to $20,000 for the week, it was reported.
Yes, the space is smaller than many other tournament locations, but "This is a big golf area. We should be having majors here," said Villanova's Mary Ann Walter, who also marshaled for two years at the AT&T tournament at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square.
She told Haverford Patch on Wednesday that she thinks players should be happy to play Merion, with its rich history and traditional-style course.
"They owe the game of golf to come back to courses like this."
Reilly ends his column, saying, "So enjoy cuddly, furry, wonderful Merion for this one last week. Hopefully, after this, it goes the way of Old Yeller."
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.
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