Good Morning. Here are some of the top stories from around the region.
WEATHER
Cold, wet and snowy this morning, but the sun will eventually come out today. Expect the high to hit about 34 degrees.
CLICK HERE to check your local forecast.
NEWS
Upper Darby cops troll kids on social media who planned kegger
Party crashers don’t hold a flame to the Upper Darby Police Department. The county’s largest municipal police department got national attention in a tweet showing a police officer disrupting a soon-to-be underage drinking party by hauling away a keg of beer found in the woods. “Attn young people,” the post starts out, “you might want to hold off on buying the red plastic cups for tonight’s party behind the Aronimink Swim Club (aka the palace). There will probably be a lack of attendance now.”
Delaware County man gets 90 years for ‘unspeakable’ sexual abuse of girl, 7
An Aston man was sentenced Tuesday to serve 90 years in federal prison for his manufacture of sexually explicit images of a 7-year-old girl and the transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. Matthew Maffei, also known as “Uncle Matt,” of the first block of Dogwood Lane, was also sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg to lifetime supervised released, a $20,000 assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, $5,000 restitution and a $400 special assessment.
Ice sailor goes though thin ice on Struble Lake in Honey Brook
A man piloting an ice sailboat on Struble Lake broke through thin ice up to his waist before he was able to pull himself to safety Monday afternoon. Honey Brook and Wagontown Fire Companies were alerted just after 1 p.m. for the report of a man in the water near the dam. The temperature at the time was below freezing.
Montco D.A. releases composite sketches of Norristown Farm Park rape suspect
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Tuesday that his office is utilizing a cutting-edge approach in the search for the man who raped a woman at gunpoint in the Norristown Farm Park last summer. “We’re here today to try to catch a rapist,” Steele said as he unveiled a DNA-generated illustration of the suspect.
Chester County Prison corrections officer charged in sex crime involving minor
A corrections officer at the Chester County Prison has been arrested in Philadelphia and charged with a sex crime allegedly involving taking improper photographs of a minor. Lt. Joseph Jones Jr., who has been employed as a corrections officer with the county since April 2011, was charged by city police with a unlawful contact with a minor, photographing a sex act, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of an instrument of crime, and invasion of privacy.
Franconia turns down Peter Becker Community request for reduced impact fee
The township is willing to discuss making changes to its ordinances setting the amount of impact fees owed, but for now, the law is the law and a request for a reduction will not be granted, Peter Becker Community was told at the Jan. 15 Franconia Township Board of Supervisors meeting. In December, the retirement community asked for a reduction in the impact fees for nine planned townhouse cottages in the Maplewood Estates section.
SPORTS
Wild ending for Vikings should teach Eagles some lessons
Like the rest of the football world, the Eagles watched replays of Stefon Diggs’ walk-off winning touchdown all night Sunday. And again, Monday and Tuesday. The play was a graphic example of coaches overcoaching, players not playing and the old Yogi Berra adage, it’s not over until it’s over.
Romo says Eagles have great chance to win Super Bowl
It wasn’t perfect, but Tony Romo had a solid rookie season as a color analyst for CBS Sports. The retired Cowboys quarterback invited viewers into the huddle — heck, into the radio headset — with his calls of football games this season. Truth be told, Romo’s insight showed he takes the job a little bit more seriously than some of his colleagues. But that’s a column for another day.
Phillies’ Kapler taking baby steps as he gets to know his new team
To Gabe Kapler, a dusting of snow on a January morning had blossomed into what he optimistically described as, “seemed a little warmer today.” You’ll have to forgive a 42-year-old guy whose hometown is actually Hollywood (yes, the one in California) for being a little naive about winters here. He has less experience with them than he’s had managing baseball teams.
ENTERTAINMENT
CONCERT PREVIEW: ‘80s-fixated ‘Midwest boys’ Walk the Moon playing Fillmore Philly
Taking their name from The Police song “Walking on the Moon,” Cincinnati band Walk the Moon proudly wears their obsession with the 1980s. “All that music had wonderful (cover) art and terrific vibes,” said bassist Kevin Ray, noting that the alternative rock quartet’s musical tastes were formed by their parents’ record collections.
