New Pottstown Police Chief: Use Increased Patrols, Social Media To Fight Crime

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  The social media aspect doesn’t really strike me an a great crime fighting tool; however, crime mapping and focused patrols in problem areas are certainly a good start.  We can only hope things move in a positive direction with the police department.  Unless crime can be brought under control, revitalization and economic development cannot happen on a large enough scale to truly have a transformative impact on the Borough of Pottstown.

POTTSTOWN — Even before taking the oath Wednesday night as the borough’s new police chief, Richard Drumheller had some ideas to help make the community safer, even if it means using unconventional tactics.

Drumheller plans on using Facebook and Twitter to create a better connection with residents, increase patrols in high-crime areas and streamline the way police calls are dispatched.

One of the first changes he wants to make as the new chief is creating a department presence on social media as a way to engage with the residents of Pottstown.

He said people want to know what is going on in the borough and he wants to use Facebook and Twitter as a way to keep them informed.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130509/NEWS01/130509292/new-pottstown-police-chief-use-increased-patrols-social-media-to-fight-crime#full_story

Reading Teen Lied About Fight Details, Police Say

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A 17-year-old Reading boy who told police he was attacked by a crowd of youths and nearly hit with a hammer during an after-school melee last week lied about the incident, according to city detectives.

The youth was at least truthful about one part of his story: He was surrounded in City Park by a large group of youths, some of whom carried wooden boards. A video that someone posted to YouTube, however, clearly showed that the crowd was actually cheering on him and another youth as they squared off and then fought, said Sgt. John M. Solecki of the criminal investigations division.

The boy had told officers who arrived and found him bloodied on the ground with an injured left shoulder that he entered the crowd to find his cousin, only to be pulled down, punched and kicked.

“As city police investigated, video footage was found that showed he and another youth were the initial combatants in a mutually agreed-upon fistfight, and during the fistfight he injured his shoulder,” Solecki said.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=465325

Reading Police Still Probing After-School Melees

A wooden table leg, a baseball bat, a hammer and a two-by-four.

Those were just a few of the weapons wielded during after-school brawls among 75 to 100 teenagers, city police Sgt. John M. Solecki said Thursday.

City detectives were still sorting through video from surveillance cameras and from bystanders, who posted footage of the fighting Wednesday on Facebook.

And the fact that city schools started spring break Thursday wasn’t helping, police.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=464280

Facebook To Change News Feed To A ‘Personalized Newspaper’

Facebook logo Español: Logotipo de Facebook Français : Logo de Facebook Tiếng Việt: Logo Facebook (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Facebook announced a revamp of its news feed Thursday, unveiling a minimalist design that puts a central focus on photos, graphics and video and that the company hopes will attract new advertisers.

The news feed, which provides a running list of updates from a user’s network, will serve as a “personalized newspaper” for Facebook’s 1 billion users, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said at a news conference at the company’s California headquarters.

The redesign is critical in Facebook’s effort to convince advertisers of the value of working with the social network.  The company already allows users to pay to promote posts, buy goods through its network and buy gift cards directly from the site.

Read more:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/facebook-to-change-news-feed-to-a-personalized-newspaper/2013/03/07/b294f61e-8751-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html?hpid=z3

Many Skip School At Brandywine Heights High Over Social Media Rumor

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States Public School Districts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Given recent events, can you blame parents for keeping their children home!

Despite assurances from the school district there was nothing to be concerned about, 40 percent of Brandywine Heights High School students stayed home Wednesday in light of rumors a student was planning to bring a gun to school.

Dr. Martin D. Handler, superintendent, said rumors began circulating through Facebook, email and other venues over winter break that a student planned to bring a gun to school Wednesday.

District officials alerted state police, who interviewed the student and his mother and determined there was no threat.

Just to be on the safe side, Handler said, state police were on hand at the start of school Wednesday.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=440746

Yahoo To Lay Off 2,000 Employees

Deutsch: Logo von Yahoo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Betcha nobody is yelling “yahoo” over this news!

(Reuters) – Yahoo Inc will lay off 2,000 people, or 14 percent of its workforce, in its deepest round of job cuts in years as new Chief Executive Scott Thompson tries to jumpstart growth with a leaner, more agile company while saving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Wall Street’s reaction was lukewarm, after two previous Yahoo CEOs failed to find an answer to rivals like Web-search leader Google and the Facebook social-networking site.

Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo, which ended 2011 with some 14,000 employees, said it would save $375 million annually from the cuts and incur a pre-tax cash charge in the second quarter of $125 million to $145 million.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/sns-rt-us-yahoo-layoffbre8330ly-20120404,0,1433746.story

Kelly Clarkson To Drop New Single August 30th – New Album To Be Released October 25th

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Kelly Clarkson is getting ready to release her fifth album since being crowned the first American Idol.  To whet our appetites, she will drop her new single, Mr. Know It All, tomorrow during a webcast from 5:30 – 6:00.  You can listen here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203194156406417

You can also check out Kelly’s website for more information: http://rsvp.kellyclarkson.com/

Starting on September 5^th, you can download the new single.  Kelly is also taking preorders for her new album Stronger on her website.

Looking forward to hearing her new music!

Citizen’s For Pottstown’s Revitalization (CPR) – Thoughts For The New Year And Upcoming Events

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I am pleased to pass on this important information from CPR!

Happy New Year All!!

The start of a new year brings the promise of renewed hope and energy into revitalizing Pottstown.  This momentum  is pushing us towards new possibilities and uncharted territory of growth and progress.  The winter’s festivities brought in an unprecedented number of revelers, proving that Pottstown still has heart and promise.  Despite our many differences of opinion and spirited discourses we ultimately share the same goal; to live in a safe environment.  The way we achieve this goal is to stay involved!  You can now stay in touch with the Pottstown Neighborhood Watch through Facebook- search Citizens for Pottstown’s Revitalization (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizens-For-Pottstowns-Revitilization/143692659014127?v=wall). Please join us at the following events listed below.

January 16, 2011 @ 1PM : Female Safety Clinic (PKC-21 North Hanover St.) Space is limited so please RSPV to  610 327 1321 and leave a message.

February 18, 2011 @ 7PM : Neighborhood Watch Meeting (146 King St. PAL Bldg.) 

March 2011 (Date to be determined) Witness Training by Pottstown Police.      

I hope this new year brings each of you happiness, health and the energy to take back our town!! 

  

Anna Johnson 

 

 

 

 

 

Janet & Gina’s Hip Places To Be Scene In Pottstown

A pro-Pottstown Facebook page the promotes Pottstown businesses in a fun and unique way.  Check out the adventures of Janet & Gina as they trip the light fantastic in our town!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Pottstown-PA/The-Hip-Places-to-Be-Scene-in-Pottstown/107883869252622?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=7

Facebook Users Beware

There is a possible virus coming from a Facebook application called Mafia Wars.  A friend of mine had some problems with his computer that are being traced back to Mafia Wars.  The application is sending out spam to his friend list.

FarmVille Hiatus

As of this coming weekend I am taking a hiatus from FarmVille.  I do not have the time for two imaginary farms;  just one.  Too much going on now that summer is coming to and end.  So after Labor Day weekend the FarmVille fields will lie fallow until some distant date in the future.  Just Farmtown for now. 

Adieu FarmVille!

Farm Town and FarmVille

I think I will be forced to give up one or the other of these games soon because the amount of time spent on fake farming for fake money is becoming prohibitive. 

The weekend came, the weekend went.  It’s almost time for bed and I am not really that tired and don’t want the day to end.  Oh well…….

Social Media

I am addicted to social media.  Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, websites, blogs, you name it.  Lately I have been sucked into Farm Town and Farmville on Facebook.  I now have two gigantic farms that require hours of work each day and I earn fake money for my labors.  Am I nuts already?  Oy veh!

The best benefit of Facebook is the renewed contact with my classmates from good old Canton High School.  It’s amazing that the bonds you form in school carry over many years later.  The genuine care and concern for each other is totally cool. 

Make new friends, but keep the old;  one is silver and the other is gold.