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Fire and EMS companies serving the 18th District and 142nd District were awarded grants from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC), state Reps. Joe Hogan and K.C. Tomlinson announced.

Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training or reduction of existing debt.

“Across our community, this funding will support critical upgrades and the acquisition of life saving equipment,” said Hogan. As we know, our volunteer first responders put their lives on the line with every call, we must ensure they have the resources they need to keep our communities and families safe.”

“I’m proud to congratulate our dedicated fire and EMS companies across the 18th District on receiving these critical grants,” said Tomlinson. “From Bensalem to Hulmeville, these funds will go directly toward facility upgrades, equipment purchases, training and debt relief. These investments provide our first responders with the support they deserve to continue to keep our communities safe.”

The organizations receiving grants are:

• Bensalem Fire Rescue – $14,075.
• Bensalem Rescue Squad Inc. – $15,000.
• Cornwells Fire Company No. 1 – $16,136.
• Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company – $16,136.
• Middletown Township DBA – $12,838.
• Newport Fire Company No. 1 – $16,136.
• Nottingham Fire Company – $16,136.
• Penndel Fire Co. No. 1 – $16,136.
• Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad – $15,000.
• William Penn Fire Co. – $16,136.

• Feasterville Fire Co. – $15,312.
• Lower Southampton Fire Co. – $16,136.
• Northampton Township Volunteer Fire Co. – $14,693.
• Trevose Fire Company – $16,136.

The 18th House District covers Bensalem Township and Hulmeville Borough.

The 142nd House District covers Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Penndel Borough, Lower Southampton Township, parts of Middletown and Northampton Townships.

Police across the commonwealth are warning consumers looking to purchase vehicles online about an uptick in reports in which thieves are using social media based sites to sell stolen vehicles.

Police departments across  Pennsylvania are seeing an uptick of cases in which criminals are using channels like Facebook Marketplace to sell stolen vehicles, often with counterfeit titles or falsified paperwork, law enforcement officials say.

At least one investigator reported, investigators say, that of the vehicles recovered, almost none of them exhibit signs of tampering or damage.

Be cautious and help protect yourself:

• Verify Vehicle History: Always check the vehicle identification number (VIN) and run a full vehicle history report.
• Avoid Cash-Only Transactions: Use traceable payment methods and meet sellers in safe, public locations.
• Inspect Carefully: Look for signs of tampering and never buy a car without confirming its ownership and documentation.

And always remember, authorities say,  if something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts. Stay alert, stay safe, and don’t let a quick deal turn into a costly mistake.

A Philadelphia woman arrested last year for her role in four armed robberies at 7-Elevens in Lower Bucks County, where she faces 18 armed robbery counts, was released this past August on unsecured bail.

Amanda Petherbridge was arrested and jailed in July of 2024 charged as a co-conspirator in four armed robberies of 7-Elevens in  Lower Bucks County;  (Lower Southampton Twp-Penndel Borough-Bristol Twp and Bensalem Twp). 

As the armed robbery cases have matriculated through the county court system, it appears charges for the  Penndel armed robbery have been dropped/withdrawn.

By all accounts, Petherbridge cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation. =

On July 31st, according to online court records, Petherbridge was released from Bucks County Correctional after a bail reduction hearing. She was not required to post any funds to secure her freedom again.

Petherbridge, through her court appointed attorney, requested and was turned down for a bail reduction in  January of 2025.

Her co-conspirator Christopher Yelverton, 43, remains in custody after entering the Nolo Contendere for the Lower Southampton robbery. He entered a guilty plea for the Bensalem robbery late last year, according to online court records. Charges for the gun-point robberies in Bristol Twp. and Penndel apparently have been dismissed, perhaps in light of Yelverton’s Bensalem robbery guilty plea.

Yelverton will be sentenced in February.

Weeks before the municipal elections, this news organization contacted then Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn to find out whether or not she opposed Petherbridge’s release and unsecured bail status.

Schorn never responded to this news organization’s request.

Petherbridge is represented by the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office. The public defenders no longer provide comments to the media on cases, this news organization has been told repeatedly.

Petherbridge, according to court records, is from Philadelphia.

One of Schorn’s main election campaign talking point was keeping Bucks County residents safe from Philadelphia criminals.

The former DA was recently appointed to a state cold case team operating out of the attorney general’s office.

Lower Bucks Source asked five veteran cops from three different municipalities if they have ever heard of anyone charged with multiple armed robberies getting out of jail on unsecured bail?

“Never”

“No effing way”

“Are you for real”

“That is a definite no”

“No comment”

This isn’t to say Petherbridge’s contributions to the investigation weren’t integral. She confessed to her role in the robberies. She also helped police gather additional evidence, according to the criminal complaint.

Bucks County authorities already piled up stacks of traffic light License Plate Reader (LPR) data about the duo’s travels before and after the armed robberies in Bensalem and Bristol Townships. Bensalem detectives arrested Petherbridge and Yelverton a very short time after that robbery due to LPRs which stopped the serial robbers.

Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Stephen A. Corr approved Petherbridge’s bail modification request on August 1 last year, according to online court records.

The original bail amounts are below for the remaining three cases.

– Bristol Twp 7-Eleven Robbery  – Original Bail Set: 10 percent of $100,000.00 

– Bensalem Township 7-Eleven Robbery – Original Bail Set: 10 percent of $100,000.00 

– Lower Southampton Township 7-Eleven Armed Robbery May 2, 2024: Bail Set 10 percent of 75,000.00

Petherbridge remains free in the community and has a court date set for March 2 where she is facing 18 armed robbery counts in three municipalities.

How many suspects accused of 20 some-odd armed robbery related counts do you know walking around free in the community?

We don’t know one.