Top 10 Stories on Norristown Patch in March

As March comes to a close, here's a look at the 10 most-read stories on our site this month.

Here's a look back at some of the most popular stories we covered this month on Norristown Patch. 1. Director of Montco's Juvenile Detention Center Let Go – The long-time executive director of Montgomery County's juvenile detention facility in West Norriton resigned her position suddenly weeks ago, amid talk of a hostile work environment at the center. 2. Two Armed Robberies, Shots Fired Under Investigation Sunday Night – A string of armed robberies in the Norristown area over the course of several weeks were covered by Patch and one night in particular saw more than its fair share of action. 3. DA to Investigate Fatal Crash – The investigation into a crash in Limerick that resulted in the death of a woman jogging along the roadside was …

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Montco Drones, Fatal Crash Charges Among Region's Top News

A roundup of some stories from around the wider area that you may have missed during the past week.

Get Real

What Pre-Foreclosure Means

Lisa Loper of the Scott Loper Team explains a frequently misunderstood term in the real estate market.

We frequently have buyers asking us about pre-foreclosure homes that they found on the internet.  There are many sites that will give consumers this type of information.  Most of these homes are not listed for sale, but some buyers want to know if they can still see the property with the possibility of buying it. Pre-foreclosure simply means that a homeowner has fallen behind on their mortgage payments.  And while a foreclosure may eventually happen, at the current time, the home is still rightfully owned by the mortgagor (i.e. homeowner).  It does NOT mean that the home is available for sale.  In fact, that home may never be available for sale. In most cases, a homeowner does NOT want to sell OR lose their home to a foreclosure.  The …

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Matthew J. Ferenchak, 69, of Butler, Pa.

Ferenchak, an avid golfer and loyal Philly fan, was born in Norristown and formerly lived in Limerick.

Matthew J. Ferenchak, 69, of Butler, formerly of Limerick, died Monday morning, January 21, 2013, at Butler Memorial Hospital. Born Sept. 16, 1943, in Norristown, Montgomery County, he was the son of Edith Detterer Ferenchak, of Norristown and the late John Ferenchak. Matthew was a 1961 graduate of the Upper Merion High School. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Matthew was a partner in LaFern Industrial, a machine tool consulting company, retiring in 2003. He was an avid golfer, as well as a loyal Phillies and Eagles fan. In addition to his mother, surviving are his wife, Barbara Lattanze Ferenchak, whom he married July 7, 1973; two sons, Matthew Ferenchak Jr. (Patty), of Gilbertsville, and Gary Ferenchak, of Pottstown; a …

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Caleb Fairley Still Seeking New Trial

Fairley is reportedly appealing a judge's decision to turn down his last appeal to overturn his 1995 conviction for the murder of a Limerick woman and her one year old daughter.

According to The Mercury, convicted murderer Caleb Fairley is not giving up on his crusade for a new trial after both his court-appointed attorney and a judge said the appeal has "no merit." Reportedly representing himself, Fairley has now filed with Pennsylvania Superior Court appealing the Montgomery County judge's latest ruling to deny a new trial. Fairley is requesting a new trial, and that his previous sentence be vacated. Failing that, Fairley reportedly wants a new sentencing hearing. Fairley is basing his request on a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court finding mandatory life terms for juveniles unconstitutional. Fairley, who was 21 at the time of the murder, argued that recent appellate court findings support the idea that "a person’…

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Freedom Valley, Philadelphia YMCAs May Merge

A town hall meeting on the merger is scheduled for Monday evening.

A merger is in the works between the Philadelphia Area YMCA and the Freedom Valley YMCA; however, not everyone is pleased about the prospect or the process.  Both YMCA boards have voted to approve the merger and members recently received letters explaining the deal and how members can vote. The Y is holding a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, at the Spring Valley YMCA on Linfield-Trappe Road in Limerick. This town hall comes in advance of the vote, which is scheduled to happen at Chadwick's Restaurant in Audubon on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Philadelphia Area YMCA CEO John Flynn told Patch in a phone interview that the merger came about as the two organizations began working more closely together. "We realized that we could …

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Caleb Fairley's Lawyer Says His Appeal is 'Frivolous'

The public defender assigned to the case has asked to be allowed to withdraw from representing the convicted murderer.

KoP Murderer Requests a New Trial

Caleb Fairley, sentenced to two life sentences for the strangulation deaths of Lisa Marie Manderach and her 19-month-old daughter in Collegeville in 1995, is requesting a new trial.

According to the Daily Times, convicted murderer Caleb Fairley is requesting a new trial, or failing that, a new sentencing hearing for the murder of Limerick resident Lisa Marie Manderach and her 19-month-old daughter, Devon, in Collegeville in 1995. Fairley, formerly of Upper Merion, filed the request on his own behalf without the aid of a lawyer. He is basing his request on a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court finding mandatory life terms for juveniles unconstitutional. Fairley, who was 21 at the time of the murder, argued that recent appellate court findings support the idea that "a person’s biological process is typically incomplete until the person reaches his or her mid-twenties." Prosecutors are expected to oppose the request…

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Driver in Limerick Crash Charged with DUI

A Norristown woman was charged with multiple offenses stemming from a July crash on Swamp Pike.

The Pottstown Mercury reports that 21-year-old Arrison Renee Bunner, of Norristown, was charged Thursday with multiple criminal offenses related to a July 13 crash on Swamp Pike in Limerick. Bunner faces felony charges of aggravated assault with a vehicle and several other drug-related offenses. Brian Blackwell, 26, of Exeter, was seriously injured in the crash and, according to court records, remains in a comatose state in Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital. Bunner was driving northbound on Swamp Pike when she allegedly lost control of her 2007 Saturn and crashed into a utility pole. According to court records, witnesses said Bunner threw something out of the window. Police later found a wooden box in the high grass at the side of the road…

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Former ADA Facing DUI Charges

Former Assistant District Attorney John Aitchison, of Limerick, is facing DUI charges stemming from a June 2 crash in Upper Providence.

According to The Mercury, former Assistant District Attorney John Aitchison is facing DUI and related charges stemming from a June 2 car crash on Trappe Road in Upper Providence. Aitchison left his position in the district attorney's office in July of this year. According to reports, Upper Providence police responded to the 700 block of South Trappe Road at around 2:39 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, for a report of a two-vehicle crash. According to an affidavit, Aitchison's vehicle had allegedly crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic and struck a northbound vehicle. Court records say Aitchison allegedly kept going south and turned onto Mennonite Road and was eventually stoped by a witness who pulled alongside him and forced him to…

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