Jason Listmeier, 24, an officer with the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department, was charged with summary offenses of careless driving, unintentional death, driving on roadways laned for traffic, and overtaking a vehicle on the left.

Listmeier, operating a police cruiser, struck and killed bicyclist Michael T. Ghione, 75, of West Chester on Feb. 19 at 10:16 a.m.

“This is a tragic incident that deeply affects many people,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “While in the course of his duties, the officer responded to the report of an erratic driver but engaged in careless driving, causing him to strike a guardrail and then strike and kill Mr. Ghione. Although we expect law enforcement to respond urgently to assist others, they still must adhere to our traffic laws to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.”

On Feb. 19, at approximately 10:16 a.m., West Goshen Police received information about a motor vehicle crash involving a bicyclist, later identified as Ghione. The accident occurred as the bicyclist was traveling north on South High Street in the area of the Route 202 overpass.

After an investigation conducted by Chester County Detectives and West Goshen Police Department, it was determined that Listmeier was traveling north on South High Street in his marked patrol vehicle in response to a 911 call about an erratic driver on Route 202 heading southbound.

Police found that the officer was traveling approximately 50 mph in a 45 mph zone but lost control of the vehicle when he looked down at his work computer and struck a guardrail and then struck and killed Ghione.

Listmeier did not have his lights or siren on at the time. The officer immediately rendered aid to Ghione, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was attributed to multiple blunt impact injuries.

Listmeier has been an officer with the Westtown-East Goshen Police Department for 10 months. Prior to that, he was an officer with the Malvern Police Department for five months. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Kutztown University and is a graduate of the Delaware County Community College Municipal Police Academy.

Ghione was born in West Chester but grew up in Kennett Square and graduated from Unionville High School class of 1964, where he played basketball. He held a variety of jobs including working on horse farms in Unionville and various transportation services throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware. He enjoyed local history of the tri-state area and could frequently be found playing the ponies at Delaware Park. He is survived by brothers Joe and Richard and a sister, Linda (Paul) Jurgaitis and many cousins and friends.

Venessa Gutshall, 37, was arrested for the kidnapping of her 6-year-old daughter, Zoe Moss, at East Ward Elementary School in Downingtown on Oct. 25. The arrest affidavit lists her first name spelled Venessa, which differs from the Amber Alert that was released earlier in the week.

The child was taken away from Gutshall, her biological mother, by Chester County Children, Youth & Family due to homelessness and psychological issues on the part of the mother, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The child, who is a student in a West Chester school, was placed with foster parents, who she now resides with.

Gutshall has no custody rights to her biological child and is only permitted to see her daughter during supervised visits.

Authorities said the child is safe and appears to be unharmed. Gutshall has been charged with kidnapping of a minor, unlawful restraint of a minor, endangering the welfare of children, and related charges. She is awaiting extradition back to Chester County.

“Local, county and federal law enforcement worked around the clock and never gave up hope of finding this little girl,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “She is safe tonight because of the efforts of Downingtown Police, the FBI, Chester County Detectives, Fairfax (VA) County Police, and law enforcement from Dauphin, York, and Lancaster counties. We are grateful to the community for their tips and support. This was a successful team effort because of our collaboration, and I thank them all for saving this young victim’s life.”

Downingtown Police Chief Howard Holland stated, “We are extremely grateful to all the assisting law enforcement agencies. Due to their help and dedicated efforts, we were able to locate Zoe quickly and protect her from any further harm. Today was a very good day.”

On Oct. 25, an Amber Alert was issued for the abduction of a child who was last seen at East Ward Elementary School, 435 Washington Ave., Downingtown. The child was at that location for a court-ordered, non-school-related supervised visit with the defendant, her biological mother. The defendant did not have custody rights to the child and was only permitted to see the child during supervised visits. The defendant was homeless then, and there were concerns about her ability to keep the child safe.

The supervisor of the visit, who worked as a contractor for Chester County Children, Youth & Family, reported to police that the mother fled with the child in a gray 2016 Volkswagen Jetta in direct violation of a court order.

Gutshall was seen later that day at the Rivertowne Restaurant & Bar in Wrightsville, York County, about an hour west of Downingtown near York, without the child. An Amber Alert was issued by Pennsylvania State Police soon after.

Gutshall was arrested by Fairfax County Police in McLean, Va., on Oct 27 at approximately 11:30 a.m. after police observed a stolen Virginia license plate on the same vehicle in which she fled with the child.  Law enforcement determined that another license plate had been affixed to the car to conceal the child.

Initially, when police stopped the vehicle, no one else was seen inside. Several minutes later, they found the child hidden under blankets in the back seat. Gutshall, the child, and the vehicle were transported to the McLean District Station of the Fairfax County PD. The child appeared unharmed, but she will undergo a medical examination soon.

CYF is currently en route with the child’s foster parents to bring her back to Chester County. Gutshall will be arraigned in Virginia and extradited back to Chester County as soon as possible.

Downingtown Police and Chester County Detectives are investigating. Deputy District Attorney Erin O’Brien is the assigned prosecutor.

The new name for the campus will be ChristianaCare West Grove Campus. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter.

“This is welcome news for our community as we ensure Southern Chester County has accessible and affordable care,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th of Easttown.

The 52-bed Jennersville Hospital has been closed since December 31, 2021. The acquisition does not include any personnel or practices that are currently operating.

“At ChristianaCare, we recognize that the closing of Jennersville Hospital represented a loss of access to important health care services in the surrounding community,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, ChristianaCare president and CEO. “ChristianaCare already serves many members of the Southern Chester County community in our hospitals and practices. We look forward to working with community leaders, listening and evaluating needs, and re-establishing the right mix of health care services at this location.”

The news is especially good for residents in Western and Southern Chester County. According to the Chester County Department of Emergency Services, an average of 5,747 patients are transported annually by ambulance to Chester County Hospital, and an average of 2,669 patients were transported to Jennersville Hospital annually by ambulance. With both hospitals closed, the EMS Council expects to receive more than 6,500 additional ambulance patients annually.

Residents of southern Chester County now have just two options for medical care – Chester County Hospital in West Chester, or Christiana Care, Wilmington Hospital in Delaware. Christiana Hospital is nearly 20 miles from Jennersville, and Chester County Hospital is nearly 23 miles away.

Planning for which services might be located on the Jennersville campus is in the early stages.

“We are exploring what is possible,” said Jennifer Schwartz, Esq., Chief Strategy Officer. “We know that the loss of the emergency services because of the closing of Jennersville Hospital is a significant concern of the community, and that’s definitely something that we’re discussing. Our priority right now is to talk with community leaders and listen to the community, so that we can develop a plan that meets their needs.”

ChristianaCare already serves residents of Southern Chester County. On March 21, ChristianaCare announced the integration of two primary care practices at Jennersville and West Grove that were previously part of Tower Health.

In February, ChristianaCare announced a Letter of Intent to acquire Crozer Health from Prospect Medical Holdings.

“Today’s announcement comes after a great deal of hard work by many people and is a true game-changer for high-quality medical care in our community,” said state Rep. John Lawrence, R-13th of Franklin. “It has been a pleasure working with ChristianaCare over the past few months, and I look forward to building on this foundation in the days ahead to meet the growing health care needs of Southern Chester County.”

“ChristianaCare’s acquisition of Jennersville Hospital is great news for Southern Chester County and the surrounding region, but it’s important to note that this positive development did not occur by chance. I want to thank the bipartisan group of leaders and stakeholders who worked diligently to make it happen,” said state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-19th of West Chester. “We always prioritized finding a trusted partner that was committed to the community, our values of diversity and inclusion, and providing affordable, accessible care to all residents. While there is still much work ahead, I look forward to the reopening of the facility.”

“There is one word we have in response to the purchase of Jennersville Hospital, and that word is ‘fantastic,’” said Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline. “We thank the ChristianaCare leadership for their commitment to bringing much-needed services back to the Southern Chester County region, and we recognize the efforts of Representative Lawrence, Senator Comitta, and all who worked together to help facilitate this purchase. Reopening will not happen overnight, but we are moving in the right direction.”

“Jennersville Hospital faithfully provided for the health, safety and welfare of Southern Chester County residents for decades,” said Victor Mantegna, Chairman of the Penn Township Board of Supervisors. “News of its imminent closure was both devastating and constituted a substantial threat to our community. Today’s news answers more than a few prayers. We look forward to supporting our new community partner, ChristianaCare, as they reopen the facility. Our community will reap the benefits of this purchase for years to come.”

The roots of modern medical care in the community go back to the early 1900’s, when Dr. Robert Ewing established a five-bed clinic on Evergreen Street in West Grove. In the 1950s, realizing the need for improved medical facilities, community leaders came together to finance a replacement for the old West Grove Hospital that could serve the area for generations to come. Their vision and determination led to the construction of Jennersville Hospital, which opened in 1959 and underwent several expansions in the ensuing decades. ChristianaCare’s acquisition of the facility will establish a new chapter in the history of health care in the southern end of Chester County.

Lawrence, Comitta, the Chester County Commissioners, Penn Township supervisors, and officials from the Wolf administration met for months with a goal of finding a path forward for Jennersville Hospital after Tower Health’s abrupt closure announcement last year. A particular focus developed around emergency medicine, with the closest alternate facilities over 45 minutes away.

“Over the last few months, our local EMS providers, including Medic 94 and our local volunteer ambulance services, have done remarkable work in the face of tremendous challenges,” said Lawrence. “Today’s announcement is welcome news and will greatly improve response times and patient outcomes for those facing medical emergencies.”

Based in Wilmington, ChristianaCare is Delaware’s largest health care provider, operating three hospitals with 1,299 beds, a freestanding emergency department, a Level I trauma center, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center, and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care, and women’s health. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of primary care and outpatient services, home health care, and urgent care centers.

Tower Health officials attributed the closing of the Jennersville Hospital, which employed 293, to underperforming financially.

VA officials cited a declining population, demographic changes, aging conditions of some facilities and difficulty in recruiting to justify its proposed closures.

Under the nearly $2 trillion proposal released this week, the Veterans Affairs Department would lose a net of three medical centers and 174 outpatient health clinics but would gain 255 health care facilities, including new clinics, stand-alone rehabilitation centers and nursing homes.

The Coatesville VA has 302 operating beds and more than 1,300 employees, one of the largest employers in the region. It provides a wide range of health care services to more than 19,000 veterans in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

“The goal is for veterans to have convenient access to a health care network with the right facilities, in the right places, that provides the right care for veterans in every part of the country,” said Kirk Fernitz, director of Community and Congressional Affairs at the Coatesville VA. “There will be changes in markets across the country, but VA is not leaving any market. Between outpatient care, strategic collaborations, and referrals to the community, VA will continue to deliver timely access to world-class care to every veteran.”

The shuttering of 171 medical centers represents about 21 percent of the VA’s more than 800 outpatient clinics. However, the move would partly offset the closures by increasing its specialty clinics to 388, or 56 percent, and increasing reliance on private sector providers.

Fernitz said there would be no immediate changes at the Coatesville VA.

“If the recommendations are approved in 2023, the VA must then begin implementation of plans within three years,” he said. “During the implementation, the VA would develop a process for prioritization and funding of projects.”

Under the plan, 17 medical centers in 12 states would close, 18 in 16 states would be completely replaced, and 13 new centers would be built in 11 states.

The report recommends deactivating the Coatesville VA Medical Center and establishing two new sites within that market, a new medical center in the King of Prussia area and establishing a Chester County medical specialty Outpatient Clinic.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th of Easttown, said she was dismayed to learn of the VA’s plan to shutter the Coatesville facility. She said she will be talking with local veterans to get their view on the issue.

“My initial reaction is dismay and I’m inclined to fight the Biden Administration on the proposal,” Houlahan said. “I’m especially concerned because of recent hospital closings in southern Chester County, and as I understand it, Coatesville has the only VA-funded residential rehab for veterans with substance use issues.”

The report includes the recommendation of constructing new or modernizing existing VA health care facilities, realignments, and expanding VA partnerships. The report will also include the recommendation to close or relocate aged and underused medical facilities. The Air Commission has until Jan. 31, 2023, to review the Secretary’s recommendation and will throughout 2022, hold public hearings, visit VA facilities, and meet with employees/veterans. The AIR Commission will then forward their recommendations to President Biden, who will determine whether or not to submit those recommendations to Congress.

“We’ve spent the last several weeks and months communicating about this with VA employees, union partners, state partners, veteran service organizations, Congress, and more,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “I’m continuing to consult with our unions, and will do so moving forward, because I so appreciate the strong partnership we have with them.”

The American Legion Tuesday released a statement saying it generally doesn’t support closing facilities but recognizes that changes may be needed due to shifts in population.

“The American Legion will always advocate for every U.S. veteran, but we realize that for VA to properly serve America’s veterans, it must from time-to-time optimize, reallocate, and re-invest in some of its decades-old infrastructures,” American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard said in a statement.

The VA built the Coatesville VA Medical Center in 1929. The hospital’s original mission was to provide neuropsychiatric care to veterans. In 2013, the Coatesville VA Medical Center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Moenell Coleman, 25, was arrested with two counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and felony not to possess a firearm, along with other charges. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals Service on the West Chester University campus. He is being held at Chester County Prison in lieu of $1 million cash bail.

Authorities received many tips after the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division had offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Coleman.

“Moenell Coleman is a danger to the community,” said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “He sought out a woman he felt disrespected him and engaged in truly shocking behavior by following her home and shooting through an open front door, injuring her and another person. This senseless violence jeopardizes the safety of everyone and must stop.”

On Jan. 26 around 10 a.m., Coatesville City Police were called to Eighth Avenue in Coatesville for the report of shots fired. Police found a victim with a gunshot wound to her leg and her brother with a gunshot laceration wound. The victim’s brother was taken to Paoli Hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said.

Investigators learned that a 20-year-old woman had been in the Super Mart in Coatesville when she accidentally bumped into Coleman while waiting to pay for her items. Coleman, authorities said, got angry, and the woman apologized. But the apology wasn’t enough, and Coleman responded, “Bitch, I will shoot you in your (expletive) face,” and put his hand in his pocket. Coleman continued to threaten the victim as she got into her car.

The victim told investigators that the defendant was walking toward her when she pulled up to her house. As she ran to the house and opened the front door, Coleman started shooting. The other victim, who was sleeping on the couch, ran upstairs but was hit in the leg with a gunshot.

Investigators found nine .40 caliber shell casings in the home’s front yard, sidewalk, steps and porch. They also found a broken glass storm door, bullet holes in the front door, and the back bedroom wall.

A preliminary hearing for Coleman has been set for Feb. 16. Coatesville City Police and Chester County Detectives are investigating. Deputy District Attorney Bill Judge is the assigned prosecutor.

Tower said it has entered into a definitive agreement with Canyon Atlantic Partners LLC, which will assume ownership and operation of the facilities effective Jan. 1. Canyon Atlantic Partners is a hospital ownership and management organization. Details of the deal were not released.

The community reacted with enthusiasm and cautious optimism. Jennersville was set to close Dec. 31 and had already started the closure process. Tower said it would pause the process.

Cheryl Kuhn, president of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, said she was relieved to hear a deal had been reached.

“I am cautiously excited,” she said. “The ER will stay open, but we don’t know the extent of the hospital staying open. Of course ER service is extremely important. This is a sigh of relief for so many people. But long range, we still need the hospital.”

Vanessa Ross, who lives in Lincoln University and has been using Jennersville every week as she battles breast cancer, said she is thankful she won’t have to drive a half-hour away to get treatments.

“Praise God, I am so relieved,” she said.

Barton Post, a retired Philadelphia attorney with roots in Chester County, had advocated for a novel model to keep the Chester County hospitals open. He said he hopes to see the model used to salvage Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals. Phoenixville Hospital remains in Tower.

Post, founder of Post & Schell PC, had been working with the Chester County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Medical Society for the last four months in developing a model that would incorporate certain services into the hospitals under a nonprofit umbrella. Post said providing services such as child care, elder care and wellness programs could bring the financial lift the Chester County hospitals need to stay afloat.

Chester County officials held a press conference Monday after Tower announced the deal.

State Rep. John Lawrence praised the community for working together, with dedication, to find a solution to save Jennersville Hospital from closing. There was a seven-week effort to save the hospital from closing, the Republican lawmaker from Chester County said during his opening remarks at the press conference in Penn Township.

“For the past seven weeks, we have worked night and day to find a solution to keep this facility open for the people of our community and keep this emergency room open for the acute medical needs of our area,” Lawrence said. “I am so grateful for each person that contacted my office to voice their support, and especially to the hardworking first responders with Medic 94, Union Fire Company and West Grove Fire Company who serve our community with such dedication. Keeping the Jennersville ER open is critical both for them and our community.”

State Sen.Carolyn Comitta, a Chester County Democrat, said, “This is great news for Chester County.” She added that keeping the facility open will save lives.

Penn Township Supervisor Victor Mantegna said he had hoped and prayed for a solution to keep Jennersville Hospital open for the community.

“We are thrilled that this day is here,” Mantegna said. “I hoped and prayed. It’s a great day.”

Work ahead

Former Pottstown Hospital Chief Financial Officer Michael Zwetschkenbaum is CFO of Canyon Atlantic.

Zwetschkenbaum spent five years as CFO at Pottstown Hospital from 2008 to 2013, according to his LinkedIn profile.

David Kreye is chief executive of Canyon Atlantic Partners, which incorporated in Florida Nov. 15.

Tower said Kreye and Zwetschkenbaum bring years of experience to the enterprise.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Kreye was involved with “multiple successful hospital turnaround efforts in the investor-owned and private equity/venture capital environment.”

A once rapidly growing system, West Reading-based Tower is in the process of whittling down its assets as it tries to recover from steep losses that sent its bond rating into junk territory.

The seven-hospital system spread through four counties recently wrote off $370 million in value of its hospitals. Not including the write-off, Tower posted a $243.5 million loss for fiscal 2021, which ended June 30. It’s regarded as an improvement over fiscal 2020, when it lost $415.3 million.

Tower announced in September it would close Jennersville and sell Chestnut Hill and about 20 urgent cares to Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. The move was applauded by bond rating agencies.

This summer Tower announced it was exploring a strategic partnership with Penn Medicine. Tower is still looking for a partner for St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, which it co-owns with Drexel University.

There is a lot of work ahead for Jennersville and Brandywine as the hospitals have been buffeted by cuts since Tower’s financial troubles became acute in 2020.

Last year, Tower closed its cardiac catherization lab at Brandywine Hospital on Dec. 11, sending cardiology patients scrambling to more distant facilities.

Jennersville is licensed for 63 beds and most recently said it was staffed for 52. Brandywine is licensed for 171 beds.

Tower contended in its Jennersville closure letter that it had made substantial investments in both the physical space and human resources to the hospital viable but just could not make it work.

Tower said despite the continued efforts, Jennersville continued to sustain substantial losses and experience substantial competition in the service area. Tower has been unable to recruit new medical staff in key specialties.

Patient volumes continued to trend down and staff turnover and vacancies are excessive, according to its closure letter.

The details

Under the agreement, Canyon Atlantic Partners will assume all Brandywine and Jennersville Hospital assets and operations as of Jan. 1. This means all clinical and non-clinical staff in good standing at the hospitals will be offered employment by Canyon Atlantic Partners effective on the date of transfer, Tower said.

Canyon Atlantic Partners will also assume ownership of all inpatient and outpatient services associated with the hospitals.

“There was extensive work done to find a solution for Jennersville and Brandywine Hospitals, and we are pleased to have identified one that keeps both hospitals open,” C. Tom Work, chair of Tower Health’s board of directors, said in a news release. “This transfer of ownership will ensure continued, convenient access to care for the Jennersville and Brandywine communities. It will also further advance Tower Health’s financial and operational turnaround, positioning us to deliver on our mission well into the future.”

The announcement that Tower would close Jennersville led to an outcry from Chester County elected officials, medical professionals and chamber of commerce leaders. They were also worried about the future of Brandywine. The loss of the hospitals would leave many without access to hospital care, they said.

Tower said it heard the calls to keep Jennersville open.

“We listened to the community and redoubled our efforts to keep Jennersville and Brandywine hospitals open,” said P. Sue Perrotty, president and CEO of Tower Health. “We are deeply grateful for the commitment of our staff, who showed steadfast dedication to our patients throughout this process. We have a lot of hard work ahead but believe this transaction  represents the best opportunity for the two hospitals.”

While planning for the transfer of operations continues, Tower Health has suspended planning for the closure of Jennersville Hospital.

“Canyon Atlantic Partners is honored to be chosen to build on the accomplishments of Tower Health and will prioritize working closely with their communities and medical staff to ensure we meet their needs,” David Kreye, president and CEO of Canyon Atlantic Partners, said in a news release. “We look forward to bringing our substantial experience in acute care hospital turnaround and growth to further elevate the hard work of the excellent medical staff at Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals, and ultimately making an impact with the greater community that they serve.”

(Reporter Jen Samuel of MediaNews Group contributed to this story.)

Continuing coverage of Tower Health

Tower Health fights for tax exempt status, and local governments are watching

Tower Health writes off $370 million in losses

Pottstown Hospital to remain off tax rolls

Tower Health loses bid to have three Chester County hospitals deemed tax exempt

Tower Health to unload Jennersville and Chestnut Hill hospitals

Tower Health’s transplant program to go under Penn Medicine banner

Tower Health pursuing ‘strategic alliance’ with Penn Medicine

Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health in Wyomissing ready for students

Tower Health continues to seek buyer as it reports $80M quarterly loss

Tower Health announces departure of Reading Hospital President and CEO

Why is Tower Health adding urgent care centers amid financial struggles?

Tower Health consolidating physician practices, impacting nearly 200 doctors and staff

A decade of change at Tower Health anchor, Reading Hospital

Tower Health bonds downgraded by S&P

Tower CEO to step down

Tower Health executives to take pay cuts

Tower Health might sell off hospitals in 2021; except for the ‘mothership’ of Reading Hospital

Rating agency says Reading Hospital is the only profitable part of Tower Health system

Agencies downgrade Tower Health to junk bond status

Tower Health fights to weather the pandemic storm

Ron Sutton, 55, began his weight-loss program at the end of April. His job doing computer information technology work has him sedentary most of the day, and he realized he was at risk of having a short life.

Adults with extreme obesity have increased risks of dying at a young age from cancer and many other causes including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney and liver diseases, according to recent results of an analysis of data pooled from 20 large studies of people from three countries.

“I was just tired of feeling bad all of the time and having no energy,” Sutton said. “I wasn’t feeling happy with myself.”

So Sutton teamed up with OPEX Upper Main Line and its owner Cody Loeffler. The fitness center features an individual program focusing on fitness, nutrition and lifestyle, complete with personalized trainers.

“Ron is a really, really unique success story,” Loeffler said. “He came in here at 350, and is losing weight in a healthy way. He significantly dropped his body fat percentage.”

Loeffler said the OPEX Fitness program is unmatched in the fitness industry. Instructors work directly with OPEX gyms, coaches and clients, and tailor the fitness program to the client. This means that people can keep their lifestyle while losing weight for the long term.

A lot of times we see massive success with weight loss, body fat percentage loss and muscle gain,” Loeffler said. “The result is paramount to any fitness program that I have been a part of.”

The program starts off with the client’s body mass index, or BMI. To find a BMI, simply type in BMI in Google, and type in weight and height. A BMI of 30 or greater is obese, while a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is overweight. Normal BMI should be 18.5 to 24.9.

“Ron’s body fat is now in the mid 20s and he is healthier, has more energy, is eating well and in a way that he can maintain and stick with long-term,” Loeffler said. “He is the happiest he can remember being with his lifestyle.”

Loeffler said weight loss plans should be targeted to the individual.

“Anybody can lose weight, but each individual is different, and that’s what we look for,” Loeffler said. “The biggest factor in terms of success is guidance the clients receive from coaches. We take care of every need clients have in fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle.”

For Sutton, the difference was motivation. To have someone motivate and guide him through the process enabled him to meet his goal. Now, he’s looking for more.

“I think I can lose 25 more pounds,” he said. “On the holidays, I eat like I normally do. I eat meats and veggies, and try to stay away from the breads and sweet stuff. But now, I feel like I have more confidence and more energy. I tried other programs but, they didn’t work. I think anybody can do this.”

The OPEX program is unique in that it develops professional coaches who work on and off the gym floor with their clients. Individual design allows individuals the support of a coach but the fun of a community environment. OPEX develops professional coaches through its coaching certificate program and its more than 50 gym licenses throughout the world.

Cost for an OPEX gym with unlimited gym time and a professional coach can range from $100 to $300 per month. Instructors will do an assessment, write a program that addresses movement deficiencies and they will also provide nutrition coaching.

The preliminary budget includes tax revenue from a planned property tax rate increase of 2.42 percent.

School officials say this will help to close the projected operating deficit of approximately $6.87 million. The property tax rate increase as proposed consists of 2.4 percent from the legislated Act 1 index and .02 percent projected from referendum exceptions.

Major cost drivers of the budget include rising student enrollment, mandated retirement contributions and special education services.

The board authorized the administration to provide public notice that the school board will consider adoption of the 2018-2019 preliminary budget at its regular meeting on Jan. 22, 2018 and to publish notice of the board’s intent to file for referendum exceptions with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The 2018-2019 proposed preliminary budget is available for inspection at the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Administration offices.

Last year, nearly 60 percent of spending was allocated toward instruction, 11 percent for school operations, 7 percent for instructional support, nearly 7 percent for administrative costs, more than 5 percent for transportation, nearly 5 percent for debt service, 3 percent for contingency and 2.3 percent for athletics.

The development of the 2018-2019 budget will be discussed at the upcoming Jan. 16, 2018 finance committee meeting at 7 p.m. in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Administration offices.

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board and administration said in a statement they will continue to work towards balancing the budget and determining a final tax rate between now and final budget approval in June 2018.

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board encourages public participation during the budget development process and endeavors to reflect the input of joint stakeholders. All school board committee meetings are open to the public and have public comment periods.

Meeting dates and agendas are available on the Tredyffrin/EasttownSchool District website at www.tesd.net. In addition, public comments may be submitted to Arthur J. McDonnell, Business Manager, at mcdonnella@tesd.net or to the Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board at schoolboard@tesd.net.

There are more than 6,750 students in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, or a 41 percent increase in student population since 1990.

The district includes Conestoga High School, Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School, Valley Forge Middle School, Beaumont Elementary School, Devon Elementary School, Hillside Elementary School, New Eagle Elementary School, and Valley Forge Elementary School.

Bob DeSipio, president of the 400-member Tredyffrin-Easttown Education Association, said teachers, who instruct more than 6,500 students, deserve a fair contract.

“Despite multiple offers to meet with the school board this summer to continue the negotiations process, we did not meet until the end of August,” DeSipio said. “We want the school board to know that it is not just the five or six of us on the bargaining team that are upset with the slow pace of these negotiations, but also a membership of more than 400 highly educated and highly dedicated educators. We want to reach a fair and competitive settlement as quickly as possible.”

The school board is looking to settle contracts of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District teachers (TEEA), the Tredyffrin-Easttown Non-Instructional Group (TENIG) and Act 93 (administrators) all of which expired on July 1.

Under the proposed contract, Scale A, custodians would receive an hourly pay rate of $14.39 per hour in 2017-18 and $15.62 per hour in 2020-21. Security personnel would receive $15.41 in 2017-18 and $16.72 in 2020-21. Maintenance personnel would receive $22.61 per hour in 2017-18 and $24.53 in 2020-21. Food services workers would receive $13.36 per hour in 2017-18 and $14.50 in 2020-21. Those employees in secretarial or clerical or accounting would receive $16.44 per hour in 2017-18 and $17.83 in 2020-21.

In the last four-year contract (2016-17) the custodians received a 2 percent salary reduction and had to give back an entire week of their vacation. The other members of Tredyffrin-Easttown Non-Instructional Group (security, kitchen, maintenance, and cafeteria) saw a 4 percent cut in pay, but their vacation benefit remained intact. The district’s teachers, however, received salary increases based on their step movement in the matrix.

In addition, the contract that just expired protected the jobs of the district’s teachers and included a no-furloughs or demotions clause through the end of June, 2017.

Employees enrolled in the Blue Cross medical plan will contribute 6 percent of their pay in 2017-18, and 8 percent in 2020-21, or the fourth year, according to terms of the proposed contract. A dental plan, with a deductible of $25 per person or $75 per family, and a vision care program are also included in the proposed contract. It also offers group term life insurance at one time the employee’s normal base salary rounded to the next thousand dollars at no cost to the employee.

Except for custodians, employees in the proposed contract will get five days of paid time off for one year of service, 10 days for two years, 15 days for seven years, 20 days for 14 years and 25 days for 25 years of service.

The tentative agreement calls for a 2.7 percent wage increase in 2018-19, a 2.92 percent increase in 2019-20; a 2.45 percent increase in 2020-21; a 2.53 percent increase in 2021-22; and a 2.36 percent increase in 2022-23, with additional bonuses for teachers at the top of the pay scale.

Currently, the average Tredyffrin/Easttown teacher earns $82,983 per year. In nearby Upper Merion, the average teacher salary is $93,043; in Radnor, $87,213; and in Lower Merion the average teacher salary is $99,253.

Art McDonald, business manager at Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, said the public can receive updated information on the progress of the negotiations on the district’s website at www.tesd.net. It will also include a Q&A, he said.

The victim has been identified as Brooks Jennings, a prominent GOP committee man. Police say he was shot after a dispute with his neighbor, Clayton Carter III, 51. Carter now faces a first-degree murder charge.

District Attorney Tom Hogan said the incident was the result of two separate arguments Monday night, but also noted that the two had longstanding differences and that Carter had differences with other neighbors as well.

The first dispute erupted between the two neighbors about 8 p.m., Hogan said. Police settled that tiff, but Hogan said another dispute erupted about 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Hogan said at that point Carter went into his house and emerged with a handgun. He then shot Jennings once in the head. Carter then stood over Jennings and shot him again, Hogan said.

Carter is being held without bail.

This is a developing story. We will have more information as it develops throughout the day.