By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl

SHIPPENSBURG — Traversing the town on two wheels over the past five weeks has allowed at least one Shippensburg Police officer to improve his relationship with the community.

Officer Thomas Young said two to three people approach him every shift he is on bicycle patrol. Most of the time it is just to say they like the idea of cops on bikes, but he sees the improved communication as the biggest benefit of the young bike-patrol program so far.

“People are more, they feel more comfortable approaching me. I have people walk up to me and talk to me that normally probably wouldn’t,” he said.

The bike-patrol program Young spearheaded began functioning in late March just as warmer weather began creeping into the area. Chief Fred Scott said at a recent borough function that bike patrols were working “great” so far.

Shippensburg Police used bike patrols years ago and for a brief time last winter, but this time they want it to stick as long as weather allows.

As such, Young has been trying to persuade other officers to get certified for bike patrols. He and officers Brad Goyt and Charles Pyatt received certification through a free program at the Army War College, Carlisle, this winter that encompassed basic knowledge of maneuvering a bike for police work.

“There’s no reason why the other guys can’t do it,” Young said doing bike patrols.

Young wanted to get bike patrols going in the first place partly based on the belief that an officer can get around faster and more efficiently on a bike rather than in a cruiser or on foot. So far he has found that he can get from one side of the 2-square-mile borough to the other in less than five minutes.

“I know in the last week I’ve had two calls when I’ve been on the other end of town and had to hurry up (to get to the other side),” he said.

Scott has said that an incident during the brief time bike patrols were done last year proved that an officer on a bike can usually get to an incident faster than an officer in a patrol car.

When he’s not pedaling fast to a reported incident, Young can be found concentrating his patrols on particular areas of town. On weekdays, he can be seen riding around Memorial Park and in the area of Shippensburg’s middle and high schools around the time students get out.

“I just try to keep an eye on things and make sure everyone can get home,” he said.

Young also tries to regularly ride around the area of Burd and Fort streets, which are popular areas for Shippensburg University students to live, and hopefully prevent any incident that may arise.
Any number of officers can be on bike patrol at once, but there must be at least one officer available to operate a patrol car, Young has said.
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Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4771.

SHIPPENSBURG — A Shippensburg Police officer recently gave a squirrel a second chance at life.

In response to a call from a concerned citizen, Officer Thomas Young reported to Oak Lane April 15 and rescued a squirrel from a metal trap. The squirrel had its leg stuck in the trap and was dragging it along.

The squirrel scurried up a tree after Young released it from the trap.

There were no tags on the trap identifying the owner.

By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl

Are you a youth with a dream to become a hometown hero?

Shippensburg Fire Department wants you to join its ranks for a day this summer to experience the various responsibilities required of a firefighter. In the end, participants will have better insight into what it means to be a volunteer firefighter and the fire department will have a fresh crew of potential recruits.

That is the two-fold purpose of the event Child’s Dream, after all, said Shippensburg Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell. The program helps the department incite interest among boys and girls ages 11 to 13, creating a larger group of 14-year-olds who will want to become junior firefighters.

Recruiting has been a challenge in recent years as preteens have more and more other things they might rather do, O’Donnell said. Each year though, Child’s Dream helps influence two to three participants to join the fire department.

About 15 kids participate each year. Under the mentorship of fire department members – some who were once Child’s Dream participants themselves — kids get hands-on practice with firefighting duties through games on first aid, fire extinguisher use, hose line drills, vehicle rescue and more. There is even an obstacle course that pulls everything together, O’Donnell said.

These games are what really show participants if being a firefighter is a good fit for them or not, O’Donnell said. But dislike is not the end of the line.

“At the end of the day what we’re really teaching is volunteerism. If firefighting is not for you, there are other things you can do in the fire department, EMS or in other parts of the community,” he said.

Child’s Dream is scheduled 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 9 at Vigilant Hose Company, but registration is required by May 17. Applications are available through any three of the stations that make up SFD: Vigilant Hose Company, 532-2345 or http://www.viglilanthose.com; Cumberland Valley Hose Company, 532-4515 or http://www.cvhose.com; or West End Fire and Rescue, 532-5555 or http://www.wefr15.com; or call O’Donnell at 729-0869. The program is free. Each participant will get an SFD T-shirt.

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Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4771.

Shippensburg
THEFT: Marlin Haskins reported that a Wilson baseball glove and bat and a medicine prescription were stolen from his vehicle when it was parked along the road in front of his home in the 100 block of Roxbury Road on April 18.
Anyone with information should call Shippensburg Police at 532-7361.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: Nicholas Paretti, Chambersburg, told Shippensburg Police his vehicle’s tire was slashed while it was parked in front of 18 N. Queen St. on April 27.
Anyone with information should call Shippensburg Police.

Southampton Township, Cumberland County
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT: Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle, are investigating a neighbor dispute that turned violent.
Shane Huyett was having a party at his residence in the first block of Gutshall Road when Matthew Geyer, Shippensburg, shot a gun three times into the air because he thought there was too much noise. Nobody was struck.
Charges against Geyer are pending.

SHIPPENSBURG — Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg, caught two alleged robbers on Monday after the pair were stymied by the manual transmission of a car they tried to steal at a convenience store.

The pair previously robbed $75 from the store located at Interstate 81 Exit 24 in Southampton Township, Franklin County, according to police.

Bethany Faith Heller, 32, of New Cumberland, and Joshua Edward Briggs, 33, unknown address, each failed to post $100,000 bond and are in Franklin County Jail. Each was charged with robbery, threatening immediate serious injury, attempted robbery of a motor vehicle, attempted theft and theft.

Heller and Briggs around 10:45 p.m. went into Isha’s Food and Fuel Market, 8256 Olde Scotland Road, police said.

Heller demanded the keys to the clerk’s car and cash from the register. Heller made like she held a weapon in her covered hand.

The clerk and store owner were in the store and gave them a car key and $75 cash.

Heller started the car, but could not properly operate the manual transmission, police said. The two left the car and ran away.

Reponding troopers found the pair hiding in a neighboring parking lot where tractor trailers were parked.

SOUTHAMPTON (CUMBERLAND) TOWNSHIP — The theft and fraudulent use of information for the Orrstown Bank account belonging to Monn’s Firewood, Baltimore Road, has led individuals around the U.S. to lose a total of about $85,000.

About 35 fraudulent checks bearing the business’s bank account information were sent between April 7 and 17 to individuals around the country who had agreed to sell items through Craigslist and other Internet postings, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle.

According to police, the sellers were scammed into depositing the fake checks, with amounts much larger than the agreed price, into their bank accounts then to immediately forward a percentage of the funds to a “shipper” or other fake entity.

Banks almost always allow customers immediate access to those funds, but once they discover the checks are fake about five days later they withdraw all funds from the seller’s account, including the money already forwarded to the “shipper,” according to police.

This has led to the approximate $85,000 cumulative loss. Most amounts on the checks ranged from $1,900 to $4,500.

Not all of the sellers who received a check fell for the scam, police said.

Police are still investigating.

Shippensburg borough
TRESPASS: The residence at 516 E. Orange St. was broken into between 11:45 p.m. May 3 and 7:45 a.m. May 4, according to Shippensburg Police. There was evidence of forced entry, but nothing appeared to be missing.
Anyone with information should call Shippensburg Police at 532-7361 or police@shippensburg.pa.us.

DRUGS: A 17-year-old boy was found to be in possession of prescription drugs May 1 at Shippensburg Area Senior High School. He showed signs of being under the influence of the drugs, for which he was not prescribed, according to Shippensburg Police.

ATTEMPTED TRESPASSING: Andrew Hatcher, Shippensburg, on May 4 allegedly tried to use a credit card to break into the South Fayette Street residence of a person whom he had a former relationship with, according to Shippensburg Police.
Police found Hatcher in the back parking lot of the residence. Police found a damaged credit card with paint transfer from the door in Hatcher’s back pocket.

FUEL THEFT: About 30 gallons of diesel fuel were stolen from a tractor-trailer parked in the 600 block of East King Street overnight on May 3, according to Shippensburg Police.
The fuel is valued at $120. Anyone with information should call Shippensburg Police at 532-7361.

OPEN CONTAINER: While walking on North Penn Street at 12:51 a.m. May 4, Mariah G. Mahlendorf, Shippensburg, allegedly set an open Bud Light can on a porch after she saw a marked police vehicle ahead, according to Shippensburg Police.
Police watched her discard the open beer she was carrying and keep walking. Police stopped her a few houses down.

THEFT: Joshua David Allensworth, York, allegedly tried to steal a sandwich and M&Ms from Sheetz, 359 E. King St., on May 4, according to Shippensburg Police.
Security employees watched him pay for an MTO order then put another sandwich and candy into his pocket. He was confronted after leaving the store and confessed to not paying for the items.

Shippensburg Township
BURGLARY: Items were stolen from 6 and 8 Middle Spring Avenue between 11 p.m. May 4 and 3 a.m. May 5, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle.
A gray laptop and Xbox 360 were stolen from 6 Middle Spring Avenue. A wallet was stolen from the other residence.
Anyone with information should called PSP Carlisle at 249-2121.

SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP — A Chambersburg man is dead after he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Southampton Township on Friday, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle.

According to police, Jeffrey I. Coons, 48, Chambersburg was traveling south on Airport Road at approximately 11 p.m. when he was struck from behind by Mark E. Nealy, 42, Shippensburg, who was driving a 2004 Toyota Sequoia and thrown up over the hood. Nealy was found by police to be under the influence of alcohol and taken into custody for a blood test.

Coons was air-lifted to Hershey Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office and the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office.

By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl

SHIPPENSBURG– Shippensburg Police can now take action against people driving under the influence outside the Shippensburg borough boundary in Franklin County.

That ability developed Tuesday when Shippensburg Borough Council voted to enter into a municipal agreement that makes Shippensburg Police part of Franklin County DUI Task Force. It already includes the boroughs of Chambersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro and Mercersburg and Washington Township.

The agreement allows police to aid each other across municipal lines for DUI-related purposes, mainly for sobriety checkpoints.

Police Chief Fred Scott hopes his department’s participation will encourage people to stay out of the driver’s seat while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“What more of a benefit could you have?” he said.

That encouragement, he said, stems from the broadened area in which Shippensburg Police can take action against DUI suspects.

Prior to its participation in the task force, Shippensburg Police only had jurisdiction in Franklin County within several square miles west of U.S. 11, the “major pipeline” in and out of the borough, Scott said. That means if Shippensburg Police conducted a sobriety checkpoint on U.S. 11 in Franklin County, drivers could surpass it by taking a street to the east, putting them outside of the jurisdiction of borough police, Scott said.

The Shippensburg area is split between Franklin and Cumberland counties. Shippensburg Police are already in Cumberland County’s task force.

While Pennsylvania State Police are “immensely helpful” in patrolling in and responding to areas outside typical borough jurisdiction, the new agreement allows Shippensburg Police to make a bigger impact on DUI enforcement in the area, Scott said.

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Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4771.

By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl

SHIPPENSBURG — Shippensburg’s emergency service organizations will make money when people test drive a new Ford vehicle.

Parson’s Ford will host a Drive 4 UR Community fundraiser Saturday to benefit Shippensburg Fire Department, which includes Vigilant Hose Company No. 1, Cumberland Valley Hose Company, and West End Fire and Rescue. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Weis Market, 1075 W. King St.

Ten new car, SUV and truck models will be available. For every person who takes one on the three-mile test drive, Ford will donate $20 to the fire department. The participant must fill out a survey and send it to the company in order to qualify.

Donations will benefit the department’s Fire Safety Program, said Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell. With about 50 events each year, the program includes educational programs in schools and throughout the community.

Neither organization has a defined fundraising goal, but the maximum Ford will donate is $6,000, per program guidelines. Three-hundred people would need to test drive vehicles and turn in the survey for that to be reached.

A sibling to Ford’s Drive 4 UR School program — Shippensburg Area School District first participated last fall — Drive 4 UR Community came about late last summer as a way for local Ford dealers to support nonprofit organizations in their communities, officials said.

Parson’s Ford already had plans to support the fire department, and the arrival of the new program made for the perfect opportunity, said Russell Cacciola, sales manager at the dealership.

“We appreciate Ford coming out and offering it to us. That’s unheard of today,” O’Donnell said.

By doing good for the fire department, Parson’s Ford is helping itself too by inciting the public’s interest for its vehicles without putting on the pressure to buy one, Cacciola said.

A person must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license to test drive a vehicle. Only one person per household may do a test drive.

The first 100 participants will get a gift bag, Cacciola said. The event will also feature a display of firetrucks, a Mix 95.1 disc jockey from 9 to 11 a.m., and hot dogs, chips and soda for sale. All will be located in the parking lot at Weis Market, which has huge support for the program, Cacciola said.

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Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4771.

SHIPPENSBURG – Police said a man jumped out of a second story motel window while intoxicated to avoid being arrested.

Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle, were called to Theo’s Motel, 30 Walnut Bottom Rd., around 2:30 a.m. Sunday for a disturbance.

Police said David C. Shauf, 40, jumped out of a second story window to avoid police. Shauf had a warrant, according to police.

Shauf was arrested and taken to Cumberland County Prison. He was also cited for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Shippensburg Area Emergency Medical Services will host two American Red Cross blood drives this month.

The blood drives are scheduled 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 27. Both will take place in the Community Room of the Shippensburg Area Emergency Services Building, at the corner of Walnut Bottom Road and Orange Street.

Shippensburg Area EMS and the Advanced Wound Healing Center of Shippensburg are sponsoring the first blood drive. The second is hosted by EMS and Servpro of Shippensburg.

The staff of EMS thank the Red Cross for supporting Shippensburg emergency services. They encourage everyone to come out to participate.

SHIPPENSBURG — The 16th Shippensburg Fire Department’s Child’s Dream is on June 9 at Vigilant Hose Company, 20 Walnut Bottom Road. Deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday.

A joint effort between all three Shippensburg fire stations — Vigilant, Cumberland Valley Hose Company and West End Fire and Rescue — it promotes enthusiasm in recruiting young members of the community into fire service.

Activities will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are open to area boys and girls, ages 11 to 13. There is no charge, and each participant will receive fire department T-shirts. They’ll learn about the use of fire extinguishers, first aid, vehicle rescue, hose line drills, an obstacle course and more.

For an application to attend, contact any of the fire stations or visit their websites: Vigilant Hose Company, 532-2345, http://www.vigilanthose.com; CV Hose Company, 532-4515, http:/www.cvhose.com; West End Fire and Rescue, 532-5555, http://www.wefr15.com; or Chief Randy O’Donnell at 729-0869.

SHIPPENSBURG — Police said a man jumped out of a second-story motel window while intoxicated to avoid being arrested.

Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle, were called to Theo’s Motel, 30 Walnut Bottom Road, around 2:30 a.m. Sunday for a disturbance.

Police said David C. Shauf, 40, jumped out of a second-story window to avoid police. There was a warrant for his arrest, according to police.

Shauf was taken to Cumberland County Prison. He was also cited for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

SHIPPENSBURG — Shippensburg police are investigating several incidents of diesel fuel theft from vehicles parked in the borough.

The latest incident occurred between Friday and Monday at Kittantiny Manufacturing Service, 160 Reading Road.

Anyone with information should contact police at 532-7361 or police@shippensburg.pa.us.

GREENE TOWNSHIP — A 76-year-old Shippensburg woman is dead Saturday after being struck by a vehicle while trying to cross Route 11, according to Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg.

Caroline V. Croft, 76, Shippensburg, was reportedly trying to return to her vehicle from a yard sale on the east side of Route 11 near Pinoak Court at 10:27 a.m., according to police.

Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg report that her vehicle was parked off the road on the south shoulder and she was struck while close to her vehicle where she was killed instantly.

Georgia Davis, 64, Orrstown was driving the 1997 Buick Century involved in the crash, according to police.

The investigation continues pending the results of an accident reconstruction, according to police.

Emergency Agencies at the scene consisted of Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction unit, Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Services Unit, several fire and ambulance companies and the Franklin County coroner.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash may call police at 264-5161.

SHIPPENSBURG – An 18-year-old who wasn’t supposed to be at prom was cited by police after allegedly causing a disturbance.

Pennsylvania State Police, Carlisle, said Colin Mitchell Ocker, 18, showed up at the Shippensburg prom Saturday at Beistle Plaza even though he was not allowed to because he was placed on social probation for detention, which was not served.

Police said when he was not allowed to enter, he became loud and belligerent, allegedly tapping on windows, threatening to break the back door, and swearing at school officials.

Ocker will receive a non-traffic citation for disorderly conduct, according to police.

SHIPPENSBURG — The Shippensburg Police Department received a report of a theft of a package between Friday and Monday at an apartment building on South Prince Street.

A package, delivered by UPS, had been reported stolen and according to police, the empty box was found in the hallway of a neighboring apartment building with its contents missing.

Anyone with information may call police at 532-7361 or e-mail police@shippensburg.pa.us.

SHIPPENSBURG — According to Shippensburg Police, a burglary was discovered Saturday at approximately 3 p.m. at a residence in the 300 block of East Fort St.

Reported stolen was a 36” flat screen television, a white Xbox 360 with controller and black remote, a silver Dell 18” laptop and charged and a black and white purse/bag containing some school items.

Anyone with information may contact police at 532-7676 or www.shippd.org.

SHIPPENSBURG — Someone broke the driver side window of a 1998 Isuzu Trooper between 2:30 and 5:00 a.m. on Saturday while parked on E. King Street, according to Shippensburg Police.

Anyone with information may contact police at 532-7676 or www.shippd.org.

(Incident No. SP-2013-2705)