Free Republic

For decades, an anti-snitching mentality has hampered law enforcement in Coatesville, but the code of silence may not be fireproof. The string of arsons plaguing the once-thriving steel town in Chester County - 44 fires set in the last 13 months - may be prompting some people to think twice about their reluctance to cooperate with authorities. [snip] Some residents, who declined to identify themselves, said not even the $20,000 in reward money from the Coatesville Arson Task Force would motivate them to cooperate with police. One older woman said that she believed her grandson had information, but proudly added...

Voters OK measures blocking golf courseApproval of the initiatives prevents Coatesville from seizing part of a Valley Twp. farm for a recreation site.By Reid KanaleyInquirer Staff Writer Coatesville voters yesterday approved three ballot measures aimed at killing the city's plan to put a golf course on farmland outside the municipal limits."I'm ecstatic," said Jeff Voelcker, son-in-law to Dick Saha, whose Valley Township horse farm the city has sought to take for a recreation complex, which includes the golf course. "Let us go on with our lives," added Voelcker, who also lives on the farm land."I'm disappointed that the residents of...

<p>Nearly 300 supporters attended the "beef and beer" benefit held at the Lionville Fire Company Hall to assist the Saha family in paying their legal bills.</p> <p>"We believe in their cause," said Pauline Rennard of West Chester. Sitting at a table of the Sahas’ square-dancing buddies, Rennard said she and her husband were both raised on farms and can relate to the Sahas’ feelings of wanting to save their own farm.</p>

My daughter Rayna and I arrived at city hall about about 8:15 pm. We saw trucks from both the local NBC and the local Fox stations. The ABC affiliate (WPVI Channel 6) had said they would send someone, but I didn't see them. As we walked into the building, we saw Dick Saha with a group of other people, including one of his daughters, who were being interviewed by a local NBC reporter. At this meeting, the Sahas planned to present petitions from Coatesville voters. The petitions asked that the concil rescind the ordinances that condemn the Saha home in...

On Monday, July 22, Coatesville PA city council will be presented with a petition by the Saha family. The petition will request that the city revoke its ordinances of comdemnation against the Saha property. The city wishes to convert the property into a regional recreation center/golf course. The family has collected well above the required number of signatures. After receiving the petition, the council has sixty days either to follow the petition (i.e. revoke the condemnation) or to schedule a referendum vote. The meeting is on Monday July 22 at 7:30 pm at Coatesville City Hall. Please attend and show...

COATESVILLE -- Wording changed in a controversial city ordinance authorizing the taking of private land for a public golf course sparked confrontation during a city council meeting Monday night. Those who stand to lose land through the city's use of eminent domain questioned why the changes were necessary. "It's not a matter of need. It's a matter of greed," said Dick Saha, who, along with his family, has been fighting the seizure of his farm, located in Valley Township. The revised ordinance, approved by the board 6-1, omitted a clause reading, "the City of Coatesville will not exercise the power...

Dick Saha stands in front of the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester. The Sahas' fight against Coatesville from taking away their land for the regional recreation center has gained support from outside the city. VALLEY -- Roy Waggoner is a 19-year-old from McPherson, Kan. He has never been to Coatesville or Valley, much less heard of them ..until recently. But he is among a group of a growing number of individuals from all over the country voicing their opinions on Coatesville's regional recreation center and the city's eminent domain actions. "We've had e-mails from people in Alaska, California...

Casting outside its borders for a recreational complex is legal but bad policy. By Bob Martin It takes a sense of history to understand the uproar now surrounding the city of Coatesville.Napoleon Bonaparte and Lyndon Johnson come to my mind. Both were successful at home before dooming themselves in ill-fated foreign ventures.Coatesville, by comparison, has done much within its borders to stem its postindustrial decay. It sold its water authority for a handsome profit, and has used the money to cut taxes. It worked with the Chester County Housing Authority to raze a public housing slum, and is busy with...

VALLEY - Authorities said arson was the cause of two fires yesterday at the Saha farm, the site of a tug of war where Coatesville wants to condemn the land to build a recreational center and golf course.No one was injured in the fires, which started at 12:30 a.m. yesterday and caused $1,800 in damage to a horse trailer and a barn.Four horses in the barn were led to safety by the family, which used a garden hose to put out the barn blaze as emergency crews arrived to contain the trailer fire.The two fires broke out almost simultaneously 100...