The Daily Mess In Berks County

We know it’s been a tough stretch of storms — thank you for sticking with us. 💙 With more severe weather expected tonight and into tomorrow — including gusty winds that may reach up to 65 mph in some areas — our crews are ready to respond. We're also bringing in additional resources to support 24/7 restoration efforts.

Learn more about how we're preparing and how you can prepare, too ▶️ http://spr.ly/6183BDMtl3

Oh boy. It's currently in the clean up stages.

Muhlenberg township. Route 61 southbound and east Bellevue avenue for a motor vehicle crash with injuries. Vehicle vs motorcycle 🏍.

As we close the books on 2025, the Berks County Coroner’s Office has officially completed our final investigation from last year.

In 2025, our office investigated a total of 3636 deaths throughout Berks County. Each case represented a family seeking answers, a community impacted by loss, and an opportunity for our team to provide professional, compassionate, and thorough medicolegal death investigations.

I want to thank my Supervisors, Deputy Coroners, administrative staff, forensic partners, first responders, law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, funeral directors, and all those who worked alongside us throughout the year. Their dedication and teamwork were instrumental in ensuring every case received the attention and care it deserved.

While statistics help us understand trends and guide public health and safety efforts, we never lose sight of the fact that every number represents a person and a family.

Thank you to the residents of Berks County for your continued trust and support as we carry out this important responsibility.

Matthew J. Stitzel
Berks County Coroner
(610) 478-3280 Ext 3293

Outstanding....

Berks man arrested after Little Caesars break-in near Shillington Suspect arrested in Shillington Shopping Center pizza shop after admitting to break‑in, Cumru Township police say

Attention BARTA Customers!

With the Independence Day holiday being on a Saturday this year, our service schedule looks a little different.

Friday, July 3, 2026 will operate on a Saturday schedule. Regular service will resume on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

Update: 6/13/26 we are back to normal operations! Thank you everyone for your understanding & support!

⚠️ Power Outage Update (6/12)- closed for all operations until further notice ⚠️
As of 6/12, we are currently experiencing a power outage that is limiting our operations. At this time, our top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our animals and staff.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this situation. Please expect delays in services, including adoptions and pet help assistance, until normal operations can resume.
Thank you for your support—we will provide updates as they become available. 🐾❤️

As we prepare for another round of storms expected to move through our service area this afternoon and evening, keep this info handy and let us know if you experience an outage. ⤵️

Holiday Closure Update 🚨

All PennDOT driver’s license and photo centers, including our full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.

Online services will still be available at pa.gov/dmv.

Details: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/news-and-media/newsroom/statewide/2026/penndot-driver-s-license--photo-centers-closed-for-juneteenth-ho.

BARTA will hold a public hearing regarding the BARTA Special Services shared-ride fare increase scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2026.

🗓 Wednesday, July 1, 2026
🕓 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 BARTA Administrative Office: 1700 N. 11th Street, Reading, PA 19601

Customers and members of the public are invited to participate in person or virtually and provide comments on the proposed fare increase.

Comments may also be submitted by email, phone, or mail.

Persons desiring translation or other forms of communications assistance are requested to contact BARTA at 610-921-2361.