Pennsylvania

Newtown Bridge Dedicated To Heroic Bucks County Vietnam Veteran

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2024

Newtown Bridge Dedicated To Heroic Bucks County Vietnam Veteran

NEWTOWN, PA — Newtown native Frank Martin Mebs, whose actions on May 27, 1970, saved hundreds of American lives in Vietnam but cost him his own, was remembered as a hero during a bridge dedication ceremony on May 29 in Newtown.

“I’m really excited about today’s event because we are able to tell the story that should have been told 54 years ago,” said Ed Preston, a member of the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Committee who is leading the county’s mission to dedicate every county-owned bridge after a fallen Bucks County Vietnam veteran.

On May 29 the focus was on Specialist 5th Class (SP5) Mebs whose story was shared by Steve Kilde who traveled here from Missouri to attend the bridge dedication and to continue a mission he started years ago to bring honor to Mebs and the sacrifice he made.

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Specialist 5th Class Frank Martin Mebs.

Mebs, a native of Newtown, left Council Rock High School in 1965 to enlist in the U.S. Army to gain experience in equipment operations. He was beginning his 19th month in Vietnam in May 1970, serving with the U.S. Army Engineering Command, 18th Engineer Brigade, 45th Engineer Group, 27th Engineer Battalion, A Company when tragedy struck.

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On May 27, 1970, Mebs was serving at Fire Support Base Veghel, in the Thua Thien Province of Vietnam, when it came under suspected enemy attack. The base returned fire with two 81 mm mortars. One fell short igniting the base’s ammunition dump where Mebs and his comrades were stationed. Mebs was last seen on his bulldozer attempting to extinguish a resulting fire which gave soldiers at the base time to evacuate.

Kilde had instructed Mebs in organizational maintenance two years earlier in Missouri.

“If you’re an instructor or teacher, you always have a student who stands out in your mind,” said Kilde. “Frank asked questions that other students wouldn’t ask. I filed it in my memory. ‘He’s going to be a great soldier. He’s going to be a great operator.’”

Ed Preston, Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Committee.

Vietnam veteran Steven Kilde.

Bucks County Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo.

State Senator Steve Santarsiero.

Two years later in 1970, his path would cross again with Mebs after returning to Vietnam.

“I was equipment maintenance sergeant for engineering equipment maintenance for the 127th maintenance unit battalion. Who pulls up driving a truck with a trailer on the back carrying a D7 bulldozer was SP5 Mebs,” said Kilde. “We started talking and we became not good friends but good acquaintances because he was in my motor pool almost every darn day trying to figure out what his squeak was or what this crack meant.”

On May 27 at 5 in the morning, Kilde was awakened and flown to Fire Support Base Veghel where he was informed there had been an accident. “We looked down on the base and there was a hole. A big hole. And that’s when we were told there had been an explosion at the ammunition dump.”

When Kilde arrived on the scene, pieces of the bulldozer Mebs had been using to put the fire out were “all over the place. There was a blade on a hill 600 yards away. We never did find the engine. At about 7:30, somebody said we found him. They brought him up to the same helicopter I flew in on and I assisted in loading his body onto the helicopter.

“Mebs died in the explosion, but because of his heroism, only one other person was killed. His actions may have saved 600 lives,” said Kilde.

Gathered on the quiet Barclay Street Bridge over the Newtown Creek, Bucks County officials, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, dedicated county bridge No. 89 to the memory of the Newtown native and hero.

William Mebs watches as the sign designating the Barclay Street Bridge in memory of his brother is unveiled.

Bucks County Commissioner Robert Harvie.

Following Vietnam, Kilde made it his mission to secure for the family all of his earned medals and to share Mebs’ story with as many as he can. On this trip to Pennsylvania, he brought a shadow box for the family containing all of Frank’s awards and commendations.

His next two missions will be to help secure Gold Star status for the family and the Congressional Medal of Honor for Mebs. And he called on everyone in attendance at the ceremony and in the community to help with the effort by email and petitioning their local and national officials.

“I believe this town right here has a Medal of Honor person who was killed on the 27th of May in 1970,” he said. “(The medal) costs nothing. Only a few signatures.”

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero thanked Kilde for his service and his tenacity, “because without his work, we would not be here today.

“We just marked Memorial Day, a day when we reflect upon those Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Frank Mebs did that and more,” said Santarsiero. “And in doing so he saved hundreds of his comrades – men who went off and had lives, who came back to the United States after the war, who had families, and whose reach goes well beyond their own lives and experiences in the war. That would not have happened except for Frank Mebs.

“So we’re here today at what had been an unremarkable crossing of the Newtown Creek to see it transformed into an everlasting memorial,” he said.

Following the sign unveiling by members of the Mebs family, including his brother William, and his niece, Meghan Frazer.

“I always knew his name but nothing else aside from the fact that he passed away in the Vietnam War,” said Frazer. “I remember seeing his picture on the wall in our house and a few times we visited his name carved into stone at different locations.”

It wasn’t until she was in middle school that the family learned the circumstances surrounding his death, that he didn’t perish in an accident but had sacrificed his life to save hundreds. His remains were then recovered and delivered to safety “by the same man who led us all here today.

Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.

Ed Preston talks with Steven Kilde, Meghan Frazer and William Mebs following the ceremony.

“Mr. Steven Kilde reached out to us on a mission to obtain the medals he believed Frank was rightfully owed. He didn’t leave my uncle behind 54 years ago and he hadn’t left him behind after all of this time,” said Frazer. “With many doors closed on him, emails and letters left unanswered, here we are today, in Frank’s hometown, having received a beautiful shadow box filled with medals that we never knew were missing and witnessing this beautiful bridge dedication just minutes from where Frank grew up.

“Life has sadly gone on without him, however, because of him many lives have had the opportunity to go on,” said Frazer. “There was always someone missing at our table, but many soldiers returned to the table of families who were missing them. I’ve been pondering the ripple effect that has taken place from the very moment Uncle Frank decided to climb onto that bulldozer. He drove into danger weeks before coming home so that countless others could do so instead. I think of the weddings, the births, the celebrations and the opportunities for life to be lived and the stories that continued and didn’t end that day. That brings me peace when I think about the memories he missed out on with our family.”

She ended her remarks by saying while she has never been able to hug her uncle, instead she would hug the man “who has helped us bring my uncle’s memory into this very moment.”

Meghan Frazer embraces Steve Kilde during the bridge dedication ceremony. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Published

5 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Is Pennsylvania the most wrestling-centric state in the country? Does the Keystone State have the most talent? Or even the top talent? Is it harder to win a state title there than anywhere else?

These all are terrific questions, and the answers may vary depending on who you ask and where they’re from, much like our nation’s great pizza debate, where the answers will vary by region.

What we do know for sure, is that Pennsylvania is well-represented in the 2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings, but with the 2026 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships on the horizon, where do the competitors rank amongst their peers?

If you follow high school wrestling, you’ve probably already heard many of the names, whether it was at past PIAA events, national tournaments, international competition, college recruiting news or signings, etc.

Now, here they are listed by weight class in FloWrestling’s latest Pennsylvania-only rankings.

Among the most recognizable are Bishop McCort senior Bo Bassett (152 pounds), his brother and teammate Melvin Miller (172 pounds) and Adam Waters (189 pounds) from rival school Faith Christian Academy.

As you get ready to see who takes home the titles at the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships, set for March 5-7 at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, here’s a look at where everyone falls in the pecking order:

What Are The Weight Classes For High School Wrestling In Pennsylvania?

Boys: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
Girls: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA State Championships

As of Feb. 22, 2026

Boys

Girls

When Are The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-7, live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

The first girls wrestling champions in PIAA action were determined in 2024.

The road back to GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, began with regional competition across 12 sites (eight boys, four girls) in February (Feb. 20-21; Feb. 22; Feb. 27-28; Feb. 28)

Among the highlights at the 2025 event was Bassett winning his second individual PIAA state championship and helping Bishop McCort to a Class AA runner-up finish behind Faith Christian.

Read more: 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets

How To Watch The 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships

Live coverage of the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, click here for spectator and ticket information.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule & Brackets

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships:

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down:

All Times Eastern

Wednesday, March 4

4-7 p.m. – Media registration
4-7 p.m. – School registration (AA/Girls/AAA)
4-7 p.m. – Qualifying wrestlers’ workout (AA/Girls/AAA) (six mats)
6 p.m. – Officials’ meeting

Thursday, March 5 (Session 1)

7:30 a.m. – Media registration
7:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
7:30 a.m. – Late school registration (AA)
7:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
8 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
9 a.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AA), six mats (52/104 matches)
12:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (AA), six mats
12:30 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
12:30 p.m. – Late school registration (Girls)
12:45 p.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
1 p.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
2 p.m. – First round (Girls), six mats (104 matches)
3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
3 p.m. – Late school registration (AAA)
3:15 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
4:30 p.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AAA), six mats (52/104 matches)
8 p.m. – First-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)

Friday, March 6 (Session 2/Session 3)

6:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
6:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
7 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
8 a.m. – Quarterfinals (AA), three mats (52 matches)
8 a.m. – Second-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:15 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
10:30 a.m. – Third-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:30 a.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
11:45 a.m. – Quarterfinals (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
12:45 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
1 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinals (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
4:45 p.m. – Third-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
6:15 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
7 p.m. – Semifinals (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (26/26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Fourth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Third-round consolations (Girls), two mats (26 matches)

Saturday, March 7 (Session 4/Session 5)

8 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:15 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:45 a.m. – Skin condition check, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9 a.m. – Weigh-in, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9:30 a.m. – Fifth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9:30 a.m. – Fourth-round consolations (Girls), 2 mats (26 matches)
11:30 a.m. – Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (39/39/39 matches)
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
3:40 p.m. – Parade of Champions (AA/Girls/AAA)
4 p.m. – Championship Finals (AA/Girls/AAA), 1/1/1 mats (13/13/13 matches)

When Was The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships took place Feb. 6-7 at the 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and included 20 teams that survived the preliminary and first round of the tournament, which was held Feb. 3 at host schools across the state.

The advancing teams made their way to Johnstown for two more days of intense competition, with the 1st Summit Arena hosting the quarterfinals through the championship matches.

In Pennsylvania this year, there were 475 schools participating in boys wrestling.

They were divided into two classifications – 228 schools in AA and 247 schools in AAA – which are further split into 12 districts. Class AA is for schools with 1-308 male enrollees, and Class AAA wrestling includes schools with 309-9999 male students.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships Schedule & Brackets

Did You Know: PIAA Wrestling Has A Long History

The first state wrestling championships in Keystone State happened in 1938, while the girls were added to the action in 2024. The PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships debuted in 1999.

There are 14 four-time individual state champions in Pennsylvania. Another 30 have won three times.

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

FULL DUAL: Bishop McCort vs. Faith Christian | 2026 PIAA AA Team State Finals

Faith Christian has been dominant in team wrestling in Pennsylvania, and Bishop McCort keeps falling just short.

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform.

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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Pennsylvania

Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

Published

17 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

A man has been cited after police said he drove a vehicle into a frozen pond at a country club in Pennsylvania, left the scene, then spent the night in a hotel.

According to the East Lampeter Township Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, around 10:38 a.m., officers were called to the Lancaster Country Club after receiving reports about a vehicle in a pond.

Police said that, through an investigation, it was learned that Sung Chun, a 50-year-old man from Hoboken, New Jersey, had driven onto the property the day before around 8:30 p.m., crossed portions of the golf course, and ultimately ended up in a pond.

Chun then exited the vehicle and walked away without reporting the incident and spent the night at a nearby hotel, according to police.

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Police said Chun returned to the location while police were on scene investigating the incident and was ultimately cited with “Trespass by Motor Vehicle.”

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Pennsylvania

State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

In rural Pennsylvania, State College houses Penn State against a backdrop of beautiful country scenery. The university hosts many events, arts performances, and lively festivals that give the town year-round excitement that blends student life with local charm. Visitors can attend a football game, explore nearby parks and trails, and savor the town’s growing culinary scene of pubs and local eateries.

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