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Erie County snow storm impacts: What’s closed still, how much snow has fallen

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Erie County snow storm impacts: What’s closed still, how much snow has fallen


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The snow emergency that has closed schools, businesses and government buildings throughout Erie County as flakes continue to fall on feet already on the ground hasn’t slowed the workload for area first responders.

Crews were out braving the elements Monday morning responding to a number of calls. They included a reported fire at the Millcreek Mall Pavilion, which was reported at 6:03 a.m., according to Erie County 911; a water break at Old Zuck Road and West Grandview Boulevard, according to Erie Water Works; and ongoing reports of vehicles stuck and/or abandoned on streets in Erie, according to the Erie Bureau of Police.

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The Erie Bureau of Fire wasn’t called out to any fires or emergency medical calls as of 7:45 a.m. Monday, but continue to deal with terrible roads, abandoned cars and fire trucks getting stuck, Deputy Chief John Herrmann said.

Additional resources including the Pennsylvania National Guard have been called in to assist in dealing with the heavy and ongoing snowfall that has buried Erie County since Friday.

The biggest issue for emergency responders over the weekend was making roads accessible, Brian Mesaros, Erie County’s emergency management coordinator, said Monday morning. Plow crews are continuing to clear those roads, with most opened Monday morning, he said.

Emergency management officials are starting to experience issues related to snow loads on buildings, Mesaros said, particularly on trailers and small structures. There were two reported roof collapses at a trailer park in North East Township on Sunday night, and a couple of roof collapses were reported in the county on Monday morning, he said.

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Mesaros cautioned people not to put themselves in danger by trying to clear their roofs on their own. There are contractors out there that do the work, although they might be busy, he said.

How much snow has fallen?

As of Sunday night, snow spotters with the National Weather Service in Cleveland measured 57.5 inches of snow in Girard, 50.2 inches of snow in North East, between 45.2 and 48 inches in Harborcreek Township and 42.5 inches near Erie from the storm, according to the latest data posted on the NWS Cleveland website.

And more snow is on the way, as a lake effect snow warning remains in place for Erie, Crawford and counties to the east and west through Tuesday night. Forecasters are predicting additional accumulations of eight to 15 inches for much of Erie County, with up to 20 inches possible in the far northeastern corner of the county, according to information on the NWS Cleveland website.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Saturday signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for Erie County to make additional resources including the National Guard available to support response efforts.

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Shapiro reported in a news release announcing the declaration that, between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, the Pennsylvania State Police responded to nearly 200 incidents.

Vehicle restrictions

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced Monday morning that Tier 2 vehicle restrictions remain in place along Interstate 90 from the Ohio to the New York state lines, on Interstate 86 from I-90 to the New York state line, and along I-79 from the Meadville exit to the highway’s end in Erie County.

Under the restrictions, vehicles including tractors without trailers, tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded trailers, passenger vehicles towing trailers, recreational vehicles and school buses are not permitted on those roadways.

Speed limits are reduced to 45 mph on I-90 from I-79 east to the New York state line and on I-86 from I-90 to the New York state line.

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Return to GoErie.com for updates.

(This story was updated to add new information.)



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Neighbors welcome man home to Downingtown, Pennsylvania, after months in ICE detention

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Neighbors welcome man home to Downingtown, Pennsylvania, after months in ICE detention


A Chester County, Pennsylvania, man is back home with his family after spending more than eight months in ICE detention.

Supporters of Carlos Della Valle spent months rallying and writing letters to immigration officials, urging them to release him. Now the Downingtown resident is sharing what it feels like to finally be home and why uncertainty still hangs over his future.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Carlos Della Valle said about being home. “You know, it’s so many months and it just didn’t seem like it was going to happen.”

Supporters lined the street outside his Downingtown home on Wednesday, cheering as he returned from a detention center in Louisiana. The 49-year-old said it still feels surreal to be back in Chester County after 258 days in ICE custody.

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Della Valle, whose wife and son are U.S. citizens, has lived in Chester County for nearly 30 years. He said he came to the United States from Guerrero, Mexico, at age 20 after fleeing cartel violence.

“I was afraid for my life,” he said.

At age 21, Della Valle said, he was detained and sent back to the Mexican border, but he was never formally deported.

During a trial in August 2025, a jury acquitted him of illegally re-entering the country. Despite the verdict, he was taken into ICE custody because he does not have legal status in the United States.

Carlos Della Valle was released from ICE custody last week but said he still worries about what comes next.

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“They tried to deport me twice, so what’s to stop that from happening again?” he said.

Carlos Della Valle said he now has weekly check-ins with ICE and is working with an attorney to get a work permit so he can return to his job as a plant manager at a small adhesive company.

His wife, Angela Della Valle, said the family’s experience pushed her to become more involved in immigration reform efforts.

“The Dignity Act that’s been authored by Congresswoman Maria Salazar is a very, very powerful piece of legislation,” Angela Della Valle said. “It would allow Carlos to stay since he’s linked to a U.S. citizen wife. It would allow him to work.”

For now, Angela Della Valle said she’s focused on appreciating the moments they missed during his time in detention.

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“It’s amazing being together again and even more powerful to be able to come back together home,” Angela Della Valle said.

Since returning home, Carlos Della Valle said he has been reconnecting with friends and recently attended a Phillies game with his family.

“We loved being there,” he said.

Central Presbyterian Church in Downingtown is hosting a “Welcome Home Carlos” open house Saturday night to celebrate Carlos Della Valle’s release.

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Pennsylvania mom wins $1 million from lottery scratch-off:

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Pennsylvania mom wins  million from lottery scratch-off:



When 32-year-old Beth Dudley, a mom of two, walked into a convenience store in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, last month, she was stressed out about her flat tire. 

Now, after winning $1 million from a scratch-off ticket, not only is Dudley getting a new tire, but she’s thinking about getting an entirely new car. 

The Pennsylvania Lottery celebrated Dudley on Friday ahead of Mother’s Day, presenting her with a commemorative $1 million check. 

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Luck didn’t seem to be on Dudley’s side when she visited the Crabtree Gas and Go on Roosevelt Way in April. But she said she decided to treat herself to a lottery ticket anyway. 

“I thought, ‘What’s it going to hurt?’” Dudley said. “I play occasionally. Before I won, my brother said, ‘You’re going to get the tire changed and your whole world will turn around.’”  

And turn around it did. Dudley scratched the ticket and learned that she had won $1 million.

“I thought, ‘Am I seeing this right?’ Then I just started to cry,” said Dudley.

She said she was crying so much that when she called her mom, her mom thought something was wrong. She called her husband next, and she said he didn’t quite believe her at first. 

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Now she plans on buying a new car and investing the rest of her winnings. One thing’s for sure: she’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day this year with a little more money in the bank. 

“It’s great to see a hardworking mom who juggles so much have some luck come her way,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne said. 



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Former Pennsylvania 911 director sentenced to decades in prison for child sex crimes

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Former Pennsylvania 911 director sentenced to decades in prison for child sex crimes



Former Somerset County 911 director Bradley Lavan has been sentenced to as long as 120 years behind bars for sex crimes he committed against five children. 

Late last year, Bradley Lavan pleaded guilty late last year to dozens of charges stemming from a 2023 arrest where police alleged he sexually abused five young children.

Lavan was ordered Thursday to serve 60 to 120 years in state prison, a sentence that Somerset County District Attorney Tom Leiden called “appropriate,” citing the seriousness of the crimes he committed.

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“Today, justice was served,” Leiden said, adding that “the sentence should assure that Mr. Lavan is never able to prey on innocent children again.”

At the time of his arrest, then District Attorney Molly Metzgar said that it was alleged that Lavan groomed children in ages from 3 to 6 years old and forced them into performing various sex acts on him while they were in his home. 

Police at the time said that Lavan’s time as the 911 director in Somerset County ended before he was arrested and the charges and his work with the county weren’t connected.

“This successful prosecution and sentence are the result of the District Attorney’s Office’s commitment to seeking justice for victims and for protecting the children of Somerset County,” Leiden said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to make Somerset County a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”

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