Pennsylvania

Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserving agricultural farmland

Published

4 weeks ago

March 16, 2026

Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserving agricultural farmland

Two farms in Beaver and Somerset counties will be preserved for farming now that Pennsylvania has purchased the development rights to those properties.

The Shapiro administration announced in February that state and county governments bought the development rights to 25 farms in 17 counties, investing $7.1 million under Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program to ensure the 1,905 acres of land included on those farms would always be used for agricultural purposes and not sold to residential or commercial developers.

In Beaver County, the development rights on a 62-acre crop and livestock farm in Hanover Township, owned by William McNary Jr. and Deborah K. McNary, were purchased for $234,140, using state funds.

In Somerset County, the development rights on a 125-acre crop and livestock farm in Somerset Township, owned by Tim E. Bell, Thomas E. Bell and Suzanne K. Bell, were purchased by state and local governments for $187,104, with the state paying $181,635 and the county paying $5,469.

“Farmland tells the story of Pennsylvania, of generations who worked the land, cared for its resources and built communities that endure,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding in the Feb. 12 announcement.

“In this America250 year, and through the 2025-26 budget, the Shapiro administration is honoring that legacy by protecting our land, water and soil, supporting the next generation of farmers and investing in the innovation and infrastructure that will sustain Pennsylvania agriculture for generations to come.”

Pennsylvania voters approved the creation of the Farmland Preservation Program in 1988, and since then, 6,673 farms and 662,940 acres of farmland have been preserved for agricultural production across 58 counties, the announcement said.

Agriculture contributes $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy and supports almost 600,000 jobs, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to threatening Trump and ICE agents online

Published

10 hours ago

April 14, 2026

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Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to threatening Trump and ICE agents online

Shawn Monper, 33, of Butler, Pennsylvania, entered the plea on Monday before U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy to two counts of threatening federal officials with intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with and retaliate against them in…

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania man charged after son brought loaded gun to school, DA says

Published

22 hours ago

April 13, 2026

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Pennsylvania man charged after son brought loaded gun to school, DA says

A Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, man was charged after his son went to school with his loaded gun, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

The DA’s office said Russell Matthews, 58, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering the welfare of a child.

East Pikeland Township Police responded to Hares Hill Elementary School on Monday at around 12:15 p.m. for the report of a student who brought a handgun to school.

At school, the student noticed the handgun inside their backpack and told a school counselor, according to the DA’s office. The student told officials that he recognized it and that it belonged to his father. The semiautomatic handgun was loaded with five rounds of ammunition, the DA’s office said.

Matthews told police that he put the gun in the wrong backpack, the DA’s office said.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

“We are grateful to the school officials and the East Pikeland Township Police Department who worked quickly to ensure that [Hares] Hill Elementary School is safe again,” Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement.

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Pennsylvania

Cynthia Ann Gargasz, Sharon, PA

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

SHARON, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Cynthia Ann Gargasz, age 75, passed away peacefully, on Friday, April 10, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Cynthia was born on October 5, 1950, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, to Mary and Carl Spruk.

Cindy grew up in Farrell, Pennsylvania, where she attended Farrell High School and graduated from class of 1969. She went on to dedicate 30 years of hard work at Packard Electric before retiring.

Cindy found joy in simple comforts at home and maintaining her home and family. Throughout her life, she cared deeply for her animal friends and would always feed and nurture any additional critters that would cross her path. She loved sitting with a cup of coffee, watching the birds and welcoming visits from friends and family. She cherished gathering around the kitchen table for meals and conversation and was always adding simple touches to her space to make it feel more like home. She enjoyed hosting holidays, where everyone felt welcome. Cindy had an eye for style, enjoyed meeting up with friends and dancing the night away to good music. Most recently during her illness, she very much enjoyed trips to the corral drive-in, for vanilla ice cream and burger visits with family.

Cindy is preceded in death by her parents Mary and Carl Spruk; her sister, Carol Crisan; and her brother, Edward Spruk.

She is survived by her children, Frank (Reagan) Gargasz and Ashley Gargasz; her grandson, Jordan DeCarmen; her brother, Mark Spruk (Gretchen); and her nieces and great-nieces.

Per her wish, family and close friends may call on Tuesday April 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., in the Stephen J. Sherman Funeral Home

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., in the funeral home, with Father James Power, officiating.

Burial will take place in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery Hermitage, PA.

Arrangements entrusted to the SHERMAN Funeral Home & Crematory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cynthia Ann (Spruk) Gargasz, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Tuesday, April 14, at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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