Mount Penn News

Two Muhlenberg Township brothers were robbed by two men after they were duped by two sisters they knew into driving with them to the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower, police said Monday.

Stage 1 - June 10: Lac-Etchemin / Lac-Etchemin, 167km Colex dances away with Beauce opener Bernardo Colex showed last week that he could climb, ascending Mt.

The season's first heat wave came to a violent end as torrential rains accompanied by lightning swept across Berks County on Tuesday evening.

Crews spent about two hours cleaning up some type of spilled substance in Mount Penn on Wednesday.

Thousands of cycling fans lined the streets of Reading to see the Reading Classic, a 10 lap 74 mile race.

Rock Racing's Oscar Sevilla was the first to cross the finish line to win the Reading Classic's pro men's race, seen live on 69-WFMZ and WFMZ.com this afternoon, finishing 10 laps around the streets of Reading.

Mt. Penn Again the Challenge for Cyclists on Race Day While the pro men cyclists will be competing against each other in the second leg of the Triple Crown of Cycling tomorrow, they'll also have to do battle ...

Reading Eagle: Jeremy Drey Riders in the 2007 Commerce Bank Reading Classic bike race.

“So I thought I might like to do it.”

With help from his father and grandfather, Ryan Wentzel is set to compete in the Mohnton race on Saturday. via Reading Eagle/Reading Times

“What sets these races apart is that they are circuit races held in the heart of big cities, not long point-to-point tours where you may only see the riders once all day”

Organizers of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling have announced the 25 professional men's teams that will wage a three-race battle on the hardscrabble streets of southeastern Pennsylvania in early June. via Pedal

“I did take the time to go to Harrisburg and be in the rotunda with them when they announced it last year.”

Reading Eagle: Jeremy Drey Women racers at Fifth and Penn streets in the Reading Classic in June. via Reading Eagle/Reading Times

“This court weighed the dan ger presented by the defendant against the possibility of a future breakthrough in rehabilitation for sexual offend ers”

A former day care worker who admitted sexually assaulting six young girls deserves the long prison sentence he was given, a Berks County judge has told the state Superior Court. via Reading Eagle/Reading Times

“Everywhere in this city . . . structures speak of expended energy. . . . All this had been cast up in the last century by what now seem like giants.”

READING, Pa.

This election is about "change," they say. Change? This great old railroad and factory town can teach us a little something about change. Except here, they call it "repurposing."

The people are going to the polls today excited, scared, 'bitter' -- yes, Reading is one of those hard-luck, high-pride places Barack Obama must have had in mind -- and most of all hopeful and skeptical at the same time.

Do you blame them? First they took a ride on the Reading Railroad, which was good while it lasted, until coal was no longer king: End of the line, do not pass Go. But everyone still had jobs in the factories, foundries, knitting mills. Then most of those closed, or took permanent vacations in Mexico. Read more

The new chief of the Central Berks Regional police department is officially in place. via WFMZ

“We've been doing this for almost 10 years, and we may have started out slow, but for the past three years we have been the number one crime alert organization in the state”

District Attorney John T. Adams on Tuesday donated $10,000 seized from drug dealers to Crime Alert Berks County. via Reading Eagle/Reading Times

“That's important. Without education, this country has to go down. She's going to bring it back. "This great nation is ready for a female president.”

Local Clinton supporters find confirmation in debate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is ready to return the country to prosperity, her supporters concluded Wednesday after watching her and her Democrat opponent ... via Reading Eagle/Reading Times

“I am very ecstatic about the progress that has been made”

The great-grandchildren of the man behind the 100-year-old Pagoda atop Mount Penn were more than proud Saturday of the community for an all-out effort to preserve the city landmark. via Reading Eagle/Reading Times

A landmark in Reading is turning 100, and plans are taking shape to restore it.

Dozens of volunteers have been sprucing up the Pagoda in anticipation of a $15 million renovation project expected to start this year.

A century ago, William Witman Sr. was inspired to build the Pagoda atop Mount Penn in Reading after receiving a photograph of a similar structure from a friend who had traveled abroad.

The Pagoda was intended to beautify a quarry. The city of Reading now owns the property. Read more

It's a heartwarming homecoming for a Exeter Township Marine who spent his last four years in Iraq. via WFMZ

“Planning early on is absolutely critical”

As Edward V. Giannasca II walked through his firm's offices under construction on Canal Street, he talked about how he and his wife, Alicia, are looking to buy a home in Reading or Mount Penn. via Reading Eagle/Reading Times