Photo by Curt Werner/Dillsburg Banner

Another life lost on a deadly stretch

Sixth fatality in little over a year

Marie Chomicki

   The Rt. 15 corridor through Dillsburg claimed another life Sunday night in Franklin Township - its 20th fatality in 14 years in the 8.9 mile stretch of highway from the Cumberland County line, through Dillsburg, into Adams County with 16 intersections.

   Northern York County Regional police said a driver ran the stop sign at Clear Springs Road, attempting to head east across the highway,when his 2002 Ford F250 pickup struck a 2006 Toyota Camry traveling south on the interstate at 5:54 p.m. on Aug. 25.

   Kyle Zepp, 24, of Tanneytown, Md., a passenger in the Toyota, was flown by STAT MedEvac toWellSpan York Hospital. Zepp was trapped inside the Camry that spun down an embankment. Emergency crews had to cut through the windshield and used the Jaws of Life to remove the door and roof to free the victim.

   Deputy Coroner Michele Kirchner pronounced Zepp dead at 3:32a.m. Monday, Aug. 26. An autopsy performed Tuesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown determined cause of death to be blunt force head injury, manner accidental. Zepp did not have his seat belt on, the coroner said.

   The 19-year-old female driver of the Toyota was conscious and alert on the scene and was transported to Holy Spirit Hospital, police reported. She is from Fairfield, Adams County.

   The 62-year-old Franklin Township man,Terry Miller, driver of the pickup, was thrown from his truck. He was taken to Holy Spirit Hospital where he remains in critical condition, police said.

   Northern York County Fire Rescue, York SpringsFire Company, fire police, EMS and Northern Regional police were on the scene. Both sides of the interstate were closed for hours.

   Four members of the Pennsylvania National Guard of Gettysburg assisted at the crash site before emergency crews arrived.

   This is the fourth fatality at the Clear Spring Road Rt. 15 intersection in less than 16 years.

   Northern Regional police officer David Tome was struck and killed on Oct. 21, 2008 while reconstructing a fatality that took two days before on Oct. 19, 2008, killing Twila Martin of York Springs. Martin,driving an Oldsmobile van,was hit by a southbound Explorer while attempting to cross Rt. 15.

                                     Community Day brings neighbors together

                     Brian Ecker, Odd Fellows member, grills hot dogs for the York Springs Community Day. Photo by Curt Warner.

Peggie Williams

   The York Springs area celebrated Community Day on Saturday with music, crafts, children’s activities and food.

   The same weekend last year saw the town’s celebration of its 150th anniversary which was so successful organizers decided the community needed to gather more often. This was a much scaled down version from last year, but also declared a success.

   Non-profits in the area supplied the food. Trinity Lutheran Church provided an all-you-can-eat breakfast, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows sold pulled pork and hot dogs, the Lions Club sold peach or strawberry sundaes and York Springs Methodist Church made snow cones. Lehman’s’ Feed and Home Center held a chicken barbeque and children’s activities.

   Other children’s activities around town included games and crafts sponsored by the YSMC and Ye Old Sulphur Spa Historical Society. A free children’s book give away was at the Lutheran Church and a petting zoo was at Griest Park. Bounce houses were available in several locations, and 4 Square Church provided rides in the barrel train.

   The YOSSHS museum was open, Paul’s Garage took visitors “Back in Time”, and self-guided tour books of town were available by donation.

   There were several country fair-like contests. The winner of the Soup Cook-off was Jennifer Bortner with her loaded baked potato soup.

Bears hold of Panthers for win

                                                            Mark Ryder/Dillsburg Banner

Joe Guty

   After surviving the typical first quarter jitters and miscues, Northern H.S. held off East Pennsboro 20-13 in the opening game of the 2019 football season.

   It didn’t take long before the host Panthers and Polar Bears found some footing after a scoreless first frame. Early in the second quarter, East Penn cashed in on an interception to post a 7-0 lead. Northern answered on a 13-play drive that covered 80 yards capped by QB Jordan Heisey’s 19-yard touchdown run at 5:57. Mason Yohn’s extra point made it 7-7. Bolstered from strong pressure by the defensive line and, after a fumble recovery, Heisey connected twice in the air with senior tight end Tim Geiser.

   On first and goal with four seconds left in the second quarter, junior running back CJ Wagner punched it in for Northern’s second TD. After the extra point, Northern took a 14-7 lead into halftime. The Panthers added another score midway through the third quarter on Jacob Shermeyer’s two-yard TD run. However, the missed extra point allowed the Polar Bears a slim 14-13 lead. Another defensive stand late in the game gave Northern an opportunity. CJ Wagner took over with gains of 17, 7, and 36 yards. On second and seven with 1:39 left, Wagner made a nifty cut back and an apparent score from 17 yards out. It was not to be as Northern was assessed a holding penalty. No problem as Northern regrouped and picked up yardage from Luke Horvath and Wagner. On fourth-and-10 from the 20-yard line, Heisey launched a perfect fade to Tyler Weary who utilized his basketball skills to snare the ball for the TD. The Polar Bears held on in the skittish, waning half minute of the contest.

   “Our line took the game over in the last drive,” said Head Coach Bill Miller. And there is no denying the first “W’ of the year. “You are always happy to win the first one,” Miller added.

                                         Polar Bears looking to surpise in 2019

   Take a look at the things the Northern boys soccer team doesn't have -- 11graduated seniors, including the Top 3 goal scorers -- and it's easy to pass the Polar Bears off as a program in the rebuilding phase.

   That's exactly why Northern coach Gaz Davies, in his fourth year, thinks his still-talented Polar Bears are going to surprise opponents this season. It's a tough sell, considering departed seniors Wesley Speck, Cameron Kearns and Bobby Skinnell combined for 32 goals last season, but Davies is full of enthusiasm regarding this season's crop of players.

   "Obviously, with losing 11 seniors, we've got a whole new batch coming in," Davies said. "But after 10 days of practice, you wouldn't know it. That's a really good sign so far."

   The first question for Davies is obvious: Where will the Polar Bears get their scoring? He points to a group of players who worked part-time roles last season, saying it is now their time to shine. Shep Soisson, a junior striker who missed last season with a torn ACL, will be asked to fill the boots of Speck, while Ian Hall (4 goals, 1 assist) and Zach French (1 goal, 1 assist) will man the outside. Expect plenty of support from the central midfield of Connor Swope (6 goals, 7 assists), Spencer Siverling (3 goals, 9 assists) and Ashton Davies (2 goals, 12 assists).

   "These guys were in part-time roles last year, yet really contributing," Davies said. "We may not have one player that scores 20 goals, but I think we'll have three or four that get 10 each, that's the kind of attacking threats we have this year."

For more information see the August 22, 2019 edition.