OMG PD

OMG PD: Mrs. 'Grinch' Sentenced to Prison for Menacing on Christmas

This week's stories include a woman who is heading to prison after assaulting her husband for buying lousy Christmas presents, a missing cactus in Whitemarsh, and an assault with a lacrosse stick.

You're a Mean One, Mrs. Grinch: According to a report in the Lansdale Patch, a 51-year-old woman will spend up to 23 months in prison after she menaced her husband with a butcher knife on Christmas. The woman – whom the prosecutor referred to as "the Grinch on steroids" – was reportedly unhappy with the presents her husband had purchased. Specifically, she wanted jewels and a card, but she received an artsy tile and a Bonsai. Click here to read the full story. Boy Attacks Father with Lacrosse Stick: According to a report in the Pottstown Patch, a 16-year-old received a referral on charges of simple assault and harassment, stemming from an incident with his father. The report states that the son allegedly punched his father in the face, …

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It's Not too Early to Think About Next Christmas

Take advantage of after-Christmas sales to save big for next year.

On Dec. 26, many retailers slashed the price of their Christmas goods, as well as many of the products they overstocked but didn't sell during the Christmas shopping rush. Their loss is your gain: You can save 50 to 75 percent, and in some cases even more, on gift wrap and decor for next Christmas, and consumer goods you can use now and all year long. Retailers slash prices on other goods this time of year, to encourage shoppers who received gift cards to get out and buy. So if you're not totally shopped out, here's a how-to guide on getting great post-Christmas deals: What to Buy Gift wrap - Wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, gift tags, boxes, tape, ribbon, bows. Since it never goes bad, you can buy for next year and beyond. Also …

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UPDATE: Authorities ID Christmas Shooting Victim

Police say 24-year-old Paul Brown was found shot in his car in an alley in Norristown on Christmas night.

Authorities have identified the victim in the fatal Christmas night shooting in Norristown as 24-year-old local man Paul Brown. Friends and loved one's mourned his loss publicly via social media following the news of the killing Tuesday night, Dec. 25. According to the Norristown Police Department, police were dispatched to the alley behind 120 Wayne Ave. in Norristown at 4:41 p.m. for a report of a shooting. On the scene, they discovered Brown sitting in the driver's seat of his 1997 Buick Sedan with multiple gunshot wounds. He was reportedly transported by Plymouth Ambulance to Mercy Suburban Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy is scheduled for today, Wednesday, Dec. 26. Click here to follow us on Facebook Both …

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Fatal Shooting Christmas Night in Montco

Police say a 24-year-old man is dead after being shot in an alley in Norristown on Christmas night.

Norristown Police responded to the area of West Scott Alley and Park Alley at approximately 4:40 p.m. on Christmas night, Tuesday, Dec. 25, for a report of a shooting and are now investigating a homicide. According to authorities, a 24-year-old unidentified local man has been pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds. There is no suspect and police are investigating the crime in collaboration with Montgomery County Detectives. Click here to follow us on Facebook On the scene, police reportedly recovered over 10 shells in the alley. Authorities are currently questioning witnesses from the scene. Patch will update this story as more information becomes available. See also: Coroner Identifies Body Discovered Below Pottstown Bridge Homeless…

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Watch: Oldest Recording of Family at Christmas

Found in a British family's attic, recordings more than a century old carry the ghostly voices of a family celebrating Christmas.

A box of wax cylinders discovered in a London attic held a special heirloom for one British family — and also what may be the oldest surviving recording of a family at Christmas. The recordings were made on an old phonograph by the family’s patriarch, Cromwell Wall. They were passed down to Wall’s grandson, David Brown, who didn’t know what was recorded on them and didn’t have the equipment to play them. Watch the video to learn what happened.

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'Operation Nine Reindeer' Spreads Joy to Royersford Family [PHOTOS]

A Royersford family, whose mother lost her battle with cancer in September, received a special visit from Santa on Saturday night.

With flashing lights bouncing off of Christmas decorations and sirens echoing through the quiet streets of Royersford, a special visitor from the North Pole made a surprise stop on Saturday night to help a local family in need.  Professional Santa Dutch Schrap, who - along with his girlfriend, Jennifer - launched the "Operation Nine Reindeer" charity earlier this year, set his sights on spreading some Christmas cheer to a local father and his three adopted children, after their mother lost her battle with cancer in September. As the convoy - consisting of emergency vehicles from the Royersford Police Department, the Royerford Fire Department and the Linfield Fire Company - made their way down Third Ave, the three children - two boys and a …

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How to Make Fruitcake You'll Actually Eat

The batter is so good, it's hard not to eat it all before you put it in the oven.

Fruitcakes have become a punchline: the gift nobody wants to receive, the holiday treat that nobody wants to actually eat. But fruitcakes used to be as central to Christmas cuisine as cranberries or stuffing are to Thanksgiving. There is such a thing as delicious fruitcake, and this video will show you how to make it. Hint: get ready to raid your liquor cabinet.

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Last Day to Vote for National Finalists in Patch's 'Deck the House' Contest

The winner will net $100,000 for their local school district on Dec. 29

We had tons of national entries in this year’s Deck the House contest and in our quest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in the country, we’ve seen everything from a life-size Santa to holiday lights so bright they could blind the neighbors. We loved showcasing everyone’s holiday spirit, but Deck the House isn’t over yet. We’re still looking for the one home so spectacularly decorated that it could be the national grand prize winner of our contest. We have chosen 25 finalists from all our entries across the country. From Dec. 18 to today at noon, readers can vote for their favorite, and that favorite could win $100,000 for his or her local school district. All you have to do is visit this page to browse a gallery of the …

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Suspects Captured in Alleged Theft from Toys for Tots

Two suspects, both juvenile females, have been arrested and will be charged after allegedly stealing donations from a Toys for Tots bin at the North Coventry Mall.

Two girls who allegedly stole donations from a Toys for Tots bin at the Coventry Mall have been taken into custody, and will soon face charges in juvenile court. According to a report by the Pottstown Mercury, the North Coventry Police Department announced the arrests on Thursday afternoon. Due to both suspects being underage, police did not release their names. Click here to follow us on Facebook Video surveillance at the mall allegedly captured the duo stealing the items around 9:30 p.m. on December 8. Initial reports described both suspects as being in their late-teens to early 20's, but upon their arrest, police discovered that both females were juveniles. Click here to view the video The Mercury's report adds that all stolen items …

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