🚨 Man Convicted in New Trial | 🚰 PFAS Removal in SoChesCo | 🫟 Plant Closes

In Today’s Edition of Downingtown Local Pulse…

☀️ Downingtown PA Weather

🚨 Second Trial Ends in Conviction for 2023 Killing

🚰 $35 Million Plant to Remove PFAS

🫟 PPG to Close Chester County Plant, Cutting 82 Jobs

🗓️ Upcoming Local Events

🏡 Just Listed Real Estate Listings

🔎 Support Local Downingtown Businesses

Second Trial Ends in Conviction for 2023 Killing

WEST CHESTER, PA — A Chester County jury has convicted Quinzell Mickey of first-degree murder in the 2023 shooting death of William Stafford, concluding a trial that revisited a case stalled earlier this year by a mistrial.

The verdict, delivered last week, followed a week-long proceeding during which prosecutors presented a series of eyewitness accounts and investigative findings. Authorities said Mickey shot Stafford on April 15, 2023, before fleeing the scene, eluding arrest for several months.

Mickey was also found guilty of a firearms offense. A mandatory life sentence accompanies the murder conviction, with formal sentencing scheduled at a later date.

The case had previously come before the court in February, but ended without a verdict when jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision. This time, the jury's decision concluded a lengthy investigation led by Chester County Detectives, with assistance from East Vincent Township and Philadelphia police.

Veolia Opens $35 Million Plant to Treat Chester County Waterways For PFAS

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Veolia has launched a $35 million water treatment plant to remove PFAS from Red and White Clay Creeks, which serve around 100,000 residents in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. The facility, located at the Stanton Water Treatment plant, is the largest of its kind in the Northeast and employs high-capacity carbon filtration to trap the chemicals. PFAS, long used in consumer and industrial products, have been linked to significant health concerns and are now under strict regulation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Veolia, which acquired the plant in 2022, plans to double the number of PFAS removal units in its national network and has proposed a modest rate increase to fund the upgrades. Meanwhile, legal efforts to hold manufacturers like DuPont and Chemours accountable for decades of pollution are ongoing.

PPG to Close Chester County Plant, Cutting 82 Jobs

ELVERSON, PA — Paint and coatings giant PPG Industries has announced it will close its plant in Elverson, Chester County, beginning in August and completing layoffs by next year. The closure affects 82 employees, according to a WARN notice filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. The facility was previously operated by Whitford Worldwide, a coatings company acquired by PPG in 2019. The Pittsburgh-based firm said the decision comes after an internal review of its manufacturing footprint and aims to enhance efficiency, improve product consistency, and reduce costs. PPG did not say whether displaced workers would be relocated within its global network of 45,000 employees. The move reflects ongoing industrial consolidation as companies respond to evolving market and operational demands.

Upcoming local events…

Bubble Day at Kidz Town at CFC (Downingtown) - June 24th, 9:30am-11am

Movie Night: Wicked (West Bradford) - June 26th, 8:30pm

Chris Kasper Band at Broad Run Park (Downingtown) - July 17th, 6pm

Catch up on previous issues…