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GLEN MILLS, PA — Randy Bates, the owner of Arasapha Farms in Glen Mills and a well-known figure in both his local community and the national haunted attraction industry, has died at 68 following a battle with cancer, his family announced. Bates transformed the family farm — in his family since 1952 — into a multifaceted destination featuring haunted hayrides, the acclaimed Bates Motel attraction, a holiday tree farm, and a venue for weddings and events.

Founded in 1996, the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride grew into one of the country's most recognized seasonal attractions, drawing visitors from across the United States and abroad. Bates's impact reached well beyond his own farm: he helped establish organizations serving the haunted attraction industry and played a role in developing safety standards still used by operators today.

Outside the haunt world, Bates was deeply involved in Edgmont Township civic life, serving four years as a township supervisor and a decade as its emergency management coordinator. The township formally recognized his contributions with a resolution of appreciation in June.

His son, Ben Bates, said his father had spent recent years preparing the next generation to take over, gradually stepping back and giving his children more control of the farm's operations. The family says its focus now is on continuing to grow Arasapha Farms and preserving the legacy their father built, beginning with the farm's annual car show, which is set to proceed this Sunday as scheduled. Members of the haunted attraction community have also paid tribute to Bates, describing him as a generous, family-oriented figure whose influence extended far beyond his own property.

TREDYFFRIN, PA — What began as a traffic stop for a stop-sign violation in Tredyffrin Township early on Aug. 2 unraveled into a felony sex-crimes case after police found a 14-year-old Pennsylvania girl in a car driven by a 21-year-old South Carolina man, Edgar Amilcar Maquinpop, who had given officers a fabricated name and identification. After providing several conflicting names and birth dates, he was detained; a Guatemalan passport found in the vehicle helped confirm his real identity, later verified at the police station with the aid of a Spanish-language interpreter.

Investigators say the relationship between the man and the girl began on Instagram roughly a year before the stop, with the man allegedly telling the teenager he was 19 despite knowing she was around 15. He reportedly told police he had traveled from South Carolina to the Philadelphia area specifically to continue the relationship, and that the girl had been staying with him at a nearby Fairfield Inn, booked under his false name. A search of the hotel room turned up evidence supporting police's account that the two had engaged in sexual contact on multiple occasions.

Maquinpop now faces five felony charges — including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor — as well as five misdemeanors related to his use of a fraudulent identity and two summary offenses from the traffic stop. Legal experts note the felony charges carry the possibility of decades in prison and mandatory sex-offender registration under Pennsylvania law.

WEST CHESTER, PA — Investigators in Chester County have revised their understanding of a fatal shooting that occurred Friday morning at the Summit House condominium complex in East Goshen Township. Officials now say the death of a woman in her 40s, found with a single gunshot wound inside her unit, is being treated as a suicide. A 9-year-old girl who was present during the incident was also struck by gunfire; she was treated at the scene by paramedics, remained conscious throughout, and is continuing to recover from her injuries.

A firearm was located near the woman's body, and police responded to the scene after a shooting was reported just before 11 a.m. In a statement issued Monday, the Chester County District Attorney's Office and the Westtown-East Goshen Police Department corrected an earlier account that had indicated the girl was hit by the same bullet that killed the woman. Authorities reiterated that the incident was isolated and did not pose any risk to the surrounding community, while asking residents to give the affected family privacy as the investigation continues.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — Chester County's young golfers have a new affordable way to practice their swing, as Bank of America's Golf with Us program has added discounted Topgolf access through early September. Through Sept. 3, enrolled participants ages 6 to 18 can reserve Topgolf bays for $5 at the King of Prussia and Philadelphia locations, available from opening until noon on weekdays, Monday through Thursday. The offer can be unlocked through the Youth on Course mobile app.

The addition builds on an already extensive regional network that provides discounted golf access across Greater Philadelphia, with more than 6,200 youths currently enrolled. In Chester County, participants can secure $5 tee times at Downingtown Country Club, Honeybrook Golf Club and Westman Golf Club, while Golf Galaxy in Berwyn and Play-a-Golf in Malvern round out local offerings. Members also have access to discounted simulator rentals at select Golf Galaxy stores.

Operated by Youth on Course in partnership with Bank of America, Golf with Us is designed to make golf more accessible and affordable for younger players. Additional details and enrollment information are available through the Youth on Course website and app.

Coming Soon:
209 WREN CT Downingtown ($459,900)
129 MADISON WAY Downingtown ($535,000)
550 LANCASTER CT Downingtown ($339,900)

Just Listed:
107 NICOLSON DR Downingtown ($820,000)
1016 W BOOT RD Downingtown ($495,500)
256 CARLYN CT Downingtown ($319,900)
1911 BOULDER DR Downingtown ($520,000)
107 NICOLSON DR Downingtown ($820,000)
810 DOWLIN FORGE RD Downingtown ($639,900)
125 DOWLIN FORGE RD Downingtown ($825,000)
1473 W STONINGTON DR Downingtown ($1,450,000)
217 SEVEN SPRINGS LN Downingtown ($800,000)
124 HELM WAY Downingtown ($675,000)
126 GARRIS RD Downingtown ($725,000)
127 GOVERNORS CIR Downingtown ($695,000)
14 WINDEMERE CT Downingtown ($425,000)
273 SPRING RUN LN Downingtown ($750,000)
170 LENORA LN Downingtown ($649,900)
522 LYANNA WAY Downingtown ($454,900)
524 LYANNA WAY Downingtown ($464,900)
615 TYRION LN Downingtown ($446,990)



See more listings at ChesterCountyRealty.com

INSTANT HOME VALUE CLICK HERE

Upcoming local events…

Caln Movie Night in The Park (Caln Twp) - Aug 15, 7:30pm

Back to School Bash (Kerr Park) - Aug 16, 12pm-3pm

Town Tours and Village Walks: Historic Yellow Springs (Chester Springs) - Aug 20, 5:30pm-7pm

Summer Concert: Lenape Brass Ensemble (West Bradford) - Aug 20, 6pm

Bug Camp For Kids (Warwick County Park) - Aug 22, 1pm-2:30pm

Steps to Home 5k Run/Walk (Downingtown) - Aug 23, 8am

Wallace Township Movie Night (Wallace Twp) - Aug 27, Dusk

Battle of the Bands (Downingtown VFW) - Sept 12, 12pm

Catch up on previous issues…

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