Venomous Spider Invasion, Fatal Rattlesnake Bite, Nursing Home Chain Sued: July 2015 on Patch

We are presenting our “12 days of 2015 on Patch” by looking at Pennsylvania Patch’s top 10 stories of each month in 2015.

July was all about spiders, bugs and snakes. A venomous spider invasion closed a Pennsylvania elementary school and the state’s first fatal rattlesnake bite in decades was reported. Also, authorities warned of an invasive fly species.

Here’s a look back at the month’s top stories:

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1. Some Pennsylvania Walmart Stores No Longer Open 24 Hours (July 28)

Walmart is reducing overnight hours at 40 stores this week across the country. Nine stores are in Maryland, while the 31 others are in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

2. Venomous Spider Invasion Closes Elementary School In Pennsylvania (July 30)

An elementary school in Franklin County was closed as officials eradicated an influx of brown recluse spiders from the building.

3. Legal Action Filed Against National Nursing Home Chain With 36 Pa. Locations (July 2)

Authorities in Pennsylvania filed legal action against a nursing home company with 36 locations statewide for failing to provide basic services to “elderly and vulnerable” residents, the Pennsylvania Attorney General announced in July.

4. Horror At The Campfire: Pennsylvania Rattlesnake Claims First Victim In Decades (July 20)

A 39-year-old man died after a rattlesnake bit him in Elk County Saturday. The situation is very rare, experts say.

5. 31-Pound ‘River Monster’ Hauled From Schuylkill River (July 17)

A 31-pound flathead catfish was caught in the Schuylkill River between Valley Forge and Phoenixville in July.

6. ‘Dangerously’ Invasive Fly Sweeps Across Montgomery County (July 19)

A dangerously invasive fly is sweeping across much of Pennsylvania, the state Department of Agriculture warned.

7. Body Of Missing Lansdale Teen Found In North Wildwood (July 6)

The body of a Lansdale teenager who vanished while swimming in North Wildwood, N.J. was located.

8. Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Hospitals: Who Made The List? (July 21)

U.S. News and World Report released their hospital rankings in July.

9. Father Of Teen Driver In Fatal Poconos Crash Pleads Guilty (July 9)

The father of an unlicensed teen who was driving during a car crash that killed three Council Rock South students pleaded guilty.

10. Pa. Man Going 100 MPH In Crash That Killed Son, 9: Authorities (July 13)

The driver, Stephen Weekes of Bethlehem, and his son, Anthony Weekes were both declared dead at the scene of a New Jersey crash.