Archive - 2011
December 13th
William Paul Smochek, 88, DuBois, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, at home.
He was born July 16, 1923, in Mahaffey, the son of the late Frank and Rose (Mrozek) Smocek.
He was married to Lois Pearl (Bell) Smochek, who survives.
Mr. Smochek was a famer and miner, and he worked in the construction business, retiring from PennDOT.
He was Catholic by faith.
BROOKVILLE â Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commissioners adopted the county's final operating budget for 2012, which calls for no tax increase.
It was amended only slightly from the proposed budget, which was advertised three weeks ago.
According to Director of Finance & Human Resources Debby Hackett, she anticipated a deficit of $53,752 at the end of 2012 in the proposed budget; however, some changes were made in both "increased revenues, and some reduction in expenditures," slashing the deficit by about $13,000, she said.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Pennsylvania recently became the 31st state to enact a ban on the use of any kind of hand-held texting device by drivers.
Gov. Tom Corbett signed the bill into law, which will take effect March 8.
Calling and texting devices are the worst of a growing set of attractive distractions facing drivers. Corbett said he was pleased to help outlaw a practice that he sees regularly just from the window of his car as he travels the state.
December 12th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â After the 2010 fall sports season concluded for Punxsutawney Area High School, The Punxsutawney Spirit started a tradition that allowed its readers to select a Most Valuable Player from the four boys' sports and one from the five girls' sports.
This year, The Spirit continued the tradition, and the readers have spoken via their ballots, selecting a pair of seniors, girls' tennis player Shaina Reddinger and boys' soccer player Dan Triponey, as the 2011 recipients of the MVP awards.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Two days after a devastating fire destroyed a borough landmark, officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze that nearly leveled the Punxsy Hotel along North Findley Street.
Cpl. Chuck Gross, Punxsutawney-based Pennsylvania State Police Fire marshal, said he was âlooking for clues as to how the fire beganâ Monday in the kitchen area of the Smugglerâs Inn, which is attached to the Hotel.
Council: No tax increase in 2012
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Punxsutawney Borough Police Chief Tom Fedigan was granted a new four-year contract at Monday's meeting, but it was not unanimous.
The vote was four council members in favor of the motion â Susan Glessner, Donna Lellock, William Spencer and Roger Steele â with Larry Chenoga and Mike Porada voting no.
Council member Robert Reesman did not vote, as he had left the meeting early due to illness.
Also at Monday's meeting, council:
âą Approved the 2012 budget with no tax increase.
BROOKVILLE â With only a smile and very few words, nine-year-old Michael Goddard can light up a room and make anyone feel special.
"He says hi to everybody," Paula Goddard said of her son, Michael. "No matter what they look like, or how old they are, or what color they are, it doesn't matter."
Michael has Down syndrome, and because of this, he has difficulty speaking.
But he doesn't let that get in the way of showing others love and compassion.
"He's really special," Paula said. "He's taught us a lot, on how to love unconditionally â just to accept people for who they are."
December 11th
MARION CENTER â The Punxsy boys' basketball team earned its first victory of the young season Saturday in a low-scoring battle against the West Shamokin Wolves in the consolation game of the Marion Center second-annual Cancer Awareness Tip-Off Tournament, 33-25.
Punxsy head coach Dirk Neal said in the preseason, defense was his team's strength, and after falling behind late in a shootout against Marion Center Friday night, the Chucks' defense settled in and contained the Wolves to just 16 points through the first three quarters to pull away and win.
MARION CENTER â The Lady Chucks basketball team concluded its play at the Marion Center second annual Cancer Awareness Tip-Off Tournament in what Punxsy head coach Randy Reitz called a "tale of two halves," falling 55-36 to the Lady Dragons of Central Martinsburg.
After being outscored 32-13 in the first half, Punxsy's offense found its rhythm, and the Lady Chucks outscored Central 14-11 in the third quarter.
Central quickly pushed its lead to 21 with a basket one minute into the third, but Punxsy scored eight unanswered points to cut into the lead.
Mary L. Moyer, 96, Doylestown, formerly of Rossiter, passed away Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Doylestown.
She was born June 24, 1915, in Bitumen, a daughter of the late Matthew and Mary (Krempasky) Pisarchik.
She married Frank J. Moyer, who preceded her in death March 6, 2007.
Mrs. Moyer was a member of the Church of the Resurrection in Rossiter.Â
She loved quilting, cooking and sewing.
