Archive - Jun 25, 2012
DUBOIS — With a three-day rest and the tournament's king seed on the line, Punxsy and DuBois' 11- and 12-year-old softball All-Stars faced off in the winners' bracket championship game Monday evening in DuBois.
And behind a two-run sixth inning, DuBois earned a come-from-behind win to advance to the District X final Friday.
After the game, Punxsy head coach Mike Ishman attributed the loss to a couple simple concepts: DuBois got the hits when it needed them, and Punxsy made a few too many mistakes and didn't get the hits when it needed them most.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Working at the Punxsutawney Fire Department's Old Home Week Celebration is a family tradition for many of the vendors for J&J Amusements.
"My family has been working in the carnival business since the late 1800s," said Fran Freeborn of Beaver Falls, operator of the dime toss game for J&J Amusements, at Old Home Week carnival grounds located behind the west side of the Punxy Plaza.
Freeborn, 71, said she was about 17 years old when she first began working at Old Home Week.
Monday, these youngsters — (clockwise from left) Elizabeth Smith, Kaitlyn Lowmaster, Anna Newman, John Mizerock, Gabriell Peles, Rachel Houser and Hannah Fetterman — were helping staff members from the Playhouse Children's Center sort plastic ducks for the upcoming Duck Derby, set for 11 a.m. Sunday, July 8, at the George C. Brown Community Pool.
Dorothy L. Shirey, 93, Tanyard (Mayport), died Monday, June 25, 2012, at Clarion Hospital.
She was born June 19, 1919, in New Salem, a daughter of Boyd O. and A. Maude (Doverspike) Kunselman.
Nov. 25, 1937, she married J. Russell Shirey, who preceded her in death Nov. 16, 1988.
Mrs. Shirey will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, giving, talented woman. She always had a welcoming smile and enjoyed visits from hundreds of folks to her home over the years.
She first attended the two-room schoolhouse in New Salem and then graduated from Hawthorn.
Mildred Louise (Priester) Shaffer, 87, Valier, died Monday, June 25, 2012, at DuBois Regional Medical Center.
She was born July 27, 1924, in McCalmont Township.
Oct. 10, 1942, she married Clinton Eugene Shaffer, who preceded her in death Jan. 13, 1993.
She previously worked at Sportswear and the Adrian Hospital. She was a member of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church and a former member of the Eastern Star.
Her enjoyments were being at home with her family, cooking and cleaning.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Welcome to Old Home Week, as the Punxsutawney Fire Department will present the annual celebration beginning Tuesday at the carnival grounds located behind the west side of the Punxy Plaza.
According to “McKnight's History of Jefferson County” and the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society, the celebration was first held Aug. 23-28, 1909.
"During this eventful week, nearly everyone who had ever lived in Punxsy returned to visit, and an elaborate program was carried out each day for their entertainment," William J. McKnight wrote, adding
ROSSITER — A catastrophe was averted early Sunday morning when an oven fire filled the West Side Manor Personal Care Home in Rossiter with smoke.
The fire alarm was called in at 6:11 a.m. Sunday when the oven malfunctioned, said Joe Pisano, Rossiter Volunteer Fire Company chief.
Pisano said he was able to arrive on scene quickly and contain the fire to the oven itself.
Residents of the home were evacuated, and there were no injuries, as firefighters ventilated the structure with an exhaust fan.
(The Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of life in the 19th century as originally reported in past issues of the newspapers. These reproduced stories include their original headlines and spelling.)
Local Intelligence
(July 29, 1896)
A TERRIFIC STORM
Western Pennsslvania Swept by Flood and Wind
ROSSITER — With a 2 p.m. contest against the Bigler Buccos Saturday, the Rossiter Miners opened their third-annual Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament with a bang — picking up a 9-1 victory behind a complete-game three-hitter by Dylan Kachmar and some lively hitting up and down the lineup.
Kachmar took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and over the final 5.2 innings, he was nearly unhittable, as he faced the minimum number of opposing hitters before Andy Turner picked up Bigler's third hit one out before the end of the game.
BROOKVILLE— Brookville's big fourth inning was too much for the Punxsy Minors All-Star team to overcome Saturday at Zufall Field.
The Punxsy squad fell 10-5 to Brookville.
Despite the final outcome, Punxsy led during the first three innings.
Brookville batted to open the game. Seth Dunkle stepped up to the plate first.
He hit a shot to lefty pitcher Darren Byers, who threw to first baseman Zack Reitz, but the throw was mishandled, allowing Dunkle to reach second on the first error of the game.
Kyle Macbeth batted next, and flew out to right field for the first out.
