Archive - Jan 20, 2013
George Samuel Couch, 78, of Punxsutawney, entered God’s Kingdom of Heaven on his heavenly train ride Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.
He was born Sept. 14, 1934, in Bell Township, Jefferson County, a son of the late George Wetley and Pearl Myrtle (Vasbinder) Couch.
George was the last member of his family.
Mr. Couch was a Staff Sargeant of the United States Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict.
On March 22, 1958, he married the former Mary Evelyn Stiver, who survives.
She was a devoted wife and caregiver, and they celebrated 54 years of marriage together.
Donald J. Vite, 59, of Penn Run, formerly of Rossiter, passed away Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Vite was born Sept. 11, 1953, in Rossiter, a son of Donald J. Vite and Kathryn (Williams) Vite, who survive, of Indiana.
Sept. 18, 1976, Donald married his wife, Lorna R. (Hunter) Vite, who survives, of Penn Run.
He was a truck driver for 32 years for various companies, including his father's company, Donald J. Vite Trucking.
He most recently drove for New Century Transportation, where he was lead driver teaching the job to younger drivers.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Drugs and alcohol are increasingly becoming the basis behind many crimes that have been committed during the past year in Punxsutawney, according to Punxsutawney Borough Police Chief Tom Fedigan, who recently released the department’s 2012 statistics.
In 2012, the Punxsutawney Borough Police received 1,145 calls at its dispatch center, said Fedigan.
He said out of those 1,145 calls, 250 were emergency calls to which police officers had to respond immediately.
Fedigan said his department is seeing major increases in psychiatric and mental health calls.
(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
January 20, 1897
Expected the Real Thing
A man from one of the rural districts was in town on Saturday and saw the numerous little black flags the Tornado company have stuck up on the telegraph poles to advertise their show.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center is pleased to announce Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel® as its 2013 inductee into the Meteorologist Hall of Fame.
The ceremony will take place on Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Weather Center on North Findley Street.
Cantore is one of the most recognized faces in weather. Whether it's in the middle of an ice storm, tornado activity or a Category 5 hurricane, there is no place Jim Cantore would rather be.Â
