Archive - 2013
April 17th
ANITA â If you're having trouble navigating your way around the "Weather Capital of the World," instead of checking Google Maps, you can ask the students in Cheri Barenchik's second-grade class at Parkview Elementary School in Anita.
The students once again have created a mini display of Punxsutawney from shoeboxes, said Barenchik, adding that each student has to take a little car and give her directional words on how to travel around from place to place.
Andrew S. Laska, 89, of Punxsutawney, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at Wellington Heights.
Mr. Laska was born on March 8, 1924, in Sportsburg, a son of the late Zolti and Julia (Grabetz) Laska.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marie (Quashnock) Laska on Jan.
3, 2007.
He was a graduate of Punxsutawney Area High School and a member of the Sportsburg United Methodist Church.
Mr. Laska was a US Army Veteran of WWII, having served in the Pacific.
Matthew Paul Ruffner, 34, Chief Warrant Officer 3, of Susquehanna Township, Pennsylvania, formerly of Level Green, Pa., died Tuesday April 9, 2013, as the result of injuries sustained while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
Born Nov. 18, 1978, in Punxsutawney, Matthew was the son of Charles and Diane (Gardner) Ruffner of Glen Campbell.
April 16th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The finally tally was close but the Chucks swept the final 14 points in the last two events to seal the victory.
After falling behind midway through the meet, Punxsy finished off strong to hand the first track and field defeat to DuBois, 89-61.
"At times, DuBois was ahead as it was a lot closer than people thought. We had a game plan going in. One where we wanted to win, and we put our guys in strategic spots to do so," explained Punxsy head coach John Smith. "We picked up second and third places we needed to as those points make a difference at the end."
PUNXSUTAWNEY â With the arrival of spring comes those wonderful warm nights where one can look at the stars in the sky.
Thursday, you can see stars much closer to earth at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, which will host, for the second year, First Church of Godâs "Brighter Than the Stars."
The doors will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Punxsutawney
Memorial Library, and there will be refreshments and live music.
PUNXSUTAWNEYâ Perhaps the hardest thing for a wife and mother to do is to learn that her husband has been in a horrible accident. Even more terrifying is hearing that the accident has left him in such a state
that he has to be flown to a hospital for treatment.
For Crystal Wooten, that nightmare became a reality on March 10, when her husband, Dustin, was in a ATV accident near Glen Campbell.
Dustin was flown via helicopter to Allegheny General Hospital with head and brain injuries.
Elsie Goss, of Punxsutawney, formerly of Iselin, celebrated her 101st birthday on April 6, with family and friends. Happy Birthday, Elsie!
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Saturday, Punxsutawney Area High School's Athletic Department will host its Punxsutawney Sports Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony at the Punxsutawney Area High School.
In anticipation of the event, The Spirit will feature the biography of one member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2013 each day.
Today's featured athlete is Gary Garzoni.
Garzoni was a two-year letter winner in high school football, playing from 1964 to 1968.
Mary L. Lippert-Thorp, 79, of Grampian, formerly of Rochester Mills, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at Knickerbocker Villa in Curwensville.
Mary was born July 14, 1933, in Curwensville, a daughter of the late Robert O. and Helen (Hoover) Blackburn.
She was married to William Thorp of Grampian. He survives.
Mary was a member of the CMA Church in Punxsutawney, where she worked for the district office for 31-and-a-half years.
She was the Indiana County, Grant Township Coordinator for ICCAP and the former treasurer of Pine Grove Cemetery.
Earl R. Sherry, 82, Girard, Ohio, died Sunday, April 14, 2013, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
Mr. Sherry was born Jan. 24, 1931, in Punxsutawney, a son of Charles and Alice Hawk Sherry.
A 1949 graduate of Punxsutawney High School, Earl moved to Girard in 1950 and worked as a crane operator for Youngstown Sheet and Tube and later LTV.
He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving stateside as a
survival instructor during the Korean Conflict.
His wife, the former Helen Berger, whom he married June 8, 1957, died Nov. 24, 2003.
