Archive - 2013
February 26th
Dora Lynn Sherry, 46, of Punxsutawney, died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, at
Punxsutawney Area Hospital.
She was born April 16, 1966, in New Castle, a daughter of Clarence E. Brown and the late Dr. Mattie Arnell Brown.
On April 25, 1987, she married Arthur Sherry. He survives.
She was a gentle, kind-spirited woman.
Dora was very artistic, and she enjoyed painting, drawing and graphic arts.
She was very good at working on computers.
CLARION COUNTY — After a 29-year-old man was charged Monday with third-degree murder in the January death of 19-year-old Devan Knapp of Brookville, a second man, 32-year-old Joel Tanner Stark of Rimersburg, has been charged with several criminal conspiracy counts — including abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence — surrounding Knapp's death and the moving of her body, WJAC-TV reported Tuesday.
February 25th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — When one thinks about the art in the town of Punxsutawney, the images of the infamous "Phantastic Phil" statues are one of many things that may come to mind.
And while it is true that the town has combined the world of art with its famous groundhog, Punxsy Phil, what you may not know is that Phil — beloved as he is — is actually an artist himself.
In 2007, he created his own work of art titled "Cabin Fever Chaos," which was done solely for the Punxsutawney Arts Association, Inc.
INDIANA — The Indiana County Coroner’s office is investigating the Sunday afternoon death of an Armstrong Township man.
Coroner Michael Baker said 30 year-old Jason William Drew was killed while clearing trees from the edge of a field on land leased by the Reeger Farm just off Anthony Road in Center Township.
The victim was using an extended chain saw to cut a large branch from a tree about 18 feet overhead, when the saw became pinched in the branch.
Wilber Boyd Bair, 85, of Rossiter, died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Punxsutawney Area Hospital.
He was born Feb. 25, 1927, in Banks Township, Indiana County, a son of the late Lemon Clair and Sarah Jane (Pearce) Bair.
He was a member of the United States Army, serving during World War II, where he earned the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
On Dec. 23, 1950, he married the former Margaret Ruth Wilt. She preceded him in death on Aug. 30, 2007.
Mr. Bair attended the First Church of God.
CLARION — Pennsylvania State Police have charged a 29-year-old man with the alleged murder of a 19-year-old Brookville woman.
Shawn Ryan Carr has been charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, drug delivery resulting in death, criminal use of a communication facility, aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault in the death of Devan Cathlene Knapp.
February 24th
CLARION — In a pair of solid, well-wrestled and exciting title bouts, the Punxsy pair of Joel Bowers and Kaleb Young grabbed District IX/IV gold on Saturday night.
The wrestlers used two very different routes to capture their top placings.
Bowers took down his 120-pound Clearfield foe in the first minute and controlled the match from that point in a 7-0 shutout.
In the 126 championship, Young, on the other hand, had to keep moving quickly to fend off Clearfield’s Dylan Graham overtime rush into his own gold-winning, point-producing takedown.
This trio of Punxsy grapplers (from left), Joel Bowers, Kaleb Young and Perry Arrington, represented the Chucks well at the D-IX AAA championships Friday and Saturday at Clarion University.
Arrington was the runner-up in the 138 bracket, while Young (126) and
Bowers (120) brought home first-place plaques.
Read the full story online in our Sports section.
BROCKWAY — Libraries in Jefferson County are now offering residents a new way to enjoy books through the use of modern technologies, as e-books are now available to be borrowed through the recently implemented Axis 360 platform.
"It's the future, and it's where it's going, and people want them, so we need to have them," said Leslie Barr, assistant director of the Mengle Memorial Library in Brockway, which has spearheaded the forays into e-book services in Jefferson County.
(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
February 10, 1897
Furnishing Liquor to Minors
John Steahle, of Harmony, had Scott George, resident of the same place and teacher of the White school in Young township, arrested for furnishing liquor to minors.
