Archive - Dec 2011 - News Article
December 26th
BROOKVILLE â The chief administrator for Jefferson County Court system is ready to call it a career when, at the end of the month, after 27 years of serving the county in various capacities, she will retire.
Patricia Ellis, Jefferson County Court System administrator, first worked for District Judge George Miller's office. After that, she worked with adult and juvenile probation.
After the two departments split, she worked for juvenile probation, then as the judicial secretary under Judge Edwin Snyder.
(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
Must Pass Elementary Examinations
December 23rd
PUNXSUTAWNEY â After 12 years as a member of Punxsutawney Borough Council, President Susan Glessner resigned Friday as president and as a member of council, effective immediately.
Glessner, who had two years left on her term, said the reason she decided to resign at this time is because with the new council coming in, it would be a good time for her to move on so the incoming council will have the chance to start fresh.
Glessner said she was originally approached to join council by current Councilman William Spencer, and she was appointed in 2000 when Jim Infantino resigned his seat.
BROOKVILLE â Sasha Young grew up listening to a police scanner.
So it seemed only natural when she followed in the footsteps of her family members and became a fifth-generation firefighter.
But that's not the only hat she wears.
Three to four times a week, she puts on a headset a little different from her firefighting helmet and assumes the role of a 911 dispatcher.
December 22nd
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Had Steven Whiteâs mail route not taken him to Sutton Street, he may not have discovered a spiritual path that led to his recent ordination as a deacon in the Byzantine Catholic Church.
âI was a mailman, and I parked out front (of the church),â White, of Juneau, said. âHe saw me and said, âDo you want to see our restoration?ââÂ
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Several area police officers recently spent a day qualifying on handguns, shotguns and assault rifles (ARs) at the Punxsutawney Borough Police firing range in Young Township.
Sheriff and range master Carl Gotwald Sr. said his job as range master individually gives instructions to the shooters.
âWe try to limit it to five to six individuals shooting at one time per instructor during daylight hours,â he said. For night shoots at the firing range, they try to have one instructor for every three shooters for more control.
December 21st
Josh Neal celebrates his victory via pin in the 220-pound class during Punxsyâs 43-32 win over Clearfield Wednesday, the Chucksâ first wrestling victory over the Bison since 1977. For more, see Spirit Sports. (Photo by Zak Lantz)
PUNXSUTAWNEY â There is no normal way that carriers and staff of the U.S. Postal Service prepare for the holiday rush that hit its peak Tuesday.
How did the staff at the Punxsy Post Office prepare?
âBuckle down,â said Tim Chiodini, who is the postmaster in Brookville and acting postmaster in Punxsy while John McBee supervises the Bradford post office for a short period of time. âWe will normally use different staffing, but we just have to get it done.â
BROCKWAY â Wednesday, the pastor for the Just for Jesus Challenge Homeless Outreach Center fired back at the barrage of criticism leveled at him during a public hearing by the Jeffe-rson County Commission and Snyder Township Supervisors Monday.
The Rev. Jack Wisor, pastor of Just for Jesus ministries in Brookville and Snyder Township, said he didnât attend Mondayâs hearing because he has routinely answered the questions that were brought up.
December 20th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The cause of the fire that destroyed the Hotel Punxsutawney earlier this month is listed as undetermined, and foul play is not suspected at this time as the investigation continues.
The fire began in the kitchen area and could possibly be electrical in nature, said Cpl. Chuck Gross, Punxsutawney-based Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal.
