Archive - Mar 2011 - News Article

Chamber hosts Marcellus info program

March 23, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Will Marcellus Shale drilling in the Punxsutawney area be an asset to area businesses?

That’s the question the Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to answer when it hosts a program, “Marcellus Shale Development: Maximizing the Benefit for the Local Economy,” 7 p.m. Wednesday at the IUP Fairman Centre’s second-floor auditorium, 101 West Mahoning St.

Scarnati: How do we spend it?

March 22, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — While saying that changes in policy are needed in some state government departments, State Sen. Joe Scarnati said Tuesday that the amount of money in this year’s proposed budget simply will not increase.

The state senate has held the line on taxes the last four years, and Scarnati said taxes will not be increased this year.

“It’s clear that taxpayers don’t have any more to give,” he said.
Therefore, he said the state has to find a way to fund necessary and desirable programs with the money available.

Lindsey company ready to roll with new tanker

March 22, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Out with the old and in with the new, as the Lindsey Fire Company received its new tanker Monday.

Lynn Kolaja, of Kolaja Fire Equipment Sales in Union City, said he drove the truck from Delavan, Wis., where it was built by U.S. Tanker.
Kolaja said the new tanker was constructed on a Freightliner commercial chassis; has a 3,000-gallon tank; a 3,000 gallon port-a-tank; and a 500-gallon-per- minute pump, which will allow firefighters to attach hose, if need be.

Scarnati salutes CRW for Small Business of the Year honors

March 22, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The honor was given last year, but Tuesday, state Sen. Joe Scarnati saluted CRW Home Center and its owners, Tim and Cindy Chambers, as the 2010 Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.

The award is given annually to a business that exemplifies the values and principals of a community-oriented small business.

“These businesses are the foundation of our communities throughout the Commonwealth,” Scarnati said. “For that reason, it gives me great pleasure to be here today and to recognize CRW Home Center.”

Program aims at transitioning state inmates through Jefferson County

March 21, 2011

BROOKVILLE — Monday, the Jefferson County Jail Board discussed a program that could bring state inmates back to their counties of residence for the final six months of their prison terms.

Jefferson County Jail Warden Tom Elbel said the state Department of Corrections (DOC) has contacted him, and he expressed interest in participating in the program, which is designed to assimilate state inmates into their hometown communities prior to release, said Susan Bensinger, deputy DOC press secretary.

PAEA pledges to fight budget cuts alongside school board

March 21, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Area Education Association (PAEA) has pledged to stand beside the school board as both board and union members fight cuts in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget.

During the public comment portion of the Punxsutawney Area School Board's agenda last Monday, PAEA President Don Gill read a prepared statement, saying the PAEA "will stand beside you to fight" the proposed cuts.

Walston Wreck

March 21, 2011

Annual ‘Peepers Banquet” delivers laughs and all things green

March 20, 2011

BIG RUN — Even though the Big Run Peepers appear to be a recent revelation — the tiny frogs peep when spring arrives — the method of proclamation is as old as time itself.

Jefferson County President Judge John H. Foradora was the guest speaker for the annual banquet and said that speaking at the banquet was one of the toughest assignments that could be presented to anyone over the years.

Big Run’s oldest resident named Citizen of the Year

March 20, 2011

BIG RUN — The Big Run Citizen of the Year Award is much like the Man and Woman of the year in Punxsy — a closely guarded secret — but every once in a while the word gets out ahead of time.

That was the case this year when the Peepers Banquet committee honored Big Run's oldest citizen, Velma Schierer Bowser, at the grand old age of 93.

Bowser said she found out she was going to win because she received a card in the mail congratulating her before the banquet was scheduled to take place.

Bowser said she was shocked when she read it.

Way Back When

March 20, 2011

(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 12, 1896)
SUED FOR ASSAULT
A School Teacher Tried for
 Punishing a Girl