Archive - 2011 - News Article
November 15th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — A local business owner asked the Punxsutawney Area School Board Monday about a supposed reason why teachers in the district have not yet agreed upon a contract, while the school board president said the board is aware of all issues.
Speaking during the public comment portion of the board’s agenda, Tim and Cindy Chambers, owners of CRW Home Centers, expressed concern about how historical documents are referenced in textbooks and other materials — if the original documentation is edited to omit terms such as “In God We Trust,” for example.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Borough Police Department was the recipient of the the American Automobile Association (AAA) East Central’s highest award.
Officers Ryan Miller and Kirk Brudnock traveled to the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Mars to be recognized by AAA for outstanding service, dedication and the significant impact made by the department for improving the quality of life through its traffic safety program.
This was the fifth consecutive year of being recognized by AAA, said Chief Tom Fedigan.
November 14th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — It’s official: Punxsutawney Borough Council approved and voted to place on display the preliminary 2012 budget — with no tax increase — at Monday’s council meeting.
“This is a tribute to our department heads and employees that they are able to put together their budget requests for 2012 without a tax increase in this economy,” council President Susan Glessner said.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Following a week of tragedy and scandal locally and statewide, Officials with the Punxsutawney Area School District made heartfelt statements at the beginning and the end of Monday’s school board meeting.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — In the annual BOTS IQ competition, PAHS robotics students build machines to destroy or damage other robots.
But during a meeting of the Punxsutawney Area School Board Monday, the team demonstrated another robot, for the BEST competition, designed to be helpful, not destructive.
Weather Capital Robotics, the PAHS robotics team, competed against 19 other schools Oct 21-22 in the Wolverine BEST Hub 2011 Robotic competition at Grove City College, according to advisor Keith Hughes.
November 13th
BIG RUN — Following a year in which his business was destroyed in an incident of arson, Jeff London, the owner of Big Run Carpet, is slowly putting the pieces back together as his store is rebuilt.
London said it took only four days from when the fire occurred early Sunday, June 19, from Monday to Thursday before he was back in business.
He had everything up and running, including two small buildings, Internet, telephone and his carpet samples, and was back in business, thanks to the generosity of the community.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — More than 1,200 pounds of merchandise will be on the way to American troops serving in Afghanistan, thanks to the "amazing support" that area residents gave to the month-long drive sponsored by the Jefferson County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR).
November 11th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent. The Great War which had claimed 35 million casualties was finally over.
Today marks the first time since the end of World War I that there is not a living American veteran of that conflict, said Dr. Norman A. “Chip” Hetzler, the guest speaker for the Punxsutawney Veterans’ Day service at the First Baptist Church.
Hetzler said since 1775, America has relied on its citizen-soldiers and an unbroken line of those who believe in duty, honor and country.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Another appeal against giving former Punxsutawney Borough Police Officer Brian Andrekovich his job back has been denied, this time by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
In an order dated Thursday, Nov. 10, the Commonwealth Court said it affirmed an order by the Common Pleas Court of Jefferson County, in which Judge John Foradora ordered Punxsutawney Borough Council to rehire Andrekovich, whom council fired Nov. 3, 2009, following the death of Stephen Obbish, 48, who died in a police cruiser Aug. 15, 2009, while in Andrekovich’s custody.
BIG RUN — As the U.S. citizens again thanked their men and women in uniform for defending America’s freedoms — sometimes paying the ultimate sacrifice — during Friday’s observance of Veterans’ Day, the guest speaker during Big Run VFW Post 9044’s annual event said Americans need to recall a promise they made a decade ago.
“A common thread we saw woven through countless stories in 2002 was of combat veterans of previous wars — especially Vietnam — reaching out with determination to young servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” said William H. Bowers, a U.S.
