Archive - Feb 21, 2012 - News Article
HARRISBURG â As if there were any doubts, Punxsutawney Phil again sits as the only Pennsylvania groundhog that matters, as his lottery-pitching wannabe has apparently scratched his last ticket.
Tuesday, during a hearing on the state Department of Revenue budget, Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci said that the lottery has pulled the plug on spokesgroundhog Gus, dubbed âThe Second-Most Famous Groundhog in Pennsylvania.â
Rucci said that the TV campaign featuring Gus ended this month, although Gus will still appear on the lotteryâs Web site for a period of time.
HARRISBURG â Despite the lack of snow, winter maintenance and snow removal in this area, most municipalities have met the minimum requirements regarding their salt procurement contract through COSTARS, Pennsylvaniaâs cooperative purchasing program.
âThrough the state contract, a municipality tells COSTARS what its expected needs are, and the contract is flexible that they only have to purchase 60 percent of what it needs,â said Bruce Beardsley, manager of Marketing and Constituent Relations for COSTARS.
BIG RUN â A newly-elected member of Big Run Borough Council walked through Veteransâ Park recently, and he didnât like what he observed.
âI walked through the park, and itâs in bad shape,â said Stan Derise, chairman of the councilâs Park Committee.
He said there was only one swing left on the sets, and the rest of the chains are wrapped around the cross bar at the top.
âItâs not viable to put swings out there anymore,â Derise said, adding that thereâs an old park bench that should be removed.
GLEN CAMPBELL â While this town of just over 300 people may not be listed among those sites for famous artists, Glen Campbell is the home of one local artist and retired teacher serving as president of a nationwide organization dedicated to advancing the cause of fine arts in America.
âI was reluctant to take the position,â said Larry Mallory, of Glen Campbell, who added that his biggest issue has always been the distance from Glen Campbell to New York City. But he realized being president of a prestigious art association is not something that happens every day, so he accepted.
BIG RUN â Big Run Borough Council heard a possible solution to its police problems at Mondayâs meeting, but actual funding for such a program is still the main obstacle.
Brian Lyons, a former Sykesville and Summerville police officer who also served as a police chief of a regional police department, said heâs been following councilâs discussions about hiring a police officer for the borough.
