Archive - May 2012 - News Article
BROOKVILLE — During Tuesday’s Jefferson County Jail Board meeting, Judge John H. Foradora complimented the Jefferson County jail Warden Tom Elbel and the jail staff on several prosecutions that recently went to trial.
“They did a fine job with testimony, and the video system and phone system has all worked to a T to bring offenders to justice,” Foradora said. “And hopefully, that will make the jail a more secure place.”
Recent cases involved inmates smuggling drugs into the jail internally, and the jail’s video equipment was a benefit to the prosecution.
School’s out, and so is the sun, so that must mean that it’s time for the George C. Brown Community Pool to open, which it will at noon Saturday. There will be new items in the concession stand, and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 percent of the proceeds from goods purchased at Fox’s Pizza Den will go to SPLASH. Watching out for swimmers’ safety this summer will be lifeguards (top photo, front, from left) Sarah Buterbaugh, Amber Baker; Miranda Schultz; (back) Lance Deet, Alicia Switlick, Alex Heitzenrater and Tyler Presloid. The pool is open from noon to 6 p.m.
Students at Mapleview Elementary School boarded the bus for the last time this school year. Both students and staff were all smiles as they headed home to begin their summer vacations. School is officially out for summer for the entire Punxsutawney Area School District.
May 30th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — During a special meeting Wednesday, Punxsutawney Borough Council voted to override Mayor James Wehrle’s veto of the change in Ordinance 1120 in regard to allowing apartments in first-floor commercial establishments in the town center commercial district.
A motion was made by Michelle Lorenzo, seconded by Mike Porada, to override Wehrle’s veto 6-1, with Lorenzo, Porada, council President Larry Chenoga, Jaime Sherry, Toby Santik and William Spencer voting yes, and Eric Story voting no.
That roar you heard at noon Wednesday was the sound of the students at SS.C.D. School being dismissed for summer vacation. Joyous students exited the building as the first few moments of summer vacation officially began.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — School lunches will again receive a bit of a makeover, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Hungry-Free Kids Act takes effect July 1.
During the Punxsutawney Area School Board’s committee meeting Wednesday, district Cafeteria Manager Denise Geist gave the board a preview of the new guidelines, which, according to the USDA, “align school meals with the latest nutrition science and the real world circumstances of America’s schools.”
Some of the highlights include:
May 29th
BROOKVILLE — The Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency said Sunday’s severe thunderstorm affected everyone in the county and left several hundred people without power, downed trees and power lines throughout the county and region.
Meanwhile, another storm struck the area again Tuesday, but this time, the damage from high winds appeared to have affected the northern portions of Jefferson County according to 911 scanner reports.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — As the state continues to cut funding to public schools, many districts are wondering what to do about funding for transportation.
The Punxsutawney Area School Board recently held a transportation committee meeting where school bus advertising was discussed as the new wave for funding transportation.
May 28th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — A violent storm the evening before spared Punxsutawney its wrath during Memorial Day, as veterans and citizens gathered in Barclay Square to honor those in the armed forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Also, during the annual Memorial Day parade, a handful of local veterans — in tribute to their service to their country — took part in the parade aboard two authentic World War II vehicles.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — It wasn't a tornado, but it was as close as you could get when a storm with wind gusts clocking in at over 60 mph blew through Jefferson County around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, ripping trees right out of the ground and taking power, cable television and phone lines down with it.
"This storm was spread throughout Jefferson County, and the wind was definitely up to 60 mph," said Charlie Hoeh, Punxsutawney Emergency Management coordinator.
