Archive - 2012 - News Article
February 22nd
BELL TOWNSHIP — A Punxsutawney woman was flown by emergency medical helicopter to an area trauma center following a one-vehicle accident that occurred at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday on Bells-Cloe Road, Bell Township, along with a rash of other accidents due to icy road conditions.
BROCKWAY — Wednesday, the Shale debate came into clear focus as residents of the Borough of Brockway expressed their concerns about a proposal by Flatirons Resources to drill a well in the borough.
Residents were given this opportunity at a public meeting that took place at the urging of Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-25), state Rep. Sam Smith (R-66) and state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-78).
February 21st
HARRISBURG — 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 “The Second-Most Famous Groundhog in Pennsylvania.”
Rucci said that the TV campaign featuring Gus ended this month, although Gus will still appear on the lottery’s Web site for a period of time.
HARRISBURG — 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, Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing program.
“Through 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,” said Bruce Beardsley, manager of Marketing and Constituent Relations for COSTARS.
BIG RUN — A newly-elected member of Big Run Borough Council walked through Veterans’ Park recently, and he didn’t like what he observed.
“I walked through the park, and it’s in bad shape,” said Stan Derise, chairman of the council’s 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.
“It’s not viable to put swings out there anymore,” Derise said, adding that there’s an old park bench that should be removed.
February 20th
GLEN CAMPBELL — 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.
“I was reluctant to take the position,” 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 — Big Run Borough Council heard a possible solution to its police problems at Monday’s 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 he’s been following council’s discussions about hiring a police officer for the borough.
February 19th
PUNXSUTAWNEY — When Gov. Tom Corbett said last year he was going to make some major cuts in the amount of funding that school districts received, he wasn't bluffing.
Public schools, which had to absorb about $860 million in spending cuts for the 2011-12 school year, will see their basic subsidies rise about $45 million to $5.4 billion, but could lose $100 million in grants that helped fund full-day kindergarten and other programs, such as dual enrollment.
(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
(April 29, 1896)
John K. Coxson
February 17th
VALIER— The Perry Township Volunteer Fire Company in Valier has been a large part of Kris Grove's life since the early '90s, and she recently accepted the position of fire chief.
As far as anyone familiar with fire department history can confirm, Grove is the first female fire chief in the history of Jefferson County.
Grove said she first became interested in joining the Perry Township Fire Company after having served as one of the fire hall cleaners.
"The reason I first joined was because I have a passion to help people," she said. "I believe when someone needs help, you help them."
