Archive - News Article
June 14th, 2011
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Itâs a two-award year for Thomas R. Chelgren.
Just four months after he was named Punxsyâs 2010 Man of the Year during the annual Groundhog Eve banquet Feb. 1, the Punxsutawney chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution named him the recipient of its Community Service Award during its annual Flag Day Dinner Tuesday at the Punxsutawney Country Club.
The chapter also saluted The Punxsutawney Spirit and Editor Tom Chapin with its first-ever Certificate of Appreciation for the newspaperâs continued coverage and support of the chapter.
June 13th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Punxsutawney Borough Council announced news that everyone has been waiting to hear for the last six years: That the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) terminal in Punxsutawney is ready to move ahead with construction within the next few weeks.
Monday, council President Susan Glessner said it has been six years since the project first began, which involved the demolition of a group of buildings along North Findley Street.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â A Punxsutawney school board member and administrator recently learned that while public education business and issues may be challenges, thatâs also the case for those who work, raise families and serve their countries in the National Guard or Reserve.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Every year prior to the start of summer, a huge amphitheater canopy is set up by members of the Lions Club, the Groundhog Festival Committee, REACT and the community in preparation for the summerâs festivities.
âWe all owe a huge part of the help to the Lions Club,â Groundhog Festival Committee Chairman Roger Steele said. âThey provide us the manpower to get this thing up. We also consult Punxsy Phil for the best day for weather.â
Plantation B&B is Juneâs âGarden of the Monthâ
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The winner of the June "Garden of the Month" is Julie Branken's Plantation Bed & Breakfast along Route 119, just south of Punxsutawney.
"I love the plants, but I never research, or I'm (not) one of those people who go and learn about what flower goes where," she said. "I just do what I feel."
Arriving from South Africa more than 13 years ago, Branken moved into where the plantation is now and started to "fix the place up."
June 8th
NEW BETHLEHEM â A local Marine who was a graduate of Redbank Valley High School, New Bethlehem, was killed Monday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Sgt. Joseph M. Garrison, 27, of New Bethlehem, was an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force of Camp Lejeune, N.C., according to the 2D Marine Division Public Affairs.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Punxsutawney Boroughâs Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for this year has yet to be determined along with what construction projects could be accomplished with the boroughâs entitlement funds.
During Tuesdayâs Legal & Finance Committee meeting, Borough Manager Ben White said the borough has yet to receive its CDBG allocation for this year, but has been advised by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which runs the program, that it should be known soon.
June 7th
By
Natalie Brudza and Larry McGuire
BROOKVILLE â Almost a year after he was denied a full-time job as a police officer in Punxsy, Sean Weaver has a job in Brookville.
After calling an executive session to discuss personnel matters Tuesday, Brookville Borough Council hired Weaver as a part-time police officer for the Brookville Borough Police Department.
Weaver worked as a Pennsylvania State Police officer from 1991 to 2010, after which he retired and worked for Punxsy police on a part-time basis.
Crews from Dobson Construction continued work Friday on building at the site of the former New Anchor Inn, according to owner Dave Setree. He said crews have already removed debris from the former more-than-50-year-old restaurant destroyed by a fire in November 2010 and have poured footers and placed beams for the deck floor. Setree said a new establishment owned by his family will hopefully be completed by January 2012.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The approach of summer means the approach of construction, as discussed Tuesday by members of Punxsutawney Borough Councilâs Public Safety and Public Works committees.
Borough Manager Ben White said Public Works crews are almost done painting crosswalks throughout the borough.
He also said he received a request from PennDOT District 10 about painting crosswalks on Mahoning Street where the traffic signal upgrade project will take place.
