Archive - News Article
March 27th, 2011
BIG RUN — Big Run Borough Council dismissed its code enforcement officer and hired a new one during its monthly meeting.
Council President Nick Lantz called for an executive session near the close of last Monday's meeting to discuss the status of code enforcement officer David Rouch.
Following an executive discussion by council members, the meeting reconvened, and Lantz announced that council would replace Rouch due to his unavailability. Council then approved a motion to relieve Rouch of his duties and send him a certified letter informing him of his dismissal.
March 25th
By
Terry A. Fye and Tom Chapin
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Richard Peirce won’t take credit for the idea to use his 1991 Cadillac DeVille to bring a message from God to people everywhere.
“God put this idea in my mind,” he said.
And if you haven’t seen the vehicle, you’re not looking hard enough.
With yellow lettering emblazoned against the car’s maroon body color, the message is clear and startling: Judgment Day is Saturday, May 21, 2011 — eight weeks from today.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The fences are up, funding has been approved, and the demolition of the existing buildings is set to make way for the construction of Grace Place, a 24-unit housing complex for moderate-income seniors.
Tim Spence, a member of the Jefferson Area Lutheran Social Ministry (JALSM), said the $6.5 million project will be constructed at the corner of Pine and Gilpin streets on the site of the former Parente’s Pool Hall, directly across from First English Lutheran Church.
JALSM is constructing the apartment complex in partnership with TREK Development of Pittsburgh.
March 24th
BROOKVILLE — A former Punxsutawney man was sentenced to a maximum of nine years in a state correctional facility after pleading guilty to a variety of charges, including identity theft, with a total of $99,000 owed in restitution.
Michael J. Lainey, c/o the Jefferson County jail, pleaded guilty to numerous counts of identity theft, access device fraud and various other charges mostly involving Gilman Lainey of Punxsy, the defendant’s father, from whom he stole $90,771.
BROOKVILLE — Historic Brookville Inc. (HBI) will present the designs for the planned town square at 7 p.m. April 7 at the Brookville Volunteer Fire Hall.
HBI made that announcement this week after more than six months of design work and several years of dealing with environmental issues.
The final site plan includes:
• Pedestrian amenities, including a decorative walkway between the courthouse and town square.
• Lighting and adequate electricity for public performances, such as concerts and plays.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — “All the world’s a stage,” according to Shakespeare. Now, the Punxsutawney Theatre Arts Guild Inc. (PTAG) is proving the truth of that famous comment through its new Web site, punxsytheatre.org.
Developed through the efforts of Guild member Jef Dinsmore and Web site designer John McManigle of Brookville, the site is a “one-stop location for all news and information about PTAG,” according to Dinsmore.
March 23rd
BROOKVILLE — Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commissioners proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Jefferson County.
Pat Berger, executive director of Western PA CARES for Kids, was on hand for the proclamation. She said the effects of child abuse are long-term and far reaching.
“Child abuse is a community problem, and the community needs to be involved to prevent child abuse,” Berger said. “There are more than three million children abused each year, and the effects are felt by the whole area.”
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Will Marcellus Shale drilling in the Punxsutawney area be an asset to area businesses?
That’s the question the Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to answer when it hosts a program, “Marcellus Shale Development: Maximizing the Benefit for the Local Economy,” 7 p.m. Wednesday at the IUP Fairman Centre’s second-floor auditorium, 101 West Mahoning St.
March 22nd
PUNXSUTAWNEY — While saying that changes in policy are needed in some state government departments, State Sen. Joe Scarnati said Tuesday that the amount of money in this year’s proposed budget simply will not increase.
The state senate has held the line on taxes the last four years, and Scarnati said taxes will not be increased this year.
“It’s clear that taxpayers don’t have any more to give,” he said.
Therefore, he said the state has to find a way to fund necessary and desirable programs with the money available.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Out with the old and in with the new, as the Lindsey Fire Company received its new tanker Monday.
Lynn Kolaja, of Kolaja Fire Equipment Sales in Union City, said he drove the truck from Delavan, Wis., where it was built by U.S. Tanker.
Kolaja said the new tanker was constructed on a Freightliner commercial chassis; has a 3,000-gallon tank; a 3,000 gallon port-a-tank; and a 500-gallon-per- minute pump, which will allow firefighters to attach hose, if need be.
