Archive - News Article
February 16th, 2011
PERRY TOWNSHIP â A Reed Road house in Perry Township was nearly destroyed by a fire that broke out shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday.
According to reports, the house was owned by Betty Kennedy, 91, who lived in the residence with her great-grandson, his wife and two-year-old child, all who escaped the burning structure safely.
The house was fully involved when the alarm was called into Jefferson County 911, which prompted Perry Township Assistant Chief Tim Fetterhoff to call for a second alarm.
February 15th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The Punxsutawney Area School Districtâs use of the SchoolReach program hit a snag during a recent snow day, but should be on its way back to working properly.
During the school boardâs voting meeting Monday, Super-intendent Dr. Keith Wolfe said because there were so many text messages being sent from School-Reach, the Verizon system blocked them as spam.
Punxsutawney Borough Council is exploring options regarding a proposed west end storm sewer project near the Punxy Plaza, but Monday, borough engineer Brian Sekula of the EADS Group reported that the firm has hit a wall in obtaining the right-of-way for the storm sewer project.
Sekula said the firm has made numerous requests via phone and e-mail for a meeting with Punxy Plaza representatives on a draft right-of-way agreement. But he said reps for the plaza have not responded to the request.
Gallery 131, Pleasant Avenue, in Punxsy, owned by Delbert Highlands, has the entire upstairs dedicated to works by local artists, and will be the site of an exhibit, âFrom a Crooked Barn,â at 7 p.m. Friday by Brandi Elkin, who describes herself as an abstract artist with a twist.
While Elkin enjoyed drawing and coloring as a child, she continued her passion by taking art classes in high school. She plans to continue art education, possibly attending college.
February 14th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Beginning Monday, PennDOT, Punxsutawney Borough Police and Pennsylvania State Police are targeting aggressive drivers in an effort that runs through March 27.
Shawn Houck, PennDOT District 10 safety officer, said Monday that PennDOT is supporting a statewide crackdown on aggressive driving as part of this yearâs distribution of nearly $2.1 million in federal funds, which supports police efforts to reduce the number of aggressive-driving crashes.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Monday, Punxsutawney Borough Council took no action regarding a proposal former probational Punxsutawney Borough Police Officer Sean Weaver made at the Jan. 10 council meeting.
According to the Jan. 10 minutes, Weaver said it was requested that he have his attorney, Jeffrey S. DuBois, draft an agreement to bring a fair, equitable and amicable end to the lawsuit that he filed against the borough relative to his release at the end of his probationary period.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The Elk Run Volunteer Fire Company is closer to purchasing a new fire engine after Punxsutawney Borough Council passed a motion to advertise for bids at Monday's meeting.
Punxsutawney Fire Department Chief Paul Hense brought the final bid specs to council for its approval.
February 13th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â There were no injuries in a fire that began at 7:20 p.m. Sunday and took four fire departments over an hour-and-a-half to extinguish.
Four college students who rented the apartment at 1001 West Mahoning Street were displaced.
Numerous vehicles stored in the first- floor garage of the building were not damaged.
The alarm was called in by the residents of an apartment that occupied the second floor in the rear of the building.
Punxsutawney Fire Department Chief Paul Hense said firefighters got a good hit on the blaze when they first arrived on scene.
John & Anna Kostick â 60 years
PUNXSUTAWNEY â
Aug. 5, 1950, the young couple tied the knot, becoming not just John and Anna, but jointly emerging as Mr. and Mrs. Kostick.
But about a year-and-a-half before that date, it was a dance where this Cinderella and Prince Charming danced the night away.
As one dance turned into another, the two were soon finding themselves entranced with countless late nights.
Despite the late night that John put in at A&P, the duo still made time, finding themselves dancing again, stopping only to eat.
(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
(February 5, 1896)
A SUDDEN DEATH
Mrs. John Hill, of Stanton, is Taken Away by Apoplexy
