Archive - News Article
February 2nd, 2011
PUNXSUTAWNEY â A.J. Dereumeâs new Inner Circle name has a familiar ring to it.
Or is that a familiar rain?
Dereumeâs nickname â The Rainmaker â as the newest member of the Inner Circle was the one once held by his father, Jack Dereume Jr., who was also an Inner Circle member.
During Tuesdayâs Groundhog Banquet, President Bill Deeley gave the younger Dereume his nickname, explaining his rationale.
âIf you knew Jack Dereume, you knew everywhere he went, it rained,â he said.
Any truth in that?
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Appropriately beginning a day that pretty much saw all forms of weather â wind, snow, freezing rain, fog and sunshine â in the Weather Capital of the World, Punxsutawney Phil stunned shivering and wet fans at Gobbler's Knob and proclaimed Wednesday that no, he did not see a shadow, and yes, an early spring is on its way.
"The sky is clear; prepare yourself for warmth," Inner Circle Vice-President Mike Johnston said following Punxsy Phil's prognostication, which came on the heels of severe winter storm warnings for the Midwest, Pennsylvania, New York and the Northeast.
February 1st
Thomas R. Chelgren
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Thomas R. Chelgren was named the 2011 Punxsutawney Man of the Year at Tuesdayâs Groundhog Banquet.
Bob âOralâ Roberts, the 2010 Man of the Year, said Chelgren is a Punxsy native and a graduate of PAHS and Jeff Tech.
 Roberts said itâs almost easier to describe what services and activities in which Chelgren has not been involved, but, âIn everything he has done, he has served our community in a very selfless and humble manner, always avoiding the spotlight or any praise for his enormous efforts.â
Bad weather â which continues as such â and the Pittsburgh Steelersâ upcoming Super Bowl were running themes during the annual Groundhog Banquet Tuesday evening, where Inner Circle President Bill Deeley cautioned those who would be attending todayâs prognostication by Punxsutawney Phil.
âTomorrow, I have no idea what will happen,â as to whether Punxsy Phil will predict six more weeks of winter or an early spring. âIâll tap on the door, and heâll tell me what it will be. If itâs wrong, itâs because I misinterpreted.â
The Groundhog King and Queen were announced today. Katrina Anderson has been named Groundhog Queen and Ben Blazavich as Groundhog King.
January 31st
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Both the National Weather Service and AccuWeather are prognosticating a very wintry Groundhog Day, just a few days before Punxsutawney Phil makes his own prediction.
Monday, the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh placed Jefferson and 11 other counties in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland under a winter storm warning, which began at 7 p.m. Monday night and runs through 10 a.m. Wednesday â just a few hours after Punxsy Phil should emerge from his stump to make his annual prognostication.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The invitation was there, but now the trip is postponed.
So much for having President Barack Obama as a guest at Groundhog Day 2011.
After reports last week that Obama would visit Penn State the same day as Groundhog Day, Inner Circle President Bill Deeley said Monday he extended an invitation to the president through U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompsonâs office.
âI said, âFax, or e-mail or call and invite Barack Obama,ââ Deeley said. âHeâs going to be in State College, so why not come and do Groundhog Day day with us.â
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Last week, PAHS seniors chose four girls and four boys for the 2011 Groundhogâs Day court. The students chosen were Katrina Anderson, Samantha Osikowicz, Lindsey Paulina, Caroline Weaver, Ben Blazavich, Jakob Godo, James Kachmar and Joe Neal.
The king and queen will be crowned during the annual Groundhog Day assembly at PAHS, which is now scheduled for 10 a.m. today.
âą Katrina Anderson, daughter of Kim and Tom Anderson of Stump Creek, is enrolled in the academic curriculum and plans to attend Westminster College to major in occupational therapy.
January 30th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â
Punxsutawney Phil is known as a model of consistency, appearing each Feb. 2 at Gobblerâs Knob and emerging from his burrow.
So it may come as a surprise that there is no record from nine of his first 12 prognostications.
In fact, there is no record from 1886, when Groundhog Day was first recognized in Punxsutawney â it was then known as Weathers Wags.
Likewise, there is no record of Philâs prediction from 1899, the year the Groundhog Club was founded.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â As the year is advancing, so are the exhibits at the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center (PWDC).
Just in time for Groundhog Day, the PWDC is upgrading its already-popular Galileo Ultra Graphix Animator Plus, otherwise known as a green screen.
A green screen, including the essential equipment, allows people of all ages to stand in front of the green screen and perform a weather forecast, just like on TV.
