Archive
May 1st, 2011
PUNXSUTAWNEYâ Punxsutawney's junior varsity softball team used its powerful offensive attack to beat Curwensville 16-1 in four innings last Friday.
Seven Lady Chucks combined for 11 hits, and three batters had multiple hits.
Sarah London (three), Madison Neal (two) and Sydney Phillips (two) had more than one hit.
Savanna Hallman, Stephanie Smith, Sydney Weaver and Lauren Wolfe also had hits.
Two of London's three hits were doubles.
Punxsy coach Ken Covatch was pleased with Phillips effort.
BIG RUN â Acknowledging what has been a nationally recognized holiday since 1958, the VFW Post 9044, VFW District 19 of Pennsylvania and Ladies Auxiliary presented a Loyalty Day program Sunday in the Big Run War Memorial.
"Many of our holidays celebrate the birthdays of famous people or other historical events in the development of our country, but the one we celebrate today is different from all the rest," VFW Post 9044 Senior Vice- Commander Jim Soliday said. "Today is a holiday that celebrates an idea â the idea was democracy."
(The Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of life in the 19th century as originally reported inpast issues of the newspapers. These reproduced stories include their original headlines and spelling.)
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Local Intelligence
February 19, 1896
April 29th
PUNXSUTAWNEY â PAHS students got an eyeful Friday morning through the annual âProm Promiseâ mock crash, sponsored by the schoolâs SADD Club.
Tpr. Bruce A. Morris, Ridgway-based Pennsylvania State Police community relations officer, said the simulated crash helps to illustrate the message of the dangers of drinking and driving.
Morris said many young people donât understand what happens from the initial impact of a crash through possible dealings with the court system. The mock crash brings home as to how long it takes; how many people are involved; and the response time.
BROOKVILLE â Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commissioners proclaimed the month of May as Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Month in the county.
Attending the proclamation meeting were Heidi Stahl-necker, BBBS program coordinator for Jefferson, Elk and McKean counties, and LuAnn McMackin of the Guidance Center, which oversees the local program.
âBig Brothers Big Sisters is a proven effective program and is one of the oldest prevention programs around,â Stahlnecker said, citing statistics that indicate program benefits.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Once she settled in, Curwensville wasn't going to stop Punxsy senior Shawnna Crago Friday afternoon at Harry Noerr Field in Punxsutawney.
Crago allowed a run on two hits and two walks during the first inning before she controlled the Lady Golden Tide during the final six innings of the Punxsy softball team's 7-1 victory.
Crago also produced offensively for the Lady Chucks (6-0). She hit a two-run home run during Punxsy's three-run fifth inning that extended the team's lead to 6-1.
Punxsutawney native Devin Mesoraco returned to form and bumped his 2011 average back above .300 after he hit .421 this week.
Mesoraco, a 2007 first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds, batted 8-for-19 during six games with the Class AAA Louisville Bats this week. He improved his average from .256 to .306 following the successful week.
Saturday, he started the week with a 1-for-3 game that included a double and two strikeouts. He followed that game up with his first of three multi-hit performances this week.
Rachel M. Melillo, 80, Brookville, died, Friday, April 29, 2011, in Brookville.
She was born June 14, 1930, in Walston, a daughter of the late Ralph and Sarah (Chido) Cardamone.
June 11, 1955, in Walston, she married Eugene Melillo, who preceded her in death April 7, 1993.
Mrs. Melillo was a homemaker and special âMommy Raeâ and âNanaâ to many children whom she lovingly cared for in her home for many years.
She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Brookville, the Altar Rosary Society at the church and the Catholic Daughters of America.
