Archive

Punxsy wins DuBois Area Scholastic Challenge for first time

March 9, 2011

DUBOIS — Four students from Punxsutawney Area High School took first place in the 24th annual DuBois Area Senior Scholastic Challenge Wednesday night at PSU-DuBois' Hiller Auditorium, the first time that a Punxsy team has taken top honors in the event.

The team members — seniors Lucas Burke and Joe Long, junior Kendall Neal and freshman Kevin Hughes — garnered 135 total points in the final two rounds.

"Usually what happens is, whoever wins the first preliminary round takes first place," advisor Rose Graffius said. "That's not how it happened this year."

4-H members going to bat for program following budget proposal

March 9, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Even before Gov. Tom Corrbett revealed his proposed $27.3 billion budget that threatens Penn State’s Cooperative Extension, four Jefferson County 4-H members traveled to the offices of local legislators to tell them how important the 4-H program is.

4-H members Shane Johns of the Fast N’ Furious 4-H Club; Matt Snyder from the Fast N’ Furious and Livestock Unlimited 4-H Clubs; Kristin Harriger from Livestock Unlimited; and Celeste Pearce from Fast N’ Furious 4-H Club visited the local offices of state Reps. Sam Smith, Matt Gabler and Dave Reed.

County moves on business park funding

March 9, 2011

BROOKVILLE — Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commissioners moved to submit an application for more than $1.5 million in federal funding.

The application was submitted to the U.S. Depart-ment of Commerce, and if received, the money would be used for site development at a proposed business park near the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Kristin Hullihen, of the Jefferson County Depart-ment of Devel-opment, said this is the second application submitted to the Depart-ment of Comm-erce. The first application was denied, but Hullihen said that is not uncommon.

Smith: Rein in welfare costs, abuse

March 8, 2011

HARRISBURG —
House Speaker Sam Smith said Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed $27.3 billion budget shows bigger cuts than perhaps expected in higher education, but Smith said he would like to see deeper digging into the budget for the Department of Welfare and abuses with the program.

Five years later, ATA pre-bids terminal project

March 8, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Five years after the idea was officially proposed, a pre-bid meeting was held Tuesday for the Area Transportation Authority (ATA) terminal along North Findley Street.

The project could begin within the next couple of months, depending on the bids and a second-floor tenant.

“Punxsutawney is a hub for us, but we think if we construct a terminal here, we will attract more passengers,” especially with the expansion of IUP’s Punxsy campus, said Gabriel J. Uljon, ATA director of facilities and stationary equipment.

Torrence St. project moves forward

March 8, 2011

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Torrence Street sewer replacement project was 40 percent complete as of Tuesday’s Public Works Committee meeting.
Committee Chairman Roger Steele said there are three phases of work that will take place on Torrence Street. The first phase is the sewer replacement project, which has nothing to do with the ATA Terminal building project.

The second phase, widening Torrence Street, is scheduled to begin April 1, Steele said, adding that the sewer replacement project will conclude Friday.