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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.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The Punxsy boys' basketball team found a way to finish Monday night.
Behind a defense that wouldn't quit and an offense that was able to penetrate Clearfield's zone defense late in the game, the Chucks (7-9) won their third-straight contest by beating the Bisons, 49-32.
Two former District IX League foes played as if they were still league rivals, as high intensity play ensued. Clearfield (4-12) may compete against mostly District VI opponents now, but the two squads played with an enthusiasm of a playoff game.
BROOKVILLEâ Brookville girls' basketball head coach Mark Powell knew how important the Lady Raiders' game was Monday night at home against Keystone.
Brookville had lost its last four games and had its hands full with defending Keystone's preseason All-District IX player Morgan Johnson. Also, Brookville lost to Keystone 45-42 the first time these teams met Dec. 11 in the championship game of the Brookville Tip-off Tournament.
Johnson scored 19, but Brookville (11-5) kept Keystone (12-4) from rebounding well en route to a 59-54 win.
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.
January 28th
DUBOIS â The Punxsy boys' basketball team won its first District IX League game in 20 tries by defeating DuBois Friday night, 65-49.
The Chucks (6-9, 1-5) snapped a 19-game league losing streak with the victory. Punxsy's last league win came Feb. 7, 2009, when it beat Brookville, 54-44.
Not only was the win big in league terms, but it was the Chucks' largest win over the Beavers in DuBois in more than a decade.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The 2010-2011 Punxsy girls' basketball team may lose more times than it wins this season, but the Lady Chucks never give up.
The Lady Chucks (4-11, 1-4 District IX League) trailed 32-16 early in the third quarter before a furious comeback led to 38-38 game.
DuBois (10-4, 3-2) made its free throws down the stretch, and Punxsy couldn't keep up during the Lady Beavers' 50-45 victory.
WASHINGTON â Talk about a summit in the making.
Friday, the White House announced that President Obama would be visiting âcentral Pennsylvaniaâ next week â specifically, Feb. 2 ... Groundhog Day.
Could it be that the President of the United States and Punxsutawney Phil are getting together for a meeting of the minds during Americaâs Second-Favorite Holiday?
What would they talk about? Health care? The economy? Using some of Punxsy Philâs life-extending elixir for that upcoming 2012 election?
Donât count on it.
