YOUNG TWP. — The Punxsutawney Beta Sorority held its first meeting in over a year at the New Anchor Inn in Young Township this week.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health transitioned its vaccine provider map to the federal website, vaccines.gov, on Friday.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — During the bright and sunny times throughout this past week, youngsters in town were able to get out and enjoy some of the many outdoor activities at local parks.

Jeff Tech has announced that its May student of the month is Grace Askey.Askey is a junior in the engineering technologies program. She comes to Jeff Tech from the DuBois Area School District.At Jeff Tech, Askey is involved in the Math Club, Art Club and Aevidum (kind- ness for fellow studen…

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Area School Board listened to a presentation Thursday night regarding the district’s insurance coverage heading into the new fiscal year on July 1. 

NORTH MAHONING TWP. — A tractor-trailer carrying hay bales caught fire while traveling on Route 119 at 4:26 p.m. on Thursday, closing the road in both directions for several hours.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Central Fire Department is holding a chicken barbecue to help Save Punxsy’s Local Area Swimming Hole at the fire company beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 15.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The co-commanders of the Punxsutawney Salvation Army are bidding farewell to the area and organization next month.

Based on recent COVID-19 reports for the tri-county area, nothing surprising emerged on Thursday in the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s report.

McCALMONT TWP. — Imagine waking up one day and your vision is blurry. 

SUMMERVILLE — A Summerville man is facing charges after threatening bodily harm on a firefighter at a crash scene in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County had a slow weekend for COVID-19 reports, with two days of data adding only five cases to the cumulative total that now stands at 3,208. No more deaths were reported either, leaving that total at 95.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Farmers Market is picking up steam ahead of its reopening from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

BROOKVILLE — The Jefferson County commissioners discussed the Ameri-can Rescue Plan at last week’s meeting at Jefferson Place.

Last month, I wrote “The Benz Story” and mentioned how it would fit into CPM’s new project being the air blast injection building. We are certainly happy with its progress.

The COVID-19 pandemic correlated with an increase in fatal drug overdoses, according to information released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health this week.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Mayor Richard Alexander has proclaimed that Punxsutawney will join communities across the state in Bells Across Pennsylvania, ringing the bells in recognition of those on the front lines of COVID-19.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney American Legion Auxiliary announced the winners in its annual essay contest this week.

Add a bit of fiber to your garden and diet.  Consider growing edamame (edible soybeans) in this year's garden.

BROOKVILLE – Third-graders at Hickory Grove Elementary in Brookville recently completed a Native American unit that included researching customs, legends, shelters, dances, totem poles and other aspects of Native American culture. 

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Area High School held its annual mock crash on Thursday to highlight the dangers of drunk and distracted driving ahead of prom season.

BROOKVILLE — A Brookville man was charged with burglary, assault and terroristic threats after allegedly attacking another person after 11 p.m. Wednesday on Mabon Street, the Brookville Borough Police Department said in a news release.

On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s daily COVID-19 report included some good news, as the state announced that 48.5 percent of its population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine.

BROOKVILLE — April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — In an attempt to better serve the area, the Punxsutawney Area Community Foundation, Inc. reorganized and became a nonprofit organization at the start of the year.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Mahoning Valley VFW Post No. 2076 held a Buddy Poppy and Loyalty Day dinner at the post on Maple Avenue this week in advance of the Buddy Poppy Drive being held on Saturday at various locations throughout town. 

BIG RUN — A former Big Run Borough Council member has confessed to stealing $5,000 connected to the Big Run War Memorial Fund, according to charging documents.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Punxsutawney borough has been approved for a $118,896 grant from the state to study the Mahoning Creek levee system. 

BROOKVILLE — Jeff Burkett will seek reelection as district attorney this year, with the primary set for May 18.

HARRISBURG  — The board of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education voted Wednesday to advance a plan to merge six of its 14 universities into two new institutions, as the system struggles with sinking enrollment and stagnant state aid.

WINSLOW TWP. — The Jeff Tech Joint Operating Committee received approval of the 2021-2022 budget from the four sending school districts, administration officials said at Monday’s meeting. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported no new cases of COVID-19 in Jefferson County Tuesday, only the second time that has happened in 2021 and the first in just over two months.

Tonya S. Geist, Jefferson County prothonotary and clerk of courts, will run for reelection on the Republican ticket this year.

Pennsylvania's new Move Over Law took effect on Tuesday.

NEW YORK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines Tuesday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don't need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers.

Jefferson County Coroner Brenda Shumaker has announced that she will run for reelection in this year’s primary on May 18.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — As we look forward to warmer temperatures, it’s time to hit the links and play a little golf for several nonprofit organizations.

Jefferson County had a slow day for COVID-19 reports Monday, with the Pennsylvania Department of Health identifying only one new case and no deaths.

REYNOLDSVILLE — State police are investigating a burglary and arson that occurred April 19 in Jefferson County.

YOUNG TWP. — St. Anthony Church of Padua will no longer be an official parish church and the Diocese of Erie will sell the building for “profane but not sordid use.”