Local

Police Investigate Damage In Bell Township Yard

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:25:00 GMT

Police need your help in tracking down the person or people behind damage in the yard of a Bell Township home.

It happened earlier this week, on Monday, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. at the Burkett house along Woodland Avenue Extension, not far away from Punxsutawney.

Police say someone drove onto their yard and spun-out several times. The vehicle left several deep ruts in the year. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Punxsutawney barracks of the state police at (814) 938-0510.

Dogs Found In Stump Creek Continue Recovery

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:24:00 GMT

Another dog was recently found wandering in the Stump Creek area, bringing the total of dogs found over the past four days to seventeen.

According to our news partners at WTAJ, the dogs included thirteen Pomeranians, three Shih Tzus and a Mini Pinscher. All of the dogs were taken to the Punxsutawney Animal Shelter, where they were examined.

All of the animals have rotten teeth, some have major knee problems from being left in cages and others are dealing with heart disease. The dogs will be available for adoption.

You can get more details on the Punxsutawney Animal Hospital’s Facebook page.

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council Releases Annual Report

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:51:00 GMT

The Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council has completed its annual report on the financial health of hospitals across the state, finding an overall increase in operating margin of 1.67 percent over 2010. As a group the state’s hospitals had a 6.93 percent margin in 2011.

Here’s a look at our local hospitals. Punxsutawney Area Hospital showed a net patient revenue of $32 million, a decrease of $2 million from the year before. Operating expenses at the hospital went down, from $35 million in 2010 to $34 million in 2011.

Net patient revenue at Brookville Hospital remained unchanged from 2010 to 2011, at $26 million. Brookville Hospital’s total operating expense went up in 2011, to $28 million from $26 million in 2010.

DuBois Regional Medical Center’s net patient revenue went up $2 million, from $202 million to $204 million. DRMC’s operating expenses went up, though, to $213 million in 2011 from $205 million the year before.

Ethanol Plant To Start Production Soon

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:49:00 GMT

Production is expected to start soon at an ethanol plant in Clearfield. The former Bionol plant shut down after it went into bankruptcy. A Michigan firm has just closed on the purchase of the plant.

Pennsylvania Grain Processing hopes to have production up and running sometime early this summer. According to reports, all the former employees of the plant were interviewed and hired.

Company officials say they’ll need even more workers, though.

Their web site lists a wide variety of positions including security guards, a production operator, material handlers, a grain originator and a plant manager, among other positions.

Police Investigate Alleged Child Luring

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:53:00 GMT

Police are investigating a case of child luring in Brookville.

They say a mother left her five-year-old boy in the supervision of a friend. That friend told police that while she was watching the child, he left her car. Police say he was lured into the home of 69-year-old Allen Aaron. Aaron allegedly told the boy to come inside his house to see his “cool tv” and “deer horns.”

Police say that while the boy was inside, Aaron took a picture of him and exposed himself to the child. He’s been charged with luring a child into a home and indecent exposure to a minor. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for early next month. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 5.

Brookville Borough Council Still Working On Burn Ordinance

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:52:00 GMT

The Brookville Borough Council met last night, but did not take any action on a proposed burning ordinance. Several borough residents came to voice their opposition to certain parts of the ordinance. Some residents are concerned about smoke entering homes when campfires are burning. Another had concerns as to whether the proposed ordinance is a benefit for the majority, pointing out that limited income families would have to begin paying for garbage removal if they were no longer allowed to burn waste paper in a burn barrel. Other residents said they also only burned wastepaper and recycle or compost everything else. Solicitor Jim Dennison said it is hard to find an ordinance that allows burning refuse and that the trend is getting away from that type of burning. The council thanked those in attendance for their input.

Jack DeMotte and Kathy Lynch from Historic Brookville, Inc. (HBI) provided an update on the Town Square project. So far, $480,000 in pledges and donations has been raised. DeMotte said the architect for the project feels the park can be built as designed without grant money. By not using grant money HBI would not have to pay prevailing wages on the project, which could drop costs anywhere from 30% to 40%. The initial project budget was $650,000, but that figured in prevailing wages. HBI hopes to have plans for the project ready by mid-summer, and construction could start as soon as October, weather permitting.

In his report, Street Superintendent Bob Receski, said he has received a tentative date of July 2 for the start of the paving of borough streets. Streets to be paved this year include: Waterford Pike; Daugherty Street; Pine Street; Henderson Street; Sayer Street; Oak Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Punxsutawney Council Hears Presentation On Proposed Health Center

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:13:00 GMT

There was plenty of activity at last night's meeting of the Punxsutawney Borough Council. Council heard a presentation from Primary Health Network, a company that plans to build a three-story building in the borough that would include a doctor's office, pharmacy and some social service agencies.

The center would be located off of Prushnok Drive, and the developers say it would create around 100 jobs. Primary Health Network CEO Jack Lange says a similar facility is currently under construction in Clarion.

Members of council expressed some concern about traffic in the area of the proposed health center. Company officials say plans are still in the early stages. In other business, the council tabled a vote to override Mayor Jim Werles veto on a previous council vote that would alter an ordinance to prohibit first floor apartments downtown.

Opponents of the measure say council shouldn't be putting extra restrictions on property owners who are trying to collect rent on their buildings. Marlene Lellock, the director of the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce, spoke out in favor of the ordinance. Council will take up the issue at their next meeting.

Finally, council voted to seat Jaime Sherry of Highland Avenue, to fill the seat left vacant by former council member Robert Reeseman, who recently moved out of the borough.

Punxsutawney Woman Injured In Car Accident

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:11:00 GMT

A Punxsutawney woman was taken to the hospital after an accident yesterday along Route 310 in Young Township. It happened around 1:30 p.m. near the intersection with Adrian Road.

Police say 23-year-old Toni Blystone had just had her eyes dilated by a doctor a short time before the accident.

The lights of an oncoming vehicle distracted her and she swerved off the road into some guardrails. Blystone had minor injuries and was taken to Punxsutawney Area Hospital.

Wind Turbine Plan In Clearfield Co. Scrapped

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:12:00 GMT

A company has dropped plans to build wind turbines in Clearfield County.

According to our news partners at WTAJ, Iberdrola Renewables of Oregon, had planned to place windmills between Luthersburg and Grampian. A spokesperson for the company said the company pulled out of the project because of several different reasons.

They say it’s an uncertain time for energy projects, so they’re planning to focus on the around 50 facilities they already have across the nation. Landowners that had entered into leases with the company have been notified.

Two Injured In Accident Near Punxsutawney Walmart

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:11:00 GMT

Two people were taken to the hospital with after an accident over the weekend near the Punxsutawney Walmart.

Police say it happened at 7 a.m. Saturday in front of the Country Villa Motel along Route 119. They say 29-year-old Kristen Woods fell asleep at the wheel.

Her car veered into the other lane of the roadway, where it hit a pickup truck driven by 60-year-old John Parise of Punxsutawney. Woods had what police call moderate injuries from the accident and she was flown to Altoona Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Parise had minor injuries and was taken to Punxsutawney Area Hospital.