Archive - Mar 2011 - News Article
March 18th
After being hit by a record 9.0 magnitude earthquake, a deadly 25-foot-high tsunami and a nuclear crisis, the people of Japan are in desperate need of help. The small island nation is facing immense destruction and devastation as thousands have been reported dead, with many still missing or injured, and at least half a million people left homeless.
Approximately 343,000 households are without electricity and nearly one million are without water. Supplies of fuel, medicine and other necessities are running short.
March 17th
Jay Township Supervisor Francis Gustafson announced during the supervisors' monthly meeting Thursday evening that he plans to hold monthly gatherings with township residents to discuss important issues related to Marcellus Shale drilling, which is becoming more prevalent in the township and throughout the area.
"I think it is very important that the people get involved, and I have other people that will come in [and present information]," Gustafson said. "It's not going to go away."
The proposed cuts in the state's budget plan will affect many service agencies across the state. The nonprofit organization Life and Independence for Today (LIFT), which provides services for people with disabilities, is anticipating those cuts and is working to ensure that clients will not lose access to programs and services on which they depend.
St. Marys Area School District Superintendent Ann Kearney provided several comments during portions of the recent school board workshop and meeting.
On Wednesday, March 9, state auditors arrived in St. Marys. They will remain there during the duration of the lengthy two-month-long project.
Kearney reminded parents, students, teachers and staff that March 25 is the final inservice day for the 2010-11 school year. This is a day off for students only, as district personnel have planned various professional development activities.
March 16th
By
Joseph Bell, Record Editor
Elk County officials reported recently that EADS Group members will go into the final design phase of their project as the 911 Center, now located along Boot Jack Road, makes the transition to the Industrial Technology Education Center [ITEC] building along Montmorenci Road.
While county officials have yet to officially purchase the building, headway in developing the property has been made.
The county's electronics recycling program, which features a collection on the third Saturday of each month at the Stackpole Complex in St. Marys, recently surpassed the million-pound mark for the amount of material that has been collected.
The program will have been in place for seven years in June, according to Elk County Recycling Coordinator Bekki Titchner.
By
Victoria Stanish, editor
Like jazz, barbershop harmony singing is one of the unique types of music that originated in the United States. The St. Marys chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is hoping to bring in some new voices with a guest night held during the group's meeting on Tuesday, March 22 at the American Legion Post 103 along Center Street in St. Marys. Any men from Elk and neighboring counties who like to sing four-part a cappella harmony, or who just enjoy singing, are welcome to attend.
Teachers throughout St. Marys Area School District are among thousands across the nation participating in the Newspaper In Education (NIE) program.
Currently there are eight schools and 29 classrooms participating in The Daily Press' NIE program this year.
Since its founding in the 1930s, the program has concentrated its efforts on attracting youth readership and training teachers to integrate newspapers into curriculum.
From teachers to tutors, they all find the newspaper a helpful teaching tool inside their classrooms.
March 15th
Kim Bonfardine of the county's Conservation District reported Tuesday morning that county officials have acquired over $200,000 worth of grant money for water testing.
"The project's purpose is to set up and get data on the industries that are moving into the area," Bonfardine said. "We won't just be monitoring for Marcellus Shale but also other things as well. We're very lucky to get a lot of partners for their support.
Vollmer enters into Pretrial Intervention/Deferred Prosecution Agreement
LEE COUNTY, Fla. – According to information obtained from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, John Joseph Vollmer, 64, of St. Marys, was recently entered into a Pretrial Intervention/Deferred Prosecution Agreement in relation to charges of soliciting another for lewdness assignation, first offense, which were filed against him on Feb. 24.
