Archive
March 18th, 2011
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.
Dora M. Surra, 82, of 116 Zola Rd., Kersey, died Friday, March 18, 2011 at Elk Haven Nursing Home following a brief illness.
She was born June 6, 1928 in Coal Hollow, daughter of the late Antonio and Julia Gornati Cesa. On July 26, 1947, in the Guardian Angels Church in Coal Hollow, she married Leo J. Surra, who preceded her in death on March 31, 2000.
She was a lifelong resident of the area and attended Kersey schools. She was a retired employee of the Riverside Market.
March 17th
Olga Marks Wildauer, 89, of Ridge Avenue, Falls Creek, died Thursday, March 17, 2011 at the DuBois Nursing Home.
She was born on July 24, 1921 in DuBois, daughter of the late John and Julia Marks.
In 1946, she married George A. Wildauer, who preceded her in death on Sept. 26, 2002.
She worked at the Jackson China Company in Falls Creek for many years. She also worked at Gray Printing Company and the DuBois Courier Express. She was a member of St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church. She was an artist and an occasional art instructor. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, and photography.
Diane Roberta "Bobbie" Benson, 51, of 212 South Brady Street, DuBois, and formerly of St. Marys, died on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 following a brief illness.
She was born March 31, 1959 in St. Marys, a daughter of Doris Williamson Lenox and the late Robert D. Lenox
On September 29, 1978, she married Bradley Benson, who survives.
William T. Johnson, 79, of 824 Cardinal Road, St. Marys, died on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at Elk Regional Health Center following a brief illness.
He was born March 17, 1932 in Allport, a son of the late Arthur and Edna Plowman Johnson.
On June 22, 1956 in Morrisdale, he married JoAnn Pierce Johnson, who survives.
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.
