Brownsville Time Capsule
By Glenn Tunney For the Herald-Standard
Brownsville Time Capsule looks back over the years through the archives of the Brownsville Telegraph.
25 Years Ago – September 1980
A new three-year teachers’ contract has been unanimously ratified by the school directors of the Brownsville Area School District. The faculty, members of the Brownsville Education Association, will receive salary increases of $1,400 in the first year, $1,450 in the second year, and $1,500 in the third year. Maximum class sizes in the primary grades will be reduced while some secondary class size limits will increase, according to BEA chief negotiator John Mazzocco.
The board also voted to appoint John Joseph, assistant principal at the high school, to the position of high school principal effective Feb. 1, 1981, the day after Frank Lucostic, current principal, is scheduled to retire.
Local Pennsylvania Lottery players are keeping a close eye on developments as a grand jury has alleged that six persons, including Pittsburgh television announcer Nick Perry, rigged the 666 winning number in the April 24, 1980 drawing, cheating the state of $1.2 million. The controversial 666 drawing resulted in a record payout of $3.5 million by the Lottery, which was established in 1972 as a means of raising revenue for state programs for the elderly.
The California Area School Board has been ordered by the state Education Department to reinstate former middle school principal Raymond M. Pecuch, who was removed from his principal position on Aug. 15, 1979, in what school directors at the time termed a “reorganization” of the school system. He had been reassigned as assistant principal at the high school at the same salary he had been earning.
The Department of Education severely criticized the board’s method of operation in the Pecuch case, agreeing with Pecuch’s contention that he had been demoted without a hearing. Mickey Bodnar, former elementary school supervisor, had been assigned to replace Pecuch.
Gallatin National Bank has donated a new football scoreboard to the Brownsville Area School District. The scoreboard, now in place at Redstone Field in Republic, was officially dedicated at the home opener this weekend, the first game played at the newly renovated Redstone Middle School field since 1970.
Unfortunately, the previously undefeated Falcons were handed their first loss in that contest, as Thomas Jefferson High School raced to a 41-6 triumph. Coach Jack Henck’s squad was trailing 20-6 in the third quarter and driving for another score when an interception turned the tide of the game. Brownsville’s only score in the contest came via a 10-yard strike from quarterback Gregg Downer to Bob David in the end zone.
At Carmichaels, the California Area High School Trojans fell just short of upsetting one of the football powers in the WPIAL Class A Tri-County Conference as Coach Mel Maruschak’s squad fell to Carmichaels, 20-7. The Trojan touchdown came on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Brendan Folmar to Scott Bodnar.
45 Years Ago – September 1960
Get out your bowling shoes, there is a new bowling establishment in the area. Today, Sept. 19, 1960, marks the Grand Opening of Ficks Lanes, the newest and most modern bowling emporium in western Pennsylvania. The lanes, which adjoin Ficks Restaurant and Motel on Route 40, two miles east of Brownsville, are owned by I.J. Ficks, Brownsville, and Ernest Quarzo, Uniontown.
Ficks will manage the 16-lane facility, which includes a lounge and restaurant featuring full course dinners as well as lighter fare. A club room is situated well away from the bowling area for private meetings and get-togethers, and a nursery with two playpens and two cribs is located close to the first four lanes so that parents can monitor their children while enjoying an evening of bowling.
In area high school football results, two long touchdown runs by halfback Ron Matteucci went to no avail as Brashear High School dropped a 32-27 decision to Har-Brack High School, the second straight loss for the Brownies. Willibe Brooks and Paul Cseko also scored for Coach John Popovich’s squad.
Coach Norman Davis’ California Trojans were edged in the final 40 seconds by Homestead High School, 19-13. The Trojans appeared to be en route to a victory, leading 13-6 with just two minutes remaining in the contest, when Homestead scored on two quick touchdown passes to win the game. California’s two touchdowns were scored by Pat Messina, who picked up a Homestead fumble and ran 60 yards to make it 7-0, and Joe Parkinson, who gathered in an Ed Kanitra scoring pass to bring the tally to 13-0.
In Clarksburg, W.Va., Redstone High School won its second straight game with a 25-7 victory over Notre Dame High School. Coach Joe Bosnic’s Black Hawks were led by quarterback Fred Mazurek, who scored twice, and Curtis Brown and Richard Tinsley, each of whom crossed the final stripe once.
60 Years Ago – September 1945
Fourteen nurses of the Brownsville General Hospital School of Nursing will receive their diplomas at commencement exercises this week in the auditorium of the Brownsville Junior High School. J.H. Sherrard, vice president of the hospital board of directors, will preside over the ceremony. Members of the class include: Therese Augustus, East Millsboro; Elizabeth Bachman, Vestaburg; Helen Craig, Uniontown; Opal Ford, Brownsville; Eleanor Harford, Upper Middletown; Faye Keys, Brownsville; Loretta Leitter, Isabella; Gaynelle Morris, Brownsville; Anna Rebres, Clarksville; Betty Sharpnack, Republic; Pauline Sokol, Masontown; Ethel Szuch, Brownsville; Carmen Weygandt, New Eagle; and Eleanor Wilson, West Brownsville.
Drastic changes in the drafting of high school students have been announced by the Selective Service. The new regulations state that any person 18 or 19 years of age may request deferment to the end of the school year when he is pursuing a course of study in a high school or similar institution and is in the last half of the academic graduation year.
A second ruling, much more liberal, says that students 18 or 19 years of age, who are pursuing a course of study in a high school and entered upon that course of study before his 18th birthday may request deferment to permit completion of studies qualifying him for graduation, and that postponement of induction will be valid until the age of 20 or graduation, whichever is earlier.
On the gridiron, Coach Jim Underwood’s East Pike Run Buccaneers copped their second straight in the Middle Mon-Valley Conference as they toppled Ellsworth, 26-0, Saturday night under the portable lights. The Cokers from Ellsworth never threatened the East Pike goal line, registering only two first downs. The newspaper box score reveals only last names, attributing the East Pike Run touchdowns to Lacotta, Sliacky, Vitchoff, and Martini.
An estimated 7,500 fans at the Woodward Plan stadium witnessed a thriller as Brownsville High School scored in the final minutes to edge Redstone High School, 13-7, continuing the Brownies’ hex over the Black Hawks for the eleventh straight year. With four minutes remaining, Bill Valko intercepted a Black Hawk pass on the Redstone 37. Two running plays by Charles (Red) Simpson advanced the ball to the 19, and Ron (Bunny) Johns tossed a pass to Jack Lawson on the one. Chester Riffle then crossed the goal line on the next play to secure the victory over the inspired Andy Sepsi-coached Black Hawks.
Glenn Tunney may be contacted at 724-785-3201 or by writing to 6068 National Pike East, Grindstone, PA 15442. Comments may also be sent to Pete Skirchak, Brownsville Editor, Herald-Standard, Box 570, Brownsville, PA 15417, or by e-mail to begin pskirchak@heraldstandard.com pskirchak@heraldstandard.com end
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