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ournal-herald THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024 • Volume 44 – No. 12 ©2024, THE JOURNAL-HERALD. All Rights Reserved
CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–145th YEAR, NO. 51
SINGLE COPY– 75¢ (USPS 277440)
CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–145th YEAR, NO. 25
Vietnam vet finally meets local penpal by Ruth Isenberg
On Veterans Day, ceremonies were held at the Spring Street Monument in Weatherly. Above, Post 360 Honor Guard member Danny Shield salutes prior to the playing of Taps. More pictures, page 10.
Cookie Macey was 13 when one of the nuns teaching 7th grade at St. Nick’s parochial school in Weatherly handed out names of soldiers for students to correspond with. She was Mary Raynock then, living in a house just up the road from where she lives now in Lehigh Township. She doesn’t know where her teacher got Albert Spingler’s contact information. And she doesn’t remember a whole lot about what she wrote to him — “13 year-old stuff.” But she does remember that he wrote back, often. His letters painted a picture of what it was like for a 19 year-old in a place far home, fighting Viet Cong in the jungle, with details about mundane camp life, along with heart-felt grief about companions who died in combat, and hopes for a safe return home. She kept his letters, and not too long ago reached out to him
after she came across his name during an unrelated search for a former classmate on the internet. Her message was simple — an ask if he was the Albert Spingler she wrote to back in 1966, and if so, a suggestion that she’d love to hear back from him. Very soon, she received a phone call. He remembered her
See PENPAL, page 6
Dennison considers ’25 budget, snow plowing contract by Suzanne Winters Dennison Township Supervisors started the November meeting with a first reading of the 2025 budget. Board Chair Sheila Weaver said the snow plowing contract states they can renew the contract with no rate changes. All were in favor of sending a letter to the current contractor inquiring about renewing the snow removal contract for the 2024-2025 season.
There was 1 zoning permit issued for 50 Linden Street and 1 zoning permit for Barry’s Road, per Secretary Kathleen Stortz. White Haven Police Department Chief Richard Mocafin presented the supervisors with an update on traffic control issues. He reported that traffic studies have been done regarding line painting, and lines have now been painted. On Route 437 there were 12 stops for speeding, 2 expired
inspection stickers and 1 insurance violation. There were 3 violations on Middleburg Road. The chief said speeding vehicles were averaged to be going 15 mph over the limit. He also reported that the department did not receive a Hazardous Driving grant, but did receive another $1,000 grant they can use for traffic observation, which will pay for 5 additional 4-hour shifts. WHPD received only 4 erratic driving calls, but they responded
to multiple motor vehicle accidents last month. Roadmaster Jim Yackiel asked if there were any tickets issued. The chief said there were, and that it is up to the officer on duty as to when to write out a ticket. He said there were more speeding incidents southbound
See DENNISON, page 6