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Threats against lawmakers are chilling

Editorials

We reported last week on a disturbing case involving a Lebanon, Pa., man’s threats against several Democratic Party lawmakers. The State Police at Jonestown have charged Adam G. Berryhill, 42, of Lebanon, Pa., with terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another after Berryhill allegedly posted a threat on his X account on April 7 and again April 22 threatening several legislative Democrats, including Ben Sanchez, Jordan Harris, Rick Krajewski, Malcolm Kenyatta, Danilo Burgos, Chris Rabb, Joe Hohenstein, Mary Isaacson, Emily Kinkead, Lindsey Williamsm, Steve Santarsiero, Amanda ...

Lewistown High School baseball team earned its goose landing

Local Columns

Just the other day, I read in The Sentinel that McVeytown got a new goose in honor of Joseph Trimble Rothrock, the Father of Pennsylvania Forestry. With 2027 on deck, there needs to be another goose landing in McVeytown. Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Lewistown High School baseball team winning the AA state championship. The Lewistown baseball championship was the last team title for Mifflin County High School. Why McVeytown? Seven of the nine starters were from McVeytown (The McVeytown Seven). Not only were they from McVeytown, but all seven of the players were of ...

Move carefully on standardizing bail

Editorials

We don’t disagree with the idea of making sure local judges are properly using bail. It’s unfair if people are in a county jail solely because they can’t scrape together minimum amounts of bail. Bail should be used as a means. But we think state lawmakers should act deliberately on any proposal that could end up impacting public safety. We think Rep. Tim Bonner, R-Grove City, has good intentions with House Resolution 519, but Republican lawmakers should be wary of unintended consequences from taking the first step toward bail reform that House Resolution 519 proposes. Bonner ...

Readers' opinions

Letters to the Editor

Thank you to the community for a successful United Way golf event To the Editor: The 2026 United Way of Mifflin-Juniata’s Golf United Classic was held on May 8 at the Lewistown Country Club. This was the fifth annual Golf United Classic event, and it was a great success. This event was a fantastic example of the supportive and giving nature of our communities. We want to thank our sponsors who made this day a success. Special thanks go to our title sponsor Geisinger College of Health Sciences! We also wish to thank our Ace sponsor Juniata Valley Bank, and our Eagle sponsors: ...

Senate to defer pay during shutdowns

Editorials

Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much these days, but you can bet they share an aversion to political suicide. Consider this week’s Senate vote on a bill related to government shutdowns. On Wednesday, members of the upper chamber adopted a resolution to withhold their pay — most make $174,000 a year — during future shutdowns. The vote was unanimous. No surprise. Who’s willing to go on record demanding his or her own paychecks keep coming when federal workers are sent home without pay? Shutdowns have become increasingly more common in recent years as political ...

Asphalt, oil and the high cost of smooth roads

Editorials

Planning a government budget — large or small — requires a little clairvoyance. Not only does it demand looking back at the history of what was needed, but there also has to be a crystal ball to anticipate the unpredictable. One of the most prominent examples is road maintenance. Clear, usable roads are necessary for everything from economy to education to emergencies. They need to be traversable in winter, which means road salt and functioning plows. They need to be repaired in good weather, which means asphalt and heavy equipment. Planning ahead is smart. It also can be almost ...