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Restoring a sacred place

Local Columns

Four years ago, a friend mentioned a community project grant being offered by a local box store. That sparked a conversation within the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau about how we might use such an opportunity to make a lasting impact. As we explored ideas, one kept returning to my mind, something I had passed by countless times on my walks through Victory Park with my dogs: the African American Memorial Cemetery near the boat launch. Although the Lewistown Borough was faithfully maintaining the grass, the cemetery itself had ...

Heat brings wave of high energy costs

Editorials

The weather forecast says the heat is here with more coming, and so is the next electric bill. It’s not news that summer in Pennsylvania brings more than sunburn and long evenings — it brings a jump in energy costs that has a habit of sneaking up on households across Mifflin County and beyond. Every year, air conditioners switch on, fans start humming, and the meters outside our homes spin faster. If you’ve glanced at your bill and wondered how it got so high, you’re not alone. Over the past five years, electric costs in Pennsylvania have taken a steady, stubborn climb. Last ...

Traffic safety, other quality-of-life issues matter

Editorials

While it may not excite, anger or frustrate Pennsylvanians in the same way as many of the topics addressed in Sun-Gazette headlines — as they are reading the articles or discussing the news of the day with friends and family — we suspect most motorists and even passengers in our region have, at times, found traffic to be an angering or frustrating experience. For this reason, we believe everyone can appreciate the efforts of city leadership, featured in recent editions of the Sun-Gazette, to improve traffic safety in Williamsport. We specifically believe Williamsport’s ...

Now’s the time to make a safer Middle East

Editorials

The aftermath of the 12-day war with Iran looks mixed more than two weeks later. Iran’s nuclear program was badly damaged and likely set back for years. But the Ayatollah’s government isn’t admitting defeat and shows no signs of dropping its revolutionary or nuclear designs. That puts into focus the next policy question for the U.S.: Will Trump’s cease-fire give way to diplomacy that deepens the achievements of the war, or will it put those achievements at risk? Iran is still talking tough and rejecting Trump’s demands, even after bailing out of the fight with Israel and ...

Readers' opinions

Letters to the Editor

Juniata County Sheriff’s Office collaborates with ICE To the Editor: The Juniata County Sheriff’s Office would like to formally address the public, specifically on the recently approved agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The 287(g) program allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity ...

Superloads frustrating for drivers

Editorials

The moving of windmill “superloads” on area roadways to their destination near Patton in Cambria County in coming weeks will necessitate much more than a modicum of patience and understanding by motorists who encounter them during their travels — to work, for medical and dental appointments, for recreational intentions, for household reasons, whatever. Perhaps too much is being asked of those motorists who encounter them, and we’ll explain why later in this editorial. For now, suffice to say that the size and length of superload caravans will not be conducive to traditional ...