News

Rolling through history: Beavertown’s joyful end‑of‑war tradition

Local News July 19, 2026

BEAVERTOWN — George “Tickey” F. Norman stepped into Beavertown’s square on Aug. 15, 1945, carrying the kind of determination that only comes from losing a bet in front of half the town. Japan had just announced its surrender, and the square was already swelling with people cheering, hugging and shouting the news across Main Street. Norman didn’t join the crowd. He walked straight to the patriotically painted barrel waiting for him, the one he had promised to roll eight miles to Middleburg if the war didn’t end by March 17. The barrel glinted in the late-summer sun, red ...

Mifflin County municipalities each receive Liberty Trees

Local News July 18, 2026

ALLENSVILLE — The Allensville Fireman’s Festival honoring America’s 250th anniversary on Friday night seemed like the perfect place to acknowledge the Liberty Trees that officials distributed to every municipality in Mifflin County. Across the Juniata River Valley, municipalities celebrate the Nation’s 250th birthday. From parties to parades, each township and borough has shown its love for its country. Every municipality in Mifflin County received a 6- to 8-foot oak sapling to plant in their community; Metzler Forest Products donated the trees. In 1776, the first ...

In the region

Local News July 18, 2026

Milroy Presbyterian Church chicken barbecue canceled MILROY — The chicken barbecue scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Milroy Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Main St., Milroy, has been canceled due to smoke and air conditions, and potential rain on Saturday. Round Table to host historian Jonathan Noyalas STATE COLLEGE — The Central PA Civil War Round Table will host Civil War historian Jonathan A. Noyalas as its featured speaker during its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Activities Room at the South Hills School of Business & Technology, ...

Clinic inside Beward Pharmacy aims to expand care in area

Local News July 18, 2026

MIFFLINTOWN — Beginning Aug. 13, a Juniata County resident with a sore throat or minor cut will have another option for treatment without driving to Lewistown. Matilda Clinic, a same-day medical clinic opening inside Beward Pharmacy at 24082 Route 35 North, will accept appointments and walk-ins. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 13. The larger development is the addition of another local option for routine medical care. Greg Rockson, owner of Matilda Clinic, said the company selected Juniata County because it’s the kind of rural community the clinic was ...

Calendar

Local News July 18, 2026

The Sentinel offers nonprofit and other community organizations an opportunity to promote upcoming events for free in the community calendar for three days before the event. Events requiring reservations may be promoted for up to two weeks before the reservation deadline. Events that require a purchase from a for-profit business, even if a donation is made to the organization, are not eligible for the calendar. Please be brief and include only basic details. If possible, provide a phone number or email address to be published with contact information. Submit items at least one week ...

Smoke pushes air quality into unhealthy range

Local News July 18, 2026

LEWISTOWN — Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota pushed Lewistown’s air quality into the unhealthy range Friday afternoon, leading a Geisinger lung specialist to urge people to stay indoors and avoid outdoor exercise. AirNow reported an Air Quality Index of 197 in Lewistown at 2 p.m. ...