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History — including baseball’s history — teaches lessons

We continue to believe that history is important and that the lessons and values it can teach are important. Our series of articles commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation is part of that commitment. We have these stories of pioneers and founding fathers to be inspiring, and we hope our communities are as well. Another example, of course, is our region’s historic ties to America’s pastime, baseball. In Wednesday’s edition, we featured the history of Bowman Field, and reported on successful efforts by state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, to recognize the Negro ...

Ukraine’s war cannot be just Europe’s war

An article in the April 25-26 edition of the Wall Street Journal began with the headline “The Ukraine War is Europe’s war now.” “With Russia determined to continue its four-year invasion until it dominates its neighbor, and President Trump pulling back from Europe and focused on the Middle East,” the article said, “Ukraine finds itself reliant on the traditionally wary EU (European Union) in its war for survival.” Although some nations and their people see beefed-up EU political and financial support as confirming the main premise of the April article, especially the ...

Rising electric bills leave Pennsylvanians powerless

Electricity isn’t a luxury. It’s a critical part of daily life — especially in a state where many people rely on it for heat. Losing power is disruptive. People are reminded of that every time a storm knocks out the grid. But for many Pennsylvanians, the bigger threat isn’t losing electricity for a few hours or days. It’s losing the ability to afford it at all. The price of power is rising steadily even as new facilities are planned or built across the Keystone State. That is because the cost of electricity is not set by a single decision or a single office. Utilities must ...

Williams honored for volunteer efforts with Sports Hall of Fame

Induction into a hall of fame — or recognition by one — represents more than a plaque or ceremony. It reflects dedication, commitment and service to a community over time. For the second year in a row, The Sentinel has the honor of recognizing one of its own as the Mifflin County Sports Hall of Fame honors reporter Greg Williams with its volunteer award. Williams is being recognized for his efforts in helping establish the organization and for the support he has continued to provide through the years. Over the years, Williams served in a variety of newsroom roles while also ...

State needs to ban ‘gas station heroin’

The colorful packaging bears trippy names like ZaZa, Neptune’s Fix, Pegasus and Purple Magic. Sold as an elixir or in pill form, the products promise feelings of “euphoria,” “happiness” and “bliss,” and are marketed to grab the attention – and cash – of young and old consumers alike. What the labels don’t disclose is that the main ingredient, tianeptine, is a highly addictive substance, and in high doses can mimic the effects of opioids, causing seizures, cardiac arrest, respiratory issues and ultimately death. Unregulated, it’s being sold as a “dietary ...

Losing Spirit is bananas for Latrobe airport

Gros Michel bananas may have been the perfect fruit. They were not just tasty. They grew in bunches ideal for shipping, with thick skins that protected the creamy white flesh all the way to American tables. Unfortunately, they were not resistant to disease. After decades of dominating the international produce market, they were all but wiped out by fungal blight more than 50 years ago. The bananas on shelves today are the Cavendish variety — still brilliantly yellow but somehow a pale imitation of their more flavorful cousin. The problem was not just the fungus. Growers had put all ...