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Soap Box Derby a reminder of importance of sportsmanship

The rush of excitement, of course, was palpable. The fun the youngsters had racing their Soap Box Derby cars down Market Street Hill was clear to all. But the volunteers who spoke with the Sun-Gazette were right: The most important part of the Soap Box Derby is the lessons about sportsmanship it teaches. Racers shook each others’ hands and congratulated each other after each race, without bragging or gloating or showboating. Any rivalries were good-natured, and the competitors treated each other with respect sportsmanship and its foundation of humility, teamwork and courtesy are ...

‘Go Big Red!’ Cheers for Juniata Indians softball team

It’s a feat that doesn’t happen very often: Winning PIAA gold for the Juniata Indians. In fact, the last state titlist came in 2003 when Juniata’s wrestling team won the PIAA Class 2-A Dual Meet Team championship. The Juniata softball team hopes to strike it rich this season with a PIAA 3-A crown, after falling one victory short a year ago. The lasting memories of a season ago were seeing the sea of red as the Indian faithful filled the stands at Penn State’s Beard Field at the Nittany Lion Softball Complex. Last year, Juniata fans came by the droves, decked from head to ...

Pennsylvania’s county prisons pose vexing problems

Pennsylvania’s county prisons have been a hot topic in the news periodically for much of the past half-century, with county prison boards and commissioners often wrestling with issues like: — Deterioration and whether to renovate the existing facility or build new. — How to deal with temporary overcrowding. — Whether to transfer inmates to counties with available space in their prisons. — Investigations tied to successful escapes. — Correcting “weak spots” and that provide a gateway for escapes and behaviors that can lead to troublesome inmate ...

Supreme Court defends freedom of speech

We are grateful for the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict in National Rifle Association v. Vullo — a case that cut to the heart of freedom of speech. New York state officials targeted the NRA specifically because they found the NRA’s message objectionable, and pressured private enterprises to “blacklist” or refuse to conduct business with the organization. “Today’s decision confirms that government officials have no business using their regulatory authority to blacklist disfavored political groups,” David Cole of the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued on ...

Memorial Day a reminder to teach youth about valor

“Remember what it took for us to assemble here.” Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler, adjutant general of Pennsylvania made this request of the crowd at Lycoming County’s Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. We agree with what Schindler asked. As we editorialized on May 21, we hoped each and every member of cur communities would take some time during the weekend to pay their respects for the sacrifices America’s veterans lost in wars made. But it goes well beyond one day or one weekend. Honoring our veterans should be our calling throughout the year. And we believe ...

Graduation season filled with optimism for Class of 2024, America’s future

Roughly 3.5 million high school students across the country will receive their diplomas this spring. Just under 1.5 million college students will earn their degrees, and another 1 million will complete master’s degrees. Whether its Mifflin County High School or Belleville Mennonite School, Juniata or East Juniata, Mount Union or Midd-West, Mifflin County Christian Academy or Juniata Christian School, schools throughout the Juniata Valley put on a truly wonderful series of commencement ceremonies celebrating our Class of 2024. For much of the year, we’ve been hearing and reading ...