Breaking News

Local Columns

Wide open spaces, wild adventures: Yellowstone National Park’s glory

(Editor’s note: This column is part two of a two-part series.) Next stop: Yellowstone. Honestly, I doubted anything could top the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Tetons, but I was wrong. Yellowstone exceeded every expectation I had. I think I pictured it as overly commercialized and overrun with tourists, an impression that may have been shaped by all those childhood episodes of Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo stealing picnic baskets. Speaking of picnic baskets, our first surprise in the park came when we watched a woman stop her car in the middle of the road, jump out with camera in ...

Wide open spaces and wild adventures: The Grand Tetons

(Editor’s note: This column is part one of a two-part series.) I had two songs playing in my head throughout this past week, and soon you’ll understand why. The first was the song made famous by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash entitled “Jackson.” The second was “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks. Together, those songs perfectly sum up my latest adventure. In our quest to visit as many national parks as possible, my husband, Blain, and I recently packed our bags and headed to the airport, bound for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. I wasn’t quite sure what to ...

Juniata County Dairy Promotion pointers

This is Dairy Princess Kera Bentz writing my last newspaper article as the 2025-2026 Juniata County Dairy Princess. My year was full of amazing memories. Each promotion I participated in this past year has a special place in my heart. My year started with lots of ice cream serving and ...

The Port Royal Speedway, ‘The Speed Palace’ holds significance

Our most recent Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event was hosted by the legendary Port Royal Speedway, lovingly known as “The Speed Palace,” along with the Juniata County Fair (The Juniata County Agricultural Society). From the moment guests arrived, it was clear the organizers had gone above and beyond to create an unforgettable evening filled with history, community pride, and experiences many of us will long remember. Nearly 60 chamber members attended and were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at one of our region’s most treasured destinations. Guests enjoyed ...

A tower seems logical at MCL

Turret. Belfry. Fort. Tower. All really good words that mean sort of the same thing. Construction on the Mifflin County Library is moving along at a good pace and during the week of May 4, the crew built a tower. Maybe it’s a turret? When I think of a turret, I think of a round-shaped tower in old-fashioned homes. It’s not really a belfry because aren’t there bells in belfrys? It could be a fort? For example, Mifflin County Library, “the protector of knowledge.” Fort Mifflin County Library. No, that doesn’t really work either. I think “tower” is the best ...

Unearth a story, part 1: Summer reading at JCL

Our youth Summer Reading program begins Friday, June 5 and goes until Saturday, Aug. 1. Simply register your child on our website at www.juniatalibrary.org or in-person at 498 Jefferson St., Mifflintown, then pick up or print a reading log for your child’s age or grade level, and read. As your child completes the reading log, they will be eligible for various prizes and will be entered into the end-of-summer raffle. To be eligible to participate in the prize raffle, each reader must be registered on our website or in person and complete their Reading Logs. Program kick-off: ...