Breaking News

Local Columns

Long awaited dream of ‘Mr. Marching Band’ becomes reality

Congratulations to the Mifflin County High School Huskies Marching Band. They brought home another state championship for their bulging trophy case and made us all very proud once again. As a former “band geek” from the late 1980s and early 1990s myself (that’s what we were affectionately called where I grew up in Maine), music has a special place in my heart. We should admire — and thank — the dedication that Mifflin County Director of Bands Art Belfiore, who I call “Mr. Marching Band,” music boosters and other supporters have shown in building up the program into a ...

Hauntings, sightings very frightening

Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is just around the corner, and who can resist a good spine-tingling, hair-raising, ghost story? Especially, when it is a local one! Draw the shades, pull your blanket up a little tighter, and read on if you dare! Our spooky tale takes place in the sleepy little village of Academia in the heart of Juniata County, not far from the historic Pomeroy Academia Covered Bridge. There you will find, just beyond the Lower Tuscarora Presbyterian Church and cemetery, the now vacant spot where once stood a striking, 1800s, Gothic style building. This ...

History of MC Library continues

In my last history lesson, a couple of weeks ago, I was writing about the old Book Mobile. Since then, I learned, from a Sentinel article about the Mifflin County Youth Fair, that in the 1970s, the Chief Logan Lions Club purchased the Book Mobile, converted it into a food truck and sold their famous french fries out of it. From books to french fries, people enjoyed the Book Mobile. We left library history in the 1950s. The library was staffed by Mrs. Stuckenrath and Miss Elder and things went on without drama or incident for some time. Books kept coming in. And kept coming ...

Six ways to walk with others through trials

If you are a Christian, there is a good chance you know someone in the midst of trial. Perhaps you are going through your own “fiery trial” at the moment. As Don Carson puts it, “All we have to do is live long enough and we will suffer.” The bible is always preparing us for the suffering we will eventually experience. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Those who expect suffering will inevitably be better equipped to face it when it shows up. As Christians ...

‘Soup’s On’ in Bev’s Kitchen

By BEV KAUFFMAN Happy Fall from the kitchen! It’s soup season again here in my kitchen! Growing up, I only remember eating chicken corn soup with livers and hard boiled eggs added. It’s not as gross as it sounds. Today, I’m making chicken vegetable soup. A hearty soup with ...

You can’t stop fentanyl

Fentanyl has killed more Americans than the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan combined. And lined up behind it are still more vicious street drugs. The Justice Department can indict Chinese companies producing fentanyl and the precursor chemicals used to make it. The Biden administration can pressure Mexico to come down harder on drug trafficking. None of this is going to work. As long as people can make money off these drugs and others are willing to pay for them, the flow will not stop. How has the 52-year War on Drugs worked out so far? Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Cheap ...