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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 ...

Strengthening our community together

October has been declared by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as Local Chamber of Commerce month. Oct. 18, specifically, has been designated as National Chamber of Commerce Day. This month and day have been set aside to shed some much-appreciated light on the crucial role local chambers play in the economic stability of our communities. We do so by advocating, supporting, encouraging, as well as educating, the businesses, industries, and organizations in our communities. I am thankful for a governor who sees the value of local chambers and is supportive of what we do. To quote ...

What does 120 years really mean?

43,830. That is how many days The Sentinel has been covering the Juniata Valley during the past 120 years. As we acknowledge this milestone, we think about what it means to have reached 120 years of being a part of the community. This column isn’t about what’s changed over the years in the newspaper industry (a lot). Or the mistakes or typographical errors we’ve made (plenty over 120 years and an estimated 900,000 plus pages). This column isn’t about the awards we’ve won or the triumphs we’ve achieved. This editorial isn’t a rendering of the history of The Sentinel. ...

Reading a great way to relieve stress

I recently attended the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual Bloom Conference. This is an event featuring several motivational women speakers and activities. I had a grand time listening to these awe inspiring speakers and conversing with fellow female attendees. This event showed me the importance of self care. Then I got to thinking, what exactly does self care mean to me? Fruity scents make me happy. So I buy scented lotions and cherish the aroma. I buy nail polish stickers and apply them to my nails. I see my fancy fingernails everyday and grin. I have ...

A nation in crisis

I think we would all agree our country is greatly divided. That disturbs me as a Christian. But the division I am concerned about is not about economics or taxes or deficits or surpluses or prescription drugs or entitlements. The division that concerns me is not anything political or social. In fact, in this time in the history of America we live in an environment where socialized economics, reallocation of wealth, big government and excessive taxation is firmly established and it can be only slightly altered no matter which party is in control of the House and the Senate. So the ...

Much for preachers to consider presenting God’s word

Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. — Mark 15:38 For the last three articles, I have focused on the necessity of presenting the oracles of God (word or message) accurately. We must not add to or take away from His message or God will hold us accountable. Even the misused and abused verse in I Peter 4:11 is about being accurate and presenting God’s Word as it was given. The goal of the preacher today should be to present God’s message in such a way that he adorns it rather than diminish or take from it. To present God’s message accurately today we ...