Don’t lose the moon counting stars

February 4, 2023

There is a very important issue that seems to be on everyone’s radar these days. You hear it deliberated nationally as well as locally. It is discussed on the evening news, when talking to law and government representatives, in our classrooms, our senior centers, television programs, and even in our churches. No people group is immune to it. It affects every age, socio-economic class, race, and sex. I think I could go so far as to say that most of us have struggled with this issue at least once in our life. Then why is it, I wonder, that we still sidestep it, build stereotypes around ...

Political motivations unclear on stove ban

February 1, 2023

The Biden administration is accused of using alarmism to control people’s lives and their recent proposal to ban gas stoves may be their worst offense yet. According to a report, gas stoves are linked to an increased risk of respiratory illness, including asthma in children, due to the pollutants they emit, including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine matter. The Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization have deemed these pollutants unsafe. RMI, a group that advocates for carbon-free buildings and energy systems, led the research. However, critics argue ...

Does one unified rule make sense?

January 28, 2023

The unthinkable sometimes comes true and astonishes us with results that defy our expectations. We can see this in large countries that split up because of geographical, linguistic, and political differences. When Czechoslovakia divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, nothing terrible happened. Changing borders and jurisdictions is part of the natural progression of history, even though people tend to think what exists now should last for eternity. But this isn’t always the case. We usually only think about breakups happening to other countries, not our own—yet in recent ...

Near or far, it feels good to be home

January 24, 2023

Writing for The Sentinel again is a bit like catching up with an old friend. Which begs the question, did I ever leave? Well, yes and no. Since I left Mifflin County for other opportunities in 1999, I have continued to write for these pages periodically as a correspondent, which means if there’s a story to write and I can elect to accept the assignment that’s being offered to me. Or not. I work full-time in property management as the manager of a 180-unit apartment community in the Main Line section of Philadelphia, just outside of King of Prussia. I’ve worked in that field for ...

‘For Here’s to Thee Chief Logan’

January 21, 2023

That was the first phrase of my high school’s alma mater. It finishes with, “We ever will be loyal, and we’ll praise your grand old name.” So, as you may have guessed, I was and still am a Chief Logan Mingo, having graduated from Chief Logan High School (we will conveniently not mention the year). I often emphasize that fact by stating that my blood runs green, our school color, thus upholding the words of the alma mater, showing my loyalty. I thought it might be interesting to delve into just who Chief Logan was and why it was believed that he was worthy to have a high school ...

Is NIL among high school students wise?

January 18, 2023

The concept of NIL, or Name, Image, and Likeness, has been a hot topic in the world of college athletics for some time now. Essentially, it refers to the rights of college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness, something NCAA rules have historically prohibited. These athletes, who often bring in vast amounts of revenue for their schools, should be able to share in some of that profit rather than being unpaid amateurs. At the high school level, NIL activities allow student-athletes to monetize their athletic abilities. These activities can include endorsement deals, ...