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‘The Addams Family’ is more than a musical

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the Mifflin County High School Drama Club’s production of “The Addams Family,” and I was absolutely blown away. The talent on that stage was incredible, but what impressed me even more was the dedication behind it, the long hours of rehearsal, memorizing lines, choreography practiced until it felt like second nature, and the courage it takes to step out on that stage. The commitment shown by these young performers was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Equally deserving of recognition are the directors, crew members, technicians, ...

Creative Minds at MCL hosts authors

Are you interested in writing but don’t know how to get started? Do you like to write but don’t know how to be published? If so, we have a wonderful program for you called Creative Minds. In this program, local authors come to Mifflin County Library and talk about their personal writing journey and explain how to get work published. This program started last September and has been very successful. The original goal was to have one author visit each season. But so far, we’ve had one author every month. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our website where you will ...

JCL in 2025, part 2: Facts, figures and more

I look forward to writing this column every year. I love seeing which titles were most popular and what was sought after at the Juniata County Library. It helps me gain a glimpse into the interests here in Juniata County. I’m always surprised to see an item on the list that I wouldn’t have imagined to be as popular as it turned out to be. Conversely, I find it interesting that some books or authors are missing from the list. Top 5 most checked out nonfiction books: “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance (19 circulations) “The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for ...

We have an eternal inheritance

Ephesians 1:1-14 The Dec. 11, 2002 online issue of Forbes magazine carried the story of a family feud in one of the richest families in America. The Pritzker family of Chicago owns the Hyatt hotel chain. They also own many other businesses, including cruise lines, railroads, and banks. In 2002, 18-year-old Liesel Pritzker sued her father and other family members, claiming that they drained her trust fund of more than $1 billion. Because of their mismanagement, Liesel claims her inheritance has been greatly reduced. She is suing for $5 billion dollars in punitive damages. One ...

Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world

But also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. Romans 4:16 This week we will continue our study of Dispensationalism. Many people believe there will be a literal reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years, when Jesus comes back to Jerusalem. What seems strange about this teaching is that Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews.” Some of them also believe that when Christ reigns in Jerusalem, sacrifices will once again be ...

Cataclysmic explosion claims life of local WWII Paratrooper

LEWISTOWN — The American recapture in World War II of Corregidor Island from the Japanese garrison in the Philippines began with a daring, highly risky parachute drop by the 503rd Parachute Regiment on Feb. 16, 1945. A local man was among the brave paratroopers assigned to the mission. ...