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Rural libraries: The heart of our communities

Local Columns

One of the aspects that drew my wife and I to live and work in central Pennsylvania was the beautiful landscape. The ridges and valleys are gorgeous, pristine and peaceful. There are few traffic lights in the more tucked-away parts of Juniata and Mifflin counties, which means less traffic. While the open space brings a sense of peace, it also brings challenges in uniting those geographically distant. In the United States, 84% of all land is rural and 25% of the population lives in a rural area. Rural areas can thus be known for isolation, low population density, mobility disadvantages ...

More than a vacation: Lessons from the Hudson Valley

Local Columns

(Editor’s note: This column is part two of a two-part series.) As promised in my last article, here is the continuation of our adventure, this time focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt, with a brief stop at Mills Mansion along the way. Mills Mansion was once again a stunning example of Gilded Age opulence. As we drove through the massive iron gates and up the winding lane, the scene before us left us wide-eyed and speechless. Perched high atop a hill overlooking the Hudson River, the mansion offered breathtaking views. The rolling green lawn and bright blue sky provided a beautiful ...

Mifflin County makes history, and Ray Wilde brings it home

Editorials

Mifflin County’s 15-16-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars have already given this community something worth celebrating. They’ve reached the final four of the Babe Ruth World Series in Missouri, becoming the first Mifflin County team to reach that stage since Babe Ruth expanded this level to international competition. They got there by winning their pool and then beating Central California 5-0 on Thursday behind Haven Bridge’s one-hit shutout. That achievement belongs first to the players. They’ve handled the pressure of a World Series, the long trip to Missouri, and opponents ...

Being fiscally responsible is now costly

Editorials

Saying that fiscal responsibility can “rear its ugly head” seems incongruous or nonsensical. In most cases that’s true. But Blair County taxpayers are being dealt evidence again that that statement is not as preposterous as it might seem. Those individuals too young to know, or those older taxpayers who have not allocated enough attention to county government business over the decades of their adult lives, might express puzzlement about how “fiscal responsibility” and “rearing its ugly head” can be used correctly in the same sentence. However, increasingly, that ...

Readers' opinions

Letters to the Editor

Our nation’s founders established US as a republic To the Editor: In a recent editorial post, it was declared that our nation was founded as both a democracy and a republic. That is a fabrication that would demean the founder’s intent for our country. Never, and I mean never, was our government to be a shared consort. Never, and I mean never, was democracy mentioned in either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of this nation. It was established, and clearly stated, that this nation was to be a Republic. I believe only the ignorant would deny that. Many of the ...

Support for rape crisis centers can create change

Editorials

Rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania will see state funding double under the budget signed last month. These agencies provide services to victims of sexual assault. Pittsburgh Action Against Rape was one of the first in the state and one of the first in the country. It has been a refuge and a helping hand for victims for more than 50 years. It is one of 47 rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania. In 2025, the state budgeted $12 million for them. That can sound like a lot of money until you cut it into 47 pieces and expect it to stretch like a too-small blanket to cover women, men and ...