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Plain People in the News December 2023 thru January 2025

Place: Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber / Kenton / mainline, Isaac churches.

‘Going with God,’ conservative Amish sue Ohio over lights law.

The Ohio Newsroom | By Erin Gottsacker.|EST.

In the 1960s, the Swartzentrubers — one of the most conservative subgroups of Old Order Amish — worked out a deal with the Ohio government: instead of marking their vehicles with an orange slow moving vehicle emblem and bright battery-operated blinkers, they would instead stick reflective tape on their buggies and use kerosene lanterns as headlights.That agreement stood for decades. For more information: https://www.wosu.org/2025-02-24/going-with-god-conservative-amish-sue-ohio-over-lights-law

 

Place: Spartansburg, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss.

2024 Amish murder case transferred to Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

by: Matt Mathias.WWLP.Posted: Jan 29, 2025 / 06:30 PM EST.

The case against Shawn Cranston, the man accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman in Sparta Township nearly a year ago, is now being handled by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.Crawford County District Attorney Paula Digiacomo told JET 24/FOX 66 that she made that request in October due to a lack of staffing.Digiacomo said that she was down to only two prosecutors in her office with herself being one of them.Digiacomo handled Cranston’s preliminary hearings and discovery but has now handed the case over to two prosecutors appointed by the attorney general’s office.She added she’s happy to help out however she can moving forward, and would have prosecuted the case herself if she had the resources to.Cranston is accused of killing 23-year-old Rebecca Byler inside her home on Fish Flats Road back in February 2024.Cranston’s trial is still scheduled to go on in March of this year. For more information: https://www.wwlp.com/news/2024-amish-murder-case-transferred-to-pennsylvania-attorney-generals-office/

Place: Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania

Group: Old Order Amish- Stutzman-Troyer.

Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Township and Sewage Authority Over Allegations They Substantially Burdened Amish Residents’ Religious Exercise.

Thursday, January 30, 2025 Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice.

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with Sugar Grove Township, Pennsylvania, and the Sugar Grove Area Sewage Authority (SUGASA), to resolve allegations that they violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by enacting and enforcing two ordinances against Old Order Amish residents: one mandating that certain households connect to the Township’s municipal sewage system, which requires the use of an electric grinder pump, and one banning privies on property intended for permanent residence. The lawsuit alleges that these acts substantially burdened Old Order Amish residents’ religious exercise, which restricts the use of electricity and requires adherents remain separate and apart from the modern world, and that the Township and SUGASA lacked a compelling reason for doing so. For more information: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-resolves-lawsuit-against-pennsylvania-township-and-sewage-authority-over

Place: Ovid, New York.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Ovid fire chief credits Amish volunteers for help during devastating fire.

by Steven Pappas & WHAM Staff.Saturday, January 25th 2025 at 10:51 PM.

Updated Sun, January 26th 2025 at 8:19 PM.Ovid, N.Y. (WHAM) — A historic fire tore through the small village of Ovid Tuesday night, leaving behind a massive trail of damage that could've been worse if not for the hundreds of first responders who fought the flames."The members that we have in this department are the workhorses in this department," said Ovid Fire Chief Timothy Westlake. For more information:https://13wham.com/news/local/ovid-fire-chief-credits-amish-volunteers-for-help-during-devastating-fire-main-street

 Place: Clare County, Michigan;

Group: Old Order Amish- Isaac Churches (Holmes County, Ohio) and/or Swartzentruber.

 Sheriff’s Office investigates multiple robberies at Amish businesses;

Posted on January 31, 2025.By Pat Maurer.Correspondent.Wilcox Newspapers.

Following up on several queries from a Review reader, the newspaper has learned that the Clare County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating “multiple breaking and entering crimes in Sheridan Township,” according to a press release received earlier this week from Clare County Sheriff Department’s media contact Lt. Aaron Miller.The press release said, “The breaking and entering occurred at multiple business locations owned and operated by Amish individuals.”Miller reported that the Sheriff’s Office has investigated four (4) reported incidents of those breaking and entering reports and larcenies since last summer. For more information: https://wilcoxnewspapers.com/sheriffs-office-investigates-multiple-robberies-at-amish-businesses/

 Place: Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss.

 

Summer trial set for deadly Amish buggy collision in Fillmore County;

Mike Bunge, Jan 23, 2025, Updated Feb 4, 2025.KIMT3.

PRESTON, Minn. – No settlement has been reached in the prosecution of one of the twin sisters involved in a 2023 collision with an Amish buggy in Fillmore County that killed two children.Samantha Jo Peterson, 36 of Kellogg, is charged with 12 felonies and five misdemeanors, including multiple counts of criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation, DWI, and several traffic violations.  Petersen is accused of driving the vehicle that hit the Amish buggy.  Sarah Beth Petersen, 36 of Kellogg, is accused of telling law enforcement that she had been the driver.UPDATE: Samantha Petersen's trial has been scheduled for July 14.https://www.kimt.com/news/summer-trial-set-for-deadly-amish-buggy-collision-in-fillmore-county/article_6a6d1acc-d9c6-11ef-8051-63abc39a0423.html

 Place: Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss. 

Woman charged in hit-and-run violates parole, judge hands down longer sentence;

By KTTC Staff.Published: Jan. 21, 2025 at 11:34 PM GMT.FILLMORE COUNTY, Minn. (KTTC) – A woman convicted and sentenced in a February 2024 hit-and-run Amish buggy crash will now serve an even longer sentence after violating parole.Brittany Edgar was sentenced to 30 days in Fillmore County Jail for the February 2024 incident. That jail time was set to begin January 24.Edgar was then allegedly caught drunk driving in Olmsted County December 24, 2024, violating her supervised release.Edgar’s sentence was increased to 45 days.Edgar will be back in Olmsted County court for her drunk driving charges in March. For more information: https://www.kttc.com/2025/01/21/woman-charged-hit-and-run-violates-parole-judge-hands-down-longer-sentence/

 Place: Reading, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish.

 Letter: Responding to an inaccurate description of Amish life;

PUBLISHED: January 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM EST.Reading Eagle.

I am writing about “Ill-Informed Americans help Trump return to the White House” (Reading Eagle, Jan. 8).The letter stated that President Donald Trump was reelected due to those who consume little or no news and went on to state the Amish “largely practice social communism.”The Amish do not practice communism. Amish may live in localized communities, but they do not live in a commune. They practice Christian charity and help others in need at their own discretion. The elders do not dictate or manage political or economic requirements.It is ironic to see a lack of research in a letter accusing others of being ill-informed. Angela Peterson. Birdsboro, PA. For more information: https://www.readingeagle.com/2025/01/27/letter-responding-to-an-inaccurate-description-of-amish-life/

Place: Arthur, Illinois.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline.

Arthur's unique transportation expense: Replacing buggy lanes.

By DAVE HINTON, January 31, 2025.ARTHUR — Every community sets aside funds for road repair or replacement due to vehicle use or the elements.Among area communities, the village of Arthur has a rather unique transportation-related expense: The replacement of buggy lanes through town caused by the damage from horses and buggies driven by the Amish population.Village President Rod Randall said the village will replace the buggy lanes through town this year.“We’d already approved it this spring, repairing the main street of Arthur,” Randall said. “Buggies are hard on our main street.“The buggy lanes, you can tell where the horses’ hooves have been. For more information: https://www.news-gazette.com/newsletter/content/daily_headlines/arthurs-unique-transportation-expense-replacing-buggy-lanes/article_956f4a98-df6a-11ef-96c6-bb23aebbda52.html

Place: Upstate New York.

Group: Old Order Amish.

GUEST ESSAY: Vaccines have given children future they deserve.

Jan 25, 2025.The Front Page- Upstate New York.By Dr. Kathleen Braico.

I’m a retired pediatrician. I have wonderful memories of sweet children, families, smiles, triumphs and tragedies throughout my career, but there are experiences that still haunt me.I remember sitting by a child’s bedside with a drug designed to reduce the swelling in the brain. I was an intern, fresh out of medical school. She was an infant from the Amish community who didn’t get their children immunized.She had measles encephalitis.The virus invaded her brain and the resulting swelling threatened to kill her. Although we used the drug repeatedly, it failed, and before dawn appeared that beautiful little girl was dead. For more information: https://kentingley.substack.com/p/guest-essay-vaccines-have-given-children?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.

Place: Chatsworth, Ontario.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

The Democracy Fund scores another legal win, reopening additional cases for Amish families facing ArriveCan fines and liens.Families burdened by financial hardship from alleged noncompliance with the now-defunct government-mandated tracking app have successfully reopened their cases to challenge fines totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.Tamara Ugolini   |   January 27, 2025   |   News Analysis.Rebel News.

Lawyers at The Democracy Fund (TDF) have achieved another significant victory in its ongoing legal efforts to defend the rights of Amish families in Grey County, Ontario.

Lawyers at TDF have successfully reopened cases involving a fourth group of Amish clients who were issued fines under the Quarantine Act and for alleged violations related to the now-scraped ArriveCan app.Approximately 27 members of the Amish community, who follow traditional religious practices that prohibit the use of modern technology such as electricity and smartphones, face over $300,000 in fines. For more information: https://www.rebelnews.com/the_democracy_fund_scores_another_legal_win_reopening_additional_cases_for_amish_families_facing_arrivecan_fines_and_liens

Place: Ashland County, Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss / Swartzentruber.

Open Source: What’s up with mobile medicine in Ashland County?

January 27, 2025.Ashland Source.   ASHLAND — In April 2023, the Ashland County Health Department purchased a $230,000 van, outfitted as a mobile health clinic.The van was meant to provide vaccinations to the Amish and “isolated populations” across the county, according to previous Ashland Source reporting.That van made its debut in June of that same year at Hillside Church of Rowsburg in Polk. Per a release from the Health Department, it traveled the area throughout much of last summer, popping up at 13 events from June-September of 2023. Nurses administered 119 health screenings and 63 vaccinations at those events. For more information: https://www.ashlandsource.com/2025/01/27/open-source-whats-up-with-mobile-medicine-in-ashland-county/

Place: Trenton, New York.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss (or possibly Swartzentruber).

Unauthorized Burn at Sawmill in Town of Trenton, Firefighters Say.

By: WKTV January 21, 2025. TRENTON, N.Y. -- Last night, flames illuminated the sky over the Town of Trenton as burning waste wood from an Amish sawmill caused the fire.This occurred on St. Rt. 365 Monday night.The Barneveld Fire Department has stated that this was an unauthorized burn.ue to the heavy snowfall, they were unable to access the fire trucks.UPDATED 1/21, 10:30 PM: According to New York State DEC, Conservation officers issued tickets to the business owner for Unlawful Open Burning and Illegal Disposal of Waste following the fire on Monday night. Conservation officers were called back to the business on Tuesday night after the business started another illegal burn, officers issued several additional tickets, all returnable to Town of Trenton court. For more information: https://www.wktv.com/news/local/unauthorized-burn-at-sawmill-in-town-of-trenton-firefighters-say/article_8e0f011c-d83f-11ef-bcf3-7360486e201b.html

Place: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Group: Dariusleut Hutterite.

Horizon School Division adds additional Hutterite school.New Hutterite school opens in Horizon School division located near Cudworth and Wakaw.Nicole Goldsworthy / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.Jan 19, 2025 8:00 AM.HUMBOLDT – A new Hutterite School plans to open its doors on Feb. 10 in 2025.Kevin Garinger, Director of Education, Horizon School Division, said they estimate that around 15 to 20 children will attend the new Vier Lake Colony School for the Cudworth and Wakaw area.The Hnidy Farms Hutterite Colony’s new school, the Vier Lake Colony School, will be established on Feb. 10, making it Horizon’s fourth Hutterian school. In collaboration with colony leaders, Horizon ensures that these schools provide the Saskatchewan curriculum while respecting and incorporating cultural values and traditions.  For more information:https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/humboldt-journal/horizon-school-division-adds-additional-hutterite-school-10077532

Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Amish farmer gets OK to sell raw milk outside Pa. as suit continues.

DAN NEPHIN | Staff Writer, January 23, 2025.LancasterOnline.

A state appeals court ruling earlier this month affirmed farmer Amos Miller can continue selling his raw milk outside of Pennsylvania while a state agriculture department’s lawsuit against him proceeds.The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court agreed with Miller’s attorneys that he would face substantial harm — in the form of bankruptcy and losing his farm — if he can’t sell to customers outside of Pennsylvania as the suit progresses.Miller, of Upper Leacock Township, has been prohibited from selling raw milk and raw milk products to Pennsylvania customers for nearly a year, following a raid on his farm and then a lawsuit by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.The Jan. 4, 2024, raid by agriculture department staff and Pennsylvania State Police was prompted by two illnesses in late 2023, one in New York and one in Michigan, traced to Miller’s raw eggnog.That led to the lawsuit 20 days later in which the agriculture department said Miller lacks permits to sell raw milk or raw cheese, nor does he have a required retail license. For more information: https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/appeals-court-ruling-means-farmer-amos-miller-can-sell-raw-milk-outside-pa-as-suit/article_89fdef82-d904-11ef-828d-43a22df1730c.html

Place: Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss.

Attorneys comment ahead of settlement conference for Samantha Petersen.

By Brock Bergey.Published: Jan. 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM GMT.PRESTON, Minn. (KTTC) – One of the twin sisters charged in a deadly 2023 crash, which killed two children, is set to return to court Thursday for a settlement conference.Samantha Petersen, 36, is charged with 17 counts, including criminal vehicular homicide, in connection with the crash involving an Amish buggy. The crash happened on Sep. 25, 2023, north of Spring Valley on Fillmore County Road One.Two children, ages 7 and 11, died from their injuries. Two of their siblings were hurt.Initially, investigators said Sarah Petersen, Samantha’s identical twin sister, was behind the wheel of the vehicle. However, the criminal complaint alleges Sarah was covering for Samantha. According to court records, Samantha was high on methamphetamine and THC at the time.Last month, a judge dismissed four drug-related charges due to circumstantial evidence. For more information: https://www.kttc.com/2025/01/22/attorneys-comment-ahead-settlement-conference-samantha-petersen/

Place: Commonwealth of Virginia.

Group: Amish (general).

Accidents involving horse-drawn buggies prompts bill — and concerns over religious freedom.Legislators grappled with how to regulate Amish buggies without impinging on the sect’s religious beliefs about technology.Cardinal Staff.January 17, 2025.The growing number of Amish families settling in Southside Virginia has led to a growing number of traffic accidents involving cars and buggies, some of them fatal. Since 2016, there have been at least five deaths in Virginia involving vehicles hitting horse-drawn carriages, most recently in Cumberland County last summer when an 8-year-old girl in a buggy was killed.That led to a debate Thursday where the Senate Transportation Committee grappled with how to regulate horse-drawn buggies without impinging on the religious convictions of the Amish. For more information: https://cardinalnews.org/2025/01/17/accidents-involving-horse-drawn-buggies-prompts-bill-and-concerns-over-religious-freedom/

Place: Adams County, Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Isaac churches.

Miller’s roof collapses, community bands together.

January 16, 2025.By Ryan Applegate.People’s Defender.A view of the collapsed roof from inside Miller’s Funiture on Wheat Ridge from Tuesday, January 7. The snow dumped by Winter Storm Blair January 5-6 caused the collapse at the popular local furniture store. (Photo courtesy of Kristina Miller)Adams County recently experienced the brunt of Winter Storm Blair, a powerful weather system that swept through the Midwest, leaving a blanket of snow, icy winds, and dangerously cold temperatures in its wake. For the residents of Wheat Ridge, an Amish community known for its strong traditions and close-knit bonds, the storm was not just a test of endurance but a trial of resilience.For the Miller family, owners of the beloved Miller’s Furniture, the storm brought an unexpected and unwelcome challenge. The roof of their 34,000-square-foot store, a landmark in the area, collapsed late Monday night, January 6, under the immense weight of the accumulated snow. The incident underscored the storm’s severity and marked the beginning of an intense recovery effort that would rally the community. For more information: https://www.peoplesdefender.com/2025/01/16/millers-roof-collapses-community-bands-together/

 

 

Place: Centreville, Michigan.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Centreville churches.

Vicksburg man charged in crash that killed 10-year-old boy to head to trial.by Donny Ede | News Channel 3Wed, January 15th 2025 at 10:22 AM.A man charged with hitting and killing a 10-year-old while driving on a suspended license will head to trial.Logan Keith Thomas of Vicksburg waived his preliminary hearing, which was set to take place Wednesday, and will go to trial, according to St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah Davis.Thomas is accused of hitting and killing a 10-year-old Amish boy in St. Joseph County who was riding his bike to school on Dec. 3, 2024.e is charged with:-Operating a motor vehicle while license denied or revoked causing death, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.    -Operating a vehicle without security (insurance), a misdemeanor.Thomas remains out on bond, and no court dates have yet been set in Circuit Court. For more information: https://wwmt.com/news/local/vicksburg-man-charged-in-crash-that-killed-10-year-old-boy-in-to-head-to-trial-logan-keith-thomas-amish-st-joseph-county-deborah-davis

Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: “Amish and Mennonite community” (article is vague about specifics).

I was raised Amish — and didn’t wear jeans or get my hair cut for 26 years.

By SWNS.New York Post.Published Jan. 15, 2025, 11:37 a.m. ET.A young woman has told how she has fled the Amish community and had her haircut and wore a pair of jeans for the first time.Alisha Green, 26, was a generational member of the Amish and Mennonite community after her parents and grandparents were born into it.She claims that the community was restrictive as it was recommended that you didn’t have contact with anyone outside of the group.Alisha claimed that being raised within the Amish community meant she was expected to get married and raise a family instead of going out to work.She claims that people are kept in the community by fear after being told that bad things will happen to them if they leave.After going for her driving test when she was 18, Alisha realized that life outside of the community wasn’t what she was told and in May 2024, Alisha packed up and has not had contact with her family since. For more information: https://nypost.com/2025/01/15/lifestyle/i-was-raised-amish-i-didnt-wear-pants-or-get-my-hair-cut-for-26-years/

Place: Kenton, Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- Kenton & Swartzentruber groups.

Aiding the Amish: Harvard Law students secure early win in challenge to Ohio’s buggy light law. By Olivia Klein.An Ohio law requiring an Amish religious sect that shuns technology to attach flashing electric lights to its horse-drawn buggies is now on hold, thanks in part to a team of students from Harvard Law School.The group, all members of the school’s Religious Freedom Clinic, traveled to rural Kenton, Ohio, in November to help represent the Swartzentruber Amish community, with the students advocating in court for its constitutional right to religious freedom. For more information: https://hls.harvard.edu/today/harvard-laws-religious-freedom-clinic-is-aiding-the-amish/

Place: Newburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Firefighters save local Amish business.

Denny Clopper.January 15, 2025.Newville Valley Times Star.

Multiple fire companies from two counties, Cumberland and Franklin, were alerted and dispatched to a reported large building fire on the morning of Saturday, January 11, located in the 200 block of Fairview Road in Hopewell Township.A thick, black column of heavy smoke could be seen from as far away as Shippensburg as units were responding to the call.A request for a tanker task force was requested by the commanding officer shortly after arrival on the scene. A tanker task force is an assignment of four additional tankers to be dispatched when more water is needed. The tankers shuttled water from a source located on Ridge Road approximately two miles away from the fire scene. For more information: https://www.shipnc.com/valley_times_star/article_0d8fa954-d2ab-11ef-991a-bf3cc05ccd91.html

Place: Volga/Brookings, South Dakotah.

Group: Hutterite- Schmiedeleut Group 2.

Conviction follows destruction of eagle's nest on South Dakota Hutterite colony.Farm boss sentenced for Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act violation.The Dakota Scout.Jan 15, 2025.CORRECTION: This article has been corrected after The Dakota Scout errored in reporting the Joe Hofer was convicted of a felony charge. The Scout strives for accuracy and fairness in its reporting and deeply regrets the error. Alert the newspaper of necessary corrections by emailing editor@thedakotascout.com.Felling a tree that housed an eagle’s nest has earned a Lake County Hutterite colony farm boss a misdemeanor conviction, probation, and a four-figure fine. For more information: https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/felony-follows-destruction-of-eagles

Place: Heveulton, New York.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

Amish need to improve visibility on buggies.

Posted Monday, January 13, 2025 11:38 am.North Country Now.To the Editor:I drive back and forth from Canton to Ogdensburg most days. Every day when I am leaving work, I see an Amish buggy without an orange triangle and sometimes I narrowly miss causing an accident because I'm trying to avoid it at the last moment. While I am glad to be able to travel back and forth, I am not glad to feel like I am risking my life or someone else's by doing so.Please put something on the back of your buggy so I can see you. It doesn't matter if it's an orange triangle or not. Just put some kind of bright light on it or paint the back a bright color  (the back is the only part I can see). Just something that will register with my tired brain that it's something that is trying to travel on the road and not part of the scenery.I think it's great to have a different way of life. My way of life just happens to involve driving a large vehicle at 60 mph and I don't want to endanger anyone else's life.Elizabeth Schneider.Canton.https://www.northcountrynow.com/stories/amish-need-to-improve-visibility-on-buggies,279650

 Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Primarily non-denominational but also mentions Weaverland Mennonite Conference, Amish, others.

Lancaster County’s nondenominational churches rise from Anabaptist roots.

By MICHAEL LONG | Staff Editor and Writer.

Lancaster Online.January 12, 2025.For the 250 or so faithful at Clearview Mennonite Church in Rapho Township, worship today looks much like it did centuries ago.The women wear muted pastel dresses that extend at least to mid-calf and white mesh devotional coverings that keep in place uncut hair, parted in the middle. They enter the church through a door on the east side of the unadorned brick building. The men, wearing white collared shirts, black pants and black brimmed hats, enter the church from a west entrance, and the men and women sit separately during worship. For more information: https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-s-nondenominational-churches-rise-from-anabaptist-roots-photos-video/article_3c8f9fba-cf6e-11ef-9656-ef493cff0805.html

Place: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Group: Dariusleut Hutterite.

Sask. Hutterite colony shares life in 1984.

On this day in 1984, members of the Riverview Hutterite colony invited the media to see daily life on the colony.Author of the article: Jocelyn Bennett  •  Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

Published Jan 09, 2025  •  Last updated Jan 09, 2025.Every Thursday, we feature an image from the StarPhoenix archives, curated by the City of Saskatoon Archives. Today, we see Hutterite women baking massive amounts of buns to feed to members of their Riverview colony, from Jan. 9, 1984. The colony was one of 44 that had been established in the province since the early 1950s, with a collective population estimated at 3,000 by 1984. (City of Saskatoon Archives StarPhoenix Collection S-SP-A21169-21, photo by Peter Wilson)From the StarPhoenix archives, by Earl Fowler:RIVERVIEW COLONY — It was sunny and serene here in early January, as the snow melted slowly on the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River, a few kilometres north of Saskatoon.A bell near the communal dining room rang to signify noon. The men, women and children began pouring in for a simple meal of chicken, french fries, unleavened bread and apple strudel. For more information:https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/hutterite-colony-1984-saskatchewan

Place: North Dakotah.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss.

Amish Resurgence: New Settlement Breaks Ground In North Dakota.

Rockin' Rick (Rick Rider).Published: January 9, 2025.US 103.3.The Amish have rallied and are back in North Dakota for the first time in over a century.You might be saying, that we have had Amish colonies in North Dakota for a long time. That would be incorrect and you are probably thinking of the Hutterites.Both groups have similarities, but one big difference between the Amish and the Hutterites is that the Hutterites embrace technology. They have smartphones and drive vehicles. The Amish are famous for their horse and buggy for transportation.I got to know a guy who once lived in a Hutterite colony in Forest River, North Dakota.  He told me Hutterites are pietist Christians believing in adult baptism and pacifism, as do other Anabaptists such as the Mennonites, and the Amish. For more information: https://us1033.com/amish-resurgence-new-settlement-breaks-ground-in-north-dakota/

Place: Dunmore East, Ireland.

Group: Beachy Amish-Mennonite.

'We’re open to everyone'- Amish in Ireland accepting new members.

James Wilson.NewsTalk.9 January 2025; 21.16.Anyone is welcome to join a small but thriving community of Amish people living in Dunmore East.The Amish are primarily associated with the United States but there are currently 15 families living and worshiping together in the Waterford town.On Lunchtime Live, Amish man Daniel Yoder said the community of around 100 is very welcoming and would be delighted if more people joined them.“We have members from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds in our church here,” he said.“It certainly doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your race or nationality is. We’re open to everyone.”Mr Yoder said the Amish community in Dunmore East is tight knit and centred around their local church. For more information:https://www.newstalk.com/news/were-open-to-everyone-amish-in-ireland-accepting-new-members-2123960

Place: Gladwin/Beaverton, Clare County, Michigan.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

Vehicle flees scene after crash with Amish buggy in Clare Co.

Site Staff, 9 and 10 News.01-07-2025 at 01:09:21 PM ESTCLARE COUNTY - The Clare County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information regarding a vehicle vs. Amish buggy crash.On Monday, Jan. 6, deputies from the Clare County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle vs. Amish buggy accident on South Bailey Lake Avenue and East Lincoln Road in Arthur Township. Information provided to Clare County Central Dispatch said that the vehicle fled the scene, deputies said.Based on vehicle parts left behind at the scene, deputies determined the suspect vehicle is either a Ford F-450 or F-550 truck between the years of 2017-2024. There should also be significant front passenger side damage to the vehicle, they said.There were no injuries reported from this crash.Anyone with information on this accident or the vehicle involved is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (989) 539-7166.https://www.9and10news.com/2025/01/07/vehicle-flees-scene-after-crash-with-amish-buggy-in-clare-co/

Place: Bloomfield, Iowa.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline.

Never put off what you might regret not doing.Monday, Jan 6 2025.

Randy Evans.Bleeding Heartland.Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa’s state and local governments. He can be reached at DMRevans2810@gmail.com.I have been kicking myself since being reminded that procrastination comes with a price.This lesson arrived the week before Christmas when I spotted a small obituary in the Bloomfield Democrat. Seven succinct paragraphs informed readers of the death of Titus Wagler, 66, a longtime Davis County business owner.

In 1997, Wagler and relatives began Midwest Truss Co., a small manufacturing operation whose employees produce wooden trusses for builders in southern Iowa and northern Missouri.

For several years, I had been promising myself, and Titus, that I would drop by “soon” for coffee and conversation. Unfortunately, “soon” kept getting delayed—because of work, because of the weather, because of other distractions … because … because … because.

Titus could not easily come to see me. It was not easy to orchestrate a coffee klatch in Des Moines for two unlikely acquaintances. Titus spent 42 of his 66 years in a wheelchair, and there are no drivers in his closest circle of friends.

Titus was a member of the Old Order Amish Church, a religious denomination For more information: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/01/06/never-put-off-what-you-might-regret-not-doing/

Place: Holmes County, Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Isaac churches.

It might be time to consider East Holmes school consolidation.

Cory Anderson.January 10, 2025.Letter to the Editor; The Bargain Hunter.

A January 4 Bargain Hunter story reported East Holmes District’s intention to renovate school buildings. As a district resident, I appreciate their invitation for comment.Having substituted in most East Holmes buildings, I agree students and staff deserve updated facilities. Before putting funds into renovations, though, let’s consider nearby school districts — Waynedale, Triway and others — have pursued unified campuses. This is sensible, given the tax burdens of extra busing, utility maintenance strains, staffing-resource duplication and extra insurance. Could renovation money instead fund consolidation?Consolidation addresses not only economic inefficiencies, but also a looming concern, namely that half of East Holmes’ school buildings are de facto segregated along religious denominational lines (Flat Ridge, Wise, Mt. Hope and Chestnut Ridge). These buildings represent potential liabilities — potential costs to taxpayers — because they raise two constitutional concerns.Editor’s note: Dr. Cory Anderson welcomes comments to P.O. Box 37, Mt. Hope, OH 44660, or by email at contact@coryanderson.org For more information:https://thebargainhunter.com/news/holmes/it-might-be-time-to-consider-consolidation

Place: Spring Valley, Fillmore County, MN.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss.

Woman involved in February Amish buggy crash sentenced.By Olivia Estright.

December 30, 2024 at 6:33 PM.Post Bulletin.PRESTON, Minn. — The Kasson woman involved in a February vehicle versus Amish buggy crash that seriously injured three people was sentenced to 30 days in jail.Brittany Nicole Edgar, 33, of Kasson, was charged with one felony count of criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm, a gross misdemeanor count of criminal vehicular operation and misdemeanor counts of leaving the scene of an accident, careless driving, failure to provide proof of insurance and another traffic regulation.Edgar pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm on Nov. 5, in exchange the other charges would be dismissed. For more information: https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/woman-involved-in-february-amish-buggy-crash-sentenced

 Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; elsewhere.

Group: Old Order Mennonite; Old Order Amish.

Who Will Stop Amish Animal Abuse?

Abuse and cruelty to animals are disturbingly common features of Amish life, just as they are in the secular world. Laws against animal cruelty must be applied to all people without religious exemptions.By Alex Skopic.18 January 2025 in Animals & Nature.Current Affairs: A Magazine of Politics and Culture.It’s August 2, 2016—a hot summer day in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, home to the Amish religious community. A woman named Tawn Crowther is driving along a narrow rural road when suddenly, she sees something horrifying up ahead. A horse, harnessed to a large wooden cart, has stopped in its tracks, seemingly overcome by the heat and the heavy load it has to pull. But rather than help the distressed animal, its driver—a man dressed in the classic wide-brimmed hat and plain white shirt of the Amish—has started brutally beating it.

 Place: Essex, New York (near Burlington, Vermont).

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

Boy in critical condition after Amish buggy crash in Upstate NY.

Updated: Nov. 19, 2024, 12:21 p.m.|Published: Nov. 19, 2024, 11:36 a.m.

By Samantha House.NYup.comEssex, N.Y. — A 15-year-old boy is in critical condition after an Amish buggy was hit by a car in Upstate New York.The accident happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Essex, a small Adirondacks town about 40 minutes east of Lake Placid and less than 10 miles west of Lake Champlain.A 16-year-old Essex boy was driving an Amish buggy on Stowersville Road with his two brothers when the buggy’s back left tire was hit by a passing car, the New York State Police said in a news release. The impact ejected the teenager and his two brothers — ages 15 and 12 — from the buggy, troopers said.The 15-year-old boy was rushed to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh with a serious head injury, troopers said. For more information:https://www.newyorkupstate.com/adirondacks/2024/11/boy-in-critical-condition-after-amish-buggy-crash-in-upstate-ny.html

Place: Daviess County, Indiana.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline.

Buggy fees going up in Daviess County.

Mike Grant.Times Herald.Dec 17, 2024.The clip-clop sound of horses traveling along the rural roads of eastern Daviess County is a familiar one.Amish families in the community east of Montgomery and south of Odon use horse and buggy and pony cart transportation on a regular basis, but each time a horse takes a step on a paved road, it creates a small amount of damage.When you multiply the thousands of horses on those roads by the number of miles they travel the end result is not good for the roads.“We did 20 miles of buggy grooving this year. We spent $300,000 on materials related to horse damage,” said Daviess County Highway Supervisor Chris Winkler. “Add in the cost of labor and equipment and the total is around $500,000 annually.”While the county is getting about $375,000 currently in buggy license fees, the commissioners want to increase that amount.

“The overall thought was to approach this as a user fee and have those who are causing the damage pay for the repairs,” said President of the Daviess County Commissioners. For more information: https://www.washtimesherald.com/news/local_news/buggy-fees-going-up-in-daviess-county/article_b1133ab2-bc96-11ef-bc39-9313d972599b.html

Place: Wingham, Ontario.

Group: Orthodox Mennonite Church.

Lumber mill levelled by mid-morning blaze.

By Scott Miller.Published: December 13, 2024 at 3:46PM ESTNo one was injured in the blaze, but the Mennonite-operated lumber mill was levelled by the fire.A lumber mill is in ruins following a fire east of Wingham, Ont.North Huron Fire Chief Chad Kregar said fire crews were called to the scene around 10:30 a.m. Friday after people working in the lumber mill noticed smoke coming from the attic of the converted barn.Crews from North Huron, South Bruce, Lucknow, and Huron East were called in to assist battling the blaze and trucking water to the scene, which was on Belmore Line, near Salem Line.No one was injured in the blaze, but the Mennonite-operated lumber mill was levelled by the fire.Neighbours on horse and buggy could be seen gathered at the scene.“Crews did a great job battling the fire today. It’s safe to say it’s under control now,” said Kregar.Kregar said the biggest challenges fighting the fire were the cold temperatures and slippery road conditions while trucking water to the scene.Kregar said the fire is not considered suspicious. For more information:https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/lumber-mill-levelled-by-mid-morning-blaze/

Place: Lethbridge, Alberta.

Group: Hutterite- Dariusleut.

Hogs killed in massive barn fire at southern Alberta Hutterite colony.By Karen Bartko.Global News.osted January 3, 2025 5:47 pm.Thousands of pigs are believed to have died in a barn fire overnight at a Hutterite colony in southern Alberta.Nobleford & District Emergency Services received a 911 call around 10:30 p.m. Thursday about a fully involved fire at a hog farm northwest of the community in Lethbridge County.Nobleford fire chief Ryan Wagner said when the volunteer fire department crew arrived on scene at the White Lake Colony and saw what they were dealing with, they called in support from Coalhurst, Coaldale and Picture Butte.Coaldale fire said it provided a few trucks to help with the fire, and Picture Butte Emergency Services said it also sent two units help with the fire.Crews were on scene for about five hours battling the blaze, Wagner said.The fire chief would not confirm the total number of livestock lost in the fire, but a witness who lives in the area told Global News they believe at least 5,000 pigs perished.No people were injured in the blaze north of Lethbridge and the cause remains under investigation.https://globalnews.ca/news/10942116/hutterite-colony-hog-barn-fire/

Place: McConnellsville, Ohio.

Group: Beachy Amish-Mennonite.

Overnight Fire at Ebenezer Mennonite Church.January 4, 2025.Desiré Correa.WHIZ Fox5 Zanesville.MALTA, OH- A fire early this morning left the Ebenezer Mennonite Church in Malta, Ohio, with extensive damage that will be unable to be repaired. The Malta Fire Department responded around 3:15 a.m. after a nearby neighbor spotted the flames.Pastor Jonas Beiler, who has been with the church for 34 years, says they suspect a furnace in the attic may have sparked the blaze, but that’s not certain.The church also served as a school for local children, and now families are left searching for a temporary place for classes and worship. Neighboring congregations have offered space while longer-term plans are made.Pastor Beiler says the Malta community has been tremendously supportive, and although they’re still unsure about the next steps, they do intend to rebuild once details can be worked out. No further information is available at this time. For more information:https://www.whiznews.com/overnight-fire-at-ebenezer-mennonite-church/

Place: Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber; Old Order Amish- Kenton.

Amish group fighting buggy flashing lights law.

WFMJ21, Youngstown, Ohio.January 1, 2025.An Amish group is fighting Ohio's new traffic law that requires their horse-drawn buggies to have yellow flashing lights. The Old Order Amish group claims those lights conflict with their First Amendment rights. Ohio is home to several Amish communities, including places right here in the Mahoning Valley like Berlin, Mesopotamia, also in New Wilmington.We're joined now by someone who has worked on this case and also studies Amish communities, sociologist Cory Anderson. Cory, the Columbus Dispatch is reporting the Swartzentruber Old Order Amish sect is suing to block the law in Ohio. For more information: https://www.wfmj.com/clip/15498898/amish-group-fighting-buggy-flashing-lights-law

Place: Lebanan County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches / Old Order Mennonite- Groffdale Mennonite Conference.

‘I’ve Never Heard Anyone Complain of Loneliness’.Lessons from the Plain Community about relationships and life together.Nik Schatz.Christianity Today.January 3, 2025.I had just finished preaching a message on friendship from the Book of Proverbs, and I’d made the case that forging strong relationships is harder in today’s world than it was in biblical times. Ours is an era of rampant individualism, autonomy, and isolation in a way that the ancient world simply was not. So I appreciated Michael’s compliment, though I could tell there was a “but” coming.Sure enough, he added, “But there’s a group of people who wouldn’t be able to relate to what you said.” For more information: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/ive-never-heard-anyone-complain-of-loneliness/

Place: Norwich, Ontario.

Group: Old Order Amish- Stutzman-Troyer churches.

Two people injured, horse dies in crash involving carriage: OPP.

Author of the article: Jack Moulton.Published Dec 28, 2024  •  Last updated Dec 30, 2024.London Free Press.Two people were taken to hospital and a horse is dead following a collision between a horse-drawn carriage and a vehicle Friday afternoon south of Woodstock.The crash occurred at about 4 p.m. on Oxford Road 13 in Norwich Township, Oxford OPP said.Two passengers in the carriage were taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, while the driver of the vehicle was not injured, police said. There were no other passengers in the vehicle.The horse died at the scene, police said.

The investigation is ongoing, and police ask anyone with information about the crash to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.Rural areas in Southwestern Ontario are home to Old Order Amish and Mennonite communities that rely on horse-drawn wagons and buggies for transportation. The carriages can range from two-person carts, which can be open or have closed tops, to buggies that can carry up to eight passengers. For more information:https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/two-people-injured-horse-dies-in-crash-involving-carriage-opp

Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Amos Miller getting some credit for the Amish delivering Pennsylvania to Trump.

By Dan Flynn on December 17, 2024.Food Safety news.The Amish turnout in last month’s election was reported to be “unprecedented,” possibly helping President-elect Donald J. Trump take Pennsylvania.The Amish were reportedly moved to the polls by the state’s January execution of a search warrant on the Amos Miller dairy farm located at Bird-in-the-Hand, PA. Many Amish rallied around Miller, who has spent much of the year in court rather than merely obtaining a license to produce raw milk for sale.However, in fund-raising for his own cause, Amos Miller remains $483,000 short of his $800,000 goal. Miller is the beneficiary of an active GiveSendGo campaign that has raised $316,929. For more information: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/12/amos-miller-getting-some-credit-for-the-amish-delivering-pennsylvania-to-trump/

Place: North Carolina.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Pennsylvania Amish Build 12 Houses In Less Than Two Days For North Carolina Hurricane Victims.

By Andrew Mies.NewsBreak.December 31, 2024.Say what you want about the Amish but they can get things done. The saga of hurricane recovery in western North Caroline seems to be dragging on as slowly as you'd expect. While reports of zero federal government assistance to the area are at times drastically overstated, there's no denying that the extensive damage done by Hurricane Helene back in September is proving to be even more difficult to bounce back from that was expected. People from all walks of life have banded together to do what they can to support the efforts to rebuild communities lost in the storms. In country music, Luke Combs and Eric Church helped put together a massive benefit concert which raised $24 million , all of which was sent to "hyper local charities originating & operating in WNC" according to a statement from Luke. Other country artists, such as 49 Winchester , also played benefit shows where the proceeds were sent directly to those in need, while Dolly Parton pledged $1 million , and many others got involved in sending and delivering supplies to the people who needed them most, but as time drags on, the need for something more than money became more evident. In short, people need housing and they need it now. It's never a good thing to be forced to sleep in tents or other makeshift structures, but not that January is basically upon us, the need for housing is ever more evident. Lowes and NASCAR teamed up to deliver over 100 tiny homes and just now a story is breaking that an unlikely group of people went way out of their way to pitch in. For more information: https://www.newsbreak.com/whiskey-riff-510620/3737045224359-pennsylvania-amish-build-12-houses-in-less-than-two-days-for-north-carolina-hurricane-victims 

America’s MVPs for 2024? The Amish Have Delivered In More Ways Than One.

By AG Staff.AM Greatness.December 31, 2024.If America is considering nominations for the Most Valuable Players of 2024, the Amish community would qualify as serious contenders for helping to deliver the key swing state of Pennsylvania to Donald Trump in the presidential election.There’s also the undeniable difference the Amish have made in helping to construct tiny homes for flood-stricken families in Boone, North Carolina following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. For more information: https://amgreatness.com/2024/12/31/americas-mvps-for-2024-the-amish-have-delivered-in-more-ways-than-one/

 Place: LaGrange County, Indiana.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline.

Celebrating 500 Years of the Anabaptist Movement.

Riley B. Case on January 6, 2025.JuicyEcumenism. Most of my attention (and the articles I author) address Methodism, evangelicalism, or the Holiness Movement. But, I do have ongoing interest in matters related to Mennonites, Amish, and the wider Anabaptist movement.January 2025 marks the 500-year anniversary of Anabaptism. It was in January, 1525, that George Blaurock, a former Catholic priest, was baptized by Conrad Grebel in a “believers baptism.” (ana-baptist – to be baptized again) in the home of Felix Manz in Zurich, Switzerland. For more information: Fulfilled life comes in large part through family and traditional values and the church as the gathered community. There are matters more important in life other than wealth and fashion and politics and the entertainment industry.  This will be addressed more fully in part 3 of this longer essay, but for the moment let it be stated that our Anabaptist-inspired Christian culture reflects values that make life worthwhile.https://juicyecumenism.com/2025/01/06/celebrating-500-years-anabaptist-movement/ https://juicyecumenism.com/2025/01/13/celebrating-500-years-anabaptist-movement-part-2/

Place: Hillsboro, Wisconsin.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Northern Indiana churches.

One dead in head on crash between Amish buggy and car in Vernon County.

WXOW Dec 26, 2024.By Kevin Millard.VIROQUA, Wis. (WXOW) - A 29-year-old rural Hillsboro man is dead after the buggy he was riding in was hit by a car Christmas night in Vernon County.Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson said that it happened at around 6 p.m. on Highway 82 near Pine Avenue in rural Hillsboro in the Town of Union.Henry F. Bontrager, 29, and Ruth J. Bontrager, 29, were in a horse-drawn buggy heading west when it was hit head-on by an oncoming car.Both Bontragers were thrown from the buggy after the collision which came to rest in the road.The car, a 2011 Chevy Cruze, went off the road and down an embankment before coming to rest.Henry Bontrager was pronounced dead at the scene by Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh.The two people in the car, Lydia E.M. Thompson, 22, of rural Sparta, and Jaydon Alan Shea, 20, of La Farge, were taken to Gundersen St. Joseph's Hospital in Hillsboro.Ruth Bontrager also went to the same facility but was later transferred to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.The horse was killed in the crash.Highway 82 was closed for nearly six hours before the scene was cleared.Sheriff Torgerson said that no additional information would be released pending the outcome of the investigation.https://www.wxow.com/news/one-dead-in-head-on-crash-between-amish-buggy-and-car-in-vernon-county/article_48dc9152-c405-11ef-9918-87837b3b818c.html

Place: Unity, Maine.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainstream; Michigan churches.

Popular Amish-run meat market in Unity closing next spring.

By Sasha Ray, December 18, 2024.Bangor Daily News.It’s been almost a decade since Matthew Secich opened Charcuterie, a popular meat market in the town of Unity that uses hand-cranked slicers, adding machines and other old-fashioned techniques that reflect the slower, more deliberate lifestyle of his Amish community.But sometime next spring, 53-year-old Secich will be closing the business and moving with his family across the country to Marion, Montana, an unincorporated community in the northwest corner of the state. For more information: https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/12/18/midcoast/midcoast-business/popular-amish-unity-meat-market-charcuterie-closing/

 Place: Belle Center, Ohio.

Group: New Order Amish.

Three Amish Children Transported After Accident

Tue, December 17, 2024 by News Room.According to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Monday morning, just after 8 AM, Ashley Nichelson, 42, of Belle Center, was traveling southbound on State Route 638 in a Blue 2018 Ford Explorer.An Amish buggy then ran the stop sign on State Route 274 causing Nichelson to hit the buggy, causing it to spin around.Both vehicles then came to rest on the west side of the road.Three children were inside the buggy at the time of the accident.Huntsville EMS transported a 7-year-old girl to Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine for treatment.Also, BMRT and Huntsville EMS transported an 11-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl for injuries to St. Ritas Hospital in Lima.Their conditions are unknown at this time.No citations were issued and the accident was captured by dash camera in Nichelson’s vehicle. For more information:https://www.peakofohio.com/local-news/three-amish-children-transported-after-monday-accident

9 of the most 'genetically isolated' human populations in the world.

By Kristina Killgrove.

December 17, 2024.

LiveScience.

Geographical barriers and cultural differences can prevent people from mingling with their neighbors, leading to genetic isolation — and the phenomenon is more common than most people think.Over the past 50,000 years, humans have populated nearly every corner of the globe — and due to geographic barriers, some of these populations then remained isolated for thousands or even tens of thousands of years.Other populations have become cloistered thanks to insular cultural or religious practices. As a result, the genetic diversity of our species has declined over the past 50 millennia.Genetic diversity in a given population can be reduced in what is known as a "founder event" — when a small group of people splits off from a larger population, which leads to a smaller gene pool in the isolated group. In a study of 460 populations around the world, roughly half showed evidence of a recent founder event, researchers concluded in 2022. For more information:https://www.livescience.com/health/9-of-the-most-genetically-isolated-human-populations-in-the-world

Place correction: Burke County, Georgia, not North Carolina.

 From: plain-people-in-the-news@googlegroups.com <plain-people-in-the-news@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Plain People in the NewsSent: Thursday, January 16, 2025 11:16 AMTo: 'Plain People' <plain-people-in-the-news@googlegroups.com>Subject: [plain-people-in-the-news] Ministries group lends a helping hand for cleanup

 Place: Burke County, Georgia North Carolina.

Group: Christian Aid Ministries.

 Ministries group lends a helping hand for cleanup

December 17, 2024.Place: Saratoga Springs, New York.Group: Amish (unspecified group).

New Farmer Is Impressed by Amish Workers Who Built Her Barn, Learned Valuable Lessons About Life.

By Deborah George.Bright.12/15/2024.After hiring a group of Amish to build her barn, farm owner Alexandra Fasulo was pleasantly surprised with the process and results.Alexandra Fasulo—who goes by Alex—bought her vertical farm called House of Green, Saratoga, in upstate New York, in September 2023. The 31-year-old grew up in Albany, so she knew there was a strong Amish community in the area. However, she had never interacted with them before.After purchasing her property, Alex asked a local for recommendations for companies that install gravel driveways and was referred to BluRail Excavating. She called the company, unaware that they were Amish until she heard a European accent on the phone.Soon, the crew arrived and began working on her driveway. Impressed by their craftsmanship, Alex inquired if they also built barns. Although BluRail is primarily an excavation company, they agreed to consider her request.Alex waited a week, her hopes high. She was overjoyed when they called her at the end of 2023 and said they would do it. For more information: https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/new-farmer-is-impressed-by-amish-workers-who-built-her-barn-learned-valuable-lessons-about-life-5775264

Place: Boone, Watauga County, North Carolina.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Amish Volunteers Come To Boone To Help With Post-Helene Recovery Project.

Published: Monday, December 23, 2024 at 8:59 am.Updated: Monday, December 23, 2024 at 2:43 pm.By Sherrie Norris.High County Press.

The Amish have long been known and respected for their workmanship, and many of us have seen them in their element while visiting Ohio’s Holmes County and the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. But, to see Amish on the streets of Boone raised more than a passing glance for passers-by in the Perkinsville community earlier this week.In a move coordinated by Andy Owens — who recently established a base camp for Helene recovery volunteers in the Meat Camp area of Watauga County — 62 members of the central Pennsylvania Amish community came to town to build 12 sheds which can be used as tiny homes. These structures will soon be delivered to local individuals and families who were displaced by the storm. For more information: https://www.hcpress.com/announcements/amish-volunteers-come-to-boone-to-help-with-post-helene-recovery-project.html

Place: Burke County, North Carolina.

Group: Christian Aid Ministries. 

December 17, 2024.MARGARET ANNE BROGAN.Volunteers from Christian Aid Ministries are completing their five-hundredth clean-up project in the Burke County area during their final week stationed in Waynesboro.Christian Aid Ministries Rapid Response Services is an aid organization composed primarily of Amish and Mennonite volunteers who provide aid to areas in crisis. Volunteer teams have come to Burke County from surrounding states to as far out as Ontario, Canada, to help clear debris from Hurricane Helene.Volunteer teams began responding to local requests for assistance beginning on October 1st. They established a home base at the Waynesboro Mennonite School, transforming the school’s gym into a sleeping area. For more information: https://www.thetruecitizen.com/articles/ministries-group-lends-a-helping-hand-for-cleanup/

 

 

Place: Daviess County, Indiana.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline.

My Favorite Ride: Couple decks out Amish-built buggy for the holiday season.

Laura Lane.The Herald-Times.December 16, 2024. 

You never know what Larry Gilreath might bring home from an auction or go take a look at after seeing an enticing post on Facebook Marketplace.The wooden horse-drawn Amish buggy sitting in his front yard on Lawson Road, for instance.“He was scrolling on Facebook one day and found this buggy an Amish man down by Montgomery was selling,” said Denise Gilreath, who is well aware of her husband’s penchant for unusual items for a bargain.“When he showed it to me, I thought, ‘What in the world is he thinking, and how can I talk him out of it?’” she said. Reverse psychology seemed an appropriate approach.“So, I said that would be kind of cool and that I could decorate it for all the holidays. And you know what he said?” she asked. “That would be kind of cool.”Arrangements for the $350 purchase from Paul Raber’s buggy business were soon made. For more information:https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2024/12/16/retired-amish-buggy-gets-new-life-as-holiday-lawn-ornament-near-bloomington-indiana/76950021007/

New issue of the Journal of Amish & Plain Anabaptist Studies

Table of Contents and Title Page

Original Research Articles

Symposiums

Review Essay

Book Reviews

Letter to the Editor

 

Place: Lancaster/Chester Counties, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Letter to the Editor: Amish Need to Protect Themselves Against Distracted Drivers [Opinion].

Darryl M. King, Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania Dec 11, 2024.

Darryl King’s view of an Amish buggy on the road without flashing lights in Chester County, Pa..Editor: This letter is intended to be a friendly reminder to my Amish friends and neighbors throughout Chester County to turn on your flashing lights and marker lights when you are using the roadways at all times. This will alert the quickly moving traffic around you to your presence on the road and help prevent an unfortunate accident.Our roads are full of distracted drivers who aren’t looking ahead for potential hazards on the road like they should be, so we all need to use common sense to protect ourselves from these individuals. For more information: https://www.lancasterfarming.com/amish-need-to-protect-themselves-against-distracted-drivers-opinion/article_86ce8ca1-4aa8-52f1-a732-34f496918c10.html

Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

No, Amish voters in Pa. did not carry the election for Donald Trump;

The large Amish community in Lancaster County and across the state has long been seen as an untapped voting bloc for Republicans.by Gillian McGoldrick. Philadelphia Inquirer.Published Nov. 30, 2024, 5:00 a.m. ET.Despite widespread claims on social media from conservative activists, Amish voters cannot be credited with winning Pennsylvania for President-elect Donald Trump, according to vote returns. While there looks to be marginal increase in the number of Amish people who voted this year, experts said they do not expect major shifts in Amish turnout this year, according to early analysis of vote returns in Lancaster County precincts with high Amish populations. 

Four counts dropped against Samantha Petersen, 17 remain in deadly Amish buggy crash.

By Brock Bergey.KTTC.Published: Dec. 12, 2024 at 5:06 PM EST.PRESTON, Minn. (KTTC) – A Fillmore County judge has ruled the majority of the 21 charges filed against the woman accused of causing a fatal 2023 traffic crash are warranted.Judge Jeremy Clinefelter issued a court order Wednesday granting the dismissal of four felony charges against Samantha Petersen, 36, for lack of probable cause. Additionally, Clinefelter ruled the defense’s request to dismiss an additional 14 charges was denied.According to the criminal complaint, filed in February 2024, Petersen was high on methamphetamine and THC when she collided with a horse-drawn buggy on Fillmore County Road 1, north of Spring Valley, in Sumner Township on September 25, 2023. Two Amish children, ages 7 and 11, died in the crash. Two of their siblings were hurt.

Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Lancaster churches.

Young “Old Order Amish” Couple Goes Viral with Country Song.

Saving Country Music.December 11, 2024.It’s not uncommon for some unknown to come out of nowhere with a rendition of an old country song that goes viral on YouTube or social media these days. As the appeal for country music—and traditional country music especially—has become rather pervasive over the last few years, it’s happening more and more.But it’s not every day you see an Old Order Amish couple gaining traction. This isn’t the semi-Amish or Mennonite order we’re talking about here. This is the horse-and-buggy of the Amish faith. Their strict codes generally forbid them from things like the internet. For more information:https://savingcountrymusic.com/young-old-order-amish-couple-goes-viral-with-country-song/

Place: Wayne/Ashland/Medina Counties, Ohio.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber / Old Order Amish- Isaac Church.

Buggies and lights - Old Order Amish contest Ohio law.

The Swartzentruber Amish are suing to overturn the law that requires animal-drawn buggies to have yellow flashing lights, saying the law conflicts with the First Amendment protecting their religious expression.December 11, 2024 | Ashland Times-Gazette (OH).

Author/Byline: Kevin Lynch; Wooster Daily Record.Sharing the road with horse-drawn buggies is something drivers in and around Holmes, Wayne and Ashland counties have been dealing with for years.In 2022, it inspired a pair of state representatives, Scott Wiggam and Darrell Kick, to sponsor House Bill 30, known as the Buggy Bill. The objective was to reduce crashes and make the roads more safe. For more information: https://www.the-daily-record.com/story/news/state/2024/12/10/amish-buggy-light-law-contested-in-ohio-court-by-old-order-sect-crash-numbers-scott-wiggam/76620534007/

Place: Maine.

Group: Old Order Amish- mainline; Michigan churches, and/or, Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

 When what we have is enough: Lessons from the Amish.

I prize my trips into Amish country, where the pace of life slows and the lack of “stuff” has real allure.By Robert Klose.Contributor.Christian Science Monitor.Dec. 12, 2024, 1:31 p.m. ET.In recent years, Maine, my home state, has seen an influx of Amish folk from other states. It is not uncommon to see their horse-drawn buggies, their homemade foods, and other handmade products, such as furniture and storage sheds. It’s also not uncommon to see the Amish themselves, in their distinctive plain clothing, at work on their homesteads or in their cottage industries. I have also encountered them when I ride the intercity bus. For more information: https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/The-Home-Forum/2024/1212/Amish-country-homemade-simplicity-minimalism

Place: Marshallville, Wayne County, Ohio.

Group: Ohio Wisler Mennonite. Nationwide Mennonite Fellowship.

 Teen dies after falling through frozen Wayne County pond.

Lamar Good, 16, died at Akron Children's Hospital after being pulled from the water by the Wayne County Dive Team.Author: Dave DeNatale.Published: 1:53 PM EST January 8, 2025.

Place: Lancaster/Lebanon Counties, Pennsylvania.

Group: Mid-Atlantic Mennonite Fellowship.

Clinton Martin Crushed In Skid Loader Accident: Osha Probes.

A horrific skid loader accident at a Lebanon County business claimed the life of Clinton Devon Martin, a 35-year-old father, devoted Mennonite, and beloved community member from Robesonia, Berks County. Jillian Pikora 01/07/2025 10:57 p.m.

Martin was crushed beneath the arms of a skid loader at TLS Equipment LLC in Newmanstown on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, Millcreek Township Police said and Daily Voice previously reported. A hydraulic line burst while Martin worked beneath the raised arms of the machine, causing them to collapse. Although coworkers used equipment to lift the loader and first responders arrived quickly, Martin was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lebanon County Coroner.OSHA has confirmed it is investigating the accident, stating the agency has six months to release its findings. For more information: https://dailyvoice.com/pa/lebanon/clinton-martin-crushed-in-skid-loader-accident-osha-probes/

Place: Marshallville, Wayne County, Ohio.

Group: Ohio Wisler Mennonite.

Teen dies after falling through frozen Wayne County pond.

Lamar Good, 16, died at Akron Children's Hospital after being pulled from the water by the Wayne County Dive Team.Author: Dave DeNatale.Published: 1:53 PM EST January 8, 2025.

WKYC.MARSHALLVILLE, Ohio — The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office says the boy who was pulled out of a Wayne County pond after falling through the ice on Wednesday has died.Authorities say Lamar Good, 16, of Marshallville died at Akron Children's Hospital at 1:59 p.m. after being transferred from Aultman Orrville Hospital.The Marshallville Fire Department says it received a call for "a person under the ice who didn't resurface" at a pond in the 17000 block of Fulton Road at around 10:40 a.m.The Wayne County Dive Team found the boy underwater.The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating Lamar's death along with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/northeast-ohio/wayne-county-pond-marshallville-boy-fell-through-frozen-icy-pond-ice-first-responders-fire-department/95-fb08b9c6-c116-4545-b8dc-90f37f9d4ecd

Place: Chatsworth, Ontario.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

Toronto Star snubs Rebel News & Democracy Fund’s role in Amish legal fight.;

Rebel News and the Democracy Fund have been working for weeks to expose the Amish COVID fine scandal, yet the Toronto Star's scoop conveniently ignores their crucial role in the story.Rebel News   |   December 01, 2024   |   News Analysis.

On Friday's Rebel Roundup livestream, hosts David Menzies and Tamara Ugolini slammed the Toronto Star for failing to mention Rebel News and the Democracy Fund’s extensive coverage of an Ontario Amish community’s legal battle over COVID fines."The lefties at the Toronto Star wholly ambush," Menzies said, criticizing the newspaper for presenting the story as a scoop while ignoring the fact that Rebel News had been crowdfunding the Amish legal defense for weeks. For more information: https://www.rebelnews.com/toronto_star_snubs_rebel_news_democracy_fund_s_role_in_amish_legal_fight

 Place: Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Group: Old Order Amish- 1955 Beschluss.

UPDATE: New court date picked, possible resolution coming soon in deadly twin sister Amish buggy crash.Possible resolution coming soon in deadly twin sister Amish buggy crash.By KTTC Staff.Published: Dec. 5, 2024 at 5:44 PM ESTROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Court documents filed Thursday reveal a possible resolution could come soon for a 2023 Amish buggy crash that killed two young girls.The buggy was allegedly crashed into by Samantha Petersen who, according to court records, was high on meth at the time. Samantha’s twin sister, Sarah, also wrapped herself into the investigation when the identical twin sisters allegedly switched places at the crash site. Sarah, allegedly taking the blame for the buggy crash.https://www.kttc.com/2024/12/05/possible-resolution-coming-soon-deadly-twin-sister-amish-buggy-crash/

Place: Honrey Grove, Tuscarora Township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Old Order Amish.

Tuscarora Township, PA – Rollover Injury Collision Involving Amish Van at Rt 75 South & Heckman Station Rd.Published: December 5, 2024.Local Accident Reports.

Tuscarora Township, PA (December 05, 2024) – A rollover crash occurred Thursday on Route 75 South near Heckman Station Rd and Fisher Ln in Tuscarora Township. The collision involved an Amish van, which rolled over on the road, resulting in possible injuries.

Emergency responders, including Co 7, Co 5, and EMS 22, quickly arrived to assess the situation. The caller reported that while injuries were suspected, there was no entrapment involved in the incident.EMS crews worked swiftly to evaluate and treat the individuals involved. Due to the nature of the crash, the incident was categorized as an ALS (Advanced Life Support) situation, indicating that more serious injuries may have been sustained. However, no further details have been provided on the extent of the injuries. For more information: https://localaccidentreports.com/tuscarora-township-pa-rollover-injury-collision-involving-amish-van-at-rt-75-south-heckman-station-rd/

Place: Desbarats / Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Group: Orthodox Mennonites.

Horse and buggy travel a way of life for some Mennonites. Recent tragedies have led to safe road use efforts.At least 4 horse and buggy accidents reported last year in northeastern Ontario.Aya Dufour · CBC News · Posted: Dec 04, 2024 6:00 AM EST | Last Updated: December 4, 2024.NOTE: To respect the core value of humility held by members of the Old Order Mennonite community in Desbarats, Ont., CBC has agreed not to use the full name of the people interviewed for this story.Oct. 29 started off as an ordinary day for Edwin, a member of the Old Order Mennonite community near Desbarats in northeastern Ontario. For more information: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/faith-spirituality-way-of-life-northern-ontario-amish-desbarats-1.7400486

Place: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Group: Amish and Mennonites investors.

ATMs on Pa. Turnpike were shut down over the weekend. Here’s why they still aren’t working.The highway operator blamed Paramount, a Lancaster firm for cutting off cash, amid a fight with unpaid Mennonite and Amish investors.by Joseph N. DiStefano.

Philadelphia Inquirer.Published Dec. 3, 2024, 3:57 p.m. ETThe shutdown of automatic teller machines at all 17 Pennsylvania Turnpike rest areas since last Wednesday, leaving travelers without access to cash on the long Thanksgiving weekend, has shed light on a financial struggle between the machines’ Lancaster-based manager, Paramount Asset Group, and its creditors.“Without any prior notification,” Paramount told the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission it was shutting off the ATMs on Nov. 27 and had “begun to remove cash,” the commission said in a statement to The Inquirer. For more information: https://www.inquirer.com/business/pennsylvania-turnpike-atm-shutdown-paramount-20241203.html

Place: Little Rock, Arkansas / Shippensburg, Pennsylvanai.

Group: Christian Aid Ministries / Unaffiliated Conservative Mennonite.

Religious billboards around town hype Jesus, Mennonites’ worldview.

by Griffin Coop.December 4, 2024 11:29 am

A few religious billboards have sprung up around Central Arkansas this year, some serving up a Christmas message and others dishing out one Christian group’s answers to some of the universe’s most vexing questions.In Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood and three spots north of the Arkansas River, billboards implore Arkansans to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” The Hillcrest sign is at the busy (and confusing) intersection of Kavanaugh Boulevard and Van Buren Street, across from Mount St. Mary Academy. The sign features a nativity scene silhouette. Text at the bottom of the billboard indicates it is paid for by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Cabot. For more information: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2024/12/04/religious-billboards-around-town-hype-jesus-mennonites-worldview

Place: Unspecified.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber / Ex-Amish.

Ex-Amish Woman, 44, Grew Up a Rebel. After Escaping, She Became a Stripper: 'Thought That I Was Going to Go to Hell' (Exclusive).Naomi Swartzentruber ended her 20-year dancing career after becoming a mom and published a memoir about her escape into the modern world.By Zoey Lyttle Published on December 3, 2024 03:00PM EST

Naomi Swartzentruber escaped her Amish community at age 17 after rebelling against the lifestyle's restrictive values throughout her teen years. Two years later, she started dancing in strip clubs to pay her bills. On stage, she found an unexpected sense of empowerment that fueled her 20-year career as a stripper.  Swartzentruber, now 44, stopped stripping when she welcomed a child in 2021. She published a memoir in 2023 and now posts social media content to share her life story. For more information: https://people.com/ex-amish-woman-grew-up-a-rebel-after-escaping-she-became-a-stripper-exclusive-8747961

Place: Chatsworth, Ontario.

Group: Old Order Amish- Swartzentruber.

Four Ontario Amish people lose Quarantine Act ticket reopenings, face possible $28K penalty.Jonathan Bradley.Western Standard.Published on: 03 Dec 2024, 11:44 am.

The Democracy Fund (TDF) said an Ontario court has denied the reopening applications for two married Amish couples slapped with Quarantine Act tickets.Each couple faces fines of about $7,000 per COVID-19 ticket, totalling about $28,000 in penalties, according to a Monday press release. Amish community members in Grey County, ON, were convicted in absentia of various COVID-19 charges. TDF confirmed it was representing about 27 people who are collectively facing $300,000 in fines for allegedly failing to complete the ArriveCan app and other related violations. For more information: https://www.westernstandard.news/canadian/four-ontario-amish-people-lose-quarantine-act-ticket-reopenings-face-possible-28k-penalty/60060

 
 
 

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