December 2010
Amish group travels to Israel to ask forgiveness of Jew
Anabaptist movement thrives in North America
Amish demand to judge their own
Death of ‘Little Boy Blue’ remains a mystery
November 2010
Main Line contractors, losing jobs to the Amish, cry foul. Amish say they work harder
Main Line roofers say they are taking it on the chin from Amish competitors, who are getting a significant amount of work in Philadelphia’s wealthy western suburbs. Keith McLean, a Paoli roofing contractor, said he lost a job this month when his bid of $8,000 was $3,000 more than the winning Amish bid.
Amish weddings center on faith, family, neighbors — and food
A typical Amish wedding involves many aspects, but perhaps chief among them is food. A young Amish couple shares information and a traditional feast at their Shillington Farmer’s Market restaurant.
Birthing farmhouse a compromise for doctors, midwives serving Amish and Mennonite communities
LANCASTER — Amish and Mennonite women in southwest Wisconsin prefer to give birth at home. But it can be hard for health care providers who oversee home births to travel for the deliveries and the many check-ups involved. A midwife and a doctor came up with a solution: a farmhouse for births near this city of 3,800 people about 80 miles southwest of Madison.
“They also note that the book of Hebrews suggests that God disciplines Christians as a father disciplines a son and that such discipline yields “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).” There are several ways of looking at this verse, depending on one’s view of how God disciplines Christians…
Resourceful Amish adapt as farming declines
Petersheim supervised a crew of fellow Amish workers as they scaled ladders and scurried over rooftops while installing a $90,000 residential solar panel system. “It’s not what I thought I’d be doing,” said Petersheim, 42, of Bird In Hand, smiling at the irony of an Amish man in a high-tech industry. “But farming is not really feasible now. And this is good work. I enjoy it.”
Would the Amish Use This Hand-Cranked Laptop?
The non-profit One Laptop Per Child has engineered laptops for the world’s computerless masses. Given that billions of people don’t have electricity, OLPC has designed laptops that can operate off-the-grid, perfect for Rwandan cities, aboriginal Canadian settlements — and Amish colonies…
Amish elders plead guilty for failure to report abuse
Christian Schwartz, Jacob Schwartz, Emmanuel Eicher and Peter Eicher pleaded guilty Monday in Webster County Circuit Court in Marshfield. Each must pay a $300 fine and court costs, court documents show.
October 2010
According to Ivan Schrock, president emeritus of the company, Schrocks has been quietly crafting solid wood caskets for the local community for some 70 years. Ivan said his father, Samuel P. Schrock, always made coffins for the Old Order Amish, and later built them for the Beechy Amish and the Plain People of Hartville…
Friends, neighbors come by masses to help Amish rebuild tornado damaged barn
FARMERSTOWN, Ohio — The best way to take in the barn building at Mose Miller’s dairy farm near Farmerstown may have been in silence. Indeed, it was in silence that many watched, Amish and English, standing next to each other, or sitting in chairs at a safe distance.
Amish man fined for gassing dogs
An Amish kennel owner was fined $300 after pleading guilty to 74 counts of inhumane destruction of dogs for using a makeshift gas chamber to euthanize animals with carbon monoxide.
September 2010
The Cleveland Furniture and Millwork Fair offered the Amish an opportunity to learn about modern design, which could ultimately help their presence in the local economy…
The Amish arrive in southeast South Dakota
Dan Borntreger is like a lot of South Dakota farmers. He works long hours outside, wears a hat to protect himself from the sun and works with his sons to complete the daily chores…
Pregnant Amish woman hurt in Ohio buggy crash dies
CLEVELAND — A pregnant Amish woman injured when an SUV rear-ended her family’s buggy in northeast Ohio has died…
Relative offers insight on Amish sex suspect
Bowling Green, MO — A close relative of Amish sex crimes suspect Chester A. Mast is painting a picture of a habitual liar who was suicidal and had little self-control in a tight-knit community that was frightened of what might happen if it tried to rein him in….
August 2010
Two Amish Men Face Incest, Bestiality Charges In Grant County
LANCASTER, Wis. — Two Amish men are facing a string of sexual assault charges, including committing incest and engaging in bestiality, on a Grant County farm…
Four Amish children hurt in hit-and-run
CLARE COUNTY, Mich. — Clare County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a Wednesday morning collision between an Amish buggy and a pickup truck. The crash happened in Clare County’s Sheridan Township at about 9 a.m. Deputies said the buggy was traveling on Colonville Road when a newer dark blue GMC or Chevy pickup sideswiped the buggy…
Ground Zero Mosque Backers Knock Amish
NEW YORK; Adding to an already undying scandal over the Ground Zero mosque are the backers of the controversial Park 51 complex themselves. Yesterday…
Seven Amish men are ticketed over new house lacking permit
HEUVELTON NY — Seven members of the Amish community face code violation charges after allegedly building a home without obtaining a building permit in the town of…
Amish buggies now safer on Geauga (Ohio) roads
Middlefield Ohio State Route 87 (Kinsman Road) in Newbury Township had more Amish buggy crashes per mile than any other road in the state from 1990 through 1997, but today changes are being made to reduce wrecks.
July 2010
Study says Amish expanding westward
The search by the booming North American population of Amish for affordable, fertile farmland has produced settlements in 28 states and Ontario — and has even led parties to scout recently for suitable properties in Alaska and Mexico. A new study estimates the number of Amish has increased nearly 10 percent…
Amish gather to raise a barn board by board
In the calm of a sunny summer day in Richland in Oswego County, the banging of hammers, gnawing of hand saws and humming of a generator filled the air. More than 60 Amish from Oswego County and northern New York on Wednesday walked the grounds, climbed ladders, tossed lumber and nailed metal roofing materials for a new barn they are building at Eli Zook’s farm on Clark Road.
Amish Teen Led Cops on Horse and Buggy Chase, Say Police
Levi Detweiler, a 17-year-old Amish youth, allegedly led sheriff’s deputies on a mile-long, presumably low-speed chase, after running a stop sign in his horse and buggy and refusing to pull over.
Amish Upset Over New Indiana Law
A new change in Indiana state law regarding alcohol sales has some retailers and members of the Amish community concerned. As of July 1, anyone purchasing alcohol is…
June 2010
Amish Man Is Charged With Multiple Sex Crimes
An Amish man from Curryville could face up to 32 years in prison for sexual-based crimes he allegedly perpetrated with at least five underage girls.
Amish Farming Draws Rare Government Scrutiny
“We are supposed to be stewards of the land,” said Matthew Stoltzfus, a 34-year-old dairy farmer and father of seven whose family, like many other Amish, shuns cars in favor of horse and buggy and lives without electricity. “It is our Christian duty.”
Amish buggy pulled over for teens drinking alcohol
SHERMAN, N.Y. — When Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies stopped an Amish buggy Sunday night, they found two teens drinking alcohol on the roof and two more drinking inside.
Custer County Commissioner Jim Austin…We’re used to our slow-moving vehicles. But a buggy?” the 68-year-old with a flowing white ponytail and turquoise earring asked. “Now that was something different.”
May 2010
Amish builders raise barn for church camp:
They were Amish builders who travelled from their Brinkhaven community near Danville, Ohio, to construct a 70-by-144-foot barn for Camp Akita near Gilson. …
4-State Amish say don’t complain in tough times, get creative:
A new study claims Amish businesses have a better chance of surviving the recession than others. The study says Amish businesses have a 95% success rate of …
Police release sketch of suspect threatening Amish:
Amish people in the southern end are being “watchful,” in the wake of three incidents involving a man in a van and their …
Drowning Death Of Fleming County Amish Girl Ruled Accidental:
Officials said Monday that the drowning death of a six-year-old Amish girl in Fleming County has been ruled accidental. An intense 22-hour search ended just …
Amish mother, girls die in blaze:
An Amish buggy passes the home where Katie M. Kurtz, 31, and her daughters, Sally L. Kurtz, 8, and Anna L. Kurtz, 3, …
April 2010
Four injured after woman hits three Amish buggies:
A Jackson County woman faces multiple felony charges after investigators say she hit three Amish buggies, …
Man pleads guilty to vehicular assault:
The Heuvelton resident later learned he hit an Amish buggy with his pickup truck, leaving two people injured. Mr. Mitchell, 54, of 85 Rensselaer St., …
Feds invade farm for 5 am inspection:
Federal agents invaded an Amish farm in Pennsylvania at 5 am to inspect cow-milking facilities then followed up the next day with a written …
Mennonites, Amish no longer have to register with US Selective Services:
On Tuesday, American Mennonites, such as the Amish, will be able to serve their country without having to go to war. This is because the Mennonite Voluntary …
Amish tax preparers get a hand from their congressman:
Congress passed a bill on Wednesday to accommodate the beliefs of people mainly known as the Old Order Amish. …
Indiana Amish exempt from new health care rules:
Thousands of Indiana Amish residents will see few changes in their health care despite new federal requirements that most people have …
March 2010
Appeal expected in Amish-farmer livestock registration case:
A prosecutor has asked a judge to re-consider his ruling that an Amish farmer does not have to register his premises under a state law. …
Friends and family grieve for lives lost:
… from New Order Amish to Mennonite, according to Michael Kauffman. … “(John) preferred a simple lifestyle, but when he got his driver’s license, …
Movie On Amish Shooting Draws Criticism:
The authors of a book about the mass shooting at an Amish school in Lancaster County are distancing themselves from a movie adaptation that’s set to air this weekend. Wednesday, March 24, 2010.
Amish farmer in Wisconsin who was prosecuted for failure…:
Emanuel Miller is the Amish farmer in Wisconsin who was prosecuted for failure to comply with the state law that required him to register his premises as …
Seeds of Concern: More Amish agree to preserve their land:
Henry Beiler was one of the first Amish farmers in Lancaster County to preserve his land forever. In separate transactions in …
12th Amish man faces Morristown permit violation:
The Amish say the town refuses to issue permits that allow them to build homes according to their beliefs. The Amish, members of the Old Order …
Amish win as judge dismisses premise registration case:
Many Old Order Amish farmers, and others, have refused to comply, saying they believe the requirement could be, at worst, the Mark of the Beast, or, at best, another move toward government-reliance. State officials say they just want to …
Amish farmer wins livestock-registration case:
An Amish farmer in Clark County has won his … registration law, which he argued violates his religious beliefs. …
‘Amish Grace’ movie fictionalizes Nickel Mines tragedy, generates debate:
“I think the whole tourist business of people who live in cities or the suburbs wanting to go see the Amish — they see the Amish as they say — they want to …
… better recognized Old Order Amish. They drive horses and buggies and don’t use phones, petroleum fuels or motorized farm equipment. “They’re people that …
Film depicting Nickel Mines shootings questioned:
An attempt to contact an Amish member of the Nickel Mines community was not successful. Bontrager said he believes Amish people would not like the movie for …
On this date in 1960: Amishmen pay $2 fines in school suit:
Honey Brook, Chester County – Thirteen Amish fathers, who have steadfastly refused to send their 17 children to Twin Valley Junior-Senior High School, …
February 2010
Midwife proposals find broad support among Amish:
“I know there’s (Amish) people that can’t.” Stutzman says a midwife told her after her fourth C-section that she (the midwife) wouldn’t be scared to attempt …
Police: Amish Businessman Sets Up Surveillance System, Catches Thief On Camera:
An Amish businessman, fed up with repeated burglaries at his Lancaster County store, set up a video surveillance system and captured an image of the …
FDA Invades Amish Farm in Pennsylvania. Feb. 16, 2010. For the people that have been living under a rock these past few years you have to know that the FDA is working for corporate interests. This administration of President Obama has …
Rumble strips, Amish buggies, and road taxes – Cyclelicious:
Unbelievable — some stingy residents in St. Joseph County, Michigan say the Amish shouldn’t have a say in how road maintenance is done because they don’t pay road taxes and vehicle registration. State fuel and vehicle registration …
St. Lawrence County officials will reach out to Amish residents in hopes of encouraging them to participate in the 2010 census. …
January 2010
Horse killed in buggy accident:
A young Amish man made a left turn in front of an oncoming SUV Friday evening, resulting in the death of his horse.
Mennonites, Amish unite to help others in need, bishop tells World Affair:
Mennonites and the Amish have been divided for centuries, but when trouble strikes, they get together as one to help, a Mennonite bishop says. …
Woman will do jail time after hitting an Amish buggy and taking off:
Deputies say in November of 2008, Byom was driving a truck on Highway 95 south of Hixton, when she hit the buggy, killing the horse and injuring two people.
Judge dismisses case against Amish farmer:
Greene said the committee did so because the Amish will not defend themselves because of their religious beliefs. It has also provided legal counsel for …
Man from Webster County pleads guilty for molesting girls in Amish community:
An Amish man who lives near Seymor admitted Tuesday that he sexually abused two girls. Johnny Schwartz pleaded guilty for two counts of statutory sodomy and …
Health Care Mandate Applies to All — Except the Amish:
Amish children walk in the morning to their one-room schoolhouse in Burton, Ohio on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. (AP) Most Americans would have to prove they …
Amish families exempt from insurance mandate:
The Amish, as well as some other religious sects, are covered by a “religious conscience” exemption, which allows people with religious objections to …
Amish eye loophole in Health Care Proposals:
“It has to be a long-standing historical exemption based on religious beliefs,” Kraybill said Thursday. To qualify for the exemption, a person will have to …