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MADISON, WI - A new law authored by a pair of local lawmakers to ensure more safety on our roadways was passed by the State Assembly on Tuesday.       State Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon), and Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield) worked together on the bill, and Spiros says AB 475 requires all animal-drawn vehicles, such as those used by the Amish and Mennonite communities, to have two amber blinking or strobe lights mounted on the rear of the vehicle.   

Feeling like ants in a cornfield, we meandered down the wide, needle-carpeted trails between the gigantic­ redwood trees at Jedidiah Smith State Park. Our six children, all adults now, scattered out ahead of us. One stopped to count rings on a log, another climbed up the roots of an enormous redwood to peek in a mysterious hole in the side, another marched far ahead and returned at a brisk pace, trying to tally as many steps as possible for the day. “Would you ever have imagined this, 33-and-a-half years ago?” my husband, Paul, asked me quietly as we lagged behind. We were taking a family post-Christmas vacation in the same area of the southern Oregon Coast where we had honeymooned, back in 1984, which caused much reminiscing, even for Paul, who looks forward more than back.

PENN YAN, N.Y. (AP) — Rising populations of Amish and Mennonite communities in more rural parts of New York state over the past decade have meant an increase in horse-drawn buggies on the roads, and increasing concerns from law enforcement over collisions between the buggies and motorized vehicles. The New York Times reported that while there's no separate tracking of buggy accidents as a distinct traffic category, officials say it's a familiar problem, ranging from accidents where people are hurt to more serious collisions resulting in deaths of the buggy riders and the horses. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded 101 fatalities from buggy accidents between 2011 and 2016.

CLEVELAND, OH - Amish bishop Sam Mullet is asking the Cleveland federal judge who sent him to prison to overturn his convictions for orchestrating a series of beard and hair-cutting attacks on his enemies. Mullet argues in a motion filed Friday that his former attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Ed Bryan, made a series of errors while representing him at his 2012 trial, and through two appeals. Had Bryan not committed the errors, Mullet's trial may have ended differently, the motion says.

I had covered many things in my 20-plus years as a reporter — but never a deadly buggy accident. Recently, though, a news brief from upstate New York caught my eye. A young Amish man driving a buggy died after colliding with a car, according to the article, which called the accident the second local buggy collision in an hour’s time. I called some government officials upstate and learned that, although statistics are scant, so-called buggy-to-bumperaccidents happen a lot. The New York State Police connected me with a sergeant devoted to dealing with Amish buggy concerns, Sgt. Bernard Kennett.

PENNSYLVANIA - The case Yoder v. Sugar Grove Area Sewer Authority was heard in a Pennsylvania state appellate court, concluding a five-year legal battle when a 2-1 court decision ruled the Old Order Amish couple has to connect to a sewer system using electric equipment. The family can appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court but that does not guarantee its appeal will move forward. "Americans should be free to follow their religious beliefs and this should be no less true for those like the Amish with unusual beliefs," responds Chief Counsel Randall Wenger of the Pennsylvania-based Independence Law Center.

SUGAR GROVE, PA - The Commonwealth Court has ruled that connecting an Amish couple’s property to a municipal sewer system using an electric pump does not violate the couple’s religious freedom. A split three-judge Commonwealth Court panel consisting of Judge Robert Simpson and Senior Judge Dan Pellegrini affirmed a Warren County trial court’s denial of the injunction requested by Joseph and Barbara Yoder. The Yoders asked the court to rule that they need not be required to connect to the sewer authority system through electric means. Judge Patricia A. McCullough filed a dissent.

WARREN COUNTY, PA - After a legal battle spanning more than five years, a Pennsylvania court has agreed with a lower court ruling that ordered a Warren County Amish family to connect to a municipal sewer, even though doing so requires the use of an electric pump. In an opinion issued Jan. 5, a divided Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court said the Yoder family, who are Old Order Amish and avoid use of electricity for religious reasons, should complete the mandatory connection "without further delay."

Alymer, Ontario - A hydraulic-powered printing press in rural Malahide Township, near Aylmer, just entered its 50th year of operation printing papers for a local Amish community. It may not be long before the old machine is retired. Housed by Paul Jantzi, the old press — made by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG — is part of a now-archaic printing production involving an industrial-sized paper cutter, folding machine, and assembly line. The assembly line is used roughly once a month to compile a 20-page magazine, published through Pathway Publishers.

For some time now, I have wanted to share my history and the testimony of how I found Jesus. I grew up in an Old Order home, which is one of the more strict and legalistic Amish groups. Although I was born in the state of Ohio, I spent most of my years growing up in the state of Pennsylvania.

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WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI - Horse-drawn vehicles would need windshields, seat belts, child car seats and rear-view mirrors if the Wood County Board passes an ordinance it will consider Tuesday. Amish and other religious groups that rely on animal-pulled buggies also would need to get driver's licenses and vehicle insurance under the measure. It's an ordinance that an expert in Amish culture says is "completely impractical" and will drive those families out of the county.

STANTON, MI - A strong turnout of support at Saturday's benefit for a West Michigan family who lost three of their seven children in a buggy crash last month. A total of $50,000  was raised to help the family with medical expenses. Police say their parents, Judith and Paul, and four siblings were injured in the crash back in October. We have learned that Paul's condition has improved and he is now home from the hospital.

Hi, my name is Daniel Troyer. I was born and raised Amish and lived in Heuvelton, New York until I turned eighteen. I was never a member of the Amish church, mostly because I felt now hope and did not understand their ways. At age eighteen, I decided to leave my family and my culture behind, so I contacted my brother John, who lived in Ohio and asked if he would come and pick me up. In May of 2017, John, his wife Katie and my sister Anna drove nine hours one way and brought me back to Ohio.

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ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH – A former Amish community member previously convicted of rape of a minor, is going to prison again for sex crimes involving two Amish girls. Jacob Weaver, 65, of Jerusalem appeared before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra on Monday and was sentenced on two counts of gross sexual imposition, a felony of the fourth degree, and one count of attempted gross sexual imposition, a felony of the fifth degree. Vavra imposed a sentence of 17 months for the first two counts, to be served consecutively, and an 11-month concurrent sentence for the third count, for a total of 34 months.

WOOSTER, OH - A 3-year-old Amish girl ran onto a country road to greet her father standing on the other side and was fatally struck by an SUV in northeast Ohio. The state Highway Patrol has identified the girl as Dora Miller. The patrol says she was struck around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday by an SUV that investigators estimate was traveling at 55 mph, the posted speed on the road in East Union Township in Wayne County.

HIGHLAND, OH - A Highland County Children’s Services case involving a local Amish family was dismissed on Friday after the judge determined there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to indicate a 2-year-old child had been sexually assaulted. Highland County Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Greer said that while there was undoubtedly enough reasonable suspicion for authorities to file the case, testimony and evidence presented during the trial couldn’t prove sexual activity had occurred.

HENDERSON, TWP, PA - A Huntingdon woman is facing homicide by motor vehicle charges for a fatal crash that occurred along William Penn Highway in Henderson Township.  19 year-old Madison Thompson is accused of rear ending a horse drawn buggy, claiming the life of Reuben Yoder of Allensville and injuring two others on August 19th.  Police say Thompson after the first crash, Thompson crossed the center line, hitting another car before crashing into a Kwik Fill gas station.

On any Amish homestead, after labor’s last push and a check for 10 fingers and 10 toes, family members have heard one of two things for centuries. “Sis en Bu” or “Sis en Maedel.” “It’s a boy” or “It’s a girl.” That language is Pennsylvania Dutch, and the gender announcement isn’t some old-fashioned tradition the Amish use only during childbirth. They “talk Dutch” about horse manure and carrots, about the weather, and whether a buggy’s wheel needs mending before a trip to the market.

OHIO - As Ohio locals the township continues to rebound from a category-2 tornado that thrashed several properties the night of Nov. 5, many residents are getting a helping hand from neighbors they’ve never met. “We’ve got Amish coming in from all over the state that are helping on everybody’s property,” local township trustee Gary Babb said Wednesday. “Several buildings and Amish barns are already back up and they’ve got so much help they’re helping their neighbors that are not Amish.

A genetic mutation in an Amish community in Indiana that can cause fatal blood clotting has been linked to longevity and protection against diabetes, according to a study published in Science Advances this week (November 15). Previous research has shown that the gene in question, SERPINE1, produces a protein that can promote aging in mice. Levels of the protein, called plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), are higher in patients with diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease. PAI-1 is also known to play an important role in blood clotting, and people with two defect copies of SERPINE1 suffer from blood clotting disorders, Science reported.

GALATIA, IL -- A family living near in the Harco area says a neighbor shot their dog from a moving horse-drawn buggy in front of their home. Saturday, some members of the Walker family living on Brown Road heard the sound of a buggy going past their house. It's not an unusual sound, according to Hillary Walker, because several of their neighbors are Amish. 

Diane Bell is still sworn to secrecy so far as the details of her quest for blood relatives is concerned — but she finally knows when her story will air. Bell’s episode on TLC’s “Long Lost Family” will air at 8 p.m. Dec. 11, she revealed Thursday. The reality series seeks to reunite relatives who, for whatever reason, have been parted.

I am a former Amish from Ohio. Growing up it seemed life was simple; everything was black and white. Surrounded by others of various beliefs, we just knew we were the ones who got it right. Others were out to mislead us, and we needed to resist. It seemed that isolating ourselves would hush those others who taught things that threatened our "Amishness."  I was born in 1938 and raised in Holmes County, Ohio. I went to school at Buena Vista school, which was closed in 1957. My father decided to move to Canada at that time as some of our people, the Troyer Amish branch, had already begun a settlement in Ontario. There are several different types of Amish around Ontario. In Amish there are degrees of "Amishness," and we would have been near the lowest with Swartzrntruber Amish at the bottom.

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SHERIDAN, MI - Funeral services are Friday for three Amish children killed last Sunday when their family’s horse-drawn buggy was hit from behind by a pickup truck. Cameron Martin, 11, Kayla Martin, 9, and Kendra Martin, 7, were heading to worship services when the accident occurred near Sheridan in Montcalm County.  Lux and Schnepp Funeral Home in Carson City said services are 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Vickeryville Old Order Mennonite Church on the corner of Sloan Road and M-57. Visitation is 1 to 5 p.m. today at Leonard Schrock’s home, 7042 Vickeryville Rd., Sheridan.

Reuben Kauffman had seen his father cry only once. Then came Feb. 20, 2012, when Kauffman walked into the kitchen of his family’s Wisconsin farm home. His father sat at the dining table he helped build, reading a well-used Bible. A kerosene lamp dangled from the ceiling. Kauffman’s mother prepared scrambled eggs and homemade granola. The spartan kitchen was full of wonderful memories for Kauffman, one of nine children. The cinnamon rolls his mother made were treats that remain unmatched. The mashed potatoes and chicken were just as good.

WOOSTER, OH - The annual Buckeye Book Fair is one of the biggest book events in Ohio with 100 Ohio authors, illustrators and photographers to sign copies of their new books for readers of all ages.  The 30th anniversary Buckeye Book Fair will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fisher Auditorium (1680 Madison Ave) in Wooster. 

My name is Rhoda Brubaker, and I was born and raised in an Old Order Mennonite community; most might know my community best as the Black Bumper Mennonites. Growing up, I learned about the Word of God, was taught to “walk my talk,” and knew that following God was important. Unfortunately, however, both of my parents were mentally ill. Although they did their best, my siblings and I were emotionally neglected because of their illness. I always blamed my problems on my Mennonite upbringing, but it wasn’t until I was thirty years old that I realized my problems were not Mennonite related, but rather, the result of human ailments. Surprisingly, my Mother did validate my relationship and walk with God. Because of her mental state, I can see that the validation was truly a gift from God.

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I didn’t really take time to consider what I liked about the Amish culture while growing up in it, but now, looking back, I realize that I enjoyed the closeness of my Old Order community; everyone helped each other out when a need arose. I also farmed and appreciate the fact that I was taught the importance of work ethic. Growing up, I can’t say that my relationship with my parents was good, but it wasn’t bad either. In our family, there wasn’t anything that I would call closeness; we pretty much just lived and worked. I eventually decided to leave the only culture that I knew because I noticed that some of the things the Amish were practicing went directly against scripture. In addition, certain scriptures were also being overlooked and not practiced at all.

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NEW WILMINGTON, PA - A New Wilmington Amish teen is facing charges for allegedly driving his horse-drawn buggy while under the influence of alcohol. New Wilmington Borough police arrested John J. Byler, 19, of 220 Pine Lane, on Oct. 1 after he allegedly failed two field sobriety tests. An officer pulled over the buggy around 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 because the buggy did not have on its flashing lights in the dark, according to a criminal complaint. The officer, who was stopped on stationary patrol on Route 208 at Park Avenue, flashed the headlights of his cruiser four times at the buggy to inform the driver that his lights were not on.

The reason I am writing this is my wife and I were with the Beachy Mennonite Church for about twenty years, and it was very hard on my dear father and mother when we left the Amish Gma (church). They came to visit us soon after, and admonished us out of love, and asked us to come back. But we hardened our hearts against parental instruction and against conviction. We stopped our ears against the truth and shut our eyes against Light. In other words, we were fighting against God and against our own souls.

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