News
Man gave Amish teens beer, yelled "Rumspringa" before crashing into their buggy
| June 6, 2016LANCASTER, Pa. — A Nottingham man will serve at least one month in prison for causing one of the most "bizarre" DUI crashes officials say they have ever seen. Thomas Candler Felts was convicted of giving Amish teens beer and yelling "Rumspringa" at them before crashing into their buggy with his car at a Turkey Hill store on Route 272 in August.
Prosecutor in Kentucky Amish man's murder trial seeks state's help
| June 2, 2016BETHANY, MO.- The Missouri Attorney General's office is helping with the prosecution of an Amish minister from Kentucky charged in his wife's 2006 death in Missouri. Borntreger, of Summer Shade, Kentucky, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Anna Yoder Borntreger in late 2006 in Missouri.

Sam Troyer
| June 1, 2016I was born to Amish parents in Geauga County, Ohio in 1982. When I was six years old, we moved to a new community in Hart County, Kentucky because my parents didn’t like the partying and immoral behavior going on among the youth in our previous community.
I remember getting the impression that we were better than those in the old community.

Sarah Anne Borntreger
| May 31, 2016I grew up Amish and was raised in a good family. I am the oldest of seven. Growing up, I always had questions and tons of them:
"Why do we do certain things? Why are our clothes all to be of darker colors? If God created so many different colors why was it wrong for us to have them and not others who lived in more liberal communities?"
The answer was usually the same: "Because that's what our forefathers did. That's how they were raised, and if it was good enough for them it's good enough for us." That answer never satisfied me.
FDA wants to jail Amish man 48 years for selling herbal remedies people love
| May 31, 2016KENTUCKY - Sam Girod, an Amish farmer from Kentucky, has been running his small business selling natural salves made from herbs such as chickweed (which seem to help relieve many skin conditions, including allergic rashes, psoriasis, poison oak and even skin cancers) for 15 years. He has no criminal record, is 56 years old and the father to 12 children and yet the FDA wants to put him in jail- for up to 48 years. Yet another story that I couldn’t make up.
Amish woman found safe after four days in the woods near Peoli
| May 25, 2016PEOLI, OH -An Amish woman, who had spent four days fasting and praying in the woods of southern Tuscarawas County, was found safe Friday afternoon after searchers spent two days looking for her. Family problems prompted the woman to go into the woods, Campbell said. After talking to her husband and children, individually and as a group, she left home Monday wearing a dress and no shoes.
Animal waste cases fill Logan court system in Auburn, KY
| May 25, 2016Auburn, KY - Objections to a local ordinance requiring waste collection bags for large animals persist in Auburn, which has resulted in a glut of cases in the Logan County court system. Seven defendants, all members of Auburn's Amish community, made appearances Thursday in Logan District Court in relation to 10 separate citations for failing to equip their horses with bags to collect their droppings.
Could Amish voters swing Pennsylvania for Donald Trump?
| May 25, 2016PENNSYLVANIA - This year, a Super PAC has already been established to stir up Amish support for Republican candidate Donald Trump, who is neck-and-neck with Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in early polls in states like Pennsylvania. But the Amish community's support is far from a given, and its history at the polls complicated to say the least.
Amish teens charged after driving 110 mph
| May 25, 2016SHIPSHEWANA and TOPEKA, IN - Five Amish teens are facing alcohol related charges after they were caught driving 110 mph on U.S. 31 in Northern Indiana on Friday night. The teens may have been on their rumspringa, an Amish rite of passage teenagers take to decide if they want to stay with the church or not, said Indiana State Police Officer Ben Reason.
Twins set off 5 explosions, damage Amish buildings in Pa.
| May 19, 2016WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) – Authorities say twin brothers detonated improvised explosive devices in Pennsylvania over two weeks, damaging several buildings. Authorities say the twins also detonated explosives inside an Amish phone shed in Colerain Township, in a Strasburg Township produce shed, and inside a West Fallowfield Township well pump shed.
This New Republican Super PAC Wants to Get the Amish to Vote for Trump
| May 13, 2016From Donald Trump's Twitter feed, to the nonstop cable news coverage, the 2016 election has been nothing if not digital. For most of the country this has made politics inFrom Donald Trump's Twitter feed, to the nonstop cable news coverage, the 2016 election has been nothing if not digital. For most of the country this has made politics inescapable, but not for the technology-averse Amish community, who are at a considerable remove from the election. But now, a brand new super PAC is trying change that. The aptly named Amish PAC calls itself "the first Super PAC dedicated to getting plain voters [using a common term referencing the Amish lifestyle] to the polls."
Healing Ministry in ‘Battle Zone’ of Abuse
| May 9, 2016Physical and sexual abuse in the Amish-Mennonite community weighs heavily on Larry and Kendra Kaufman, pastoral couple at Grace Mennonite Church.
Just this year in their community, the issue has been thrust into the public eye through the conviction and imprisonment of an Amish preacher who is a sex offender.
Amish Basics: New Order Amish
| May 9, 2016New Order Amish are often seen as one of the most progressive of Amish groups. Less traditional dress, neatly groomed beards and hair, and homes with telephones are just a few things that set them apart from their Old Order counterparts. They also allow rubber tires and sliding doors on their buggies and air-filled “balloon” tires on farm equipment. Although they don’t own vehicles, the New Order are allowed to travel by airplane unlike other Amish.
2 Amish Men Charged with Confronting Homeowner
| April 27, 2016Fairview Township, Pennsylvania – Two Amish men were arraigned Tuesday on charges that they damaged and tried to enter a home during a confrontation with the homeowner.
Joseph and Nathan Hochstetler, both 18 and of 59 Poole Road, Jackson Township, were among a group of Amish who congregated March 28 outside a home in the 100 block of Runkle Road, Fairview Township, state police said.
Amish Pretzels Chain Finds Sweet Spot in Meijer Stores
| April 21, 2016Grand Rapids, Michigan - Ben's Soft Pretzels is finding its sweet spot in Meijer stores.
In the last few years, the fastest-growing soft pretzel franchise in the United States has opened a dozen locations in Meijer stores across the Michigan-based retailer's Midwest footprint.
Inside a Modern Amish Wedding
| April 15, 2016Amish couples usually keep a wedding announcement secret until it’s revealed or “published” in church.
Still, there’s plenty of speculation over who will be married as the curious search for telltale signs.
“Folks watch to see whether families with marriage-eligible girls might be painting their homes,” said Karen M. Johnson-Weiner. “And whether those girls might be sewing new dark blue dresses.”
Jefferson County Man Arrested for Sexually Abusing Children
| April 14, 2016Jefferson County, Illinois -- A Jefferson County man is facing sex abuse charges.
Rudy Byler, 38, of Belle Rive was arrested Wednesday on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, aggravated criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 9.
First Amish Couple Arrives on P.E.I.
| March 28, 2016Motorists in eastern P.E.I. are being asked to watch for a different kind of vehicle on the roads as the first Amish couple has arrived in the area, and with them, a horse and buggy.
Brad Oliver, a local realtor, helped the pair move in to their new home in Summerville last week. All four parents of the couple are expected to arrive Tuesday.
Oliver said another group also plans to set up in Dundas.
Sexual Abuse Among Plain Groups’ Concerns
| March 28, 2016Millersburg, Ohio - If plain communities don’t deal with sexual abuse among them, the state will step in to deal with the problem, and some freedoms may be lost.
That was Chester Weaver’s sober message to attendees of the 11th Anabaptist Identity Conference March 10-12.
Amish Child Killed in Farm Accident
| March 26, 2016Hammond, New York - A 9 year old Amish boy was killed Saturday morning in a farm accident off Route 37, near Hammond.
7 News reporter John Moore, on scene, spoke with the boy's father, Henry Mast, who identified the child as David Mast.
Two Amish Houses Shot Sunday
| March 22, 2016Larue, Ohio - A "large caliber," high-powered firearm was used in the shooting of two houses in western Marion County between 1:30 and 1:45 a.m. Sunday, according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office statement released Tuesday.
The residents of both homes are Amish, and no one was hit, Sheriff Tim Bailey said.
What Americans Can Learn From the Startling Success of Amish Entrepreneurs
| March 21, 2016Who is likely to be a more successful entrepreneur – a Harvard Business School graduate or an Amish man who quit school in eighth grade? According to new research, the answer may surprise you.
Amish scholar Don Kraybill says the failure rate of Amish start-ups is less than 10%, while the failure rate for non-Amish businesses is 65%. Although it is tempting to say that their businesses target different consumers, the reality is that Amish businesses are competitive with mainstream businesses, with many Amish even offering online ordering and shipping.
Man Charged with Exposing Himself to Amish Women, Girls
| March 21, 2016Lancaster, Pennsylvania – A Lancaster County man has been charged with exposing himself to Amish women and girls.
Benjamin R. Grafius, 39, of New Holland, admitted he targeted Amish and Mennonites for three months last summer. He told investigators the women and children were “easy targets” who wouldn’t call police, according to the district attorney’s office.
Amish Family Thanks their 'English' Friends
| March 21, 2016Canton, Ohio - Gifts of money, food, building materials and other support from the entire community have been a godsend to an Amish family who are finishing a new home out of the ashes of a house where a father and son died Jan. 11.
The family of Jost Y. Hershberger, 58, and his son, Benjamin Y. Hershberger, 18, who died in the fire, want to say thank you, said Eli Hershberger, a neighbor.

Sarah Gingerich
| March 3, 2016It was a lot of fun to grow up on an old-order Amish farm! Feeding livestock and watching things grow was exciting, and being outdoors was something I enjoyed a lot. Going to church was something I also looked forward to; I always enjoyed seeing friends and having a good time.
Growing up in a family of fourteen had its challenges, and I never really felt a strong connection between myself and my parents. Even though attention was often divided, I still had heart to heart talks with my parents sometimes.
Former Classmates Save Choking Amish Baby's Life
| March 3, 2016Two former classmates who bumped into each other while shopping Friday believe they were there for a reason that day.
Both women, who were trained in First Aid, were in the same aisle at the right time when an Amish baby was choking on a lollipop.
Leslie Austin of downtown New Castle and Cheryl Paolini of Neshannock Township graduated together from New Castle High School.
More than 1,800 Volunteers Clean up after Lancaster County Tornado
| March 1, 2016Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Days after a tornado hit the Eby family's Lancaster County farm, the extent of the devastation finally sunk in.
"At first we were just so happy with all of the support we had from the community," said Corrie Eby, 32, who was in her basement holding her 2-year-old daughter, Gloria, when a tornado hit the home at 334 Millwood Road in Salisbury Township Wednesday.

Letter to my Dad
| March 1, 2016Dear Dad and Mom,
Greetings of love and cheer from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This leaves us on Tuesday morning; the next morning after we left your house!
You know, Dad, it hurts me to see you so confused and so full of hurt, and in your heart you just don’t understand how your oldest son (me) can do what he does. I hate that you bottle all those things inside yourself. If you go for answers to man or yourself, you’ll never find it; you simply have to go to God for what you’re looking for.

Letter to my Son
| March 1, 2016Jesus says in Matthew 5:11, “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” You have done just that in your letter to me. You are not welcome here anymore until things are made right, and you repent. Every time you come, I end up getting a letter full of lies, which you know are not true.
Amish Hard Hit when Confirmed Tornado Rips through Community
| February 25, 2016Gap, Pennsylvania - More than 100 Amish were gathered in a barn on Seldomridge Road here Wednesday when the winds suddenly and violently kicked up.
Beth Engel, pastor of the nearby Pequea Presbyterian Church, also in Gap, said attendees would later say it felt like the "barn was breathing," as what is now aconfirmed tornado passed over them and cut a path through surrounding Salisbury Township.