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​Dundee, Ohio - A 22-year-old Dalton-area man apparently drowned while fishing Saturday in the backwaters of Beach City Dam, about three miles north of Dundee. Tuscarawas County Sheriff Walt Wilson identified the victim as Benny Zook, who would have turned 23 today. “There were no signs of foul play,” Wilson said. “He had a history of seizures and was on medication for them.” Zook and his three brothers were among a large group of Amish men who arrived by horse-drawn buggies at about 8 a.m. Saturday at the site off Kaylor Road NW, Beach City, Wilson said.

Urbana, Illinois - A man who told Illinois Amish families he could cure ailments by applying what he called a “wellness vibrator” to their necks is headed to prison. The Decatur Herald & Review reports that Lonnie Lynch Jr. of Florida will serve a one-year sentence for tax evasion and operating a medical device not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Attorney Ronda Coleman says patients told her the electric-powered device felt like a jack hammer hitting their backs and necks.

WasWashington Township, Pennsylvania - An Amish man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after State Police said he allegedly molested eight children. Troopers arrested John Beiler, 47, from Allenwood in Union County. Authorities said Beiler molested five girls and three boys in Washington over a 15-year period ending in 2012. The victims ranged in age from an infant to children in their teens.hington Township, PennsylvaniaMore

A property owner knowingly violated several ordinances and ignored a written notice on April 3, according to Pequea Township's zoning officer. And when the board of supervisors decided to give Elam Stoltzfus one more chance on May 21, several neighbors on Stoney Lane protested the decision, saying the township was showing favoritism based on his Amish heritage. Stoltzfus violated the township's horse-boarding requirements, zoning officer Mark Deimler explained. The ordinance dictates the size and location of a stable or other outbuilding based on factors such as lot size. At some point, Stoltzfus also installed a bridge over a stream without a permit — another violation.

​Indiana - It's an industry with shrinking participation but growing revenue of more than a half-billion dollars in northeast Indiana. Welcome to the big business of farming. And going big may be the best bet of surviving — unless you can find a niche. It's an industry with a shifting size range, according to the latest farm census data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of midsized farms, those that range from 180 to 499 acres, has shrunk dramatically over the last 25 years. In 1987, farm census data reported a combined 680 such farms in DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben counties. In 2012, that number had shrunk to 318, a decrease of 53.2 percent.

​Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - Rolling pastures dotted with grazing cows, fields of corn and classic buggies driven by Amish in hats and bonnets — these are the images that attract visitors to Lancaster County, home to more than 30,000 of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Visitors who also bring big money to the state — to the tune of nearly $1.8 billion a year. Which explains why the winning bumper sticker in a contest sponsored by Pennsylvania's Tourism Office didn't feature the Liberty Bell or the battlefield in Gettysburg — but rather, "I Break for Shoofly Pie," an ode to the traditional Amish dessert. But pictures can be deceiving, and the office of tourism — indeed the entire state — has reason to worry. The Amish, with their emphasis on family, hard work and simplicity, have drawn hordes of tourists but also an influx of residents, malls, roads and housing developments. The upshot? Swaths of farmland have been lost, and many Amish are now choosing to give up farming or are leaving the state to pursue quieter surrounding and cheaper land.

A character from the hit television series “Amish Mafia” will serve three months in prison for his 10th driving-under-suspension charge. John Schmucker, a leading character on the Discovery Channel series, will report to Lancaster County Prison on June 27, according to his attorney. Lancaster County Judge Howard Knisely ordered the prison sentence Wednesday morning, three months after Schmucker, 29, appealed a district judge’s sentence.

​Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - Aaron, an Amish small business owner in Lancaster County, uses computer software for his bookkeeping and exchanges e-mails with customers to nail down jobs. He uses a digital camera to keep photos of job sites on file. He and his foremen, also Amish, stay in touch on their cell phones. “You want to do business with the modern world, you’re going to have to run behind them to a certain extent,” he says.

Middlefield, Ohio - The Geauga County Sheriff's Office has confirmed a 3-year-old boy was run over by an Amish buggy Wednesday afternoon in Middlefield. The boy sustained injuries from the accident and is being transported by life flight from University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center. It is unknown, at this time, where the boy is being taken to. No further details were given on this story.

​Strasburg Township, Pennsylvania - A 10 year old Amish girl is struck and killed while walking along a road this afternoon in Lancaster County. The incident happened at about at around 4 o’clock along the 2200 block of White Oak Road near Picadilly Hill Road in Strasburg Township. The victim is identified as Rachel Zook. The child was pronounced dead at the scene by a deputy county coroner. The driver of the striking vehicle has not been identified. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.

My name is Andy Miller, and I am now seventy-two years old. God has been good to me! I left the Amish, and sixteen years passed before someone told me the truth about salvation, and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior! I had become an Alcoholic by that time and relied heavily on alcohol consumption, but Jesus changed me overnight! After realizing the truth about salvation, I could not believe that anyone could be saved by living on a hope that they would make it (even though this is what I was taught all of my life). After I accepted the truth that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, I went back to my Bishop, Edward Nisley, a number of times trying to tell him about the truth of only grace being enough to obtain salvation. It seemed, however, to always go in one ear and out the other!

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"As I got older, I realized that Amish life was not for me...(I) realized there was more out there, and I wanted to leave," said Emma Gingerich. This was just the beginning of her journey into the modern world. Gingerich spoke to a crowd of about 80 Spring Grove residents and others from the surrounding communities on Thursday, April 23, during a question and answer session and book signing of her memoir, "Runaway Amish Girl: The Great Escape." "I was mostly at home all the time; I didn't have the opportunity to get to know other people and branch myself out, so I worked on finding my way out (of the Amish community) for three years," Gingerich said.

Unless you're a big fan of the TLC show "Breaking Amish," you probably associate Amish culture with a traditional, austere lifestyle.But there's one thing you might not realize: The Amish are great with money. In fact, they're a lot better at managing their money than the rest of us. "Some Amish do quite well and have a lot of success in business," Erik Wesner, founder of AmishAmerica.com, told us. "An Amish millionaire is not something unheard of."

Over the last year, I have been following the progress of ‘The Ausbund Anabaptist Hymnal Display’ as Leroy Beachy, the owner of the many collectible Ausbunds, has been designing and building the display. Recently, upon its completion, the entire display was transported to the Amish/Mennonite Heritage Center, about a mile from Leroy’s shop. This is a magnificent addition to the Center and I’m excited that it will be available for viewing by the public. I’m also pleased that, Rachel Mast, currently employed at Christian Aid Ministries in Berlin, Ohio was able to meet with Leroy and put together the details of ‘The Story of the Ausbund’. I’m certain you will find this article quite interesting. JD Schrock

​Auburn, Kentucky - Two special called meetings are being held Thursday and Friday of this week to determine if the city of Auburn will force the Amish community to place collection devices on their horses while traveling through the city. These “bags” will prevent any horse droppings from collecting on the streets or in parking lots. A first reading was held Thursday and a second reading is to be held Friday to amend the city’s current animal ordinance, which will drop “collect” from the law, leaving only “capture.” That means the Amish community, or any other person(s) riding a horse through town or pulling a horse drawn vehicle, will have to have collection devices. Mayor Mike Hughes said this was well overdue and the city has given plenty of opportunity to the Amish community to do the right thing. Handshake deals have been made and failed, as well as dropping this amendment one other time it was brought to the council table giving the Amish yet another chance to clean up after their horses.

Ligonier, Indiana - A 7-year-old was accidentally shot and killed when his brother was shooting at ground moles on their Amish farm. The Noble County Coroner said Jaylin Miller died at the scene from a single gunshot wound. The Noble County Sheriff's report said the gun accidentally discharged. On Monday hundreds of people from the small town showed up to the visitation to pay their respects to the Miller family. A firearms expert at the Midwest Gun and Range said it's very dangerous to shoot a gun at the ground.

Danville, Ohio - The largest measles outbreak in America since 1996 has arrived on Richland County’s doorstep. Sixteen confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease have showed up around the Knox County village of Danville, less than 20 miles south of Richland County. Four members of an Amish community there recently traveled to the Philippines, and are believed to have infected family members with the measles upon their return. The travelers were not vaccinated against the measles, a disease characterized by a bright rash, and the Philippines is currently grappling with a measles epidemic that has afflicted about 20,000 people there, killing at least 50.

Members of an Ohio Amish community normally reluctant to vaccinate their children flocked to a makeshift clinic for measles shots this week after an outbreak that may have sickened at least 15 people. More than 135 people crowded into a local woodworking business Thursday where nurses used up every available dose of vaccine — and then ordered 300 doses more, said Pam Palm, a spokeswoman for the Knox County, Ohio, Health Department. “Not getting immunizations has been the way the Amish have felt in the past, but they certainly have responded in this situation,” Palm said.

Montgomery, Pennsylvania - Three central Pennsylvania teenagers have been accused of fatally shooting a pet donkey on an Amish family's farm. WNEP-TV (http://bit.ly/1l9B0B8) says the boys were charged Thursday, about a week after the donkey was shot 18 times on the Clinton Township farm in Lycoming County. Amos Yoder and his family have lots of animals. But he says the 6-year-old Jerusalem miniature donkey named Eeyore was his children's pet.

Lawrence County, Alabama - Lawrence County deputies made two arrests in connection with robberies against members of a local Amish community, bringing the total number of people facing charges to three. 34-year-old Adam Ray Garland and 40-year-old Richard Blayne Busby were arrested on Monday. Investigators charged Garland with two counts of aggravated robbery and theft. Busby is charged with aggravated robbery. Additional charges are pending.

A judge withheld ruling Monday whether forfeiture cases should continue against several Amish families who failed to get the proper county-required building and sanitary permits before constructing residences about three years ago. The Eau Claire County case is the first of its kind in the state, according to Eau Claire attorney Matthew Krische, who says signing the permits is in violation of the Old Order Amish’s sincere religious beliefs and requested the cases be dismissed. Eau Claire County Judge Kristina Bourget heard about a combined hour of comments by Krische and assistant county attorney Heather Wolske before indicating she would issue a ruling on an unspecified date. Another hearing is set for July 17, with a one-day trial scheduled for Aug. 6.

Lawrence County, Tennessee – A suspect remains at large after police said he and another accomplice attacked members of an Amish Community in Lawrence County. Officials with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office said an arrest warrant has been issued for 40-year-old Jason Matthew Judkins, of Ethridge, Tennessee. Stacey Renee Hancock, 36, has already been taken into custody and charged with aggravated robbery. On Thursday, investigators responded to three different incidents of violence within the Amish Community. Officials said at least two people were victims of robberies. In another incident, a resident was the victim of a hit-and-run, when a motorcycle forced the victim off of the roadway.

New Castle, Pennsylvania - Two police officers posing as Amish women tried to catch a man who reportedly was exposing himself to Amish children. Despite their efforts, they didn’t catch him. However, they had a description of his vehicle and believe the suspect is the same person who was placed on house arrest in Mercer County at the end of January for similar acts in 2013.

Spring is in the air and with spring comes thoughts of graduation and heading off to college. But that seemingly simple act of growing up means more to Emma Gingerich than most. At 18, Gingerich left her entire family and the only life she'd ever known in the middle of the night, hidden away for weeks before coming to Texas. The strong, young woman remembers the trip to South Texas not like a refugee fleeing, but like any other teenager heading to college and the beginning of the rest of her life. "I thought about the rules as I cruised down Highway 499 in my maroon 2001 Dodge pickup truck, air condition and radio both cranked up," writes Gingerich in her new book, Runaway Amish Girl. "I had no clue what I was doing, but finally escaping from so many pointless rules filled me with a sense of relief so deep no one else could ever fully understand — unless, of course, that person grew up Amish as well."

Topeka, Indiana - Authorities in northern Indiana say three Amish school teachers escaped a small schoolhouse that had filled with carbon monoxide gas. Topeka Fire Chief Stewart Bender says the three teachers lived in the school in a rural area of LaGrange County. Bender tells The News Sun one of the teachers woke up about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and alerted the others, one of who was initially unresponsive.

East Fallowfield Township, Pennsylvania — Police are seeking help with a case involving a handgun being pointed at an Amish man in his buggy Tuesday. State police in Meadville are investigating the act of simple assault and reckless endangerment, on Atlantic Road, at the intersection of Leach Road, Tuesday night, around 9:30. According to police, the unknown suspect was driving a vehicle described as a new four-door sedan, with a loud muffler, possibly a dark-colored Toyota. The suspect was described to be in his early 20s, wearing a black baseball cap, with brown hair over his ears.

Convicted Ohio Amish sect leader Sam Mullet has challenged his 15-year prison sentence for orchestrating a series of beard-chopping attacks on other Amish, saying the federal hate crimes law that put him behind bars violates the U.S. Constitution and was improperly applied in his case. The Justice Department used the 2009 Hate Crimes Prevention Act to convict Mr. Mullet and 15 followers of hacking off the beards and hair of fellow Amish in a series of 2011 attacks meant to humiliate them for straying from the faith. In a new appeal filed Monday before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Mullet and his lawyers accuse the federal government of overreaching to make their case.

Burton Township, Ohio -The Ashtabula man who crashed into an Amish buggy, is now charged. Douglas Learn, 42, is charged with dui, driving under suspension and aggravated vehicular homicide. Learn is locked up in the Geauga County Jail and will have an initial appearance in the Chardon Municipal Court on April 1. The crash remains under investigation and further criminal and or traffic charges may be pending.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - The dozens of children learning to read and write at the six Amish schools in Somerset County get there the old-fashioned way: They walk. No yellow buses ferry children from their farms to the one-room Summit Mills Schoolhouse near Meyersdale, a simple white-frame building heated by a fireplace. Only a small black bell on the roof hints at the building's purpose. Passing motorists don't see school zone signs alerting them to watch for the students, who walk in the two-lane roadway out front.

New Wilmington, Pennsylvania - State police are searching for an unlikely suspect in a western Pennsylvania hit-and-run accident: the driver of an Amish buggy. Troopers from the Mercer barracks say the buggy twice hit a passenger vehicle at a crossroads on Route 158 in Wilmington Township, about 6 p.m. Sunday.