Amish in the News
Driver harassing Amish buggy before fatal crash
| June 15, 2017NEILLSVILLE, WI - A driver who crashed his pick-up truck in Clark County may have been harassing Amish buggies in the area before a fatal crash. 35-year-old Steven Faber is charged with homicide drunken driving and reckless endangerment.
A witness told police that Faber nearly hit a horse-drawn buggy on County Road W in Clark County, and then turned his truck around and crossed the center line and sped towards the buggy a second time. He lost control of his vehicle. Faber and a passenger, 35-year-old Andy Mallory, were both ejected during the roll-over that followed. Mallory was killed in the wreck.
Listen to centuries-old Amish, Brethren and Mennonite hymns, still sung in Lancaster County churches
| June 12, 2017Four hundred years ago, the ancestors of the song leaders who recently gathered in an Ephrata-area church likely would have sung the same hymns in the same way. They would have been sung in German, with a cadence slow enough to sound like a dirge.
The hymns and the singing style changed as different religious sects were created.
Amish farmer's salve case reflects need to rein in federal regulators
| June 8, 2017BATH, KENTUCKY - In the words of Ronald Reagan, "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." More than 35 years after Reagan first spoke those words, what do they mean for each of us? If you fail to understand and comply with the thousands of federal regulations which have been passed to run our lives you face the risk of huge civil fines, or worse yet, you face the risk of being criminally prosecuted.
If you think that it could never happen to you, consider the case of Sam Girod, an Amish farmer from Bath County, Kentucky. For decades, Sam, like many members of the Amish community, has been making and selling salves which contain natural ingredients. Unfortunately for Sam, his products came to the attention of an inspector from the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 because the container for his salve had a claim on the label that the salve cured cancer.
At 'gifted' trial, girl tells of sex with Lee Kaplan at age 7
| June 8, 2017BUCKS, PA - On the second day of Lee Kaplan's sexual-abuse trial, a girl took the stand to describe summers swimming in Kaplan's backyard pool, learning history from documentaries, tending to the chickens, picking fruit from trees - and having sex with the man 37 years her senior beginning when she was 10 or 11. Over two days, a parade of witnesses have described the extraordinary hold Kaplan had over the once-Amish Stoltzfus family, centered on God, education, and marriage to the underage daughters.
At 'gifted' trial, girl tells of sex with Lee Kaplan at age 7
| June 8, 2017BUCKS, PA - On the second day of Lee Kaplan's sexual-abuse trial, a girl took the stand to describe summers swimming in Kaplan's backyard pool, learning history from documentaries, tending to the chickens, picking fruit from trees - and having sex with the man 37 years her senior beginning when she was 10 or 11. Over two days, a parade of witnesses have described the extraordinary hold Kaplan had over the once-Amish Stoltzfus family, centered on God, education, and marriage to the underage daughters.
Amish buggy to be used in traffic safety courses
| June 1, 2017ASHVILLE, NY - The Chautauqua Children's Safety Education Village, located at 2695 Route 394 in Ashville, will receive an Amish buggy on May 31st. The child-sized buggy is being donated to the Safety Village by the Clymer, Sherman, Ashville and Panama Fire Departments. The buggy will be used as part of the Traffic Safety Classes that take place at the Village. “We need to begin to teach children at a young age that they have to be alert and aware when they are driving and pay attention to the traffic signs, especially those telling us that there may be slow moving vehicles ahead. We have several rural areas throughout Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County that are populated with Amish families and farmers who are going to be in slow moving vehicles. We need to react when we see signs indicating that there may be a horse and buggy or a tractor ahead and immediately lower our rate of speed and proceed with caution."
300 Amish people got shots for whooping cough
| May 25, 2017SEYMOUR, MO - Two babies are hospitalized from a outbreak of whooping cough in the Amish community in Webster County. County health officials now are trying to control the spread of the disease. Six cases are confirmed, while there are many more possible cases in the Amish community along Highway C. “The challenge came because you have to go to them; they don't really have the means to hear or see about it through the news, the media,” said Banks. The Webster County Health Unit used word of mouth and set up an immunization clinic at a country store last week. In two days, they vaccinated more than 300 adults and children.
Amish receive warm welcome as more move to Prince Edward Island
| May 18, 2017In the past year, more than 20 Amish families have moved to P.E.I., turning heads with their distinctive clothing and old-style transportation. After exchanging their farms in Ontario for more fertile, and more affordable P.E.I. properties, the Amish newcomers arranged for government exemptions, to create buildings without plumbing, and, get government identification without pictures. Their real estate agent, Brad Oliver, expects many more are on the way. Oliver said the newcomers do enjoy some modern perks, like watching hockey on TV. “If the game’s on, yeah, and they’ll have a beer.” But, mostly, they follow the old ways, like women using manual push-mowers to cut their lawns, or, the family that milks 25 cows a day by hand.
Amish bishop didn't report child sex abuse, says it 'wasn't really that bad': Police
| May 16, 2017An Amish bishop in Dauphin County has been charged with failing to report two cases of child sexual abuse. An Amish bishop in Dauphin County has been charged with failing to report two cases of child sexual abuse. Christ M. Stoltzfus, 69, of Roller Road in Mifflin Township, told investigators that he was informed that one of the incidents "wasn't really that bad" during an interview in February, according to state police. Both cases involved Daniel Ray Fisher, 44, of Weaver Road in Mifflin Township, records state. Fisher was charged in a separate case in November and again January with inappropriately touching a then 5-year-old girl and a then-10-year-old girl, records state.
New Amish neighbors present potential traffic troubles in Northern NY
| May 4, 2017WILLSBORO, N.Y. - There are new neighbors for Essex County residents. Community members in the North Country say they're happy to see Amish families moving into town, but there's one problem. It boils down to traffic troubles. People say Amish buggies on country roads, especially at night, are hard to spot. Strict religious requirements prevent Amish people from using most technology. So with cars mostly off-limits, the horse-and-buggy is the next best transportation.
Swartzentruber Amish work to give buggies more visibility on Ohio roads
| May 2, 2017ASHLAND, OH - Cinnamon Lake, a cluster of 500 newer homes about 40 miles west of Akron, promotes itself as being in the heart of Amish country yet within easy reach of 70 mph freeways leading to modernity. On weekday mornings, commuters from that development and surrounding areas in cars, trucks and SUVs hit the blacktop country roads slicing through the corn and soybean fields, sometimes forgetting that their Amish neighbors are on their way to work, too — in horse-drawn buggies traveling about 5 mph. The Swartzentrubers recognize there’s a road safety problem and changes must be made. The first is a simple, white 10-by-12-inch piece of plastic outlined in reflective tape that will be attached to the back of buggies.
Return To Amish' star in trouble again
| May 2, 2017SUWANNEE COUNTY, FL - Jeremiah Raber is in trouble. Again. The man appears to be unable to stay out of trouble. The 37-year-old star of TLC's Return to Amish and former star of TLC's & Breaking Amish has been arrested for #Domestic Violence. The latest domestic violence charges were filed against him by his current wife, Carmela Raber. She accused Jeremiah Raber of throwing hot coffee on her lap. The alleged event happened during one of their many arguments.
Minnesota Amish Community Fights Wastewater Rules
| April 13, 2017ST. PAUL, MN – Members of a southeastern Minnesota Amish community claim in court that municipal and state wastewater ordinances forcing them to install treatment systems violate their religious beliefs against modern conveniences. Ammon Swartzentruber, Menno Mast, Amos Mast and Sam Miller – all members of the Swartzentruber Amish community – sued the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Fillmore County on Friday in Ramsey County District Court. The lawsuit focuses on how Swartzentruber and his members dispose of household water called “greywater,” which is used for indoor household duties like washing dishes, bathing and laundry before it is reused in fields and gardens.
Trial of man charged with sexually assaulting Amish girls will stay in Bucks County
| April 13, 2017BUCKS, PA - A Bucks County judge has denied defense attorneys' request to move the child sexual assault trial of Lee Kaplan out of the county. Kaplan, 52, of Feasterville is slated to go to trial May 30 on charges that he raped or sexually assaulted six girls, all from a formerly Amish family from Lancaster County. Some of the girls allegedly had been "gifted" to Kaplan by their parents to be his wives.
Sen. Shirkey won’t support Amish buggy registration
| April 11, 2017COLDWATER, MI - This area's state Senator Mike Shirley will not pick up or vote for legislation to require a fee registration for horse-drawn vehicles, namely Amish buggies. Past proposals have died in prior sessions, without committee hearings or votes. In February, Shirkey met with local officials and law enforcement who had pushed in past sessions for authorization to charge a $50 registration fee, requested to help pay for road damages, identifying owners, and for safety concerns.
Marlene Miller, former majorette, tells of her rare conversion to Amish religion
| April 11, 2017DOVER, OH - Marlene C. Miller was able to forgive the father who beat her and the mother who let him after she gave her life over to God. Her conversion occurred after her Amish husband’s brother had spoken to her about eternity. She was washing dishes, she recalled, when her sin began weighing on her. “I asked God, ’Where will I go when I die? I heard the answer in my heart: hell,” she told an audience at Dover Public Library recently.
Amish migration sparks safety concerns in Essex County
| April 11, 2017REBER, NY - Midnight is dark in this remote stretch of fertile landscape, where country lanes creep through fields ringed with misty mountains. Motorists must combat a thicket of possible difficulties that only magnify at the crepuscular hour, including snowdrifts, wild animals, single-lane bridges and hairpin corners along unpaved roads with low visibility. In the small pocket where the Amish have planted roots — at least three settlements in Westport, Essex and Reber — numerous signs warn motorists of variables: deer, snowmobiles, horseback riders, tractors, firetrucks and diesel trucks. But there are no warnings for the buggies, which are jet black and are not outfitted with headlights or the orange triangle displayed on other slow-moving vehicles — only the lanterns.
Amish man charged with indecent assault
| April 4, 2017MONTOUR, PA - A member of the Amish sect allegedly indecently assaulted two girls several times over a more than six-year period. Amos Stoltzfus Lapp, 43, of 170 Hillside Road, faces two counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, three counts of indecent assault, three counts of corruption of minors and six counts of indecent assault. Police allege the assaults occurred between Feb. 1, 2007, through Aug. 21, 2013.
Woman accused of burglarizing Amish homes in Geauga County
| March 28, 2017GEAUGA, OH - Chipmunk Lane in Burton Township is normally a quiet street, but that peace was shattered for William Yoder and his family several weeks ago. "We came into the driveway, and I seen the tire tracks and the ruts in my yard," Yoder said. "My wife tells me that both front doors were standing open . So I walked into the master bedroom and saw the nightstand open. I told her to check her purses and both of them were gone," Yoder said. Geauga County Sheriff’s deputies said 39-year-old Lisa Bishop, of Montville Township, is responsible.
Some Amish taxis drivers claim profiling by the Ohio Highway Patrol
| March 28, 2017MIDDLEFIELD, OH - A group of Amish taxi drivers, who serve the Amish in Middlefield, Ohio claim, in some cases, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is unfairly pulling them over for safety checks if they see Amish passengers in their transport vans. Dale Eloph, who transports Amish passengers 10,000 miles every month, believes multiple drivers have been pulled over without probable cause, simply because Amish passengers can be seen inside the vehicles.
Bill could let Amish Mainers wear red instead of orange when hunting
| March 28, 2017AROOSTOOK, ME - Hoping to avoid seeing a legal confrontation between the Amish and state government, Rep. Dave McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, wants to let Amish community members hunt wearing red rather than blaze orange in accordance with their religious customs. Dozens of Amish families have settled in Aroostook County and other parts of Maine in the last decade, and they now operate farms, carpentry shops, bakeries and other businesses. While they avoid most kinds of modern technology, they do participate in one of Maine’s oldest traditions: hunting, with firearms.
Amish Farms Rebuild After Tornado Strikes Four Farms
| March 14, 2017SEYMOUR, IA - Rebuilding is well underway on farms in Wayne County, after an EF-2 tornado struck Monday night. The twister also damaged the school and homes in Seymour. Four Amish farms as far as six miles southwest of town were damaged. Vernon Mullet's farm had three buildings destroyed, including his house, a barn, and a huge shop used to build
Suspect sought in local buggy shooting
| March 14, 2017BELLEVILLE, PA - One woman was injured when the Amish buggy in which she was traveling was hit with a BB or similar projectile. According to the release, officers were dispatched Tuesday to the area of Trella Street in Belleville. A woman passenger said she and the buggy were hit by a BB or similar projectile while the buggy was traveling toward South Penn Street.
Man on bicycle exposes himself to Amish children walking from school
| February 28, 2017LANCASTER, PA - On Tuesday, a man riding a bicycle exposed himself to young Amish children who were walking home at 3:15 p.m. from Forest Hill Amish School in Upper Leacock Township, near Leola. He approached the children on West Center Square Road, just west of Forest Hill Road, while the children were still within sight of their school, East Lampeter Township police said.
Elizabethtown College's Young Center to begin expansion project, adding space for Amish research, exhibits
| February 28, 2017LANCASTER, PA - Lancaster County is home to the United States premier center for academic research into Amish and other Plain Sect culture, and it's expanding. Two wings totaling about 3,500 square feet will be added to Elizabethtown College's Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, increasing its size by 60 percent.
LOCAL NEWS Amish buggy driver has survived 14 accidents
| February 21, 2017HUNTINGTON TWP, OH - When Levi Shetler and his friend and work partner Jon Swartzentruber were hit by a driver Jan. 18 in an accident that left Swartzentruber dead, it was the 14th time Shetler was hit while traveling in an Amish buggy. Shetler, 54, of Huntington Township, is recovering from the crash on state Route 58 and looks remarkably unscathed for a man who has had so many brushes with death. He’s attending outpatient physical therapy, is up and moving and a neighbor drives him to appointments. He said this accident was by far the worst of the 14, and ligaments in his neck and other parts of his body cause him constant pain.
Details released on county police officer's death; funeral plans
| February 21, 2017The Allen County Sheriff's Department gave a detailed account today of the death of Sgt. Joseph Cox, 48, a 19-year deputy who died Sunday after suffering a medical emergency while on duty. Sheriff David Gladieux said Cox, 48, was investigating an accident involving a horse and buggy and an automobile about 8:30 p.m. The driver of the buggy had apparently fallen out of the buggy and the horses had taken off, running out of control, when the buggy was hit by a car. Gladieux described that night's events as hectic. Cox was one of three deputies who responded to the scene to investigate the crash and get the horses under control.
Sen. Shirkey works to prevent accidents between automobiles and Amish buggies
| February 14, 2017HILLSDALE COUNTY, MI - State Sen. Mike Shirkey, R-Jackson is working to improve safety on the road for areas of Hillsdale County that encounter automobile and Amish horse-and-buggy collisions. According to Shirkey, road safety concerns seem to be a big issue for the county, and he plans to speak with Amish bishops in the area to understand how they perceive the situation before working toward a solution. The county does not have a record of how often the accidents occur; however, several county officials and Amish residents find it necessary to improve the situation.
Amish targeted over environmental problems
| January 24, 2017LEBANON, PA - William Kautz grew up in the Chesapeake Bay's backyard. He remembers standing in water up to his hips that was so clear he could see his feet. A few decades later, he couldn't even see his shins. Environmental activists have targeted Amish farming, human waste disposal and animal waste disposal practices as a leading cause of pollution. Meanwhile, farmers who resent the cost of laws requiring more eco-friendly agricultural practices are frustrated by rumors that the Amish don't follow the same rules.
KY Amish Farmer Jailed over a Salve Label; the FDA Wants Him Jailed for Life
| January 24, 2017OWINGSVILLE, KY - I know it sounds like I made up a terribly inflammatory headline... but it's not JUST inflammatory. It's true, the Girod indictment is below. Amish farmer Sam Girod of Owingsville makes 3 products: a chickweed salve, a bloodroot salve and an essential oil blend called Sine Eze. The photo of the 3 products was just taken on my iPad on my desk. You can find similar products online. In fact, you’ll find the recipes online. You can make these products in your kitchen, it’s not rocket science. A few years ago, the FDA came after Sam for labeling crimes — Sam said his salves could cure certain things and that’s a big FDA no-no. Sam immediately fixed the labels as per FDA demands.