Amish in the News

Years ago, state police reported that a tourist visiting Lancaster County had complained because Amish farmers working a field wouldn’t pose for photos. Apparently the tourist thought the Amish were akin to the costumed interpreters of Colonial Williamsburg. So are you surprised that millions of TV viewers apparently think “Amish Mafia” is real? Or “Breaking Amish?” Or, more recently, “Return to Amish?” Amish culture is having a moment in the national consciousness. A bad moment, measured by standards of truth and authenticity. And local filmmaker Mary Haverstick has had enough. She’s organizing opposition among the Amish community’s English neighbors to what she calls “Amish-sploitation.”

Buffalo, Wisconsin - One man is in Buffalo County Jail after admitting to a Sheriff's Deputy that he smoked meth before driving a group of Amish passengers to Iowa. The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department says 36-year-old Trenton Alan Anderson was driving a passenger van carrying 16 people from an Amish community to Cresco, Iowa when the van was pulled over for not having a functioning headlight. Once the van was pulled over, the Deputy determined that Anderson may be impaired and contacted the K9 unit for assistance. The K9 detected the presence of a controlled substance in the van, and after a search, a baggy of methamphetamine and three meth pipes were found in Anderson's backpack.

Pepin County, Wisconsin - A Mondovi man pleaded no contest and was found guilty of two counts of 1st degree sexual assault of a child. 52-year-old Herman Nissley made the plea Monday in Pepin County court. Investigators say in January, Nissley stood up in church and told the congregation he inappropriately touched a girl and exposed himself.

Berlin, Ohio - When people drive through the rural communities of Holmes County, Ohio, they typically notice the farms, the Amish, the tourist shops, and the restaurants. But, there’s another cluster of activity that’s growing and maturing, and it’s taking place out in the woods — inside nearly one-third of the county that is forested, and inside hundreds of sawmills and wood shops, retail and manufacturing centers. That cluster, in its broadest form, is the lumber and timber industry. And in it’s narrowest form, it’s the three main products made from timber: lumber, furniture and wood pulp.

Columbus, Ohio - A statewide measles and mumps outbreak leads the governor to issue an executive order. Local pharmacists can now give the MMR vaccine to anyone 18 years or older without a prescription. An Amish community in central Ohio is thought to have started the outbreak of measles after two members of the community came back from a mission trip to the Philippines and got sick. Health officials believe they spread the disease throughout Knox County. That, on top of an ongoing mumps outbreak at the Ohio State University, lead to the governor's decision. The current measles outbreak is the largest outbreak of the disease in the U.S. since 1994.

Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - “We want to protect our religious convictions against modern technology and preserve the Heritage our Forefathers handed down on us and our children,” the man from Springfield Township recently wrote me. “We live a humble life, therefore we also want humble houses to live in,” he wrote. He explained he didn’t hire contractors, install electrical wiring, bathrooms, septic mounds, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. He asked me to exempt his Amish community members from the state building codes. “Our Desire is to be good neighbors and live in Peace with our non-Amish neighbors.”

In the summer of 1963, David Wagler and Joseph Stoll, two Amish farmers, were threshing oats in a field close to Aylmer, Ont. They reflected on the need for more literature that spoke to the interests and concerns of their Old Order community. So in January 1964, the two men joined with Jacob Eicher to establish Pathway Publishers. Now, 50 years later, Pathway has become one of the most successful publishing houses in the Anabaptist-Mennonite world. In its early years, Pathway focused on developing readers for use in Amish grade schools. Pathway continues to sell thousands of copies of its readers — along with a host of other titles — not only to the Amish, but to a growing number of homeschool associations and others interested in a plain lifestyle.

Emma, Indiana - Westview Junior/Senior High School held its eighth grade completion ceremony Tuesday. Two hundred thirteen students received their completion certificate in the gymnasium during a recognition program in front of friends, fellow junior high students and family. According to junior high Principal Randy Miller, approximately half of the students who completed eighth grade will not attend high school. "Around 100 kids will leave this building," he told The Goshen News. Many of those students are of the Amish faith, who do not usually continue schooling past eighth grade.

Norwich Township, Ontario - Two recent tragedies left the Amish community in Norwich Township mourning the loss of two of their own. The deaths of 3-year-old Alvin Miller to cancer just a few weeks ago and 15-year-old John Miller to a horse accident last Thursday have left their families in need of support, and thanks to the Norwich Optimists and the people of the township, that’s exactly what they’re getting. The Optimist Club held its annual plant and bake sale Saturday morning, but this year they made the decision to donate the proceeds from the event to the family of the Alvin Miller to help offset the cost of the boy’s treatments.

Dundee, Ohio - In the spring, this small village of 300 more than quadruples in size when nearly 1,500 young adults and teenagers — many of them Amish — arrive to participate in a series of parties at which children as young as 14 abuse drugs, according to local law enforcement. Many of the youth are taking part in Rumspringa, a period in which young Amish experience “the English way” before deciding whether or not they will join the church, said Tuscarawas County Chief Deputy Sheriff Orvis Campbell. About a dozen sheriff’s deputies joined Campbell recently in a targeted-enforcement effort, which resulted in three arrests, including charges of possession of and trafficking in cocaine.

​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.

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.