I’m writing in reference to a story from Sept. 19 about Act 101, Pennsylvania’s recycling law. These are hard financial times for our state, communities, and families. The budget negotiations in Harrisburg have been painful. It is likely the final compromise will leave many stakeholders ...

I wish to acknowledge total gratitude to the Blair County Historical Society for an event called “Born To Be Wild.” This was a 1960s and ’70s dinner dance party especially honoring our Vietnam veterans who served in our armed forces, past and present. The event was held on Sept. 1, ...

On a Saturday in August, a group of us were having breakfast at Denny’s. In a booth close to us, there was a young man and a small boy with a missing tooth. They were enjoying their breakfast and each other. They left, and the boy smiled and said goodbye. When it was time for us to ...

I am responding to the offensive article in the Mirror featuring comments from Rep. John McGinnis regarding recycling mandates in Pennsylvania. I am now retired from Penn State. While employed, I was the program manager of the labor and equipment and municipal solid waste program. In ...

President Donald Trump is correct in asking the legislators to solve the “dreamers” deportation problem. That is how it should be done as opposed to an executive order. How they should do it is by addressing the immigration problem by addressing the various issues independently. The ...

As the chairman of the Blair County Conservation District, I am very concerned about a proposal by a handful of state House of Representatives members to balance the state budget. These representatives propose to balance the state budget by taking a one-time transfer from non-lapsing funds, ...

In June of 2017, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) killed a sick deer near Mahaffey on State Game Lands 87. In July, the PGC confirmed that the sick deer DID have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and did not come from a deer farm but was a wild deer. In order for that sick deer to show ...

Much has been accomplished this summer in the upgrading of the Rose Hill Cemetery. For example, grass has been regularly cut, and areas around the tombstones trimmed. Further, broken veteran medallions have been taken down to be replaced with intact medallions, torn flags are gone, the split ...

My letter is in reference to the articles in the Mirror on Sunday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 3, about Chronic Wasting Disease. The issue of CWD needs to be addressed promptly before it’s too late. The deer farms that are in operation at this point need to be phased out. All new permits ...

When I saw the headline in Sunday’s Mirror “Looking at Draconian cuts,” my first thought was “finally.” We all know that government spending, especially on the state and federal level is out of control. The elected officials often talk about getting our spending under control but ...

In response to the Sept. 10, 2017, article headlined “State Police facing shortage,” I am troubled by inaccurate statements related to staffing levels within the Pennsylvania State Police and the work being done to ensure an adequate number of troopers are recruited and trained to provide ...

After President Donald Trump announced his decision to end the DACA program, it is imperative that Congress act rapidly to rectify the situation and give people who were brought to the U.S. as children (through no fault of their own) and have contributed positively to American society the ...

I am writing today about a problem families with special needs children will soon be facing — where to get help for Christmas. I know a family who has a child with ADHD and autism who was told by Toys For Tots, the Salvation Army and other organizations that the child was over the age ...

I agreed with the Aug. 22 letter from Marsha Hunter on what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, until she said, “If you believe both sides were at fault, then you are pro-Nazi.” That is a ridiculous statement. I can only give it the eye test, but what I saw on television were people ...

Last week two different letters appeared in the Mirror — one from a person calling the president a neo-Nazi, the other calling him a terrorist. The writers of those letters are clearly watching fake news channels. And the one letter said that we need to quit watching Fox News. Why would I ...

I was driving my car on Aug. 30 when it stalled and shut off at North Second Street in Altoona. I was about to try pushing it when all of a sudden, five or six city employees came out of nowhere and pushed my car into Conrail’s parking lot. Their efforts were deeply appreciated. Just ...

I do not agree with tearing down the statue of Robert E. Lee. He was one of the best generals — if not the best — to come out of West Point. He proved that to us time and time again in the first two years of the war. Did someone on our side see this? They sure did because we tried to ...

The construction, development team, lenders and investors for the Highland Hall development in Hollidaysburg would like to thank all the responders from the Phoenix Fire Company and other local responders for their assistance on July 26. Air conditioners that were in storage on our roof ...

Stars and horses made good memories Just a memory aid for my fellow 1950s’ and 1960s’ want-to-be-cowboys and cowgirls. How many remember these old-time western stars and their faithful horses? Roy Rogers and Trigger, Gene Autry and Champion, William Boyd and Topper, Bill Elliot and ...

A story in the Aug. 25 Mirror again has me scratching my head. In talking about financing the proposed new high school, Altoona Superintendent Charles Prijatelj states that by increasing revenues (read taxes) by $200,000 each year for 10 years, the district would have enough money to ride ...