11:30 a.m.: Amish family homes to be padlocked
By David Hurst Dhurst@altoonamirror.comEBENSBURG -- A pair of Amish families have been evicted from their homes for failing to follow a judge's order to get their properties' sewage systems into compliance.
In a contempt hearing Friday, Judge Norman A. Krumenacker ordered the family homes of John Miller and Joely Swartzentruber be padlocked at 10 a.m. Monday, and that anyone in the home at the time be removed by sheriffs deputies if necessary.
Krumenacker gave the families three days to remove any belonging they might need from the homes -- Miller's in Barr Township and Swartzentruber's in Black Lick -- but said the locks won't come off until the homes are in compliance with sewage code.
The issues stem from inspections last year that showed the sites were being built without proper permits and without sanitary sewage treatment and disposal methods in place -- something Krumenacker tried to hammer out in previous hearings with the groups.
The Amish stood by their convictions then and today when the order was delivered, saying such upgrades were against their religious beliefs.
Mirror reporters are working on a story for Saturday's paper.
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BBTrekkies
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05-09-09 8:22 PM
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They were given the option to put in a holding tank, which they could then test and spread the contents on their fields. They were not required to HOOK UP to the SYSTEM. They had a choice that did recognize their way of life. No person is perfect, generally they are decent people with flaws and tempers like the rest of us. I always find it amusing when non-religious people expect christians or any other faith to be perfect -- The ONLY person who was perfect was Jesus. We just try to be better but still screw up too. This is not about their beliefs it IS about sanitation.
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JasonFMX
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05-09-09 3:04 AM
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I just want you guys to listen to how silly you sound. You, who never worked with or lived around and know nothing about are telling a person who has done all of those things what they do and how they are? .... that's rich.
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JasonFMX
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05-09-09 2:49 AM
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Well I'm going to make you look real silly... I worked with them for YEARS and my family still lives next to them. SO ........yeah.........I know ALL about them. and Karby..they aren't as hardworking as you think either. And the reason they have to put their sewer in is because its contaminating others waters. YOU GUYS should get YOUR facts straight.
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old409
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05-09-09 12:04 AM
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It's difficult for one to figure out the hypocrisy of the State. The Amish get put out of their homes because they won't install modern plumbing and the State claims their sewage causes an unsanitary condition. Yet about 30 miles away near Coalport, the State offers no protection for people trying to stop sludge from New york being hauled in and dumped right beside their town. Maybe the solution for the Amish is to move to N.Y. and then they could ship their sewage back to Pennsylvania without State interference.
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tyronefan
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05-08-09 11:23 PM
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JasonFMX, I suggest you get your facts straight before you make assumptions. The Amish don't want to live in OUR society. You pose the same argument as the settlers did when they came over to America and pushed out the Native Americans. By wanting them to convert to our religion and follow our rules that we impose on them. Who gives US the right to impose our beliefs on them? I dont know which Amish you have seen, but I never saw them flipping the bird or cursing. As for the horse and buggy's.....they are in compliance with OUR laws. I find it extremely hard to belive that you have seen/heard of "countless" incidents between the horse and buggy and cars. I dont know what statistics you look at, but the last i checked, cars make up the most fatalities and accidents. O that's right....the horse and buggy ran you off the road and tailgated you right? HAHAHA!
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RazMnaz
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05-08-09 10:49 PM
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How is it forcing them to become one of us by having them get indoor plumbing and using a toilet to flush their waste into a sewer, instead of using an outhouse and not being sure of (or caring) where their poop goes? Why do those people think that something as proper as using an indoor bathroom is living high on the hog in a life of grandeur? Some of them would even think that it's sinful. If so, show me in the Bible where it says it is.
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karbry1
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05-08-09 9:26 PM
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Amish pay federal and state taxes, however, they do not need to pay social security tax, because they do not take the social security payment, which means.........no welfare reciepents. They are quiet, peaceful, and desire to live a humble peaceful life. They work harder then the average person, and they have actual families that sit down, pray, and eat dinner together? how many families do that today? I actually envy their simplicity of life. We should learn from them, instead of trying to force them to become us.
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karbry1
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05-08-09 9:26 PM
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Amish pay federal and state taxes, however, they do not need to pay social security tax, because they do not take the social security payment, which means.........no welfare reciepents. They are quiet, peaceful, and desire to live a humble peaceful life. They work harder then the average person, and they have actual families that sit down, pray, and eat dinner together? how many families do that today? I actually envy their simplicity of life. We should learn from them, instead of trying to force them to become us.
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JasonFMX
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05-08-09 8:39 PM
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Just for the record before we start getting bashed. I don't think a person in the world gives a hoot about their religion. Its just, they want to live in our society, but not follow our rules...doesn't work that way. They are dangerous... Yes I said it, dangerous. Read my post below. Not only that, they aren't that Holy, I've seen them flipping the bird, swearing, using modern things for their own convenience...not work, and swearing. They aren't innocent.
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JasonFMX
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05-08-09 8:36 PM
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Yeah...and their horses and buggies are EXTREME road hazards in more ways than one. There are countless stories of accidents from motorists and I can personally account for several close calls and well as witnessing even more.
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KlausVR
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05-08-09 8:26 PM
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They pay taxes like the rest of us ... actually they don't. Check it out yourself. And, actually, effluent from outhouses can travel miles through the substrata. Look it up yourself.
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brutis
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05-08-09 6:21 PM
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KlausVR, The Amish pay taxes like the rest of us. I don't agree with the governments decision . "Freedom of religion"? Hardly. Another lie of the dictators running this Nation. The Amish live in very secluded areas. There outhouses pose no threat to the water supply. This is about money. Once hooked up to a county/city sewer system, it's a monthly bill from the government. This is another of some 10,000 reasons I do not pledge allegiance or salute the AmeriKan way. Because America does not remotely stand for freedom. And it has not for some 300 years. Compliments of Pres. Lincoln. And AmeriKan corporations. Greed, corruption, lies, money, money, money, and draconian laws are the standard in AmeriKa.
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KlausVR
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05-08-09 3:27 PM
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OMG ... now they'll have to poop outside ... Oh, wait ... they already do!
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KlausVR
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05-08-09 12:37 PM
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It's Obama's fault.
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CressonBoy
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05-08-09 12:29 PM
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It's against my religious beliefs to suffer repukkklicant fools., (Oops, that's redundent.) Does that mean I can ignore the laws against murder?
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KlausVR
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05-08-09 11:48 AM
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Holy crop ... here we go again. Hey, render to Caesar ... And, keep your filth spewing buggies off OUR roads paid for by OUR taxes.
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