Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

As predicted, Old Crow degraded

I am writing to express my deep concern over the degradation of the Old Crow wetland in Huntingdon; a place once teeming with salamanders, turtles, frogs, insects and native plants. Recent sediment pollution from the Rutter’s construction has already begun to choke this fragile ecosystem — an outcome many of us predicted when the truck stop project adjacent to the wetland was first proposed. Despite the clear risks, permits were hastily approved and planning corners cut, leaving this invaluable natural area vulnerable. Wetlands are not wastelands; they are living systems that ...

WPSU plans a loss for the community

Is anyone else upset by the news that WPSU’s TV and radio will “cease operations next year?” This decision comes after government cuts to funding public TV and radio, and a decision by Penn State’s Board of Trustees’ Finance and Investment Committee. The university had considered transferring ownership and assets of WPSU to WHYY, a public media organization based in Philadelphia. But apparently this was not a viable alternative in the board’s view. Board Chair David Kleppinger’s comment that “this is a deeply disappointing outcome” is an understatement. We, and many ...

Week celebrates APP profession

National Advanced Practice Providers Week is being celebrated Sept. 22-26. This year’s theme “Racing Toward the Future: Celebrating APPs” underscores the forward momentum of the APP profession and its pivotal role in advancing care, improving access to care and driving innovation in clinical practice. It is a week set aside to celebrate, honor and recognize the invaluable contributions and pivotal role APPs play in our health care system. The UPMC Altoona Advanced Practice Provider Committee in coordination with UPMC Altoona would like to recognize the outstanding care and ...

Extremism is not welcome

As a child, I was taught that we shouldn’t attack those we disagreed with and that a basic level of respect must rule any interaction. Clearly, many parents don’t subscribe to this position anymore or their kids have been indoctrinated by their obtuse professors to hate anyone outside of their particular political party. If you think it’s OK to kill those who speak from a point of view that you don’t agree with, you are an extremist. If you are an educator and insist that your students parrot your own political beliefs, you are part of the problem. If you are a ...

Have some compassion

In light of the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and the aftermath, I am trying to understand how citizens of the greatest country in the world can be so cruel and heartless. Politics aside, this young man was a son, a husband, a father and a human being. Where is the compassion for the family’s loss? Instead, people are actually celebrating his death, writing songs and dancing with joy. I’ve seen videos of people trampling his memorial. Amazon was selling T-shirts depicting the blood stains. How could someone be so depraved to think this behavior is acceptable? Loss of ...

Teacher has the right to free speech, too

There was an article in the Sept. 12 edition of the Mirror about a teacher in Spring Cove facing backlash after posting a comment on Facebook regarding Charlie Kirk. I, for one, agree with her 100% and defend her right to voice her opinion, no matter who she works for. To start a petition to have her disciplined or removed says more about those signing the petition than they realize. What are they afraid of? Do they think some of the students might see the comment? So keep your kids off Facebook. Believe me, they will see much worse online on any given day. If it’s against ...