Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

First Amendment rights offer hope

I was diagnosed with cancer during Donald Trump’s first term; I was 35. I spent six months navigating uncertainty, dread and relentless physical pain — chemotherapy, needles, exhaustion that words can’t capture. While I sat in that infusion chair for eight hours a day, five days a week, two weeks at a time, guess who was always on the screens that weren’t monitoring my vitals? Donald Trump. During the worst chapter of my life, there he was. I never liked him. As a child, I remember laughing with my dad at his ridiculous hair on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” I always ...

Proposed ordinance draws concern

It is with some urgency that I write this alert for the citizens of Altoona. At a recent city council work session, our current city manager introduced a proposed ordinance at the work session. This new proposal would reduce city examining and permitting for electrical and plumbing within the city limits. Under the current system that we have now, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been put into the city coffers through the use of permits and licenses. When you call for a licensed and insured electrician or plumber, you can rest assured you are getting an individual that knows ...

Altoona VA has made great advancements

I came to this planet 81 years and 11 months ago. You would think in that time, I learned not to do stupid things. Nope! I stretched my hamstring muscle in my right leg from here to Bellwood. I hobbled around for two weeks, then finally went to the Van Zandt VA Medical Center for therapy. My first session was May 14, my last was June 10. When I left, my leg felt great. In the years I have been going to the Altoona VA, I have not one complaint about my care or how staff treated me. The Altoona VA has made great advancements in veterans care. And we veterans appreciate this. I ...

It’s time to revive Lakemont Park

Growing up in Altoona in the ’90s, Lakemont Park was a blast. Fun rides, great food, an arcade and a waterpark. What more could a boy want? Now, at 32, living in Hollidaysburg with my wife and our five children, I’m sad that I can’t share that experience with our kids. Why? Years ago, former Blair County commissioners signed a lease with Lakemont Partnership until 2066, allegedly. Anyone familiar with leasing knows agreements like this are foolish. You can’t predict how tenants will end up. Now, in 2025, Lakemont Park’s rides have been closed for two years, a sad shell of ...

UPMC Altoona staff greatly appreciated

I had an experience at UPMC Altoona worth sharing. May 13, I woke up with chest pains at 4:30 a.m.; alarmed but hoping the feeling would pass. When the pain persisted, I was worried. Where should I go? After much agonizing, I ended up in the UPMC Altoona Emergency Department at about 9 a.m. Within a couple minutes, I was called back and immediately had an EKG and other vital signs checked. Five minutes after that, I was in a bed, hooked up to monitors and an IV was started for extensive blood testing. My morning was one of continual monitoring and personal attention, probing ...

Pets are safer, happier at home

In a recent story in the Altoona Mirror, we learned an English bulldog succumbed to heatstroke after she was left in an individual’s vehicle for an extended period of time. Before taking your beloved pet with you, please consider the following scenarios that may occur: 1. You meet someone while out and lose track of time while conversing with that person. 2. You receive a call from your workplace. 3. You receive a call from a family member or friend. 4. You yourself have a medical emergency. Any of these four or any number of similar occurrences can easily cause you to lose ...