This letter is in response to Robert Hansard's recent letter suggesting that the Altoona Fire Department, its administration, the Civil Service Board and the city itself is prejudiced and biased in that no minorities are currently on the fire department roster.Nothing could be further from the ...

Bravo.I read the story about Bellwood-Antis High School valedictorian Kerri Little. This young lady is more courageous than I ever imagined.We have become a godless nation. So much crime, dishonesty and drugs.When will it stop?If there are enough young people like Little to have the courage to ...

Dennie Huber, "Hubie the Clown," will be sadly missed here at Maybrook Hills.He brought light and laughter here for years.I can almost hear laughter in the summer breezes. He's still entertaining; it's in his loving soul.Dan MeckesAltoona

Master balloon artist Dennie Huber has been twisting balloons his entire life.He has over the years built a reputation for his multiple balloon creations and his wacky balloon character hats with big 3D eyes, wings, feathers and legs.His act included entertainment for the entire family. In ...

After reading "Stricter gun rules sought" in last Friday's Mirror, the words of my dear mother came to mind: "At least their hearts are in the right place."I won't quote the second half of what she used to say.Almost everything they were against is already illegal. And none of what they were ...

Please, before a reader of the Mirror attempts to lecture me on the Second Amendment, I would like to point out a few facts.I am a registered Republican and an avid outdoors man.I've been a licensed hunter since age 12, and I am a proponent of the right to carry concealed firearms for ...

Upon reading Saturday's edition of the Mirror, I came across two articles dealing with sex crimes against children.Both were still at the arraignment phase. One had a male defendant and one a female. The male was behind bars (which I agree with), but the female was cut loose with an unsecured ...

I read with dismay the comment of an unidentified Altoona City Council member, who asserted in a story in the Mirror on June 8 ("City looks to charge fees for events") that the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA is a "Hollidaysburg organization" that ought to be charged under a proposed ordinance for use ...

I was disappointed to pick up the Mirror on the morning of June 6 and find almost no mention of the Normandy Invasion on that date in 1944.It seems to me that the fact that an estimated 9,000 soldiers died on that day would be very important to remind the American people of the sacrifice those ...

Bellwood-Antis High School valedictorian Kerri Little deserves big congratulations for having the guts to stand up for herself and what she believes in.If more people were like her, maybe bullying and racism could be eradicated instead of the establishment either covering it up, ignoring it or ...

After reading of Bellwood-Antis High School valedictorian Kerri Little in the June 8 edition of the Mirror, I thought, "Go girl, go."She's got a great future ahead of her.Every morning, always observe the three Gs of your day - get up, get out and get at 'em.And if you have to bite, bite first. ...

I read the story about Altoona City Council's plan to eliminate the land-value method of property taxation and hope they follow through.I feel the move to this method years ago was a bad one for residents of the city as it tends to move more of the tax burden away from the commercial side and ...

We as Americans are very proud to say that, "Our children are America's future."Sometimes, we should hear without simply listening.I do not know Kerri Little, Bellwood-Antis valedictorian. Nor am I well familiar with the Bellwood-Antis High School.But I think that some principles are universal, ...

What was the true cost of hiring John Kopicki as the Altoona Area School District superintendent less than one year ago?There is his actual salary - $20,000 more than his predecessor. Keep in mind that he had never worked in a district this size, had only six years of prior experience and no ...

I generally enjoy the Opinion page of the Mirror, and, as I write this, today's edition contains a column written by Jonah Goldberg concerning Hillary Clinton.I also happened to finish reading a book by Peter Schweizer named "Clinton Cash" for the second time.This has been going on with both ...

The Mirror recently included an article regarding Sen. Pat Toomey's visit made to Altoona to discuss the dangers of the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.Toomey's visit got me thinking about Iran and how it has been decades since the leaders in Iran have given the U.S. any reason to ...

My question is for the mayor of Altoona and the newly appointed councilwoman.Are you bothered by the fact that you oversee the city that has a segregated fire department? I raised this question in 2014. They talked a lot about it for five minutes and properly moved on.All tax-paying minorities ...

Col. George Day served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He earned at least one of every combat medal, including a medal of honor.In 1967, he was shot down over Vietnam. He was a POW for five years and seven months, being tortured and treated like an animal.Donald Trump does not like him or ...

Donald Trump is a multi-billionaire with no idea of what the average human plight can be.He is absolutely out of touch with society, and his plans on improving America are blatantly inconsistent and contradictory.Trump's proposal to ban and deport Muslims from our country is incredibly ...

I watched the Bellwood Memorial Day parade. I haven't been to one, I hate to say, in years.The weather was hot-hot, and as I watched this parade, I thought of the people marching who had on heavy clothes.This wasn't a five-minute parade. I think a lot of towns were having parades. We were real ...