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Opinion

Williamsburg tree issues require bids

Editorials

Aside from their beauty, trees can be dangerous, even deadly. While adverse weather conditions such as high winds or heavy rains put varying degrees of stress on these “towers of nature,” there also are uncontrollable natural factors that weaken them as they age. It’s not unlike what humans and animals experience as they grow older and eventually die. However, for trees, that process can evolve over, perhaps, hundreds of years. Regarding trees and not unlike humans, these towering components of the environment should be accorded attention — at least those that exist outside ...

Local Republican leadership matters

Letters to the Editor

Pennsylvania's future depends on electing leaders who understand our communities and are willing to fight for them. This November, I'm supporting the Republican candidates on the ballot who are committed to moving Pennsylvania forward. Republican leadership offers a record of fiscal responsibility, constituent service, economic growth, energy development, and keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking Pennsylvanians. Here at home, Republican candidates are bringing years of legislative, community, and public-service experience to the table. They understand the challenges facing ...

Motorized bike issues need taken seriously

Letters to the Editor

Unfortunately, the City of Altoona has opened the door for very disturbing and dangerous behavior of teens and some adults. Knowing drugs is a huge issue, I'm sure any complaint otherwise lodged, maybe filed away for sometime in the future. I am speaking of the problem of motorized bikes that are taking over our roadways. This summer has been unbearable on Hudson Avenue. My husband made a call to the Altoona Police, leaving a voicemail of concern regarding them, but never received a call back. We daily witness kids, no more than 13 or 14, racing up and down the Avenue and blowing ...

NRA, gun ownership stats don't match

Letters to the Editor

As of July 1, 2026, the population of America is about 343 million people. Concurrently, it is estimated there are between 500 to 540 million civilian-owned firearms here. Yes, we are a gun-loving culture immersed in the Second Amendment's “right of the people to keep and bear arms." Of course not all of us own guns. Estimates show there are 107 million individuals, or roughly 32% of the population, who own at least one firearm. Reasons for ownership include personal protection (72%), recreational shooting, competitive shooting, collecting, hunting, required by occupation, display ...

Press ensures accountability

Letters to the Editor

As a longtime resident of a community that mostly supports President Trump, I write to address his recent decision to revoke White House access for select media organizations. While many in our area understand the deep frustration with certain press coverage — which often feels biased or disconnected from “normal" American life — we must be careful not to cheer away fundamental principles that serve us all. Holding press credentials is a standard mechanism for public accountability, not a personal favor. Throughout history, the press has served as a crucial buffer between ...

Our teachers are more than numbers

Letters to the Editor

As a parent, substitute teacher and PTO Vice President, I have the privilege of being at Frankstown Elementary almost every day. I see firsthand what our teachers mean to the more than 600 students who walk through those doors. They don’t simply teach the curriculum placed in front of them. They know our children. They listen to stories about the home run a student hit over the weekend, their pets, siblings and grandparents. They notice when a child isn’t quite themselves. They celebrate successes, offer encouragement through struggles and become trusted adults our children know ...