Rebekah Byler Murder Case Update: Cranston Drove For The Amish

Rebekah Byler Murder Case Update: Cranston Drove For The Amish

Shawn C. Cranston, accused in the killing of Amish mother Rebekah Byler, had a preliminary hearing on Friday, March 15th. It lasted over three hours and saw more than 10 witnesses called to testify. After looking at reporting from the case, I’ve put together some of the takeaways here, compiled from several reports linked within this post. 1) Cranston as Amish taxi driver Cranston apparently…

“Yankees vs. Amish”: Charity Basketball Game Raises Money For A Good Cause

“Yankees vs. Amish”: Charity Basketball Game Raises Money For A Good Cause

Amish vs. non-Amish in a competitive basketball game? In Geauga County, Ohio, home to the world’s fourth-largest Amish settlement, it happens every year in a charity event, pitting Amish against non-Amish teams. The purpose is to raise money for the local DDC Clinic, which helps children with rare genetic disorders. This is something I’d heard about, but hadn’t ever had a chance to share here…

Former Marine Saved Amish 2-Year-Old In Van Crash

Former Marine Saved Amish 2-Year-Old In Van Crash

Of the ten people involved in the Amish van accident last week, only one survived – an approximately two-year-old Amish boy named Micah Schrock. Not long after, an account emerged of how the boy made it through the catastrophic wreck in west-central Wisconsin. A former Marine named Nathaniel Jahn was fortunately on the scene right as the accident happened. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The semitrailer…

Nine Die In Crash, Including 7 Amish From Burke’s Garden, VA. 2-Year-Old Boy Only Survivor

Nine Die In Crash, Including 7 Amish From Burke’s Garden, VA. 2-Year-Old Boy Only Survivor

 Some very sad news following a road accident in Wisconsin Friday. A vanload of Amish people was struck by a semi in Clark County (west-central Wisconsin) while on a trip to visit family. From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: As many as 7 of the 9 people killed in the second-deadliest crash in state history Friday are members of an Amish community from Burke’s Garden in…

Why doesn’t Amos Miller just get a permit to sell raw milk?

Why doesn’t Amos Miller just get a permit to sell raw milk?

That’s the question Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle asked in the ongoing legal saga between Amish dairy farmer Amos Miller and the state of Pennsylvania. “Why doesn’t Amos Miller just go get a permit … just like every other Amish farmer in the county and commonwealth does if they want to sell raw milk?” the judge asked. “Doesn’t he see in his heart that’s all…

40 Years of Amish First Names

40 Years of Amish First Names

What is a typical “Amish” first name? Well the answer to that question, at least in some communities, seems to change – a lot – over time. Jim Halverson shares an interesting feature in Die Blatt, an Amish publication out of the large northern Indiana settlement. They’ve compiled and published the first names Amish parents gave their babies in 1983, 2003, and 2023. Looking at…

Man Arrested & Charged For Murder of Rebekah Byler & Her Unborn Child (Updated)

Man Arrested & Charged For Murder of Rebekah Byler & Her Unborn Child (Updated)

 News is just coming out that police have made an arrest in the Rebekah Byler murder case. This comes five days after Rebekah’s body was discovered at home by her husband. From Yourerie.com: Spartansburg, Pa. (WJET/WFXP) — State police have announced the arrest of 52-year-old Shawn Cranston of Corry, PA in the killing of 23-year-old Rebekah Byler. Cranston is being charged with Criminal Homicide,…

Count Your Blessings: Amish Family Escapes Home Fire Unscathed

Count Your Blessings: Amish Family Escapes Home Fire Unscathed

After a heavy news week, I just wanted to leave you with a story which – while I’m not quite sure you can call it “good” news – it’s at the least a count-your-blessings type of story. There’s not a ton to this, but it’s been reported that an Amish family was able to escape a house fire in a community in upstate New York….

Ben Riehl Shares His Story & Answers Questions – Including A Tough One

Ben Riehl Shares His Story & Answers Questions – Including A Tough One

In this video (at bottom), Ben Riehl shares some of his story with us. We talk about his job, past work, and family. Then he answers some more questions, including on telephones, pizza, and the difference between Amish in northern and southern Lancaster County. There are also a couple of brief cameo appearances, by Ben’s wife Mary and son Jay Lester. We end with Ben’s…

Inside A “Modern Country” Amish Home (14 Photos)

Inside A “Modern Country” Amish Home (14 Photos)

I’m calling this “modern country” because it is a more progressive Amish home – with a lot of the notes and decor you’ll see in non-Amish rural homes. This is the type of home that some people will take a glance at and say “that’s not Amish” – but in fact it is. In other words, quite different from the last Amish home we looked…

Pregnant 23-Year-Old Amish Woman Found Dead At Home – Police Investigating As Murder (Updated)

Pregnant 23-Year-Old Amish Woman Found Dead At Home – Police Investigating As Murder (Updated)

Hate to have to share this awful news, but a shocking story has emerged in northwest Pennsylvania. A 23-year-old Amish woman named Rebekah Byler was found dead at home yesterday, in what police are presuming is a homicide.  From fox8.com: CRAWFORD COUNTY, Penn. (WJET) – A murder investigation is underway at an Amish home in Crawford County, and Monday night state police asked for…

Amish Woman Marlene Lehman Shares Her Typical Day (Video)

Amish Woman Marlene Lehman Shares Her Typical Day (Video)

I recently sat down for an hour-long conversation with Marlene Lehman, who is a member of an Old Order Amish church in the Shipshewana, Indiana area. I really enjoyed speaking with Marlene as we talked about life in northern Indiana, how things have changed, tourist visitors, things she misses about the farming life, and what Marlene does to help run Plain & Simple magazine, along…

Another Driver Who Shouldn’t Be Driving Hits Amish Children – On Same Minnesota Road

Another Driver Who Shouldn’t Be Driving Hits Amish Children – On Same Minnesota Road

Remember the two Amish children who were killed by one of the twin sisters in Minnesota? It turns out here was another car-buggy crash – this one a hit-and-run – on the exact same road (Fillmore County Road 1). Like the identity-swapping Petersen sisters, the driver here has an extensive record, and simply shouldn’t be behind the wheel of any vehicle. Here’s what happened via…

The “Amish” of Greece?

The “Amish” of Greece?

A rather bizarre story has been making the rounds, from all the way over in Greece. A family has been discovered living in very basic conditions, and subsequently compared to the Amish in the media. But is that a good comparison? From Greek Reporter: Police recently arrested the father of a family living an “early Christian” community lifestyle in a basic hut on the Peloponnese…

Amish Buggy Crash (With Weird A.I. Illustration?)

Amish Buggy Crash (With Weird A.I. Illustration?)

I know AI content is showing up everywhere now. I’ve seen it used for some Amish-related content already. But this is the first time I’ve seen artificial intelligence illustrating an Amish buggy crash.  First, the more serious part of this story, the actual crash (via KTTN). Sadly, it is another bad-sounding buggy accident, this one in Missouri: The collision happened when the Ford Escape…

“Amish babies take a little longer” – Ben Answers Humorous Questions on Amish Weddings & Finding Wives

“Amish babies take a little longer” – Ben Answers Humorous Questions on Amish Weddings & Finding Wives

Here’s another video in my series with Ben (previous video – “Do Amish Believe They’re The Only True Christians?” here). In this one, he answers a question about Amish marriages. A viewer asked the following: You made a comment about Autumn being the wedding season for the Amish people. I’m not trying to be sarcastic or funny, but is it so they will have their…

Mud Sales: 2024 Schedule (Lancaster County & More)

Mud Sales: 2024 Schedule (Lancaster County & More)

When are the mud sales in Lancaster County? (Jump to full 2024 Mud Sale Schedule) 2024 Mud Sale Guide (22 Sales) The Lancaster County mud sale schedule for 2024 is now available, with the first event happening just over a week from now (February 23 & 24 at Strasburg Fire Company). These Amish-heavy events draw members of the community and outside visitors in support of the…