I just finished watching the pre-trial hearing in the Ruth Miller case, intended to be the final hearing before her trial, which had been scheduled for March 4th. The big news from this is that Ruth has waived her right to a jury trial, instead opting for a bench trial. That means the judge in the case, Tuscarawas County Judge Michael Ernest, will review the…
The trial date for Amish mother Ruth Miller, charged with aggravated murder in the death of her four-year-old son Vincen, is fast approaching. It’s slated to begin in early March in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. A timely new report from People provides more back story and several disturbing details about what happened last August at Atwood Lake, not far from the couple’s Amish community. It is…
Since 2012, there has been a small Amish community in Lemhi County, Idaho – one of the westernmost Amish locations, and the Gem State’s only Amish presence. This community has perhaps been best known by its Baker Country Market, owned and run by the Paul Miller family. The market has gotten media attention on several occasions, and for over a decade has been a popular…
A nice new song was recently released by brother and sister duo Mike and Marty Fisher. First a note on their name. We’ve known them til now as Third Fret Harmony – a group which also once included their sister Rose, of Ben & Rose. Mike has confirmed with me officially that yes, they have a new name – simply Mike & Marty. I think…
Awful news of a deadly crash Friday in Indiana’s largest Amish settlement. The buggy was rear-ended by a pickup truck, on a road which appears to have a wide buggy lane (more on that below). Details on what happened from WSBT: ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — A crash on State Road 4 killed two children and injured two others on Friday morning. Shortly after 8…
I found this story both surprising and not surprising. It was surprising to me in that I’d never heard of a deer stand for disabled hunters (though granted, I’m not a hunter myself, and it sounds like a good idea). It’s not surprising in that a) many Amish people love hunting, and b) many Amish people are creative and innovative in coming up with solutions…
This new short from Ben & Rose is another old one – a hymn written in 1906 by James D. Vaughan called “Hold Fast To The Right”. One commenter on YouTube writes “I have not hear this song in 70+ years—what a joy to now hear it again!” This 25-second clip is just a snippet of the chorus and some nice guitar playing, but it…
Details are scarce but the Daily Voice is reporting on an Amish school being broken into last month in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: The burglary happened at a schoolhouse on Dry Wells Road in Bart Township on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 8:13 a.m., according to the release. Troopers from the Lancaster Patrol Unit responded to the scene for a report of criminal mischief, police said. Through…
That little beige building in the photo below is West View Acres. It’s a charming Amish-run farm stand located in Springs, Pennsylvania. This is in the venerable Somerset County Amish community. It’s the country’s second-oldest, where the Amish have lived for over 250 years. And on my recent visit here, I was reminded how the Amish retail experience can be a throwback to another time….
Ben and Rose return with their first full video in a little while. This one is called “If I Needed You”. In contrast to some of their latest, this is a more contemporary song, written by Townes Van Zandt in 1972. I would call this an “upbeat ballad”. Nice guitar playing and wonderful singing together as usual. Interestingly they are in a different setting here…