Amish in the News: Weaver Murder, Amish in New York, Return to Amish and More!

By Kevin Williams

We have quite a mix of stories today in Amish in the News!

You know, I've been chronicling Amish life for a quarter century and not much surprises me anymore.  And one of the reasons not much surprises me anymore among the Amish (or anyone for that matter) is the Barbara Weaver murder in 2009.

A new book chronicles the grisly murder of Barbara Weaver at the hands of her Amish husband and his lover.

MURDER IN AMISH COUNTRY:  A new book is out detailing the grisly murder of Amish mom, Barbara Weaver at the hands of her husband, Eli, and his lover.  Fueled by internet dating sites this Amish man's desires took a brutal turn.  Just a horrible story and I feel so bad for the deceased wife and the children. What a mess.  This story actually occurred back in 2009 and I mention it from time to time in my talks.  Curiously, the local paper, The Wooster Daily Record, in Wooster, Ohio seemed to take pains to never identify the man as Amish.  Typically I think newspapers do too much of the opposite, identify someone as Amish when it has no relevance, but a murder among the Amish is such a rarity that the paper should have explored that anglehttp://www.bustle.com/articles/171176-are-abe-rebecca-still-together-this-return-to-amish-couple-has-had-their-issues more.  Anyway, to read more (the post does contain mild sexual content), click here.

WHITEHALL, NY AMISH, PART 1 - Now, at the opposite end of the spectrum from the last story, is this story: a multi-part package by the newspaper in Glens Falls, New York about the increasing Amish presence in the area.  The story is well-done and depicts the Amish in a way that is much more familiar to me than Eli Weaver.   I'll bring the whole series to you, I think it's insight to the Amish expansion in New York and elsewhere. Click here to read part I.

RETURN TO AMISH: ABE AND REBECCA:  Really, I could care less about this so part of me gets mad at myself for even posting it, but I know a lot of people do watch the show Return to Amish...so if you do watch it and care about whether Abe and Rebecca get back together (I don't), then click here.

BUGGY SAFETY:  It summer and that means a rash of buggy crashes as people take to the roads in larger numbers.  This article lays out some common sense advice and analysis about how to avoid crashes.  Click here.

MILLIE OTTO'S CREAM CHEESE BARS:  Millie Otto is an Amish woman in Illinois who writes a column for a local paper.  I like to occasionally share her columns and recipes with you. Click here to check out Millie's cream cheese bars this week!