Amish in the News: Brown City Stink; Millie Otto; Pinecraft Past, and One-Room School Permit

Some interesting Amish in the News items today, so let's jump right in!

BROWN CITY STINK:  This area of Michigan, which straddles the Lapeer and Sanilac lines, has really seen an increase in its Amish population over the past 10 years or so.  And this increased population is bringing with it increased tensions with locals over Amish-related annoyances (well, these aren't annoying to me) like horse-droppings and steel wheels making ruts in the roads.  This is an issue that flares up periodically and I just don't get it.... If I ever am to the point where the most pressing issue in my life is horse manure on the road in my town, I'll be thrilled.   And I've said before in cases about steel wheel damage...I just can't imagine that they do anymore damage to roads that snow plows, salt spreaders, and semi-trucks.   This all seems to be a stink over not much, but that's just my opinion. Click here to read more.

PINECRAFT PAST:  This is one of the better articles I've read about how Florida's unique Amish settlement first took shape. Click here to read more.  The above picture is of some Amish residents we spotted once pedaling through the streets of this quiet enclave.

MILLIE OTTO:    There are many voices among the Old Order Amish, writers with stories to tell and lives to share.   This is another Amish writer in Illinois who has been writing a column for several years.  The Amish Cook column has spawned several similar features.  Millie Otto is Old Order Amish from the settlement of Arthur, Illinois (Otto is a relatively common surname there, less so in other places).   She writes a weekly column that follows very much the same format of The Amish Cook.  You can check out a sample here.

AMISH SCHOOL PERMIT:  This is a very local, not-very-exciting news piece, but it's interesting (at least to me) to read about the process of how things come about.  In this case, an Amish school.  This area of rural northern Minnesota is experiencing an Amish influx of late, so I'm not surprised to see that there is a need for an Amish parochial school.  Click here for more.