Juniata Valley Magazine 2021: Kids

JUNIATA VALLEY

KIDS

2021

The Sentinel

www.lewistownsentinel.com

2021

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—1

The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Juniata Valley kids point to bright future I don’t think anyone the Devils around. We will be upset at my say- had no masks, we were ing this, but the past 12 face to face with strangmonths have comers and traded bined to form a high fives — pretty awful year. well, he did — It’s hard to when Pittsburgh believe, but not scored. quite a year ago Three days — March 10, 2020 later, our gov— Managing Ediernor declared tor Brian Cox and the end of the I were in Newworld, or at ark, New Jersey, least something Jeff with a few thouthat felt like it.

Fishbein sand other hockey Today, we’re fans, watching his be- celebrating the freeloved Penguins smack dom of being a child.

The kids profiled in this year ’s Juniata Valley magazine have proven one thing in common: They shall overcome.

They are hard working. They are go-getters. They do not quit.

From 18 months to 18 years — or a bit older — they are the future, and these kids send a strong message that it will be a bright one.

I wish I could say my story, about a barely teen-aged model, was the best. But that would

be unfair to those uncovered by Sentinel staff and correspondent writers. Truth be told, it’s the aforementioned Mr. Cox whose story about his own son touched me the most, and I’d heard it before.

A late arrival is the tale of a not-quite school-age young girl who’s faced more modern medicine than most adults. Talk about a survivor!

Whether a small achievement or a major

accomplishment, every one of these kids impressed their loved ones enough to propel them into these pages.

We started by asking our staff and our readers to find kids who would make good stories. The only rule was they had to be 21 or under (or in college if they were older). Most of the stories here are being told by Sentinel writers. Others came from family members.

Only a small num-

ber of nominations presented to us did not get in, usually because we were unable to communicate further with the family or the subject of the story.

Except where noted, all photos are provided by families and friends.

••• Jeff Fishbein is lifestyles editor of The Sentinel and coordinator of Juniata Valley magazine. Contact him by email at living@lewistownsentinel.com or phone (717) 248-6741.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Ram-Wood Custom Cabinetry LLC

Table of contents

Specializing in custom kitchen & bath cabinets

Tristan Hileman . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Alexis Kuhns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rachel Whistler . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Mason Baney . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lady Patriots . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Justin Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ruth Ann and Terry Kepner . . . . . . . . . . 17 Tenley Renee Jones . . . . . . . 18 Cameron James . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Molly Wagoner . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Gary Gonsar Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Rachel Erdman . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Trenton Seitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Logan Breneman . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Alyse Traxler . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Lane Snook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Alexis Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Kyra Kauffman . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Quorra Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Kale Alston . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Talynn Snook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Garrett Baublitz . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Matthew Weimer . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Aubrey Kirkland . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Emmy Snook . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Mifflin County baseball . . . . 49 Ethan Brummer . . . . . . . . . . 51 Hunter Wolfley . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Aidan Miller . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Madison and Kaitlyn Copeland . . . . . . . . . 54 Paisley Beaver . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Gage Schaeffer . . . . . . . . . . 57 Collin Mountz . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Anney and Emmalee Fisher-Henson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Kierstyn Fogle . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Cover design:

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—3

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Scouting’s highest honor

By Bradley Kreitzer Sentinel reporter

LEWISTOWN — In Scouting, reaching the rank of Eagle is a long and challenging endeavor that takes years for Scouts to obtain.

It’s the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank and one that must be reached before a Scout’s 18th birthday. Currently,

Tristan Hileman

only about 4% of Scouts receive the Eagle Scout Award.

Tristan Hileman of Troop 2 in Lewistown is one of those 4%.

After eight years and 31 merit badges Hileman’s journey to become an Eagle Scout came to fruition. On Feb. 7, 2020, Hileman received the rank of Eagle, although his official ceremony

would have to wait. Because of the pandemic, about six months passed before Troop 2 could hold the Eagle Scout Award ceremony for Hileman.

One of the requirements to become an Eagle Scout is completing an Eagle Scout Service Project. For the project a scout has an opportunity to demonstrate his or her leadership skills by orga-

nizing and directing others to complete a project which benefits their community.

The project must also benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.

For his Eagle Scout Service Project Hileman chose to refurbish the railing at the First United Methodist Church in Lewistown. After going

through the proper channels and receiving permission, Hileman organized a work crew to help him restore the rusted railing.

Hileman and his group of fellow Scouts and volunteers sanded the railing down to an even surface that they could paint. After the sanding was completed the group moved to the next phase of the

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project, which was applying a coat of primer to the metal railing. Finally, Hileman and his crew of volunteers painted the railing with a black glossy finish.

For Hileman, organizing the Eagle Scout Service Project was no easy task.

“One of the things See Hileman / Page 4

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A requirement for Eagle Scout is a community service project. Tristan Hileman’s was to refurbish the railings at First United Methodist Church in Lewistown.

4—Lewistown, PA

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Hileman Continued from Page 3

about leadership is being able to get everyone to be there to be able to work at the same time. Especially with a volunteer group it’s hard to work around everyone’s schedule,” Hileman said. “Sometimes you would only have two people and other times I’d get lucky and I would

have an upwards of 10, including me.”

The work on the railing itself was sometimes difficult too. Hileman recalls some of the intricate and ornate railings that are at the First Methodist Church.

“They have all the little curves and everything like latticework.

They were really, really complicated and you had to get in there with your

hands,” he said. “Sometimes it was really hard to get into spaces like that.”

The group of 15 volunteers worked a combined 120 hours to complete the Eagle Scout Service Project with Hileman himself logging 40 to 50 hours of that total.

In order to be considered for the rank of Eagle a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges during his time in Scouting. Out

of the 31 merit badges Hileman earned he said the First Aid badge was his favorite.

“It really helped me learn how to be able to help people in an emergency. You see somebody out that needs the Heimlich maneuver or basic bandaging for a wound or things like that. I can at least help prevent them See Scouting / Page 8

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Tristan Hileman and friends he recruited work on the railing project at First United Methodist Church in Lewistown. Qualifying for Eagle is the culmination of Hileman’s career as a Boy Scout.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—5

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Good on her feet

By Alexis Harpster Sentinel reporter

McCLURE — Although 2020 was a rough year for everyone, there were still accomplishments and success happening in people’s lives in the Juniata Valley.

Most kids through 2020 had to deal with virtual school, distance from friends and hard times.

Alexis Kuhns

Alexis Kuhns, a 17-yearold from McClure, is unlike most teenagers her age. She goes to school, works, and is a dancer outside of school. Her success story is not one singular event but is instead her daily life.

Alexis Kuhns is a senior at Mifflin County High School and goes to the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Tech-

nology. Although Kuhns is not involved with extracurricular activities at school, she does attend Miss Stephanie’s School of Dance, a highly rated dance school, where she does Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary.

She has been going there since she was in the first grade. Although she does not compete, she enjoys performing Jazz dance

the most.

Kuhns also holds a high position at her job, especially for a teen. She is a manager at McDonald’s.

She has been working there for nearly two years and was promoted to a management position during the summer.

Kuhns at one point left McDonald’s to work at Ohesson Manor in Lew-

istown, but was asked by McDonald’s management to come back full time.

She worked the two jobs for a short while before being offered a management position, which allowed her to focus on one job.

After high school Kuhns wants to enter her dream career field in health care as a physician assistant.

Although there are many options to take to go down this route, Kuhns knows exactly where she wants to go already. Kuhns wants to attend the Geisinger-Lewistown School of Nursing.

Her mother is a registered nurse at the Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital and is also on the board.

See Kuhns / Page 6

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Alexis Kuhns started as a little twinkle toes and became an accomplished dancer, but she didn’t stop there. The Mifflin County High School (and Academy) senior has a job at McDonald’s — a lot of teens do, but she’s a manager. Her career goal will mean even more time on her feet — she plans to become a nurse.

Kuhns

Continued from Page 5

She is almost done with her application, and looks forward to hopefully getting in soon.

Due to Kuhns being preoccupied with work, school and dance, she does find it hard to balance everything at times. Kuhns explains that, “It’s hard to keep up with everything at times ... especially when school is virtual because then I am scheduled to work more than I usually have to.”

When Kuhns does find free time, she enjoys watching reality TV, hanging out with her co-workers to destress and still enjoy a social life.

Kuhns does see herself as someone who is successful. She stated that “most kids my age don’t hold a high-ranked position even if it’s at McDonald’s ... I make a decent amount of money for being only 17.”

She bought a car with her own money and was able to pay it off, which took a decent chunk of her money. Kuhns now

is saving, but also pays her own car insurance as well as pays her own phone bill, which a lot of teens don’t have to do.

Alexis Kuhns is a mature, busy, hard-working girl with a lot of talent and a management position at 17 years old.

She is unlike most girls her age and is a success story that will continue to grow as she continues her journey into adulthood within the next year.

Kuhns did not let 2020 beat her down and continued to push through for success.

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

The Sentinel

Lewistown, PA—7

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Wheel of fortune

Rachel Whistler

By Kier Harris City editor

Your Hometown Garden Center

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Scouting Continued from Page 4

from getting seriously hurt for a little bit until the professionals get there,” Hileman said.

Another favorite of his was the merit badge for kayaking because it was a badge that the troop could earn together.

During his time in the Boy Scouts Hileman

held leadership positions in Troop 2. He was both assistant senior patrol leader and a senior patrol leader for a combined total of three years.

Hileman also achieved the honor of being inducted into the Order of the Arrow which, according to the BSA, recognizes Scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Hileman also served as the troop’s OA representative.

Looking back on his time in Scouts, Hileman said one of the things that really helped him

out was his Scout Master and all his other Scout leaders who encouraged him to stay in the Boy Scouts.

“They were there, encouraging me to keep going forward. They really helped me out and really helped out a lot of other people there,” Hileman said. “I was glad to be a member of Troop Sentinel photo by BRADLEY KREITZER 2 in general. It was a really great troop.”

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Wishing on a star

Mason Baney

By Tabitha Goodling Sentinel correspondent

MIFFLINTOWN — A 12-year-old Juniata County boy is maintaining his sister’s legacy by volunteering his time.

Mason Baney is a sixth grader at Tuscarora Ju-

nior High School. He loves video games and sports, and has a passion for promoting childhood cancer awareness.

Baney is the son of Ashley Gilman of Mifflintown and Jeremy Baney, also of Mifflintown. Mason’s sister, Gabby, passed away

in March 2016 of carcinoid, a cancer that began in her kidney eight months prior.

Mother’s Day 2016 Gabby was to ride in a big rig convoy with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Lancaster. The event features truckers

parading through an area with Make-A-Wish kids on board, horns blasting and crowds waving their support.

Mason, who was seven at the time, offered to ride in her memory.

Ashley’s father, Eric Anderson, decorated his truck and drove as Mason rode along. This was the beginning of many endeavors in which Mason would volunteer to support childhood can-

cer charities.

Mason rode in a total of four of the Mother’s Day convoys with MakeA-Wish. Due to the pandemic in 2020, the event See Baney / Page 14

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Mason Baney honors the memory of his sister, Gabby, who succumbed to cancer in 2016, by volunteering for Make-A-Wish Foundation events.

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Whistler

Continued from Page 7

refined version of the process we all enjoyed as a child with tubs of Playdoh. Her least favorite method is coiling, a process by which the artist rolls out coils of clay and constructs pottery from layering up these pieces (and sometimes smoothing out the ridges, depending on the desired look).

“I don’t think I really have my own style yet. I’m just getting into ceramics,” she said. “But I just felt drawn to it.”

Rachel says she’s also proud of a large portrait she drew of a character from the movie “Midsommer.” It was the first large portrait she had ever created, and when asked how long it took her, she responded, “Quite a long time.”

“I don’t think I have my own style yet. I’m just getting into ceramics.

But I felt drawn to it.

— Rachel Whistler In addition, she has had artwork included in the Pennian Bank calendar, designed the logo for a honey company and enjoys photography. She was also Juniata’s Senior Student of the Month for January and is a member of the yearbook staff.

She wasn’t able to join the art club like most of the other prolific art students who gather after school hours in the art room to work on special projects because it would overlap with her dance, but she was able to work with them on some things, like

painting the sets for the play during the school day.

Rachel has yet to decide between going to college for art or entering into a tattoo apprenticeship.

“I see it as a way to actually make a living off of art,” she said. She received a tattoo gun for Christmas, as well as some fake skin Examples of Rachel Whistler’s work in clay, above, and painting, below. to practice on, and she said she has already designed several tattoos for members of her family.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—11

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Teamwork leads to success

By Brian Carson Sentinel correspondent

LEWISTOWN — The Lady Patriots youth softball organization won many tournaments and accolades over the years, but no team from the past had to deal with adversity like the 2020 squad.

Despite heavy COVID-19 restrictions, the Lady Patriots competed in eight tournaments, won four, finished second three times and placed third in the state tournament.

Lady Patriots coach Eric Specht said the lockdown caused significant adjustments for the girls, parents, and coaches.

“The group had to make some adjustments this past year. From Zoom meetings to weekly discussions about upcoming tournament rules, these girls will do whatever was required to play,” Specht said. “When we started in June, we could see the effects of the shutdown not only with our team but all teams. Although the girls were working on their own during the downtime, nothing compares to practicing together.

It took some time to adjust and get back into the groove, but the girls and parents were extremely accommodating and understanding through the

Lady Patriots

entire ordeal.”

The team was comprised of girls from Mifflin (Ava Baker, Kendall Cavanaugh, Malaina Maxwell, Piper Specht and Bailey Wyland), Juniata (Kennedy Seigler-Lewis, Madison Snyder and Marley Wilson), and Huntingdon (Chailyn Landrum, Sydnee Harris and Reagan Yocum) counties.

“I love playing softball for the Lady Patriots. It’s not only fun, but it has allowed me to grow into a well-rounded individual.

Some of my best friends and best memories have come from being a part of the Lady Patriot organization,” Maxwell said.

“The coaches push me to be my best self every day. I enjoy the games.

I love getting to spend time with my best friends before, during, and after the games, especially celebrating wins!”

“Playing for the Lady Patriots has helped me make new friends being in a team environment and the opportunity gives me the experience to improve my skills to reach my goal of playing in college,” Snyder said.

The shortened season put a strain on everyone, but the Lady Patriots held things together. Specht attributes their success to how the organization runs.

See Patriots / Page 15

Members of the Lady Patriots from three different counties combined for a successful season in 2020 despite the pandemic.

They are, from left, front, Kennedy Seigler-Lewis, Bailey Wyland, Madison Snyder and Sydnee Harris; second row, Ava Baker, Chailyn Landrum, Marley WIlson, Piper Specht, Malaina Maxwell, Reagan Yocum, Kendall Cavanuagh and coach Brad Wyland; back, coaches Jon Baker, Eric Specht and Matt Maxwell.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Living with diabetes

Justin Cox

By Brian Cox Managing editor

Editor’s note: This story is about the son of Sentinel Managing Editor Brian Cox, who is also this piece’s author.

Justin Cox displays the medical ID bracelet he wears to tell others of his condition.

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Anyone who is or ever was a parent knows nothing is more frightening than when something happens to one of your kids, especially when you don’t know how bad it is and there’s nothing you can do to help make it better.

That happened to our family, especially my oldest son Justin Cox, this spring.

For a few days in May, we noticed Justin was ill.

He couldn’t eat or drink hardly anything without vomiting it back up soon thereafter — not even water. He was lethargic and weak, which is expected when you haven’t been able to eat or drink for

several days.

With his doctor’s office closed due to COVID-19 regulations at the time, we opted to take him to the urgent care center.

The urgent care staff was unsure of what it may be, but sent him to the hospital for an ultrasound because they feared it may be something related to his gall bladder. Thankfully, the ultrasound showed his gall bladder was fine and we felt some relief, thinking it was just some type of nasty stomach bug that would eventually pass.

The next morning, Justin seemed very lethargic, almost to the point where he couldn’t respond to us.

My wife took him to the emergency room while I stayed home with our other two kids.

It was a good thing she did.

Within minutes of his arrival to the ER, the doctors determined he was

likely diabetic and his illness was the result of an extremely high blood glucose level — 510 mg/ dL, or approximately 3.5 times higher than it should be.

They also said he would need to be taken by medical helicopter to Danville immediately.

My wife called me with the news and, at first, the instincts kicked in, as I began packing a bag for my wife to go to Danville to be with Justin, thinking COVID protocols would not allow us both to be with him.

As I drove to the hospital, and my wife told me we could both go, I began calling her parents, my parents and figuring out where our other two kids would stay while we went with Justin.

That was when it sank in how serious this was.

My son was experiencing a medical emergency so See Diabetic / Page 16

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The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Baney

Continued from Page 9

was canceled.

“This past year on Mother ’s Day we sat at home,” Ashley said. “It just felt like it wasn’t right to be home.”

Mason said he knows his sister would have loved being in the big rig. He and Gabby spent so much time together growing up, right up until her passing. Ashley said her son spent the night with her in the hospital on occasion.

He wanted to be right where Gabby was located.

Mason said he misses everything about his sister.

He also helps his grandmother, Penny Baney, with the Relay for Life Chinese auctions each year in McAlisterville.

Ashley said their family also participates in fundraisers with St. Jude’s and Four Diamonds. Mason is always excited to help in any way, Ashley said.

She described her son as very laid back and quiet. However, she said when he gets involved with fundraisers for Gabby’s memory, he “lights up.”

“He becomes a different Mason,” she said.

Ashley said when Mason was on the Mifflintown B team for baseball in 2019, Mason sponsored the team and had T-shirts made for the team that said

Mason Baney “In Memory of Gabby Baney.”

Her favorite color was purple, and Ashley said it was not uncommon for the other team to wear purple in support of Mason and his teammates.

“I had tears at every game.” Ashley said.

Grieving Gabby has been difficult for the entire family as this March is the fifth anniversary of her passing.

“She would be 17 this year,” Ashley said.

Gabby’s final wish was that she not be forgotten, her mother said.

It was something she told everyone in her family during her final hours. Mason took that to heart, Ashley said, and said he will continue to serve others and create awareness in her memory.

Mason is also supported through his endeavors by his stepparents, grandparents and a younger sibling.

A photo of Gabby adorns a truck tractor that will drive in a mother’s day parade, above. Right, Mason stands next to his sister’s star on the trailer. Mason involves himself with charitable acts in memory of his sister.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—15

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Patriots

Continued from Page 11

“An organization is only as good as its foundation. The Lady Patriots have an outstanding leader in Craig Bubb, who genuinely loves the sport and has a lot of experience that he openly shares with coaches and players.

We also have terrific players, parents and coaching staff. In this environment, you spend a lot of time together and they all become your family,” he said.

“Getting that hardware at the end of a tournament is a great accomplishment,

but the moments that stand out are seeing the girls achieve their goals.

For instance, when a girl gets a hit after struggling at the plate or beating a team that has continuously had our number. These moments bring out the loudest cheers and strongest show of support.”

The team rallied together to produce memorable moments that the girls will hold on to for a long time.

“The championship game in Hollidaysburg for sure. Last inning, bases loaded, one out, we were up by one run and got a line-drive double play to

Burnham | 717.248.7853 Michael Shoop, Supervisor

“Some of my best friends and best memories have come from being a part of the Lady Patriot organization,” — Malaina Maxwell end the game. Another one was in the umpire’s tournament,” Specht said.

“We faced a team in the championship game that previously beat us twice.

The game went into extra innings tied 0-0, with the international tiebreaker

going into effect. The girls pulled out the win 3-0.

One more would be the hot weekend in Irvona, where the girls played 10 games in two days. We fell into the losers’ bracket on Sunday, but the girls battled their way back to

play in the championship game.”

The camaraderie built during tough times builds bonds that last a lifetime.

Many of the girls talk enthusiastically about the friendships made more than wins and losses.

“I have made some good friends on the Lady Patriots team, some of them I wouldn’t know otherwise because they live in different counties,” Baker said. “The coaches are nice and knowledgeable, and each year we grow into a better team together. I most enjoy traveling to different places to play, like Punxsutawney.

We probably never would have visited there if not for softball.”

“I love the Lady Patriots! I have made a lot of new friends from other schools. I like playing against teams from all over, but my favorite part is when we stay in a hotel,” Piper Specht said.

“I think the Lady Patriots have a lot of talent. I enjoy playing and spending time with my teammates,” Wilson said. “I enjoy every tournament, but there is no feeling like winning first place after a hard played game!

See Softball / Page 16

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16—Lewistown, PA

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Softball

Continued from Page 15

“I love playing for the Lady Patriots. It’s amazing! I enjoy making memories with my friends and getting to travel and meet new people,” Cavanaugh said.

“I love playing for the Lady Patriots. Playing for them is fun and the team is supportive. I enjoy playing with the team and going to dinner together. It’s fun to

Clockwise from top left, a digital glucometer, diabetic test strips, lancet, reader for a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, an unopened Omni Pod insulin pump and insulin injector and an Omni Pod control panel.

Diabetic

Continued from Page 13

severe, he had to be taken on a helicopter to Danville — and neither me nor my wife could ride in the chopper with him.

I broke down telling our family.

Once my wife and my other two kids were together, we broke down again in the parking lot of the ER as we watched the chopper take off with a piece of us inside. But as upset and shaken as we were, the reality of being parents kicked in as we had to assure our other two kids that their brother would be OK and we were going to stay with him until he could come home.

Once the kids were safely with their grandparents, my wife and I raced to Danville, my wife with a small bag of items, me with only the clothes on my back. We didn’t care. All that mattered was being with our son. I am certain it was because we needed to see him more than he needed to see us.

We arrived to find a kid in the pediatric intensive care unit who could barely acknowledge we were there, hooked up to several tubes, but the nurses assured us he was stable and on the road to recovery and he’d eventually be fine.

But the work was beginning, as my wife and I — and most-especially Justin — had to suddenly

become experts on managing his diabetes.

That meant injections several times per day.

That meant finger sticks several times per day.

That meant learning how to count carbohydrates in every meal, beverage and snack he’ll ever eat for the rest of his life.

If that had happened to me as a 12-year-old kid, I don’t know how I’d have reacted, but I doubt it would have been anywhere near as good as he took it. Just recounting all of this is enough to make me emotional all over again. That’s what makes his mother and me so proud of this kid.

He has been amazing in his willingness to do what is needed. He didn’t See Justin / Page 19

play for the Lady Patriots,” Seigler-Lewis said.

Specht said it was a quality team, made up of special young girls, who made the season the success it was, regardless of all the restrictions.

“These girls have a knack for stepping up when we need them. If the top of our lineup is struggling, the bottom seems to pick it up and vice versa.

If our pitcher gets in a jam, our fielding seems to step up,” Specht said. “This

compliments their never give up attitude. Whether in a tournament or working on improving various parts of their game, they consistently put the time and effort into achieving their goals.

“These student-athletes practice hours upon hours all year long, sacrifice many weekends, play in other sports and still excel in the classroom. The parents and coaches are more than proud of this group of dedicated girls.”

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—17

The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

And then there were boys we were thrilled to learn that we would be adding another baby in November of 2014, and on the 14th of November, our second guy, Quintin “Q” Patrick Rowe entered the world.

The Blue Streak continued.

Quintin has grown into an amazing little boy who has faced kindergarten during COVID with a smile under his mask.

Quintin has joined the Rowe tradition of being a wrestler. The Rowes are matmen at heart and Q looks forward to hitting

After raising only girls, Ruth Ann Kephart welcomed five boys in the next generation.

From left, front, Braxton Rowe and Quintin Rowe; back, Blaze Shreffler, Tyler Shaw and Aaden Stevens.

Ruth Ann Kepner Submitted by Ruth Ann Kephart

As parents of three lovely ladies — Lindsay, Courtney and Teri Marie — we knew all about Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.

However, on Friday the 13th of June 2008, that all changed as we welcomed our first guy into this world, Aaden James Stevens. Our world added the blue and trucks,

football and racing ... and that is just the beginning of our grandparents’ life!

Aaden brought such love to our life. He was the first boy that was born into the Kephart family since his Pap, Terry Kephart. Aaden grew up, overcoming challenges of a stroke through the amazing services at Early Intervention and then Patchwork Kids! He is a great student, held the revered title of Class President and knows more about

football and politics that a lot of adults.

Aaden is concerned about doing the right thing, showing respect for his elders and gives a great handshake when meeting someone new.

Aaden has a great faith in God and he was looking forward to seeing Green Bay Packers move to the Super Bowl before their loss to the Buccaneers.

Yep, he is a Cheese Head!

As much as Aaden enjoyed being the first guy,

the mats. He has mastered the Hover Board and also loves playing online games with his cousins. Q brought the blue and then we learned that there would be three!

Our third guy joined the family at the age of 6. Blaze had a little bit of a rough start in life, but then, one evening in April 2016, he began his life as a member of our family. He joined Aaden and Q, adding more boy stuff to the mix. Blaze is amazing in sports, playing baseball

and football. He loves to go hunting and recently joined his Pap in the field, hunting deer and small game.

Blaze is always willing to lend a hand and help out. On Feb. 26, 2019, his adoption became final but that was just a formality, because we loved him the minute he chose our daughter to be his Mom! Baby boy Braxton Robert Rowe joined our family on Feb. 27, 2017, as See Boys / Page 20

18—Lewistown, PA

The Sentinel

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Signed up

Tenley Renee Jones Submitted by Alexis Baumgardner

Miss Tenley Renee is so unique because at just freshly 18 months old, she knows some sign language.

She started doing signing at about 6 months and has continued to learn more words every single day.

Who can honestly say at a year and a half that your child knows sign language? I can!

Tenley knows how to sign “eat, milk, more, momma and done.” We are currently working on “please, thank you and I love you.”

At just 18 months, Tenley Jones (left, and above with mom Alexis Baumgardner) is already ‘speaking’ a second language — sign language.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—19

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Justin

so-diabetic aunt gave him that proclaims his status Continued from Page 16 as a Type 1 diabetic. And we’ve joked with him fight the daily injections, about how he’ll be way which now have been more popular at school replaced by an insulin because any time he needs pump. He didn’t fight the to visit the school nurse to finger sticks, which have do anything related to his largely been replaced by a diabetic care, school rules continuous glucose mon- dictate he be accompanied itor, although he still has by someone else to ensure to do them occasionally. he gets there safely. We are He didn’t fight the carb sure there are no shortage counting. In fact, his math of people volunteering to teachers are probably glad be Justin’s escort during because it’s constant prac- class! tice of his arithmetic.

He’s even been recogHe doesn’t even fight nized by the school nurse it when we have to wake and some of his teachers him in the middle of the under the positive-behavnight to have him consume ior program at his school s o m e for the carbs beway he recause his sponsibly blood sugmanages ar is too his diabelow. tes. In a H e ’ s testament still a to just bull-headhow well e d he’s done 12-yearwith an old at unimagtimes, inable w h i c h challenge, means we it seems hear the like just occasiona regular al compart of his plaints life now about havthat is ing to do not in the things, but slightest that usuway out ally stems of the orfrom havdinary. ing to stop Justin Cox, 12, shows the Omni O u r p l a y i n g Pod insulin pump he wears on fear at first M i n e - his arm. would be craft to do that he’d something diabetes relat- have to miss out on certain ed. things like playing sports But he proudly wears or that he’d have to pass a metal bracelet his al- on things like candy, cake

or ice cream that kids deserve to enjoy. Luckily, despite his challenges, that hasn’t been taken away from him. He’s in every

rs 22 Ye a e nc Ex p e r ie

The theme of this magway a normal kid and at the same time, he’s in ev- azine is how amazing kids ery way an extraordinary are when we give them a kid for doing as well as he chance to show us that. has.

For dealing so well

with something that he never asked for, Justin Cox is the embodiment of that.

And his mother and I could not be any prouder.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Boys

Continued from Page 17

our fourth guy. The story is told that his daddy drove 100 miles an hour to Mount Nittany when his mommy was in labor, and was almost born in the car.

Teri and Aaron still get a little weak when they talk about the day of his birth.

But the fourth guy is a cuddly, loving little boy who has the best eye lashes and his dimples steal your heart when he smiles. He loves dinosaurs and his mommy. Braxton swims like a fish and enjoys play-

ing with his cousins! It’s amazing how much an almost 4-year-old knows about electronics. The Blue Streak continued!

And then, we added our fifth guy, who is the newest — and the oldest. Tyler Shaw joined us three years ago when his Dad met our daughter Courtney. He is a great football player, playing for the Huskies this past season. He also enjoys his time in the mountains with not only hunting, but hiking. Deer hunting is important, but so is fishing, and Tyler does it all. Kayaking

adds to the fun on Tyler’s list too.

And that sums up our life as grandparents.

What we hope to have shared in our story is that it is not so important about how everyone

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—21

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Riding the rails

Cameron James

By Julianne Kilmer Sentinel correspondent

LEWISTOWN — Cameron James is a train enthusiast.

The sophomore in high school, from Lewistown, is one in a long line of train lovers, says his mom, Elizabeth. His fascination has been encouraged since he was a baby.

Now, Cameron takes on a number of volunteer and paid roles at the local Amtrak station.

Cameron, who uses a wheelchair, performs a variety of tasks including cleaning, stocking and providing passengers with information.

“I don’t let (using a wheelchair) stop me from having fun,” he said.

Cameron is nonverbal and uses an iPad to speak.

Elizabeth said Cameron grew up around trains.

At Christmas time, there was a train under the tree.

His family took many day trips to train stations, and the best movies had a train in them.

When Cameron was young, Elizabeth’s work schedule changed and she worked many Saturdays. It became tradition for Cameron to spend those days with his grandparents, Tom and Carol Morningstar, at the train station.

“My grandma and grandpa took me to the train station to watch trains,” Cameron said, using his iPad. “It is one of my favorite places in the world.”

While visiting the station, he and his grandparents got to know many of the individuals who volunteered there. They decided to volunteer too.

Some of Cameron’s

responsibilities include washing the floor, choosing souvenirs to sell in the waiting room and keeping snacks and drinks stocked.

Together with his grandparents, Cameron opens the waiting room for people to take shelter from the heat or cold while they are waiting for the train. He uses his iPad to track the train in real time and provides passengers with anticipated arrival times. He can also tell whether the train is running late and exactly how many minutes it is behind schedule.

While passengers wait, Cameron makes sure there are cold drinks in the refrigerator and candy bars and chips in stock to eat.

When the train has left See Train / Page 22

Cameron James, left, in the Lewistown train station with Harry Baumgardner, John Haubrick and the late Marv ‘Sam’ Johnson.

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The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE Cameron’s duties at the train station include restocking the drink cooler (left) and watering plants on station property (far left). He helps maintain the historic waiting room and, along with his grandfather, orders souvenirs that are sold at the station.

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Train

Continued from Page 21

for the day, he scrubs the floors and cleans up garbage and debris outside.

“He and his grandpa also choose souvenirs, toys and games that they think will sell in the waiting room and handle all of the ordering and pricing,” Elizabeth said.

Cameron has a paid position maintaining the historic waiting room.

Elizabeth said it is not open to the public except for a few open houses each year. Once a month, Cameron vacuums, washes the floors and dusts to make sure the room stays clean for visitors.

“I like anything that has to do with trains,” Cameron said.

He especially enjoys being involved with East Broad Top Railroad and the Rock Hill Trolley Museum. He watches documentaries about their his-

tory and visits often.

“He has become friends with many of the people associated with both the railroad and the trolleys,” Elizabeth said.

She explained that Cameron’s smiling face is recognizable to many in the community.

“He is a great example of the phrase ‘differently abled,’” she said. “He finds ways to do and be involved in the things that are important to him.”

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Take it to the net

Community Events

Molly Wagoner

Events for the community calendar & daily entertainment page may be emailed to: EVENTS@LEWISTOWNSENTINEL.COM

By William Whisler

JUNIATA CONCRETE CO.

Sports editor

LEWISTOWN — When Molly Wagoner first stepped onto the court as a freshman in a Mifflin County girls’ basketball uniform, she looked like a star in the making.

Wagoner, a lengthy and athletic forward with a natural scoring touch, great rebounding prowess and a knack for sending shots away with ferocity, looked destined for a stellar high school basketball career.

Following a strong freshman season in which she became one of the top players alongside the Huskies’ dynamic 1-2 punch of Eleana Eckley and Rylie Rittenhouse, it wouldn’t be long before Wagoner would be that player for the Huskies.

Wagoner averaged a double-double with 13.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, to go along with 2.7 blocks as just a sophomore. The 2019 Jenna Feathers Award winner was ready to help the Huskies make a run alongside a talented veteran group.

Unfortunately for Wagoner, fate had other plans.

Catching a tough break See Wagoner / Page 24

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Mifflin County’s Molly Wagoner (50) comes off the court in a girls basketball game.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Wagoner Continued from Page 23

while preparing for her junior season, Wagoner suffered a devastating knee injury, tearing her right ACL and ending her season before it even be-

gan. Then, entering her senior season, Wagoner landed awkwardly and tore her left ACL. In just two quick moments the best years of Wagoner’s high school career had quickly eluded her, although Wagoner re-

mains optimistic that she may be able to make a late season return for the Huskies in 2021.

“I tore my right (ACL) last year and my left one this year,” Wagoner said.

“I was at a tournament at Spooky Nook over the

summer and I just landed funny and tore it again.”

As an up-and-coming player within the MidPenn Commonwealth, Wagoner had garnered a lot of attention for opposing teams and coaches and was landing on

the radar of a bunch of college coaches. Multiple Division I schools were interested in the 6-foot-2 forward, but the injuries limited her opportunities.

The injuries proved to provide recruiting obstacles, but Wagoner held

out hope that she would get an opportunity.

“It was definitely tough for recruiting,” Wagoner said. “Most coaches look at your junior year stats as a major part of your recruiting See Basketball / Page 25

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Basketball Continued from Page 24

and I didn’t have a junior season. With a lot of stuff shut down, when I went to visit UPJ we weren’t even allowed in the gym.

We had to talk outside on a bench. I am just grateful that I was able to go and I’m grateful that I am in the position that I am in where I have an offer to play.”

Wagoner’s rapport with one particular coach, Pitt-Johnstown’s Mike

Drahos, proved fruitful, as Drahos still was interested in bringing Wagoner to his team. With the offer still standing, Wagoner signed during the early signing period in 2020, officially joining the Mountain Cats.

“I had a really good connection with their coach, Coach Drahos,” Wagoner said. “I really like his style of play and his thoughts for the program. They also have what I wanted both athletically and academically. They have a guaran-

teed admission program, so I can get my undergrad degree at Pitt-Johnstown and in four years I can go to main campus and get my graduate degree.

It was a little bit of both between those things and where I wanted to be.

“I had some interest from some Division I schools and when I got hurt, everyone stopped showing interest. That’s why I am especially grateful for Coach Drahos, because he still believed in me even after I was hurt. I

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just tore my left ACL this year and he still held up that offer, so I’m grateful for that.”

Wagoner plans to pursue a graduate degree in pharmacy or epidemiology.

“I’m not quite sure

what I want to do yet, but Pitt has graduate degrees in both fields, so I will have to make up my mind after these four years at Pitt-Johnstown,” Wagoner said.

See Molly / Page 26

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Molly

Continued from Page 25

Gary Gonsar Jr. surprised his dad for Christmas

Spirit of Christmas

Gary Gonsar Jr. Submitted by Gary Gonsar Sr.

My dear son, Gary W. Gonsar Jr., after a sad 2020 year of so many lost loved ones during the pandemic, brightened my 2021.

After being quarantined one and off for the past nine months and not being able to visit and socialize, my 13-year-old son and I were starting to get on each other’s last nerves, to put it lightly.

I guess this must be cabin fever! I put off decorating for Christmas and after putting the tree together with the usual problems I said I could use some help — and he could decorate the tree himself.

Well, this is never go-

ing to happen, I thought, after all, it was Christmas Eve. Getting sleepy and with the thought of having to get up in the middle of the night and do the tree, I fell asleep.

Around midnight I woke for my usual trip and with my eyes hardly open I went through the doorway to the kitchen.

To a fully lighted and decorated tree.

Did I sleepwalk and do it myself, I wondered, or was it a Christmas miracle?

Just then I got a big hug from behind me from my dear so, who was just waiting for me to wake.

With tears in my eyes I told him he could not have given me a better gift for Christmas.

On the court, Wagoner hopes to be able to contribute right away to the Mountain Cats.

“I am just trying to get healthy and stay healthy,” Wagoner said. “I hope to contribute something to the team. I’d really like to start freshman year, but I don’t know how good I will be and where I will stand compared to everyone else. I’m just hoping to contribute even a little to the team. Academically, I just want to keep my grades up because at the end of the day, academics are more important than basketball.”

While holding out hope she may get on the court late in the year, Wagoner’s favorite memories of her career include playing on a talented team her freshman year that went 17-6 and advanced to the District 6 playoffs.

“I think even though I only played two years, that I had a pretty good career,” Wagoner said.

“My freshman year was probably my favorite one that I played because we were pretty good that year and we set some school records and beat Cumberland Valley for the first time. Every year I just enjoy playing and spending time with the girls off the court because we just have such a good bond. I think that is my favorite memory overall, just hanging out with my teammates.”

Regardless, earning a college offer without being able to play high school ball the past two seasons is nothing short of remarkable and is awfully telling of Wagoner’s ability and resolve. Her time on the sideline has only made her hungrier.

“Whenever I sat out, I realized how much that I miss playing,” Wagoner said. “I just think I took it for granted when I was healthy and able to play and now probably having to sit out again this year, I realize how much I love the game and how much I miss it.”

Wagoner thanked her

coaches and teammates for helping her reach her goals and pushing her through the past two seasons.

“I’d like to thank Dick and Aaron Gingrich, who had been coaching me since second or third grade,” Wagoner said.

“They really taught me the fundamentals of basketball and how to play the right way, as well as how to be a good teammate. I’d also like to thank my AAU coaches from Mid-Penn Motion and Central PA Dynamite. I’d like to thank my parents; I wouldn’t be here without them. They drove me to the (YMCA) to work

out and all over the East Coast and even the Midwest for tournaments. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without them and I’m really thankful for their support.”

Wagoner also credited her teammates for helping her grow into the player she is today.

“They pushed me every day in practice to be better and if I didn’t have that I don’t think I would’ve been able to be as good as I am,” she said.

“They are all really supportive of where I wanted to go, and they were all really happy for me when I signed.”

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Lewistown, PA—27

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Dressed for success

By Jeff Fishbein

Rachel Erdman

Lifestyles editor

MIDDLEBURG — Sitting across from MiddWest High School eighth grader Rachel Erdman, you see a fairly ordinary teen.

The 13-year-old wears a popular style of jeans, and an ordinary sweatshirt. She wears glasses, and has braces. She taps away at her cell phone like any other person her age, and occasionally rolls her eyes at something her mom, Sarah, says or does.

Then Sarah pulls out the pictures of Rachel at work.

Wow. Seriously — this average teen is also a stunning model. Like, New York Fashion Week model.

And the funny thing Fashion photo (right) by Phil Roc Photography is, she says it’s not her caAbove, Rachel Erdman is a regular teen, cheering on reer aspiration — it’s just sports teams at Midd-West High School. Right, she modSee Fashion / Page 28 els a dress for Mila Hoffman Couture in New York.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Fashion

Continued from Page 27

something she does.

“I have three goals,” she explains. “I want to continue modeling, I want to go to college and I want to find a good-paying job and put modeling as a side job. I think it’s too much pressure to be a full-time model.”

Rachel started her modeling career in 2016, when she was 9 years old. If not for the coronavirus, she’d have spent time in New York and London over the past year. She’s been on the runway in New York, representing Mila Hoffman Couture, an up-andcoming designer from Texas for whom she also was a brand ambassador.

And she knows if you can make it there ...

“My favorite show would definitely be New York Fashion Week with Mila Hoffman. That was so cool,” Rachel gushes.

“You never think that a small-town girl is go-

ing to walk in New York Fashion Week when she’s 13.”

Her second favorite was Philadelphia kids fashion week, where she won the 2019 Fashion Entrepreneurship Award.

She’s also appeared in a handful of pageants, finishing as high as runner-up in an East Coast national event.

Not bad for a Snyder County kid whose career began when an employee at Old Time Photo in Knoebels Amusement Resort put a bug in her ear. And then she enrolled at Barbizon’s Harrisburg location, where she spent eight weekends learning the ins and outs of modeling.

The most important lesson she brought home from Barbizon had little to do with fashion, though.

“You need to be patient,” Rachel explains.

“And I keep saying this, but you just need to be patient and wait for the good things to come. I think that was the overall

achievement of the classes.

“You’re not going to get a job next week — you have to apply and apply, and if you don’t get it, well, then it sucks but now you know what you have to do to get that job in the future.”

And when she hit roadblocks?

“I pretty much, I didn’t give up. I went back to the speech that they gave us at Barbizon.

That mostly helped,” she says. “I did get turned down from jobs a lot when I first started, but I wasn’t a big crybaby about it.”

She also got a lift in her modeling from her everyday activities — cheerleading and dance.

Her performances in the latter go back a decade, including a number of appearances with the Susquehanna Valley Dance Company. Although just an eighth grader, she was allowed

“You never think that a small-town girl is going to walk in New York Fashion Week when she’s 13.

— Rachel Erdman to join the varsity cheer squad at Midd-West High School this year.

She says she prefers cheer, which she is allowed to do because eighth graders are in the high school at MiddWest, and the cheer team does not participate in PIAA competition.

“I prefer it not because it’s more fun, but because I think it gets you more active and you can do more in cheerleading than dance,” Rachel says.

“They both prepared me for modeling. I think

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they mostly helped with the patience you have to go through to get a job. In cheerleading you have to be patient, in dance you have to be patient. Yeah.”

Dance actually had an added bonus.

“I think it really helped me, especially for runway shows, because in dance you always have to be at a perfect posture. That eventually helped me walk the runway,” she says.

She also finds time to participate actively in her church, First United Church of Christ in Middleburg, and volunteers at a local soup kitchen and a community Thanksgiving meal.

Managed by her mother, Rachel laughs that maybe she’s not the one having all the fun.

“Honestly, my mom.

She’s doing the work and I think that brings her joy. I don’t know why,” she says. “I’m just the one who goes to the plac-

es and gets dolled up and walks the runway. I find that fun, but I think she’s having more fun than me.”

Sarah also has to do a lot of work. To model, Rachel needs a New York Child Performer’s Permit, renewed annually and requiring approval from her family doctor and school principal.

Rachel has to have a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act bank account, which protects her earnings from misuse by a parent.

Photo shoots are suggested every six months to capture the ever-changing look for the student as they grow older, and photographers are recommended in different markets because the people who hire models are seeking specific looks.

There are comp cards — like an oversize postcard with pictures, and a resume.

See Model / Page 29

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Lewistown, PA—29

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Model

Continued from Page 28

Rachel had an early interest in other performance-related jobs, but chose to focus on modeling.

“When I first started modeling, I was like, ‘I want to do everything. I want to do acting, I want to do singing, I want to do modeling,’” she says. “We get offered TV commercials sometimes, but I turn them down. I don’t like the acting part Stacy Gallizzi Photography — I like the modeling part. I think it’s because Rachel Erdman competes in the East Coast USA pageant.

I don’t have to speak.”

There are downsides of modeling, she admits.

“It’s very stressful, I will tell you that. Especially if you have multiple dresses you have to get into,” she says.

“You’re on a time limit.”

And, as a growing young woman, Rachel doesn’t always fit the stereotypical profile of a model.

“Honestly, it’s been hard. Models are a twig, and there are models that are overweight,” she says. “I’m not considered overweight. I’m not a twig.

“Sometimes I don’t eat the three meals people need — I only eat one,” and then Sarah quickly chimes in that it’s Rachel’s choice — she is her own source of pressure.

Rachel isn’t apologetic about things like her braces, or glasses (which she opts not to wear when modeling). If you ask her who she is, her answer is confident without being cocky.

“She’s pretty. She’s funny. She’s kind and courageous. And she’s helpful,” the teen says of herself.

THE Celebration STARTS HERE

But she apparently doesn’t think she’s a candidate in her own school.

“To be honest, I’m not that confident (in myself). I am a little bit confident,” she says. Why? “Most of the boys at Midd-West want skinny, blond hair, blue eyes ...

If I was at a school with lots of blond-haired girls I’d probably feel less confident.”

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The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE Technical support

Trenton Seitz Submitted by Mandy Kehler

I would like to acknowledge my son’s achievement of building his first computer, piece by piece. From a young age, he has loved electronics. And now, at 14, he is our family IT guy.

Like a lot of teenagers, Trenton enjoys gaming in his free time and has wanted his own gaming computer for many

years. About a year and a half ago, he bought his first part, a tower, and has been working, saving and building since.

As a parent, I really don’t know all of the parts that he has bought, but I do know the hard work he has put into it.

He has mowed lawns and other chores to save money. When he has enough saved, he’ll ask me to pick him up a gift card so he can order his

next part.

He was finally able to put it all together and boot it up for the first time after the holidays.

It was a moment to remember. He was so happy; I thought he might tear up a little. He didn’t, but I did. I am so proud of him for working toward a goal, and not giving up. I’m sure he will never forget building his first gaming computer as a teenager.

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Lewistown, PA—31

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

A leg up

By Erin Thompson Education/Religion editor

LEWISTOWN — From the outside, 12-year-old Logan Breneman looks like many of his sixthgrade peers, but if you spend some time with him, you’ll soon learn that he has more grit and determination than meets the eye.

Breneman is active in Mifflin County Middle School’s travel basketball team, the Husky Hoopsters, and will tell you that he enjoys other sports like football and biking.

“I pretty much enjoy all sports,” he says.

He was excited to recently get back to playing sports after taking some time off to recover from a surgery to, in short, replace screws in his left leg.

Breneman has a rare condition known as fibular hemimelia — a birth defect which causes one leg to be longer than the other.

The screws are put in the longer leg to slow the growth process while the shorter leg catches up.

In just a few short weeks since having the screws replaced, Breneman says he is “pretty much fully recovered” and is back to playing basketball. He reports having no pain, other than some itching at the incision spot.

Logan’s dad, Neil Breneman, a pastor at Lew-

Logan Breneman

istown Alliance Church, says that despite his son’s disadvantage, he remains unshaken.

“He’s fortunately grown up with an attitude that he’s not going to allow these kinds of things to inform him of what he can and can’t do.”

To compensate for the difference in length, Logan says he has a small limp, and has learned to walk on his tip toes.

“It’s kind of hard to notice, but some people notice,” he said.

When the situation allows, Logan says he will try to explain his condition to those who inquire about his limp — including why he has three toes on one foot.

A challenge for Logan’s parents is that their son requires two different sized shoes. And as an active and growing 12-year-old boy — he burns through a lot of them.

Through connecting with others in online forums, Logan’s parents have connected with other families whose child have similar conditions.

They were able to connect with one boy who has the condition on the opposite leg.

This has been a mutually beneficial friendship, as they have been able to exchange multiple large boxes of shoes in recent years. However, because See Logan / Page 32

Logan Breneman shoots hoops, just like any other kid. But he’s not like any other, and has to work harder to play ball. He was born with one leg longer than the other. Logan doesn’t let that slow him down — he even plays for Mifflin County Middle School’s travel team, the Husky Hoopsters.

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Logan

Continued from Page 31

their friend’s shoe size has outpaced Logan’s he is now on the receiving end of the exchange.

Logan had his first surgery to put the initial set of screws in his leg two years ago, when he was in fourth grade.

As Logan grows, doctors expect that the difference between the length of his legs will become greater, which means in a few years, he will have to undergo a more extensive surgery to lengthen his shorter right leg.

Neil explains that surgeons will put a magnetic rod inside of his bone that would stretch the bone over time.

“We’re thinking that surgery will be a couple years down the road.

Right now they’re focused on slowing the (growth of the) other leg.”

Neil said doctors will have a better idea of when the surgery will take place when Logan is closer to fully grown.

Doctors initially projected that his shorter, right leg, would have to be lengthened by as much as five inches, but are hopeful that by slowing down the growth of his left, longer leg, they will only have to stretch the shorter leg by about two inches.

Logan says he is nervous about the impending surgery because the recovery time will be longer.

“I’m nervous because I really like my sports and I won’t be able to play sports for a long time,” he said.

His dad says some children who undergo this surgery will be homeschooled for a year while they recover.

“He is resilient, so I think that is what is going to help him get through that,” Neil said. “He will be disappointed that he can’t play basketball.

He’s good at sports, but he’s also well-rounded in school.”

Aside from gym class, Logan’s favorite school subject is math.

“He wants to be an engineer with this mathematic mind that he has,” Neil said.

When he’s not involved in sports, Logan enjoys making You Tube videos of trick shots — similar to Dude Perfect.

His dad says the videos are another display of his son’s grit and determination. His You Tube channel is full of tricks like bouncing a bottle cap off a wall and having it land in a cup of water on the opposite side of the room, and tossing a ping pong ball over his shoulder and having it land in a cup.

“He did one recently where he balanced four or five (containers), which were already hard to balance, then bounced a ping pong ball off them without knocking them over,” Neil said. “It took him almost seven hours of doing it until he was successful.

I can’t even fathom trying something like that.”

To view Logan’s You Tube videos, search for his page, Let’s Do Trick Shots.

The Brenemans live in Lewistown. Logan has two siblings, Layla, 10, and Luke, 16.

Logan Breneman (right, and running above) has to accommodate — and has been through surgery — to compensate for a condition that makes his legs different in size.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Cookies vs. cancer

By Alexis Harpster Sentinel reporter

LEWISTOWN — The hardest time for kids is when they have to endure hard family situations. Through these times kids tend to mature and feel like it is their duty to step up to the plate to take care of a loved one at such a young age.

Although difficult to do, many kids today go through these types of situations and it is inspiring to see. This is the case for 14-year-old Alyse Traxler.

Alyse Traxler is from Lewistown. She attends Mifflin County Junior High School. She is not

currently involved in any extracurriculars.

Traxler received news that her aunt had cancer in October 2019. Traxler was tremendously upset.

She said that “I was upset because my great-gram had cancer too and she passed away from it ...”

Having a family member that had already passed away from cancer is already hard on a young teen, and shortly after receiving heartening news that another family member also has it, was hard on Traxler.

But she has tried to be positive throughout these times and has actually stepped up to become closer to her aunt and attempt to help take

Alyse Traxler care of her aunt when needed. Traxler lives very close to her aunt and actually sees her more often.

She says that “We’ve been a lot closer since we found out ... I come up to help her with anything she needs.”

In some cases, families do not always live close to their relatives, which makes it difficult to have a close-knit relationship with extended family. But in Traxler’s case, since she lives close by, it makes it easier for her to go over to her aunt’s house to help out with anything that her aunt may possibly need help with.

She has always been

Alyse Traxler, right, and her aunt. Alyse has maintained a strong relationship with her aunt, baking cookies and such. Her aunt is fighting cancer.

close with her aunt throughout her life and says that they bake often together and always have — they spend most of their time bonding over baking various things together.

Since they both love baking so much, every year during Christmas, it has been tradition to go over to her aunt’s house for their big yearly bak-

ing event. The yearly baking event is a time where they bake cookies all day long and enjoy the holiday season together.

Traxler explains that they bake cookies for her grandma and grandpa and the rest of her family. Sometimes it’s just her and her aunt baking, but other years it includes her siblings or her cousins.

Her aunt’s house is one of her favorite places to go no matter the time of year. Part of this is because her aunt has a large pool where everyone in the family comes over to go swimming and is able to relax and hang out.

Alyse Traxler is a supportive niece who cares See Cookies / Page 34

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Cookies

Continued from Page 33

deeply about her family. Although she memories with her aunt. While going ditionally supportive. is young, she is passionate about help- through hard times, Traxler attempts to She seeks success through helping ing as much as she can and building say positive and continues to be uncon- others and being selfless.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Winner’s circle

By Kyle Brady Sentinel sports

Twelve-year-old Lane Snook has been around cars and the racing world his entire life. His father, Todd, races late models at tracks like Port Royal Speedway and Selinsgrove Speedway and is no stranger to working in his garage. To the Snooks, racing is a family pastime. “(I’ve been into racing) since I was a baby, I’ve been around it all my

life,” Lane said.

With his older son already being an avid racer, it came as no surprise to Todd that Lane wanted to take racing more seriously by getting the chance to race against other kids.

“No, not really,” Todd said about if he was surprised Lane wanted to race competitively.

“That’s pretty much been his focus. That’s what he always pays attention to and always does.”

Lane started racing

Lane Snook

back in 2018 and since then he’s amassed an incredible 84 wins. Most of those were at tracks in Pennsylvania, with a few coming in New York and South Carolina.

As to be expected for a younger brother, Lane was given a hand-medown and began racing with an aged go-kart that used to belong to his older brother. Even though it had some wear and tear, the kart served Lane well as he took to the lo-

cal race tracks.

“My older son had an old go-kart and (Lane) started using that,” Todd said. “He started out going to Seven Stars Speedway, Selinsgrove and Penns Creek.”

Lane’s ability to regroup and not dwell on something that happened is a trait that he picked up through his close contact with the racing world.

His knowledge of the sport is what helps him be so successful when he sits behind the wheel.

“His first night ever on the track, he crashed in

warmups then went and won the heat and the feature in the same night,” Todd said. “He’s grown up around it, so he knows the ups and downs.”

That crash sent Lane flying end over end — the type of crash that would deter racers at all levels, but Lane didn’t seem to be affected and moved on immediately.

“I wasn’t really scared of anything when I was little,” Lane said. “So, I just kept going.”

His parents, however, weren’t as lighthearted.

“He didn’t really think

about it,” Todd said. “His mother and I had to think about (letting him race).

Neither one of us wanted to take him the next week.

I said I had something to do and she said, “Well, I was hoping you would take him.’ I guess we had to get used to it more than he did.”

The more Lane raced, the better he did. The 12-year-old racked up win after win and proved himself worthy to take a shot at the state championships, which his parents See Racing / Page 36

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Racing

Continued from Page 35

races as an 11-year-old, since that’s the age he was on New Year’s Day before the season started. With another year in the 9–12-year-old division, Lane could possibly perform even better in the next season. But he spent much of 2020 racing against the 13-15-year-old division, finding the same amounts of success.

“I know I can compete with them,” Lane said about racing against the older kids. “I just stay focused and I feel like I’m racing against the normal kids.”

A huge aspect of go-kart

racing is the maintenance the karts need to function race in and race out. Much like Little League and Cub Scouts, go-kart racing has taught Lane a level of responsibility that cannot be overstated.

“He takes care of it himself,” Todd said. “I pressure wash it for him after races ... and he maintains it all himself. He tears all the bearings apart and puts them all back together. He does all of that stuff himself ... It’s not just being handed to him.”

For Todd, watching his son race brings on more nerves than when he’s

racing in the bright lights of central Pennsylvania speedways. As a parent and fan, all he can do is sit back and watch his son compete in the sport that they love.

“I think it’s more nerve-wracking for us than it is for him,” Todd said, noting that his son is just out there racing and having fun.

While the wins keep piling up, it is not uncommon for Lane to not run his best race. Remarkably, at such a young age, the young driver is able to

shake off most of his losses, but it’s the close finishes that leave him feeling unsatisfied.

“It happens sometimes,” Todd said about Lane’s not-so-stellar races.

“Sometimes he handles them better than if he finishes second. Then he’s upset that he didn’t win.”

More often than not, when Lane leaves the track, he’s in a good mood.

Most of the time, he’s celebrating a win, but other times, he’s looking back on the race he ran and how he can use it to better

entered him in.

“Anybody can go, it’s just a lot stiffer competition,” Todd explained.

“He started doing that in 2018 and won a state championship in 2018.”

Jump to 2020, and not much has changed. Even with the current pandemic, Lane still competed in the Pennsylvania State Championships and won three titles in the six classes he entered. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, in the championship races he didn’t win, he finished second.

In the Burris Money Series, Lane ran two classes: Junior Sportsmen 2 and Junior Sportsmen 2 Champ. The difference between the two is that the Champ series features caged go-karts.

Lane won the Junior Sportsmen 2 Champ state title and finished second in the Junior Sportsmen 2 Lane and his racing stock. class.

In the Keystone Series, Lane ran four classes, which were the same as the Burris Money Series, but each class had a light and a heavy division.

Much like he did in the Burris Money Series, Lane went to the Keystone Series and won the championship in Junior Sportsmen 2 Light and the Junior Sportsmen 2 Heavy, taking second in the Junior Sportsmen 2 Champ Light and the Junior Sportsmen 2 Champ Heavy.

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himself in the future.

“I get pretty excited knowing that I did my job,” Lane said about the thrill of winning. “Then I need to figure out what I did wrong to get better for next time.”

Ultimately, Lane wants to follow in the path of the people around him and race late models in the local circuits. With the pedigree to show for it, it’s not too far fetched to think that Lane Snook will be dominating the late model series for years to come.

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Lewistown, PA—37

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Symbol of success

By Brian Cox Managing editor

The work never stops.

Not because it may be early in the morning. Not because it may be bitterly cold outside. Not for anything.

But the work pays off.

And it has for Alexis Wilson.

The Mifflin County High School sophomore, who lives a couple miles west of McVeytown, has been around animals her whole life — which is just fine with her.

“I can’t imagine cows not being a part of my life and I can’t imagine not having animals,” Wilson says. “I’ve become so accustomed to it, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Having grown up around animals, Wilson has developed a passion for agriculture, specifically raising beef cattle.

She’s currently enrolled in the veterinary science program at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology and has recently earned her FFA jacket, the first member of her family to do so.

“It was a big step for me because I always wanted it,” Wilson says.

“My mom and dad were both in FFA but they never got their jackets, because back then they were very expensive.”

Alexis Wilson

Now that she has her jacket, Wilson will begin the process of progressing through the various “degrees” of FFA. First up is her green hand degree.

She has also expressed interest in becoming an officer like her father Ryan once was.

“Now, I can apply for my green hand degree this year, which I plan on getting that,” Wilson says. “I have to do my SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) project and I actually have to get it, but I’ve started the process of it.

“It would show that I’ve worked for something and that I keep working for another thing and another thing and another thing.”

It was the next logical step in a lifelong journey for Wilson, whose family has had farm animals for almost as long as she can remember.

“We got cows when I was in fourth grade and we had three or four that we would buy from the Belleville sale, then raise and then butcher them so we could have our own beef,” she says. “That transformed into our family and then some friends wanted it, so we had to keep going up in cows and then last summer, I got my first bottle calf and I raised him until he

was on grain and I bucket trained him and I trained him on the halter.”

Wilson says she now has a herd of seven, and she’s been involved with the day-to-day needs of each of them. She’s even made the decision to have

some of her bull calves “banded,” or castrated, which turns them into steers and prevents unwanted reproduction. But the daily work is what makes raising cattle such a demanding task, especially when balancing a

full day of school and a part-time job.

“I get up between 5 and 5:30 every morning and then, it depends on the day,” Wilson says.

“Sometimes I only feed half of them and Dad feeds the other half for me so I don’t have to do it all the time by myself, but last year I did everything by myself. I woke up a 5 o’clock every morning. I

S!

YE

fed right before I went to school and I fed as soon as I got home and I gave them hay every day and watered them all. I did everything myself. This year I usually wake up 5, 5:30 and I feed either the cows and Dad feeds all the rest of them or vice-versa.”

But it’s not just beef See FFA / Page 38

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FFA

Born to ride

Continued from Page 37

Kyra Kauffman Submitted by Leslie Kauffman

Do you have a few moments? Do you mind if I tell you about my granddaughter?

Kyra Kauffman is a brilliant, beautiful, talented 13-year-old. That is not just the biased opinion of a proud nana (and, yes, that is exactly what I am), it is a shared opinion of several people in her life.

She is an amazing young lady (just saying).

One of Kyra’s favorite sports is riding horses.

(Sports, you say? Yes, it takes an athlete to ride a horse.). One of the many proud moments I had as a nana was watching her ride at 4-H Districts her first year in 4-H. She is involved in barrel racing and shows horses.

Kyra gains more confidence and becomes stronger with each ride. She genuinely enjoys competing in poles, keyhole, 50-yard dash and barrels.

She takes riding lessons as time permits, which provide her with more knowledge of competing.

I know she will go far in her sport with her determination, enthusiasm and drive. Kyra was approached to ride for the equestrian team at Grier School (an all-girls boarding academy in Tyrone).

She has ridden at their shows but due to COVID, I only get to see short video clips because only one person is permitted to attend.

Whenever she rides for Grier, she rides a horse that is not her own which makes it a challenge but also helps her learn to handle a horse better.

Kyra Kauffman has found plenty of success with her horsemanship.

cattle living on the Wilsons’ property. There are several other animals that require daily care, too.

“I have three rabbits,” Wilson says. “I go feed them and water them, then I go down and feed and water the chickens. I have 10 chickens — I have nine hens and one rooster. And then, I feed Bella, which is my pot-bellied pig. She is almost 3 years old now. I water her, too.

Then I go down and feed and water the rest of the cows and then I’m done.

It usually takes me between a half hour and 45 minutes. It depends on how much I have to do and it depends if water’s frozen, too because I have to thaw that. Then I have to check the water pipe every so often to make sure it’s running.”

The daily grind does eventually pay off when the animal is butchered and the resulting beef is sold. For some people on the outside, they may wonder how someone can slaughter an animal that a person has spent so much time caring for.

But, that’s just a part of the agriculture business to Wilson.

“I don’t get attached to the big ones that I haven’t raised since they were bottle calves,” she says. “I don’t have an issue with that. ... because as they got progressively bigger, I couldn’t spend as much time as I did when

they were little because they were in the pasture and they were eating and they were playing with their friends and doing everything else. So, yes and no, I guess. I’m not as attached to them as much as when I was little.”

In fact, Wilson has hands-on experience with harvesting the meat.

“I’ve never shot and killed it, but I’ve skinned it, I’ve gutted it, I’ve cut it up so I can grind it into hamburger,” she says.

“I’ve done pigs. This year was the first time I’ve ever gutted a pig myself.

I’ve packed it all and separated it all and every-

thing, but I love it.”

It’s clearly a passion for Wilson, one she plans to pursue as a career.

As for anyone who wants to get into FFA and agriculture in general, Wilson encourages people to give it a chance, but to know what they’re signing up for.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” she says. “You meet a lot of cool people. It’s super fun, but it is a lot of work. And you can’t just go in and say ‘I don’t want to do that.’

No, you don’t have a choice. You have to do it to get to the next level.”

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

She spreads kindness

By Julianne Kilmer Sentinel correspondent

LEWISTOWN — In a world with less and less contact, one local girl aims to keep people connected.

Quorra Moore, who said she’s “8-and-a-half years old, so almost 9,” of Lewistown, has been learning to knit and passing her creations on to others.

Moore said she learned the skill of finger knitting last summer.

Quorra Moore

“I learned how to do it pretty fast,” she said.

Through a video call, Moore wrapped light teal yarn around her fingers, looping and pulling until it made a chain. She explained each step along the way.

She uses the technique to make bracelets, necklaces, scarves and animals.

“My mom used to (finger knit) when she was a kid, and she wanted to teach me because she thought I would like it,”

Moore said.

The only tools needed are four fingers and yarn.

Moore said “you don’t need to use your thumb too much,” and the pattern forms quickly once it is started. It takes only a few minutes to finish small projects.

During the holiday season, Moore packed her knitted creations into shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

“It makes me feel good,

and it makes other people feel good,” she said about sharing her work.

Her next project to tackle is finger-knitting a long blanket. She isn’t sure yet whether she will keep the blanket or pass it on to someone else.

Moore also wants to learn to arm knit. It requires bigger loops, a harder knot and thicker yarn.

“I just love yarn,” she said.

Her favorites are spark-

ly white, sparkly hot pink (her favorite color) and dark purple.

Moore, who previously lived in Washington state, also has a number of pen pals with whom she keeps contact.

She writes to about six friends from Washington and recently started distributing handwritten letters to four nursing homes in the area. She sends 10 to 12 cards each time.

“Sometimes I draw pictures,” she said, and

sometimes she writes about school or her cat.

Sometimes she gets messages back, but not all the time.

Moore encouraged others to keep connections and try new hobbies during COVID-19 quarantine. Finger-knitting, specifically, she said, is easy enough that anyone could get the hang of it.

Moore’s mother, Alicia, called her an “everyday kindness spreader” because of her outreach.

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Quorra Moore uses her fingers to knit and her finished products to make people happy.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Family first Submitted by Michelle Wilson

I would like to tell you how proud I am of my 10-year-old son Kale.

This year, due to COVID, we decided to enroll Kale in a Christian-based school called Beka. He starts at 8:30 a.m. and studies until 1 p.m., with a 10-minute break and a short lunch.

If he isn’t finished he may put in another hour or two. Evenings he does his homework.

Kale puts forth a lot of effort (with me by his side) and it has paid off.

His report card has been mostly A+ with a couple B+ grades. Last year his teacher nominated him for the STEM program. It enables him to advance in science, technology, engineering and math.

Kales says he does miss his friends not being at a regular school but tries to still connect with some online. He has one special

friend originally from Ireland but now Lithuania that he sees on FaceTime every day.

Kale also misses his favorite sport, basketball.

He has loved basketball since he was old enough to hold the ball. He has played on several teams at the YMCA and has attended several basketball camps.

Sadly this year other than outside his house he can’t play much due to the pandemic. Hopefully soon he will be able to play and add more medals to the ones he already has.

Since winter and COVID Kale has become very good at some online games including Fortnite.

He has his own gaming chair that lights up along with many other cool features in his room.

But my favorite part of Kale is his big heart! He loves animals, little kids and shows empathy for others. He shows kindness, respect and love

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Kale Alston

toward others. I have battled lyme disease most of Kale’s life. At times I can barely get off the couch.

I suffer with pain and fatigue daily. Many times if having a flair up I can’t take him places or do things with him. Kale has never shown me disrespect for that.

Once he asked if he could play with his next door friend. When he came home and saw I wasn’t well he said, “I’m sorry mom, I should have been here to take care of you.”

Last year he had game night at school and he was so excited to go. My mom and dad picked him up after school because I wasn’t feeling well. As soon as Kale asked why I hadn’t picked him up and he knew I didn’t feel well he wouldn’t go.

One day when I was out running an errand I asked him if he was hungry and wanted anything and since I have not been

able to work for years his answer was, “That’s OK mom, I know you don’t have a lot of money.”

I know he worries about me and my illness and often thanks me for pushing myself for him.

This breaks my heart and I worry sometimes he thinks too deep about me.

A couple weeks ago he was with a family member that came down with COVID. When my parents stopped by not knowing this he got real quiet.

When they left he shed a tear and said, “Now I can’t hug anybody.” As soon as Kale stops to visit any of his family the first and last thing he does is give them a hug. Even today as I was getting things from my car to take inside I looked up and there he was holding the door open for me.

I thank God every day for this little gentleman.

He has been my will to fight this disease and move forward. I am one Kale Alston, right, was ‘in his glory’ when he got on the court with the Harlem Globetrotters to learn a trick. proud momma!

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—41

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

No quit Submitted by Alyson Byler

Tally — as we call her — or Talynn V. Snook was diagnosed on Nov. 16, 2017, with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Tally was diagnosed with 92% of her bone marrow positive for blasts as well as her blood, which

Talynn ‘Tally’ Snook

was 89% blasts. She was admitted to Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger in Danville immediately after she was diagnosed.

Talynn received the typical protocol of treatment for children diagnosed with cancer as well as a medicine called Dasatinib. This medication is designed to target the Philadelphia Chromo-

some Positive because it is a rare form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

We were in the hospital from November 2017 until April 2018 when Tally had cardiac related issues from all the medication that she was on.

We were then told that we could no longer receive the chemotherapy protocol that Tally was

getting. We were notified that we would be sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a bone marrow transplant.

All our other kids were tested to see if any would be a match for Tally to receive their bone marrow.

Tyson, her big brother, was her perfect match.

Tally was admitted to the hospital in Philadelphia to start the process.

She received three days of aggressive chemotherapy, followed by three days of radiation. Tally received Tyson’s bone marrow on May 16, 2018.

We were told that Tally had a very low likelihood of developing what is called Graft Verse Host Disease. After spending nearly two more months in the hospital for treatments, Tally was diag-

nosed with skin GVHD. She started high dose methylpred for the diagnosis. The doctors were hopeful that the disease would, how they called it, burn itself out.

Almost three years later Tally is still on high dose steroids as well as chemotherapy medicine that is supposed to help See Tally / Page 42

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Tally Snook, right, and her brother Tyson. Tyson was a perfect match when Tally needed a bone marrow transplant.

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Tally

Continued from Page 41

control the GVHD. She has severe lung GVHD and has been told that her nutrition is very bad due to all the issues and

her lack of appetite. Tally has recently had a G-Tube placed to replace the NG tube that she has had on and off the last 3 years. She has recently been placed on nighttime oxygen as her breathing

is very labored as she sleeps.

Tally has a long road ahead of her and has some very severe issues.

She has a large support system and a lot of people who love her as well.

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Forged by the sea

By Brian Carson Sentinel correspondent

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — One of the most important decisions a young person can make is where to continue their education after high school.

For a student-athlete, the choice is even more significant. You need to blend academics with sports, which means finding coaches to connect with and a team culture you’re comfortable with, all the while performing at a high academic level.

Former Juniata High School track and cross-country standout Garrett Baublitz came to that crossroads last year and picked the U.S. Naval Academy for the next phase of his life.

Six months later, well into a freshman year defined by a virus, he has no regrets.

“It’s better than I expected it to be. I enjoy the military aspect, running here and the friendships I made so quickly. To be honest, it’s everything I expected and more,” Baublitz says. “I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I have at a military school. It’s strict, but you find your time to have fun. It keeps getting better and better. I’m enjoying every second. It’s an

Garrett Baublitz “To be honest, it’s everything I expected and more. I didn’t expect to have much fun as I have at a military school. It’s strict, but you find your time to have fun. ... It’s an awesome opportunity.”

— Garrett Baublitz awesome opportunity.”

Like everyone who goes through an unfamiliar experience, there was a learning curve and an adjustment period for the former PIAA track and field champion.

“My biggest adjustment is you don’t have a lot of freedom. You’re being told what to do all the time, and that’s kind of tough, but you quickly adapt,” Baublitz said. “As a plebe (firstyear midshipman), they are working on you and developing you to be better. There’s more responsibility than in high school. It’s a change, but a good change. I enjoy being busy and having stuff to do. It gives me a purpose.”

Baublitz had a list of schools he was considering, and there were plenty of offers. In the end, the Navy had everything he wanted on

his short list.

“It’s hard for me to pinpoint an exact answer.

Obviously, I want to serve my country. I also want to make my family proud. They are the best.

I wanted to make the people back home proud of me and get a great edPhil Hoffman / Navy Athletics ucation at low cost,” Bau- Garrett Baublitz (19) is still running, but his finish line now is to graduate from the blitz said. “They are the Naval Academy and serve his country. main reasons I decided to join. Another reason I joined was to travel and see the world and there’s no place better to do that than the Navy.”

He still hasn’t decided on a major, but he’s narrowed it down to a few exciting fields. ir repa e d “We have to declare a tr majors in March, and I’m l l e s not sure right now. I’m Buy thinking about electrical N LL’S GUN SH P engineering, computer We have & GUNSMITHING science or naval archiGOEX Black Powder and tecture,” Baublitz said.

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Navy

Continued from Page 43

new field called Cyber Warfare that looks interesting. Your major has no bearing on what you will do in your commission as an officer. Right now, I’m looking to be a pilot in the Navy.”

Athletics still plays a big part in his life. Despite COVID-19, the Midshipmen were able to run cross country and now the indoor track season is about to begin. Baublitz is full steam ahead for indoor and outdoor track.

“We’ve been blessed compared to most schools. We had a cross-country season. We got two races in against Pittsburgh and Army.

We had practices every day and got together as a team. We were very fortunate,” Baublitz said.

“They’ve done a good job of locking out COVID. I Matthew Weimer has been steady behind the plate from Little League through the love the team. I love the coaches. I love the team Mifflin County Babe Ruth League. As he prepares to start his high school career, he’ll culture. Now, it’s (indoor pitch, too. track) season and we are going to go up against

Diamond life

Matthew Weimer Submitted by Greta Weimer

RICHFIELD — Matthew Weimer has been behind the plate since he was 5 years old. Now the Midd-West sophomore — who played for Beaver Springs in

the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League — is at the other end of the pitch, too.

To say Weimer is a success is an understatement. He started in the Fremont Little League (Mount Pleasant Mills), where he made the all-

star team every year.

He moved to Babe Ruth at age 13 and played his full three years. He was an allstar at ages 13 and 14, but there were no tournament teams last year See Catcher / Page 47

Army. That should be fun. I enjoy running and being an athlete and that’s something that will always be a part of me.”

While he still has plenty of time to decide, Baublitz is already considering staying in the Navy longer than his original commitment.

“I’m enjoying myself and looking forward to what the future will bring in the Navy. I’ll see when I get there if I want to stay in. The Navy tries to get you to stay. I’ll wait and see if they give me some interesting offers,” Baublitz said. “If I love it like I do now, I think I’ll stay in more than my minimum obligation.”

Baublitz joined the Naval Academy with specific goals in mind.

Goals he felt only the Naval Academy could provide.

“I want to get an education and take advantage of all the opportunities that are here to do amazing things,” Baublitz said. “I’ll get a chance to see what it’s like to be on a ship. I’ll be spending a week on a submarine, a week on a cruiser, and a week with the Marines. I’m excited about that and I’m excited for the opportunity to see the world. I want to enjoy the moments and experience the lessons the Navy gives you.”

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Like father, like daughter

By Keir Harris

Aubrey Kirkland

City editor

MIFFLINTOWN — Aubrey Kirkland is a senior and talented artist currently enrolled at Juniata High School, and to say she has a bright future in the arts is likely an understatement.

She is the daughter of the late Dwight Kirkland, an accomplished muralist with many credits, including the Veterans Memorial in Lewistown’s Victory Park, and the mural on the side of Wilson’s Jewelry and Gifts on the square in Lewistown.

The apple certainly hasn’t fallen far from the tree, as Aubrey is a talented artist in her own right.

She was given the opportunity to paint one of the geese for Mifflin County’s “Wild Goose Project.” For this, she chose to create a collage of her father’s murals (in her father’s style).

When asked how she pulled off this incredible feat, Aubrey said, “It was just kind of natural. I see him in everything I do.”

“I didn’t start doing art seriously until after my dad passed,” she continued. “He wasn’t really around to see it.”

The project’s unveiling of the queued geese has been delayed due to the COVID pandemic, but Aubrey noted that hers

was currently being stored right next to that of Juniata High School art teacher Sara Sutton’s own.

“I would wake up sometimes and it was just looming over my bed. I was kind of glad to see it go eventually,” she laughed.

For those of you who aren’t visual artists, replicating the artistic style of another is notoriously difficult, and translating a 2D image to a complicated 3D surface (such as a goose bust) only makes it more so. The side-by-side comparison of her goose to her father’s murals is so

Location w e N r u O t i s i V

striking that her father’s artistic partner reached out to her and suggested that she be the one to renovate his murals when the time comes.

Her acrylic painting “Tabasco Bottles,” an impressionist still life arranged on the counter of BJ’s M Street Tavern & Oyster Bar in Selinsgrove, won a national silver medal in the Scholastic Writing and Art Awards.

Because of this Aubrey was invited to attend the livestream of the organization’s 2020 awards ceremony.

See Kirkland / Page 46

Above, a pencil drawing Aubrey made from a selfie her friends took on a bus. The drawing is 22-by-15-inches and took 24 hours of work time to complete. Left, a 2019 self portrait that won a Gold Key Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2020 and was exhibited in the State Museum in Harrisburg.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE Scholastic contest, but they have not reached the judging phase as of yet.

Aubrey’s father isn’t the only artist in the family; her mother was also given a goose to paint.

“Mom does some realistic portraits,” Aubrey said. “But she’s also really into calligraphy and makes greeting cards and bookmarks.”

It all makes you wonder if artistic talent might have some sort of genetic component involved.

Aubrey’s portfolio includes many impressive works, from pencil drawings to paintings to photorealistic portraits of Harry Potter characters.

One standout image is an abstract drawing in paint markers she described

as a “giant doodle.” Aubrey says her father left a bunch of art supplies behind, and some were these POSCA paint markers.

“I’d never used them before,” she explains. “So I started playing around, and this is what happened.”

Aubrey is planning to attend Kutztown University after graduating from Juniata High School, though she isn’t certain what her major will be yet.

“I’m not sure if I want to go into art or art direction. That’s what my father did, but he hated it and quit to travel and paint his murals.”

Whatever path Aubrey chooses, her future looks very bright indeed.

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Aubrey painted a goose for the Wild Geese Project in Mifflin County, a tribute to her late father, who painted a number of murals in his career. This goose bears a collage of his local work.

Kirkland

Continued from Page 45

Her piece “Self Portrait No. 2” is done in a combination of mediums: acryla-gouache, colored pencil, gel pen and ink.

This piece won a gold key in the Scholastic awards, a blue ribbon in the Juniata County fair, and was exhibited in the State Museum in Harrisburg.

Aubrey thanks Sutton, for introducing her to the awards program and en-

couraging her to submit artwork. Aubrey has participated in the program for three years, saying the first year was last minute and a bit rushed, but the second time, they were more prepared. That time around, she and Sutton

sent in multiple pieces but still didn’t expect much.

“But then we were bombarded with emails and feedback,” she said.

“It was really unexpected.”

She has multiple pieces submitted in the 2021

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Catcher

play in a couple tournaments during the sumContinued from Page 44 mer and fall.

Last year as a high due to COVID-19. school freshman, he And he has played would have played on fall ball, beginning at the JV team and he also age 8. He also plays for got chosen to travel and two traveling teams that

possibly play on the varsity team. But thanks to the coronavirus that didn’t happen.

When he is not playing baseball, Matthew really likes to hunt and fish.

We’re now on

@lewistownsentinel

Matthew Weimer takes part in an archery competition.

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Role model

Emmy Snook Submitted by Robin Snook

Emmy Snook, 18 and a high school senior, fought so many hurdles as many do.

This year she elected to do online schooling even though it’s her senior year. She chose to protect her newborn brother and immune compromised sister instead of a senior

Emmy Snook sacrificed a senior year with her friends because she was worried about the health and safety of her siblings.

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year with her friends.

She got creative and helped her siblings entertain during the pandemic so much that they really don’t know how the world has changed! She has flown through her studies maintaining her high GPA. “We are so proud of our soon graduate for continuingly being a positive role model and kind

human in this world,” says her mother, Robin Snook. “She has helped out families who needed care for children during work. She’s helped take care of things when her grandmother fell ill, and even when her sibling was born. We wish she could have had a normal senior year but she has proven to be quite the young lady!”

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

Lewistown, PA—49

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

College bound

Connor Cherry

Colby Bodtorf

By William Whisler Sports editor

LEWISTOWN — According to national statistics, just over 7 percent of high school athletes go on to play varsity sports in college.

Taking that into consideration, what are the odds that four players from a single high school team would end up at the same college, continuing their academic and athletic careers on the same baseball team?

Regardless of the odds, Mifflin County’s core group of Colby Bodtorf, Bryce Dobson, Cole Knable and Connor Cherry have defied them, as the four all committed to continue their baseball careers at Division III Penn State-DuBois.

Each possessing different skill sets, the Huskies will be well represented on

Cole Knable

Bryce Dobson

Mifflin County baseball Colby Bodtorf, Connor Cherry, Bryce Dobson and Cole Knable will all play college ball together at Penn State– DuBois. the Lions next spring.

Bodtorf, the Huskies’ ace and standout shortstop, hit .449, picking up 31 hits in 86 plate appearances, while stealing 12 bases at the top of the Mifflin County Independent League lineup. Bodtorf was also the team’s ace, recording a 1.09 ERA in 32 innings of work, yielding 10 runs and 28 strikeouts.

“Since I have known him and watched him

play, he has been a kid that goes out there with that blue-collar work ethic,” Mifflin County coach John McGonigle said. “You hear about someone hitting gap to gap, well with Colby, you have a kid that literally goes foul line to foul line. He is such a great hitter that understands every situation of the game and what his job is. His vision and awareness at the plate allows him to be the hitter he is. You put a hit and run on and he will hit it where he is supposed to. You need the guy on second to get over to third, he is going to pull the ball and, in most situations, drive him in. He is just such a complete hitter.”

Dobson, one of the team’s top run producers, as he drove in 24 runs and hit .346 for Mifflin County last summer.

“Bryce is a guy that has taken that next step recent-

ly,” McGonigle said. “His hard work and holding himself accountable for his preparation is what really stands out. He has put a lot of time and effort into that, especially coming into this year. He has been getting

himself in shape and fine turning a lot of his skills.

You look at what he can do with the bat and his ability to drive in runs is one of his strongest assets.”

Cherry’s summer was cut short due to a knee

injury, but he is one of the team’s top pitchers and has had a wealth of success in recent trips to the mound. Cherry’s arm is powerful and when he See Baseball / Page 50

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Baseball

Continued from Page 49

is locked in, he’s nearly unhittable.

“Over the years Connor has grown not just with his skill set, but his entire mentality has changed,” McGonigle said. “Those that follow Connor know this and all the credit goes to him for having the determination to do so. One thing that sticks out about him is his ability to just take control on the mound. When he gets into that zone, he can shut down an offense.

He has also learned to take what is given to him and trust his defense. This has helped him be efficient on the mound.”

Knable, one of the Huskies’ best defensive outfielders and a great relief pitcher, showcased some of his abilities this summer as well. Knable hit .293 with six RBIs while recording a 2.89 ERA with 10 strikeouts and one walk in 15 innings of work.

“Cole is a guy that gives you everything he has each time out,” McGonigle said. “He wants to do whatever it takes to get the job done and will do anything for the team. I think a good word to describe him is he’s just a blue-collar worker when he is out there on the field. He knows what he is capable of doing and never tries to do too much.”

Before varsity, three of the four played in a pair of Babe Ruth World Series; Knable played in one. Dobson is the only player from the Keystone State to win

Mifflin County’s Rylan Bailey is also headed to the next level, at Division II Lock Haven. a Babe Ruth World Series batting title. Bodtorf had the save as the 13-year-old Mifflin County All-Stars won it all.

While each player chose Penn State-DuBois for different reasons, continuing to play together after their senior seasons is something that each of the four is excited for.

“It is going to be really exciting to continue to play with these great ball players for a few more years,” Knable said. “It is really nice to know that I will be playing ball with familiar faces.”

Dobson shared that sentiment.

“I’m definitely excited to continue to play with the guys I have played with since Little League,” he said. “It will definitely feel like home having those guys by my side. I know their talent and can’t wait to play more baseball with them.”

Along with the group of Dobson, Knable, Bodtorf and Cherry, Mifflin County’s Rylan Bailey is the fifth senior that will continue his baseball career once the

2021 school year ends. Bailey signed to play baseball at Lock Haven in the fall.

The tall first baseman had a .328 batting average with 27 RBIs and two home runs in 23 games last summer.

“He is a leader. Rylan has taken responsibility for the preparation of his game, whether it is in the

classroom, weight room, or on the field,” McGonigle said. “You know each time he steps on the field you are going to get his best. He is someone that has the ability to change the game with one swing. He has a great opportunity this spring during his senior year and when he furthers his career at Lock Haven.”

These Huskies have set the bar high for a spring baseball season, with multiple members of the team setting their sights on a District 6 title and a lengthy postseason run.

“My goal for spring is to win districts and make it to states for sure,” Dobson said. “We have a really talented team and I’m really hoping to be able to have a season.”

“My goals are just to play the best ball I can,”

Knable said. “We all know what we are capable of, we just have to do our jobs.

A district championship and a run in the state playoffs would be something I think we can achieve.”

The team has shown it can always find ways to win with past victories, including a dramatic comeback against State College in 2019 and a series of come from behind wins last summer that powered the Mifflin County team into the Independent League Regional in Hollidaysburg last August.

“I believe being in those pressure situations has really helped me out because they have taught me that you don’t always have to do it yourself,” Bodtorf

said. “There will always be another guy behind you ready for their chance as well and I think they helped me stay patient and never try to do it by myself.”

Whatever the group accomplishes this summer, there is a line of past success. They form perhaps the deepest senior class in Mifflin County baseball history. As long as the team gets a chance to get on the field, the Huskies are going to enjoy every game they get to play.

“I just want to be the very best I can be, work well with all my teammates, have a great spring season and just have a blast with my last season of high school baseball,” Cherry said.

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Farm scholar

By Erin Thompson

Ethan Brummer

do everything from feeding to making sure animals are healthy, giving vaccinations (to) treating sick animals.

You do just about everything that taking care of animals requires.”

While his involvement in this year’s Farm Show was minimal due to COVID-19, he says he plans to continue his involvement in the future.

“I will help out at the (Pennsylvania Livestock Association) stand throughout the Block and Bridal and help with the shows and keep them running.”

Brummer said he would also like to continue to

Religion/education editor

MILLERSTOWN — Named one of Pennsylvania’s top performing students in agriculture, 19-year-old Ethan Brummer was recently awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Farm Show Scholarship Foundation for his achievements.

Brummer was one of 15 students statewide to be selected for the scholarship.

Now a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in Ag Science with a minor in Ag Business, Brummer was raised in Millerstown, where his family’s small/mid-size farm has a diverse selection — including about 130 crossbred ewes, 70 angus crossbred beef cows, 40 Berkshire sows and about 400 acres of crops, including regular grain crops and 75-acres of vegetable crops.

After receiving his degree he plans to return to return to the family farm to work with his dad.

“I just have always liked to farm and I’d really just like to keep the farm going for the next generation. I would like my kids to take over it some day,” Brummer said. “I really like the idea of planting a seed, watching it grow and harvesting it in the fall.”

Brummer has one sister, Ella, who is a senior in high school. She plans to attend Penn State in the fall and would also like to be

Ethan Brummer’s family farm is home to Angus cattle, above, and Berkshire sows, right among other livestock. involved with the family farm when she graduates.

Brummer started showing at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in seventh grade and participated every year throughout his high school career, showing primarily market hogs and lambs.

Among his achievements, Brummer says he took first place in the state in tractor driving his senior year in high school and has been awarded scholarships from organizations such as the Pennsylvania Livestock Association, the Perry County Fair and the American Berkshire Association.

Heavily involved in FFA, he served as club president

at Greenwood High School, and sees the importance of agriculture in today’s world.

“Agriculture is very important. It feeds everyone.

Without agriculture, we wouldn’t be eating our three meals a day. The agriculture economy is huge in Pennsylvania and the U.S. and all across the world. It is very important to appre-

ciate it and very supportive of it.”

Now, Brummer lives and works in the beef and sheep barns at Penn State, a job which he enjoys, and is active in the university’s Block and Bridle Club.

Working in the beef and sheep barns “is a lot more realistic learning as opposed to your regular college classes,” he said. “You

show gilts through the open show.

The college sophomore says he was excited to hear that he was selected as a recipient of the Farm Show’s Scholarship, which has awarded $1.7 million to young agriculturists since its inception in 1993.

“I didn’t really know what my chances were, but it definitely was very cool to be selected out of all the participants that applied,” he said. “I am very honored to receive it.”

For his achievement, Brummer also received an additional $2,000 scholarship from Penn State University.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

A grand season

By William Whisler Sports editor

MIDDLEBURG — If Hunter Wolfley wasn’t garnering attention from coaches at the next level before his senior season, his surge in the second half of his final campaign certainly caught some eyes.

The talented MiddWest running back reached multiple milestones and on Oct. 16. Wolfley became the first player in Mustangs’ history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, needing only six games to get there.

Wolfley caught the attention of the entire state this past season when the quick and elusive back rushed for 452 yards and five TDs against Mifflinburg. Wolfley finished second in District 4 in rushing this season, finishing with an eye-popping 1,332 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Wolfley was on the AllState ballot, but ultimately was not selected as an AllState player. Instead, the senior was recognized by the Heartland Conference as a first-team All-Star at the running back position in the Mustangs’ inaugural season in the conference.

He also was the Mustangs’ leading receiver with 14 catches for 253 yards and three more TDs. Reaching the 1,000-yard

Hunter Wolfley

mark was a goal of Wolfley’s dating back to his junior season, but the MiddWest senior brushed it off afterward.

“It feels great. We’ve only had the program for three years, but it is an accomplishment,” Wolfley said. Midd-West players previously were in a co-op with East Juniata. “I was looking forward to getting there last year and ended up short which was disappointing. It felt good to be able to get there in six games.”

The biggest goal for the talented senior remains earning an opportunity to play at the next level.

While Wolfley’s ability is no secret at Midd-West, his breakout performance against Mifflinburg caught the eyes of many as his 452 yards put him 10th in rushing yards in a single game in PIAA history, according to the American Football Database. Wolfley also had two catches for 32 yards in the 35-33 loss.

“I am just trying to get my name out there,” Wolfley said, who is still looking for an opportunity to play college football. “I feel like this season has done that. I just want to get my name out there.”

Wolfley said that Lycoming College contacted him to set up a visit following the breakout performance. Several other

schools started calling later in the year and he currently holds an offer from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. Both Lycoming (Williamsport) and Alfred are NCAA Division III schools.

Wolfley is just looking for a chance and to find the best fit for him.

“I’m hoping for more,” Wolfley said. “I’m looking for an opportunity and to find the right place.”

His numbers this season speak for themselves.

Wolfley is among the top rushers in PIAA District 4 and he accounted for more than 700 yards and seven scores on the ground in a two-week span in October. Wolfley rushed for 248 yards and two TDs in a 31-20 victory over Hughesville which brought his season total to 1,125 yards with 13 rushing TDs. The win was MiddWest’s first of the year, and for a team trying to persevere in its first season in a tough Heartland Conference, the win meant the world to the Mustangs’ program.

“We’ve got a lot of heart,” Wolfley said. “The scores of our first three or four games, to just come back and stick with the season shows a lot. Coach (Brad) Hatter says it’s those three, five plays we need to take advantage of.”

Sentinel file photo Midd-West’s Hunter Wolfley is the first football player in school history to run for 1,000 yards in a season.

Hatter shares the same beliefs and is proud of how his team has rallied in the final weeks despite taking some lumps early.

“These boys did not quit on us,” Hatter said.

“We’ve asked them to keep working and keep persevering and they did that. Fortunately, we were able to make enough plays to come out on top. Our defense played really well.

We will take a W. Any time you can get one in football it’s a really good feeling.”

One thing is for sure, if See Wolfley / Page 53

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Spell like a bee Aidan Miller Aidan Miller is the grandson of Charles and Geraldine Miller of Lewistown. He is a fifth grader at Vandagriff Elementary School in Aledo, Texas. He won his school’s spelling bee and is now preparing to compete in the county wide spelling bee organized by Scripps.

ROBERT P.

Wolfley

Continued from Page 52

Wolfley can keep producing at the same level, opposing defenses are going to struggle to contain the Midd-West running back who has a unique mix of speed and agility, once he finds his opportunity at the next level.

Wolfley, given his smaller frame is considerably difficult to tackle and often makes guys miss before cutting up field. He possesses a unique burst that makes him especially dangerous in space and

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once he gets past the linebackers, it’s a foot race he usually wins.

Hatter has nothing but praise for his running back and is especially proud of Wolfley for reaching the 1,000-yard milestone.

“He deserves it,” Hatter said. “He just comes to work every day and battles through injury. I guarantee that kid is hurting but he just comes to work and battles. He leads by example that way. We’re just thankful every day that he is on our team and for what he brings to our program. He can really change the game.”

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I am currently teaching myself how to play the piano and ukulele, and I love to sing. I enjoy writing poems to express myself. My work has been published twice, the first one when I was 7, called Green and published in Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans. I wrote my second poem called Painful Love at the age of

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I have been blessed with many unique experiences. My family lived in Hawaii for two years which is where my little sister was born.

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Sisters

Continued from Page 54

my fifth birthday.

Later that year, after moving back to PA, I went on a bus trip with my mom and grandparents to West Virginia. We went through the Eagle Pass on the Potomac Eagle Railroad. I was taken to the front of the old steam engine train and sat in the conductor’s seat to blow the whistle.

At age 8, I went on a hot air balloon ride through Lancaster to celebrate my grandmother winning

her battle with cancer.

My mom has used her love of traveling to show my sister and I as much of the word as she can. I celebrated my 13th birthday at Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach in New Zealand. We also visited Hobbiton, where the movie set for the Hobbit was built, and did a lot of hiking, experiencing the beauty of New Zealand.

We have had the opportunity to travel out of state and visit friends and family in Oklahoma while taking several cross-country road trips.

We have made stops in

Casey, Illinois, where there is a collection of over-sized objects, and visited the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.

We also visited Saint Louis, Missouri; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, learning about some of our nation’s history.

We visited Mackinac Island, Michigan, where my family rode our bikes around the entire island.

We also traveled to Sault Ste. Marie in Northern Michigan to experience the Soo Locks along the U.S./Canada border. My

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Throughout the years, I learned the importance of hard work, and how to overcome hard times in life, and it has made me who I am today.

••• My name is Madison. I’m a sixth grader at Tuscarora Junior High School. I was born in Hawaii but moved to Pennsylvania when I was a year old.

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My family and I have traveled to New Zealand, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Arkansas and we have a trip planned for Haiti coming up.

I am learning how to crochet. I cross stitch, do latch hook, make friendship and rubber band bracelets, and I am working on a couple plastic Maddie Copeland canvas projects.

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56—Lewistown, PA

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Young nimrod

Paisley Beaver

By Julianne Kilmer Sentinel correspondent

LEWISTOWN — Paisley Beaver took a special shot this hunting season.

She harvested her first deer — a buck, no less.

A lot of kids can make that claim every hunting season. But Beaver, of Lewistown, clocks in at a mere 8 years old.

She traveled with her dad, Andrew, to an area just west of Pittsburgh to hunt.

“We go the night before and then sleep out in the truck,” she said.

In the morning, the pair walked about 150 yards to their tree stand where they stayed until lunch.

Andrew harvested the first deer of the day, a doe, before it was time to break to eat.

“So there was a little At just 8 years old, Paisley Beaver harvested her first deer, a buck, while hunting with her father. She shows the mount that was made from her deer.

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bit of action in between (waking up and getting Paisley’s deer),” said her mom, Clarissa.

After lunch, the pair headed back to their tree stand. Just before dark, they saw movement along the gas line that runs between their property and the neighboring property.

“It was about 4:30 in the afternoon,” Andrew said.

He pulled up the scope and saw two does.

But Paisley kept saying she could hear something that sounded closer.

“So we sat there a little longer,” Andrew said.

“About 20 ‘til five, I see this deer.”

“I pulled up the scope to make sure that it was a buck that she was able to shoot,” he continued.

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“I handed the gun off to her,” he said.

The spike got within about 35 yards of the father-daughter duo. “(Paisley) couldn’t see it in the scope,” he recalled, so he told her how to line up the barrel of the gun with the deer and put the scope where it needs to be.

She found the deer and took aim.

“We sat there ... felt like forever ’til she pulled the trigger,” Andrew said.

When she did, the deer fell about 15 yards from where Andrew dropped his doe that morning.

“We were both excited. I think I was more excited than she See Deer / Page 58

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Record setter

Gage Schaeffer

By Brian Carson Sentinel correspondent

LEWISTOWN — To say Gage Schaeffer made a lasting impact on the Mifflin County football program would be a massive understatement.

Schaeffer finished his senior season last fall capturing six school records:

rushing yards (2,293), all-purpose yards (3,309), total yards (2,689), touchdowns (29), rushing touchdowns (25) and points scored (180).

“I didn’t know it was six. I thought it was four.

I started late in my freshman year and it was great,” Schaeffer said.

“To leave with six school

records is an awesome feeling. I was there to get better. I was there to play.

I wanted to push myself as hard as I could to be on top.”

Mifflin County football coach Scot Sechler knows the not-so-secret secret to Schaeffer’s success on the gridiron — a fanatical work ethic.

Sentinel file photo

Gage Schaeffer (6) carries the ball in a Mid-Penn football game in the fall. He finished the season as holder of six Mifflin County High School football records.

“He’s a kid who was one of the hardest workers I ever had the privilege of coaching. He always had his A-game every day at practice. He was always prepared, always willing to jump in on drills. He was a good team player,” Sechler said.

Natural ability coupled with hard work got Schaeffer on the field as a freshman. Sechler

saw right away the skills needed to be a solid running back.

“He has great vision. He was able to see things develop and find creases. He could preread the defense and see where things were going,” Sechler said. “He had a unique way of getting skinny and finding his way through a hole.

It didn’t look like much

was there, but he could find his way through the whole and explode.

He was so darn fast; he would explode out of it.”

Schaeffer had another attribute needed to succeed in football — coachability.

“He was great to coach.

He will learn and try new things. He would come See Record / Page 58

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Record

Continued from Page 57

up with suggestions of plays to run or new drills to do,” Sechler said. “He is just a fantastic person.

He was a quiet leader. He wasn’t vocal. He led by example.”

The Husky senior has plenty of fond memories of the past four years.

“Some of my best memories are when we would go full out in practice and scrimmages to see how we would play in live football,” Schaeffer said. “A few of the games went into overtime, and overtime games are some of the best in the world.

Friday night, under the lights, you can’t beat it.

The crowd goes crazy. I loved it.”

Schaeffer is moving on from the game he loves.

He doesn’t plan to play college ball. He has his sights set on learning a trade. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be interested in coaching soon.

“I’m not going to play college football because I’m going to get into some type of welding. I’ve been looking at it here a good

bit lately and that’s what I want to do,” Schaeffer said. “I was telling my dad if I’m ever free over the summer whenever they have spring ball and stuff, I’d like to go help, but I don’t know with all the COVID restrictions and stuff if I’d be allowed.”

Sechler understands his desire to move on, but knows Schaeffer has the skills to play at the next level.

“I thought he was going to play. He definitely could have played at the next level, but four years of high school football can put a lot of wear and tear on you,” Sechler said.

“He’s going to learn a trade and there’s nothing wrong with that. I am a tradesman myself.”

Schaeffer is quick to give credit to his teammates and coaches for an enjoyable four years.

“I never had a year that we went against each other. We all played together and worked together.

That’s just football. If you come together and play hard, you’ll have a fun year,” he said. “I’ve been with Coach Sechler since my freshman year. The

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coaches were great and taught us a lot about the game.”

Schaeffer’s influence on his teammates, especially the underclassmen, will leave a lasting impact on youngsters still in youth football.

“He proved to kids you don’t have to be a senior to play on Friday nights.

He did it through hard work. Not just in high school, but up through peewee, midget, camps and junior high football,” Sechler said. “He worked hard at perfecting his craft and he played as a freshman. That’s special.

There aren’t too many freshmen who played high school football in Mifflin County. That says something for work ethic, and the younger kids saw that. I think we will have some freshmen and sophomores get a lot of playing time next year and that’s thanks to his example.”

Influencing the young-

er players was always on Schaeffer’s mind. He wanted to set a powerful example for them to emulate.

“I think about it a lot.

Even if they think they won’t play as freshmen or small sophomores, just push to be the best that you can and if you can do it, you’ll be on the field,” Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer has zero regrets and leaves the program as the benchmark running back others strive to outdo.

“I’m extremely happy with what I accomplished the last four years. I matured, worked hard, did what I could, and I’m honored to set the records I did,” Schaeffer said. “I hope I pushed the kids to work hard and be the best they can. If I did that, I am happy.”

Deer

Continued from Page 56

was whenever it went down,” he said, proud of his daughter.

Andrew explained that for the Beaver family, hunting is a tradition that teaches gun safety and gets the kids outside. He has been hunting since he was a child, too.

“My kids really got into it, so I’ve been letting them go since they were about 5 years old,” he said, though this was the first year Paisley could try it herself.

In addition to Paisley, he and Clarissa share two more children: Kale, 10, and Hannah, 6.

“I’ll take one of the kids with me even through archery and

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rifle, and I’ll alternate turns with them just so that they have the experience I had when I was a kid,” Andrew said.

Clarissa explained that their hunting location near Pittsburgh is well-populated with deer and doesn’t have many hunters, unlike Mifflin County.

“That’s why it’s really nice to take the kids out there because here in Mifflin County, it seemed like we weren’t getting any shots,” she said. “Of course both of them come home with deer in the same day!”

Clarissa said hunting has been a good way to cure her family’s cabin fever during COVID-19, and she hopes other children have the same opportunity.

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JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Helping the homeless

By Bradley Kreitzer Sentinel reporter

LEWISTOWN — The urge to help others is in many of us be it a monetary donation, volunteering, tutoring, or simply lending a hand.

For 8-year-old Collin Mountz it was a 2019 bus tour through the city of Washington D.C. that gave him the urge to help the homeless. Collin fig-

Collin Mountz

ured in order for him to truly make an impact on these people’s lives that he himself would need some help. So, Collin did what any 8-year-old would do — he requested the aid of the big guy, Santa Claus.

On Dec. 18, Collin’s parents, Ken and Jana Mountz, had asked him to finish his Christmas list.

That’s when Collin’s mom found his letter to San-

ta Claus asking for new clothing for the homeless.

Collin was inspired to take action by a bus trip taken in the summer of 2019. The family had taken a ride on a tour bus through Washington, D.C., which highlighted the monuments at the National Mall and historical sites throughout the city. As the bus traveled through Washington Collin had seen the people

living on the streets and witnessed homelessness for the first time.

This had a real impact on Collin which weighed on the young man’s mind this Christmas season.

“They don’t have the money to get new clothes and some people were shirtless and they have to stay in tents and that.”

Collin said, “And it gets really cold and they could die in that cold so it’s re-

ally heartbreaking to see them living on the street.”

Being only a week away from Christmas Day Collin’s mom decided to assist Santa in his efforts to help Collin fulfill his wish to help the homeless. Jana took to the social media app Facebook to reach out to the community and share Collin’s story.

The next hurdle was finding a place where people could drop off donations.

24

So Jana turned to family friend Bethany Williams, owner of The Restaurant, who lent the use of her building. Jana said she had collected donations of clothing and other items for four days at the location. They had received monetary donations as well from two local businesses and several members of the community.

See Homeless / Page 60

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Homeless Continued from Page 59

and many coats, clothing, socks, boots and bags of food. The family also acquired a storage unit to store donations and purchased items.

Once restocked, Collin and his family plan on making another trip to Harrisburg this winter.

“Something we have been teaching Collin over the past few weeks is that just because they’re homeless doesn’t mean that do not have a story,” Jana said. “What people don’t realize is what led them to the street. And right now a lot of it is due to COVID.” The family talked to several people in Harrisburg that are recently homeless because of loss of employment and rather than staying in their apartments and accumulate back rent saw living

on the street their only option.

“That’s one of the biggest impacts that we as adults have learned last weekend is just the fact that they (homeless) had decided to move out onto the street than get impacted by rent they wouldn’t be able to recover from,” Jana said. “And then whenever they would finally be able to afford another place they wouldn’t be able to get into it because they have an eviction on their record.”

Collin also expressed an interest in doing something in the summer months where they would hand out food, sunscreen and lighter footwear.

“I truly feel Collin had a calling,” Jana said. “His heart is in a place during a time of the unknown.

The monetary donations went toward the purchase of new clothing, coats, blankets, tents, sleeping bags and other items needed in cold weather.

On Christmas Day Collin was excited to find out what his family had done to help out Santa Claus and make his wish to help the homeless a reality. On Dec. 27, Collin, along with his parents, oldest sister Dianea Mountz and family friends Bethany and Chris Williams, loaded up three vehicles with donations and headed to Union Station in Washington, D.C. to distribute the items. After the trip to Washington D.C. the Mountzs’ still had plenty of items left so they decided to make another trip, this time to Harrisburg.

On Jan. 2, the group headed to a homeless encampment on Mulberry Street and a soup kitchen that was set up near the city’s courthouse. Jana said this trip they had the use of a moving truck from Matthew Parkes at Re/Max Until Further Notice which made it easier to load up, transport and distribute at the locations.

“In Harrisburg there was a lot of praying goFebruary 6th September 11th ing on. A lot of thanks.

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As long as he wants to lead, his family will follow. We’re looking forward to our next trip in the upcoming weeks.”

Collin already is planning on doing this again next Christmas, making the trip to Baltimore, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

To find the latest updates on Collin and his crusade to help the homeless follow his Facebook page at “Collins Wish for Hope, Love & Prosperity.” If you would like to help out and make a donation a drop box will be set up at The Restaurant, in Lewistown, during their normal business hours.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

The Sentinel

Lewistown, PA—61

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Community volunteers

Anney and Emmalee Fisher-Henson

By Tabitha Goodling Sentinel correspondent

McVEYTOWN — Anney and Emmalee Fisher-Henson always loved going to the library as little girls.

Their memories of children’s story hour left an impact on the sisters.

As teenagers the pair decided to keep those special moments alive for more children in their community.

The McVeytown girls learned of a need for volunteers at Rothrock Community Library two years ago. They took on the children’s story hour the second Saturday of each month. The pair chose a theme for each month in which they decorated the children’s area

and read to the children.

“We both really enjoyed going to the library.

It’s just a really fun place to go,” said Anney, 18.

The pair were honored in 2020 as recipients of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Junior Volunteer Award.

Emmalee, 16, said she was shocked to learn they won the award. Emmalee is a sophomore at Belleville Mennonite School, playing field hockey in the school’s cooperative with Huntingdon. She also plays the cello, drums and piano.

Emmalee said the experience at the library has given her the desire to be an elementary school teacher.

See Volunteers / Page 62

Anney and Emmalee Fisher-Henson have been recognized by the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce for their community volunteer efforts.

62—Lewistown, PA

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Volunteers Continued from Page 61

Anney ‘s creative talents are also put to use in her recent position as intern for The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce. Anney is a 2020 BMS graduate and a freshman at Dickinson College where she is majoring in business. As intern with the Chamber she has been working on the agency’s annual mystery tour, which, if it takes place this year, will allow folks to explore the

area on a charter bus and visit the sites of the Valley.

Because of COVID-19, the 2021 tour is going to be done virtually on Zoom.

Anney’s enthusiasm for the Chamber came in high school when she did a job shadow with Rhonda Moore, the executive director.

Both Anney and Emilee participated in the Holiday Stroll in downtown Lewistown and are active with McVeytown United Methodist Church.

Anney said since

Dickinson is holding its spring semester virtually, she is able to continue to help Emmalee with the library story hour.

“We just really enjoy seeing the kids so happy each month,” Anney said, which is their motivation to keep volunteering.

An average of eight children ages kindergarten through fifth grade attend the reading time. During the initial COVID-19 shutdown in early 2020, the story hour was recorded and streamed

on Facebook. The story hour has since returned to in-person, but Anney said they have chosen to continue to offer the virtual opportunity for families.

Anney and Emalee are the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. William Henson of McVeytown.

Information on the story hour is found on the Rothrock Community Library Facebook page.

The latest information about the mystery tour can be found online at https://jrvchamber. com/mystery-tour/.

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Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

The Sentinel

Lewistown, PA—63

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

On a mission

By Tabitha Goodling Sentinel correspondent

M c A L I S T E RV I L L E — East Juniata High School’s top soccer scorer has not only accumulated goals. She has been accumulating opportunities to share her faith.

Most people know the name Kierstyn Fogle as the girl who broke EJHS records this fall, scoring 125 goals in her soccer career.

Fogle, 18, is the daughter of Adrian and Karen Fogle of McAlisterville.

Her parents raised her in a Christian home and took her and her older brother Zachary and younger sister Aubrey to Brown’s United Methodist Church each week.

Fogle said she was very young when she came to an understanding of Jesus and saving faith.

Around the age of 10 her family attended a Casting Crowns concert. The contemporary Christian band not only brought a worshipful evening of music, they also inspired the Fogles to continue to live out their faith.

A portion of the concert was an introduction to World Vision, a missions organization that performs disaster relief.

The Fogles decided to take their family on a domestic World Vision

Kierstyn Fogle “Sports are the type of things you want to work on and give it all you got. But you can also use it to honor God.” — Kierstyn Fogle missions’ trip to West Virginia.

“We went to people’s homes and helped with repairs. We painted churches and helped with a Bible school,” Fogle said.

This experience with her parents, siblings and grandparents grew into an annual event over the course of four years. They invited others to join them each year, including their church family and others in the community.

“That first trip was so cool. It wasn’t just that we got to help other people, they really wanted to hear about our faith,” she said of the residents of West Virginia.

The summer before Kierstyn’s sophomore year, her entire club soccer team came along. Most of the girls from the Mifflin County United Soccer Club Explosion team were also East Juniata players.

Kierstyn said she was

very excited to share the enthusiasm of missions work with her teammates.

“The more I have gone on these missions trips, the more I talk about it,” she said. Kierstyn said she used to think her peers would not have an interest in what she does with her church. Over time she realized more and more people were wanting to know about her experiences.

“I used to really worry about what people would think. But as I got older, I realized it’s not important,” she explained.

Kierstyn Fogle (back row, center) along with soccer teammates and friends who have committed themselves to God and helping others.

Kierstyn also came to realize that the need to share the love of Jesus was not just something missionaries do overSee Mission / Page 64

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64—Lewistown, PA

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021

The Sentinel

JUNIATA VALLEY MAGAZINE

Mission

Continued from Page 63

seas. It is needed in her own country and her own hometown, she said.

“The needs are right here. We don’t even need to go that far to be a witness,” Kierstyn said.

This is true even on the field as she gets a pass and heads for the goal.

“Sports are the type of things you want to work on and give it all you got.

But you can also use it to honor God,” she said.

Over the years Kierstyn said she has had Kierstyn Fogle (second row, second from left) and fellow missionaries on their World coaches who have talked Vision Appalachia project.

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to her teams about the importance of playing fairly, having a good attitude and honoring God. The family had hoped to return to West Virginia for another missions’ trip, but the pandemic has paused such opportunities.

The shutdown last spring did not stop Kierstyn from helping others, though. She helped her church prepare and deliver meals to individuals shut-in during that time.

She and her sister made cards to encourage those who could not leave their homes, too.

Kierstyn will graduate from EJHS this spring and prepare for her freshman year at Slippery Rock University, a Division II where she has agreed to play soccer. She is currently planning a major in exercise science/biology.

However, she said, she has recently entertained the idea of medical school. Either way, Kierstyn wants to continue to be a part of missions. She has a goal of participating in medical missions internationally.

“It would be pretty awesome if I could do that,” she said.

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