120th Anniversary

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We are pleased to publish this special edition of The Sentinel on our 120th anniversary, October 10, 2023. In the first edition of The Daily Sentinel back in 1903, the following message was published: "While the first aim of The Sentinel will be to give all the home news in readable shape, it will always stand for the greatest good and the highest prosperity and progress in Lewistown and Mifflin County. It will know no party...This will be the sole platform of The Daily Sentinel: To serve the people. If it does this well, it hopefully will be well received."

It is our hope that our publication continues to serve the people of our valley with news and information in whatever format one chooses to read content, be it digital or in print.

Inside this edition: Special anniversary editorial column...C2 Front pages and advertisements of the past...

C2-C6, D2-D7 A look at Ray Wilde's career...C7-C8 Former sports editor Flanagan...D1 Publisher column...D2 Reporter looks back over 30 years...D3 Sentinel carrier group photo...D4 Franco reflects on time with Sentinel...D6

Images pictured above are from the Sentinel 25th anniversary edition that was published in 1928, and the 100th anniversary edition, published Friday, Oct. 10, 2003.

C2—Lewistown, PA

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

What does 120 years really mean?

43,830.

That is how many days The Sentinel has been covering the Juniata Valley during the past 120 years. As we acknowledge this milestone, we think about what it means to have reached 120 years of being a part of the community. This column isn’t about what’s changed over the years in the newspaper industry (a lot). Or the mistakes or typographical errors we’ve made (plenty over 120 years and an estimated 900,000 plus pages).

This column isn’t about the awards we’ve won or the triumphs we’ve achieved.

This editorial isn’t a rendering of the history of The Sentinel. This column is written to acknowledge the sheer weight, accomplishment and meaning of 43,830 days of a newspaper being part of the commu-

nity.

On October 10, 1903, The Sentinel started publishing a newspaper. While we didn’t publish each of those 40,000 plus days, The Sentinel doubtless had daily impact during the last 120 years.

How many employees cumulatively worked for the newspaper? It’s likely been thousands since 1903.

Some of those folks went on to do great things in other fields or communities.

Others stayed for many years right here and made a difference for their entire career here at The Sentinel (we’re looking at you James “Jimmy” Thompson and Walter “Bud” Olson). Some employees got ink on their hands, clothes and everywhere else, and others never walked into the pressroom, but they all

had a part in getting local news into the hands of the good people of Mifflin and Juniata Counties.

But it wasn’t just the employees who have been a part of The Sentinel’s footprint. It was the business owner who stayed up late to get their advertising copy together for the fullpage ad that would make or break their holiday bottom line. Or the student who dashed out of school at 3:01 p.m. sharp so they could get their paper route delivered before dinnertime. Think of the reporter who went out in the dark and cold to get the details of the house fire. And the hauler who was driving in the middle of the night to drop bundles of Sentinels off at stores in McAlisterville or Milroy or McVeytown or Mifflintown or any

other local town whether it starts with an “M” or not. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our loyal subscribers over the last 120 years, many of whom have anxiously waited for their Sentinel to be delivered and know right when that newspaper should hit their porch, paper tube or mailbox.

How many Sentinel clippings from 1903 to 2023 are stashed away in shoeboxes, scrapbooks, drawers, attics and closets all over the country? How many Sentinel webpage clicks have there been since our website went live (hint, it’s in the tens of millions)?

Did you ever proudly say “that’s my kid”(or grandkid, niece, nephew, cousin, etc.) when a son or daughter was listed in a Sentinel article?

That’s because

it means something to be mentioned in the local newspaper.

There are four main ways to make the paper. #1- someone did something good/notable. #2 – someone did something not so good. #3 – someone was somehow involved or quoted regarding a newsworthy event. #4 and most sobering – someone’s name is in bold on the obituary page.

Whichever of the four ways a name makes the paper, you have to admit that it has an impact. We hope that you’ve got some Sentinel clippings stored away somewhere in your home that bring you joy. And we realize there are possibly some clippings that may bring a tear to your eye.

But that will happen when a small town newspaper has been serving a commu-

nity as long at The Sentinel has been doing so in the Juniata Valley.

And that’s the point of this column. 120 years is an accomplishment. There is undoubtedly blood, sweat and tears that go into any business that lasts for a century plus twenty more years. And so today, as we here at The Sentinel mark this milestone achievement, we are proud to have delivered community news, information and advertising messages to the Juniata Valley since 1903.

And even as things change in our world, we hope to continue to have the privilege of delivering local news to our community.

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Lewistown, PA—C3

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Image above from Oct. 10, 2003

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Congratulations Lewistown Sentinel on 120 Years!

C4—Lewistown, PA

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

From November 11, 1918

From January 28, 1986

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Lewistown, PA—C5

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Ad above from June 24, 1972

Congratulations to our friends at The Sentinel for 120 years of serving the community.

Here’s to the next 120 years!

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Ads from November 11, 1918

C6—Lewistown, PA

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

From November 9, 1928

From November 9, 1928

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Lewistown, PA—C7

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

A look at the career of Babe Ruth writer Ray Wilde

BY ANTHONY FIUZA

Sentinel sports editor afiuza@lewistownsentinel. com LEWISTOWN — By now many of you have probably heard the phrase, “I was born to do this.”

In the case of Ray Wilde working at the Lewistown Sentinel, the same quote might actually apply.

For 54 years (since 1970), Wilde has covered Babe Ruth baseball for the Lewistown paper. Adding to the notion that he was destined to achieve his goal of working at The Sentinel, Wilde was born on Oct. 10 in Lewistown. And as you’ve probably seen, that’s the anniversary date of The Sentinel.

“I got two degrees in journalism and came home. I really didn’t want to go to any other paper but this one…I wanted to be the local boy who made good…a lot of people say it’s a hobby. It’s not a hobby for me, it’s a job. Babe Ruth baseball for me is a job. I’m working on Babe Ruth stuff almost all year round. The Sentinel has been the lifeline for Babe Ruth baseball. I’m able to contribute and I have all these stats,” Wilde explained. His family has ties to the area with his mother being from Siglerville and his father growing up in Belleville.

Over the years, Wilde has made it his mission to leave a lasting impact on those in the community.

“I do it for the paper and I do it for the league, the players and the parents. It makes the paper look good.

I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” the savvy writer said.

For six years, Wilde

Submitted photo

A 1978 story about Penn State trying to earn the No. 1 spot in the college football rankings is pictured. Ray Wilde interviewed coach Joe Paterno as the Lions turned their focus towards Pitt. was a full-time sports reporter at The Sentinel, where he also designed sports pages.

“When I first came in here my job was to cover Juniata and EJ. That was my beat. Then as time progressed I did cross country and track and field. I helped get track and field started in Juniata County,” Wilde stated.

In an effort to get track and field started at the Juniata schools, Wilde wrote two columns, one in the Juniata Sentinel and one in the Lewistown Sentinel.

“At that point in time Juniata only had baseball and golf in those days.

They had a bunch of athletes, but couldn’t do anything. You’re not going to take 50 people on a baseball

team…I thought to myself, ‘Gee here’s a school that could have a track and field team and do well’ and then when they got it, EJ got it.

They couldn’t do one without the other,” Wilde said.

“Dr. Stuck was the superintendent, he endorsed it. I’m quite proud of that distinction and actually, writing wise, my favorite sport is wrestling. I enjoyed covering wrestling. Being on the cross country team and the track team, I learned how to score and how to write (about track and x-country). It was a good learning lesson.”

Wilde also served as a wrestling manager for six

weeks, which helped teach him how to score. “That was a big help to me as a reporter,” Wilde added.

But, the now-Sentinel correspondent has passed the spotlight on to people at different levels of athletics.

This includes interviewing with San Francisco Giants legend Willie McCovey, Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden, and Penn State icon Joe Paterno.

Wilde stressed the importance of being able to mix things up and have a clever story structure if folks are entering the world of sports writing.

“You have to have talent

and creative ability to create different leads consistently,” Wilde said.

Wilde graduated from Williamsport Area Community College in 1970 before attending Point Park University for two and a half years, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.

In 1973, Wilde worked at the Belleville Times for a couple months before his Point graduation. In 1974, Wilde also wrote for the Juniata Sentinel.

Wilde earned some valuable media experience in high school when he was the sports editor at continued on page C8

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Submitted photo

One of Ray Wilde’s many interviews included a conversation with San Francisco Giant and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey. Wilde’s story about the baseball legend is shown during McCovey’s pursuit of home run No. 500.

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C8—Lewistown, PA

The Sentinel

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

XXX

Babe Ruth writer Ray Wilde (continued from page C7)

the Kishacoquillas High School newspaper, where he was able to write stories on top of his editing duties.

Also, in his earlier days, Wilde was a scorekeeper in Belleville.

Wilde added that he enjoys Babe Ruth because of how the league brings teams from small towns together. ”Taking 8, 9, 10 small towns in the middle of nowhere, making them into an All-Star team and performing as well as we have..we’ve played against some of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country,” Wilde noted.

Over the course of time, there have been some changes to the Babe Ruth League.

“What has changed in the league is we’ve expanded the territory. When I first came in Lewistown had their own league.

They’re in our league now.

That was tremendous, acquiring them. Also, we acquired Beaver Springs and Snyder County. We’ve had kids come in from Huntingdon and Juniata County to come in and help,” Wilde voiced.

Wilde continues to bring the right energy when writing his Babe Ruth stories and at this rate he isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Yes, you can say he was made to craft stories for the Lewistown area and beyond. But, he was also relentless in making the most of his opportunities so he could reach his goal. That’s something worthy of emulating.

Submitted photo

Pictured left is a story about a plane crash, which was written by Ray Wilde. The crash took place after the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Colts on Dec. 19, 1976.

Ad above is from November 22, 1963 Ad below is from November 9, 1928

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Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Lewistown, PA—D1

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Bob Flanagan made his mark as Sentinel Sports Editor TOM LAUB

Lifestyles editor tlaub@lewistownsentinel.com LEWISTOWN — His words were precise and clear.

They told the story and provided the outcome with professionalism, care and passion. Passion for sports. Passion for writing. Passion for getting it right.

Robert W. (Bob) Flanagan was “old school” by today’s journalistic standards. The era in which he covered and wrote about sports existed several transitions ago.

When he began his tenure at the Sentinel, there was no such thing as the Super Bowl and World Series games were played in the afternoon. Coaches yelled and players listened. Newspaper coverage was solely in black and white. Landline telephones and flashbulbs were still at a reporter’s disposal.

Flanagan arrived in Lewistown from Altoona with his family in 1962 after accepting a position in the Sentinel Sports Department. He made his mark with a candid approach and a straightforward style. By the time he left the Sentinel as Sports Editor in 1971, he had witnessed and written about several area milestones including Rothrock High School’s 1963 state championship in basketball, the formation of Penn Highlands High School in the fall of 1970 and hundreds of games, matches and contests at every level in between. He prioritized local sports and local teams and it energized the community.

“I honestly remember people always talking about him and his local reporting,” Flanagan’s daughter, Suzanne Fickes, said. “That was his focus and people certainly appreciated that. He never picked against the local teams and of course who can forget Trebor Naganalf (Robert Flanagan spelled backwards) doing the Sentinel picks!”

Flanagan’s picks as Trebor Naganalf reflected a sense of humor that accompanied his love of the game. Any game. His serious and professional reporting could be

Submitted photo

Flanagan takes a break during a light moment at the Sentinel.

offset with a disarming smile. The same smile he probably wore upon hearing his kids, along with others in the neighborhood, had taken bags of flour to line the base paths and batter’s boxes for their annual wiffle ball allstar game. He was probably tempted to write about it.

Flanagan graduated from Altoona High School. When he arrived in Lewistown with wife Kathy, his family was still growing, eventually topping out at six with daughter Suzanne and sons, Mike, Rob and Christopher. Flanagan’s influence was felt and all the kids played high school sports. Suzanne played softball, Mike and Rob played football and Christopher played baseball. Mike also went on to play football at Lock Haven State College (now Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania along with Bloomsburg and Mansfield Universities).

“He influenced me quite a bit in my baseball playing but he was most proud of me trying basketball,” youngest son, Christopher Flanagan, said. “He actually made it to all of those games, but of course I didn’t like it. Too much running.”

As society evolved, so did the world of athletics. It had yet to cross the gender line, but sports still played an important role in the lives of young women.

“I grew up during the times when only boys and men played sports,” Fickes said. “I wanted so badly to play Little League but no girls were allowed until after I was over the age limit. So with three brothers and a father focused on sports, it became a huge part of my life. I am familiar with most sports and the rules. That was considered unique in my days growing up. I was definitely a tomboy. He [Dad] wanted me to play basketball. I tried and did not care for it. Softball was my sport.”

The father played softball as well, as a member of the Campbell’s Diner fast-pitch team that won consecutive championships in the mid-to-late 1960s. An injury forced him to retire. His playing days were over, but he continued to write until he left the Sentinel.

“His influence on the community was huge,” Flanagan said of his father. “For years after his death, people would come up to me and tell me, ‘if it wasn’t for him and his writing, I would never have made it into college.’ He was a big advocate for Rec Park putting in ball fields and he was constantly lobbying for the basketball courts. They only wanted tennis courts. He was a big influence on girls’ sports, mainly basketball.”

“Some of my best memories were hanging in the press box with him,” he continued. “But before those days, he actually walked the sidelines keeping stats, which he preferred. I was better than most at math in school mainly because of helping him and keeping stats at games and adding and subtracting. I knew my seven ‘times table’ before it was even required because of relating it to touchdowns scored.”

From stats and final scores to sports-related topics that impacted people, Flanagan’s mind and fingers went to work.

“I honestly remember him sitting at the kitchen table with that typewriter, picking away with two fingers, typing his column,” Fickes said. “He could out-type anyone using both hands and all fingers.”

After his newspaper days, Flanagan went to work for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Health issues began to take a toll, including an amputated leg forced by a severe infection. He passed away at Lewistown Hospital on Oct. 10, 1981. He was 46.

“His life story was one of struggle yet he honestly found happiness in his job at the Sentinel,” Fickes said.

“He was self-trained, having only a high school diploma.”

Submitted photo

Flanagan (bottom) and a friend practice a two-man dunk.

Flanagan was eulogized by WKVA’s Robert L. Wilson on Oct. 13, 1981.

“Bob Flanagan loved sports as much as any man, indeed perhaps more than most. That love of competitive games and the people who played those games was reflected in the thousands and thousands of words he wrote every day in his sports pages for the Sentinel.”

“In more than three decades of broadcasting here at WKVA, we have seen at least a dozen or more sports editors come and go at the Sentinel. Bob Flanagan was one of the most dedicated and one of the most devoted. We count it a privilege to have known him during his happy, productive years as an honest, hardworking sports reporter.”

The epitaph is fitting. Dedicated, devoted, honest and hardworking. A lifetime of words in less than a decade.

You made a good pick, Trebor.

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D2—Lewistown, PA

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Our newspaper’s history and my personal journey at The Sentinel Today marks the 120th anniversary of The Sentinel. Since an anniversary is a time to reflect, I thought about the history of the paper, how it impacted me, how it is part of the history of the entire Juniata Valley, and where we are going from here.

While the paper can be traced to several less frequent publications, Henry J. Fosnot began publishing the Daily Sentinel on Oct. 10, 1903.

By 1920, Fosnot was joined in business by his son, Walter. On Nov. 20, 1920, a stock company by the name The Sentinel Co. took over the business.

Walter Fosnot retained the titles of president and general manager. When he passed away in 1950, leadership was moved to C.V. Rowland, an employee in the newspaper’s advertising department.

The next change in ownership occurred in 1971, when it was acquired

by Buckner News Alliance.

Ruth Eddy-Publisher In 1972, the paper moved from downtown Lewistown (where the current Salvation Army is located) to its current location in Pleasant Acres (across the street from the Mifflin County Junior High).

The Sentinel was purchased in 1993 by its current owner, Ogden Newspapers Inc., of Wheeling W. Va. Ogden is a fifth-generation, family-owned company that was founded in 1890 by H.C. Nutting. It is owned by his descendants, the Nutting family.

It is amazing to see

how much has changed and how much has stayed the same over the years.

We hope you enjoy this anniversary edition that takes a look at some of the past papers, ads and some of the integral people who wrote, produced and delivered the paper. It also highlights some of the stories that were covered over the years.

Personally, my love for our local paper began at a young age thanks to my parents. Every evening, after we ate, my dad took a section of the paper and began to read it. I would often take another section and spread it out on the living room floor (the paper was much wider back then) and begin to pour over the pages. Fast forward a few years and I found myself enjoying writing and even selected journalism in a career exploration class in junior high.

Not long after that, a neighborhood friend asked me to cover her pa-

per route while she went on vacation for a week. I had a paper bag to put over my shoulder and borrowed my brother’s red wagon to store the extra papers. It was a fun week and I even got a few dollars for delivering.

The Sentinel’s circulation manager asked if I would be interested in another route that was close to my home. My younger brother really wanted to do it, but he wasn’t old enough.

So, I signed the contract and my brother and I delivered on West Fourth Street in Lewistown. The route ran from the current auto parts store, past the Dairy Queen, which did not have a drive thru at the time, and down to Bossert’s Hardware (which is still in operation today).

My mother opened a checking account for us and taught us how to keep track of our money and reconcile the checking account and our account with The Sentinel. As I

look back, I learned so much more from having that route including how to talk to adults, how to give good service, and how to be reliable and responsible in business. I even learned how to resist the desire to frequent the Dairy Queen on a daily basis-at least most of the time.

Years passed, and I chose to pursue accounting. Eventually, I applied and was hired as the Business Manager at The Sentinel! Later, I was promoted to the Publisher’s position, where I remain today. It is ironic the way my story turned out and how intertwined my life is with The Sentinel.

Recently, I have been reading through the Connections stories that we are turning into a book.

The stories feature local towns and the people who lived there around the time of our 100th anniversary as well as some who lived there prior to that time.

Over and over again, I

saw how The Sentinel was there chronicling the ups and downs of life in the Juniata Valley.

As the staff began to pull together this edition, we truly enjoyed seeing the old photos, ads, and stories. We were struck by the many people who were carriers, worked at the paper, or knew someone who did. Many thanks to those willing to tell us their stories and to the former and current staff and independent contractors who help/ helped us produce and deliver a new product every publication day. Thanks too, to the community for allowing us to follow you through life in the Juniata Valley. As we move on in the new digital age, we promise that we will continue our motto of, “Keeping an eye on the Juniata Valley” for you.

Ruth Eddy started as Sentinel Business Manager in 1991 and has served as publisher since 1999.

Pictured above is where The Sentinel began (left) and where it currently resides today (right).

Ad to the left is from November 22, 1963

Ad above is from January 28, 1986 Ad below is from November 9, 1928

Ad below is from April 5, 1968

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Lewistown, PA—D3

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Reporter’s passion for writing sparked during Sentinel part time job There are some things in life that just happen that you can’t predict. Such is the case of my tenure at The Sentinel.

I had it all figured out – at least I thought I did. I graduated from the University of Maine in May 1991 and planned to start grad school at Penn State that fall.

Penn State threw me a curveball days before I was set to move from New England to Pennsylvania when they announced that the grad program in sports management I had wanted was going on hiatus.

No problem, I thought. I will just fill up on electives until the program returns.

The trouble is I hated the poly-sci class I selected. I struggled my way through the semester because the class cost me $1,200 as an out-of-state student (You have to live in PA at least a

year before you are considered in-state, so I remember.)

That was almost as much as my entire bill for a semester at UMaine – room and board, classes and meal plans included.

As the semester was ending, I started looking for a job instead. I answered an ad in The Sentinel for a temporary graphic artist position as the full-time artist was going out on maternity leave. I applied and was hired. I wasn’t paid very much and didn’t work 40 hours a week.

I didn’t care. I soon realized I had found my calling. When my gig ended, I found ways to stick around the building, picking up odd assignments and making myself useful to anyone and everyone.

I remember my former Managing Editor Brad Siddons saying, “Greg, what

are you doing here?”

I mumbled some response and probably realized it was time to leave.

I returned the next day and the one after that and again. Eventually, the newsroom offered me an editorial assignment – I think it was a house fire – and more and more work continued to flow my way.

Two years later, I was hired full-time and my love for journalism was a fullblown affair. I loved telling stories about the people of the Juniata Valley.

Thirty-two years later, writing remains my passion. I’ve written thousands of stories in my three decades at the newspaper. There’s no way to tell for certain. I’ve worked as a correspondent then part-time, full-time, back to a correspondent and now part-time again.

The titles honestly don’t

matter. It’s the subject of my stories that garner my attention and my desire to share their stories. I’ve never been one to count bylines, which is why I’m ambiguous about how many stories I’ve written in my lifetime.

It’s hard to believe that I can write about things remotely – as I’ve lived in the Philadelphia suburbs since 2002 – and share them with readers each and every day.

It shows how much technology has impacted the newspaper industry. I’d never imagine being able to do that in the 1990s when I was working there fulltime.

Stories were formatted on our computers using coding – that would now be considered archaic – then printed on paper and pasted up in composing. Now, everything is paginated.

Heck, when I construct the paper on Mondays, the first time it hits the Juniata Valley is when it’s delivered.

It’s mapped out on my dining room table then digitally delivered to the Altoona Mirror then approved by me, printed back in Altoona then delivered to you.

The press runs – they’ve all shifted to Altoona as well as the mailroom responsibilities such as inserting circulars and special editions.

It’s not a bad thing; it’s just different. Composing is also completely computerized as all pages are now paginated, mostly in Altoona.

Stopping by the office was like seeing an old friend. I spend countless evenings churning out stories on deadline and designing pages for the latest edition.

There were special moments, such as when the subject of a story slipped me a special thank you note. I never needed that praise; I just wanted them to be recognized in the community.

The awards, which still hang on the newsroom wall, were nice. I won my share, including one from my days as a graphic designer.

It’s hard to believe The Sentinel is celebrating its 120th anniversary. I’ve been honored to be around for the last quarter of it.

••• Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991. His column, “Virtually Home,” appears regularly.

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D4—Lewistown, PA

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Sentinel carriers who delivered your news

Here are some Sentinel carriers who couldn’t attend the group photo, but submitted to us where their routes were and the time period they delivered:

Amy Stuter Reed: Mifflintown and Port Royal, Mid to late 1980’s Brian Hill: West 3rd St. Picked up at Sheetz, delivered up to Main St., Early 90’s...91,92???

Kristy Cisney: Mifflintown/Mifflin, 2010 to 2012?

Buffy Butcher: 1st route - West 3rd, 4th, 5th St., 2nd route - west 6th & 7th St., 1984 - 1989 Carol Alexander: Strodes Mills, 1971 to 1975 Dan Bickel: Lewistown Heights, 19921994 Daniel Sheaffer: Valley St., Mid to late 70’s Rebekah Bueno (née Booher): Mifflintown town, 1989-1991?

Scott Crownover: Belleville, Sometime in the 80’s Cindy Ball: Main, Wayne and Grand St., 1973-1976 Terry Booher: Licking Creek, 1989-2006

Photographed above are previous carriers of The Sentinel, in no particular order they are; Scott M. Clark, who carried from 1969-1974. His route was Pannebaker, Shaw, Logan St., Valley St., 3rd St., and Dorcas St. He also covered all of the Southside. Shirley Baxter who carried in the 60’s and whose route was Maitland. Robin Shore who carried from 1964-1966, she started off as Jim Bair’s helper on Valley St., and then had her own route on Shaw Ave. Billie Strawser who carried from 2004-2012 in Juniata County. Jeff and Evelyn Condron who carried from 1992-2021 and they had the Southside of town (Wayne, Main, Green Ave., Fleming, Lindbergh, Brown, Dorcas St, etc.). John Ughetto who carried from 1965-1970 on North Walnut St. and Catherine St. Frank Specht who was a carrier 1958-1960 and carried for Station Hill and half of Lumber City in Reedsville. Steven Swartzell who was a carrier in Dry Valley from Dec. 1976-July 1982. Bob Espigh who carried on West 5th St. from 19671969. James Bair was a carrier in 1967 and had the 5 Points to Walnut Street route. Jeannine Leister carried in 1987-1988 and then again in 1991-1992, she had Glenwood and Woodland Circle for her route. Don Shirk who covered from the Lewistown Hotel to The Brooklyn from 1968-1970. Robert Knepp covered Northern Lewistown from 1968-1970. Linda (Forgy) Houp had McVeytown and Ferguson Valley between 1965-1978. George Niswanger II who carried in Lewistown from the late 90’s to the 2000’s. Corey Murphy carried in 1989 and had Big Ridge, Bratton Ave. and Klondyke. Chris Swigart, a current carrier, delivers in McClure and has been carrying since 2008. Michael Cramer covered the Heights from 1993-1998. Raymond Colyer has delivered a Yeagertown route since 2013. Pauline Stoner covered the Southside “a long time ago.” Lastly we had a group of siblings who were all carriers in McClure, above the railroad tracks from 1961-1972. They are; Robetta (Walter) Sipe, Jerry Walter, Sharon (Walter) Wright, Beverly (Walter) Moyer, and Roger Walter.

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Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

The Sentinel

Lewistown, PA—D5

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Ad above from January 28, 1986

D6—Lewistown, PA

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

The Sentinel

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Connections highlight Franco’s time with Sentinel

BY ANTHONY FIUZA

Sentinel sports editor afiuza@lewistownsentinel. com ALTOONA — Scott Franco has been around the newspaper business for a long time, spending 15 of those years with the Lewistown Sentinel before eventually moving to the Altoona Mirror.

But, as he reminisces about his Sentinel days, he notices how important it was to create a paper.

“I learned how to lay out a paper, how to design a paper. I learned how to write while working part-time at the Mirror (1985-1988) and at Penn State, but the Sentinel is where paginating/laying out the paper became super important.

Andy Berdy, my first sports editor, was very important, as were people like Lori Goodling, Elaine Siddons and Jane Cannon Mort who were in news. They were extremely helpful,” Franco explained.

Franco added that he had to make a transition going from Altoona to Lewistown during his younger days.

“It (Lewistown) was my first time away from home, and I didn’t count college because I came

Scott Franco home every weekend to work at the Mirror. I had to grow up and I had to do that in Lewistown, but I had tremendous friends like Brian Carson, Kevin Kodish, Tom Knarr, Roger Herto, and Bob Hower, who always made me feel right at home, away from my Altoona home,” Franco said.

“Also, wanted to add one more thing about why I loved Mifflin County ... all four of my kids were born there and there were a lot of memories from that.”

Franco has worn many hats in the newspaper business, including a few in sports. He also conducted noteworthy interviews representing The Sentinel.

“I was the sports writer from 1988 to 1994. In fact, I

became sports editor in the spring of 1994, got married in June of 1994, and then lost my father in July of 1994. That was an extremely difficult time but because I worked with such tremendous people, I was able to handle all of those things happening at once,” Franco commented.

“As far as interviews, I got to interview Joe Paterno during football season, John Calipari, the Kentucky basketball coach, was the coach at UMass and I interviewed him when they played at Penn State. Michael Jordan came to the BJC (Bryce Jordan Center) with the Washington Wizards for a preseason game and that was an amazing night, just watching the crowd react to him when he arrived.”

Franco addressed what has made the newspaper business and The Sentinel special to him over all these years.

“The people. I will always remember people like Ray Wilde and Kevin Kodish and Diane Brown and others coming up to my dad’s funeral. That meant a lot. At my wedding in Altoona, we had two long rows of Mifflin County people at the Sons of Italy attending my wedding. My one-year wedding anniver-

sary, my wife Ann Marie and I were going to go away on a special honeymoon, but the Lewistown baseball team kept winning and they went all the way to the state finals up in Williamsport and we had to cancel our plans. Thank God I was married, and still married some 29 years later, to a wonderful, understanding lady,” Franco said.

Franco went on to say other coworkers were helpful during his days in Lewistown.

“Brad Siddons, my first managing editor who hired me along with Andy. Chris Gahagan and Brian Carson, along with Greg Williams and Jeff Sunderland.

People like Mike Goss and Ben Morrison, Carol Cummings and Jason Minnick taught me how to shoot sports while covering sports, which is a lot harder to do than just covering a game,” the former sports writer noted.

As time has gone on, Franco’s viewpoint has changed regarding the media landscape.

“The paper was so important for information at the Sentinel. Now, we have to combat the internet here at the Mirror, which is why we rely so much on high school and local sports.

You can get the Pirates and

the Steelers anywhere, but high school sports is our No. 1 focus. People love to read about their kids, their grandkids, their neighbors and that is why I think there will always be a place for local newspapers. You can’t get the Mifflin County high school football game in a national newspaper or on a national website,” Franco said.

How did Franco break into the newspaper business?

“I kept stats for my brother John (now the Tyrone football coach) when he was the offensive coordinator at Bishop Guilfoyle. I turned that into a part-time job at the Mirror in 1985 while I was majoring in broadcast journalism at Penn State. I soon left the radio business for the newspaper business,” he voiced.

With sports reporters on the go and technology being an important staple for local coverage, talking with interview subjects has changed.

“Everything is done over a computer. Zoom interviews over in-person interviews are the way of the newspaper world,” Franco added.

Sometimes a lack of fulltime reporters can create obstacles for local papers.

Therefore, the small staff intact has to carry more weight.

Franco and his staff worked together to overcome challenges, too.

“Trying to cover all the high schools we covered with only two full-time reporters, but we had so many incredible part-timers, and having Ray Wilde on the Babe Ruth beat was a huge blessing for me,” Franco said.

As The Sentinel and other newspapers continue to bring readers the news and sports of the day, Franco said it’s important for the community to back their local paper.

“Make sure you support your local newspaper.

People need The Sentinel and the Mirror so they can keep tabs on what is going on in the community, on what is going on with local government and local sports. Can’t get that on an ESPN website, a CBS website or a Fox News website,” Franco said.

Between The Sentinel and the Mirror, Franco’s career emphasizes the importance of developing strong relationships and versatility, which can be golden now and in the future.

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Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

The Sentinel

Lewistown, PA—D7

120TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Ad above from November 22,1963

D8—Lewistown, PA

The Sentinel

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023