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This Week in American History: 2014 – Student Stabs 20 Others at Penn. High School
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Local
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April 9, 2026

• Apr. 9. On this day in 2014, 16-year old Alexander Hribal enters Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, carrying two eight-inch kitchen knives. At about 7:15 am, Hribal stabs and slashes several students, then activates a fire alarm, bringing more students into the hallways and attacks more. Quick reaction by the school’s assistant principal and another student results in Hribal being subdued. Twenty students are injured, with some of the injuries severe, but there are no fatalities. Hribal will be charged on multiple counts, convicted, and sentenced to 23-1/2 years to 60 years. He is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution in Albion, PA. Evil does not need a firearm.

DID YOU KNOW …? Did a baseball star and the actor who played him in a movie have a previous connection in their lives?
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Local
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April 9, 2026

So, how did you do? Last week was the annual April Fool edition of this silly column, wherein I set three items that were totally false, and you had to figure out which ones they were. You probably said, “He’ll just tell me next week,” and went on with your day. You were right; I will tell you. The incorrect ones were: 1. The liter was not named after a person. The story about Claude Èmile Jean-Baptist Litre was created in 1978 by a student at the University of Waterloo to justify using a capital “L” to denote the unit of measurement. 2. Bagpipes are not a Scottish invention. Instruments similar to the pipes have been recorded in Middle Eastern nations during the earliest part of the modern era, long before they arrived in Scotland. 3. The Morse code for “SOS” does not mean anything specific. It's simply three dots, three dashes, and three dots, and very quick and easy to send repeatedly. And yes, as silly as it sounds, the one about Pistols ‘n Petticoats is a real item, not a gag. I hope you got them all! Now get this …

* That’s Why Jesus Had To Bleed And Die! *
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Local
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April 9, 2026

Greetings and blessings! Today, across the globe, we graciously celebrated Easter/Resurrection (Christianity and Holy) Sunday. So then, my mind once again took me back to a childhood song that I perhaps mentioned before but still, always appropriate for such a time. So much so that I song a little of it in church, “Why did Jesus have to bleed and die?” Of course, the answer is, “for you and I.” Rightly so, I learned the divine song while traveling around in several counties singing as a little boy with my dear mother. Anyhow the group was called “Note Singes” which unfortunately, no one nowadays does anymore in this area and all have passed on.

Identifying the Real Issue
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Local
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April 9, 2026

In just the last few weeks an increasing number of proposed data center locations have been reported throughout an expanding area relatively close to the coverage area of this newspaper. It might well be that companies desiring to construct data centers could be leaking potential location rumors just to identify those areas less antagonistic to the idea. Opposition to data centers spreads rapidly – most often on social media – which is quite humorous as the increasing use of social media is one of the issues driving the need for more data centers. Just recently a social media post highlighting the potential negative impacts of data centers made the rounds on social media – yet again. Included among those negative impacts were increased electrical use and infrastructure, increased water use and infrastructure, increased property values and taxation, noise and traffic, environmental concerns, and negative impact on wildlife. Those issues, and more, are legitimate concerns and have repeatedly been raised concerning development of … subdivisions.

Harris County Journal Thursday, April 9, 2026
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Newspapers
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April 9, 2026

Manchester Man Faces Charges in Child Beating

Andy’s Astronomy: Back to the Moon
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Features
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April 9, 2026

Last week I sat in front of the television watching the countdown and final liftoff as Artemis II not only returned humans to space, but back to the Moon as well. I did the same over 50 years ago, watching Gemini and Apollo missions until in 1969, humans landed on the Moon. I can still hear the narration by CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite. As this is being written, the Orion capsule is less than 60,000 miles from the Moon, already having flown a distance exceeding 219,000 miles with a speed of over 1,500 miles per hour. To track the Orion capsule, go to https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis-ii/arow/ Godspeed to the astronauts on board. Fly safe as you lead us back into space.

This Week in American History: 2014 – Student Stabs 20 Others at Penn. High School
By
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Features
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April 9, 2026

• Apr. 9. On this day in 2014, 16-year old Alexander Hribal enters Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, carrying two eight-inch kitchen knives. At about 7:15 am, Hribal stabs and slashes several students, then activates a fire alarm, bringing more students into the hallways and attacks more. Quick reaction by the school’s assistant principal and another student results in Hribal being subdued. Twenty students are injured, with some of the injuries severe, but there are no fatalities. Hribal will be charged on multiple counts, convicted, and sentenced to 23-1/2 years to 60 years. He is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution in Albion, PA. Evil does not need a firearm.

DID YOU KNOW …? Did a baseball star and the actor who played him in a movie have a previous connection in their lives?
By
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Features
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April 9, 2026

So, how did you do? Last week was the annual April Fool edition of this silly column, wherein I set three items that were totally false, and you had to figure out which ones they were. You probably said, “He’ll just tell me next week,” and went on with your day. You were right; I will tell you. The incorrect ones were: 1. The liter was not named after a person. The story about Claude Èmile Jean-Baptist Litre was created in 1978 by a student at the University of Waterloo to justify using a capital “L” to denote the unit of measurement. 2. Bagpipes are not a Scottish invention. Instruments similar to the pipes have been recorded in Middle Eastern nations during the earliest part of the modern era, long before they arrived in Scotland. 3. The Morse code for “SOS” does not mean anything specific. It's simply three dots, three dashes, and three dots, and very quick and easy to send repeatedly. And yes, as silly as it sounds, the one about Pistols ‘n Petticoats is a real item, not a gag. I hope you got them all! Now get this …

Identifying the Real Issue
By
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Features
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April 9, 2026

In just the last few weeks an increasing number of proposed data center locations have been reported throughout an expanding area relatively close to the coverage area of this newspaper. It might well be that companies desiring to construct data centers could be leaking potential location rumors just to identify those areas less antagonistic to the idea. Opposition to data centers spreads rapidly – most often on social media – which is quite humorous as the increasing use of social media is one of the issues driving the need for more data centers. Just recently a social media post highlighting the potential negative impacts of data centers made the rounds on social media – yet again. Included among those negative impacts were increased electrical use and infrastructure, increased water use and infrastructure, increased property values and taxation, noise and traffic, environmental concerns, and negative impact on wildlife. Those issues, and more, are legitimate concerns and have repeatedly been raised concerning development of … subdivisions.

Dogwoods Always Bloom in Early to Mid April, Why?
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Features
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April 9, 2026

I was born on April 17 and, as a child, my birthday always fell the weekend of or after Easter. Then the government, in it’s infinite wisdom, decided to move Easter around every year. Growing up on a farm you learn a lot about livestock, planting, harvesting and the seasons. If you research this I assure you what I’m about to say is accurate. The Dogwood trees always bloom from early to mid April. Usually between April 4th or 5th to around the 13th to 15th. That doesn’t change. As a Christian, I believe in the legend of the Dogwood. Legend says the Dogwood was used for the cross that Jesus hung upon and when its blossoms it symbolizes the crucifixion.

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