Police chief: Officer suspended for violating direct order, not for attending church
By Dan Miller danmiller@pressandjournal.com Middletown Police Officer Mark Hovan is being suspended for 10 days not because he attended church while on duty, but because he violated a direct …
No, thrift store isn’t open yet; but planned changes include coffee shop and consignment area
Contrary to a rumor that’s been floating around on social media, the Interfaith Senior Service Thrift Shop on South Union Street in downtown Middletown had no plans to reopen on Tuesday, Dec. …
Blue Raiders fall short for second straight year, lose state 3A championship game to Quaker Valley
Middletown head football coach Brett Myers placed the blame for Saturday's loss to Quaker Valley in the Pennsylvania 3A championship game squarely on his broad shoulders. “We …
Dec. 7, 1941: Two survivors share their memories from Pearl Harbor
On Dec. 7, the 76th anniversary of a fateful date that still lives in infamy, two Pearl Harbor survivors were the featured speakers at the Central Pennsylvania WWII Roundtable held at Grace United …
Blue Raiders make us proud, win or lose: Editorial
There is more to life than winning. That statement is not just a platitude that you share after your team loses the big game. It’s absolutely true. The Middletown Area High School …
Property tax increase might be off table for Middletown; electric fund surplus could be used
Middletown residents might not be looking at a borough property tax increase in 2018, after all.
Borough council by a 5-1 vote during its Dec. 5 meeting decided to re-advertise a proposed 2018 …
Middletown Borough Council agreement over issues in 2015, 2016 might lead to new police contract
Middletown Borough Council on Dec. 5 took a step toward resolving some of the issues that have been in the way of moving forward on a new contract with the borough police …
No place likes homes for the holidays: Middletown Area Historical Society holds annual tour
By Phyllis Zimmerman
Special to the Press & Journal
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the area Saturday as the Middletown Area Historical Society presented its 14th …
Middletown Area Middle School musical ‘Once on This Island Jr.’ will be performed this weekend
The Middletown Area Middle School musical “Once on This Island Jr.” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16, as well as 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
The musical …
Meredith Atkins, Connor Buggy are Lower Dauphin Homecoming royalty
Meredith Atkins was picked as the Lower Dauphin High School Homecoming queen and Connor Buggy was picked as king during festivities in late October.
They were voted upon by members of the senior …
Increase in sewer rates a possibility for Lower Swatara Township residents
Lower Swatara Township residents won’t see an increase in their municipal real estate taxes for 2018, but an increase in sewer rates is in the works.
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, township …
Man charged with DUI; package reported stolen from residence: Area Police Roundup
A Londonderry Township man was charged with DUI after State Police pulled him over near Colebrook and Schoolhouse roads shortly before 8 p.m. Nov. 15.
Police in arrest papers said that Steven Lee …
Most Popular Stories Today
No, thrift store isn’t open yet; but planned changes include coffee shop and consignment area
Middletown council approves 10-day suspension of borough police officer
Police chief: Officer suspended for violating direct order, not for attending church
Man charged with DUI; package reported stolen from residence: Area Police Roundup
Weekly calendar
Saturday, December 16
English Dance
Saturday, December 16
Storytime for Adults
Sunday, December 17
Chicken and Waffle Dinner at Londonderry Twp. Fire Company
Sunday, December 17
Joshua Lionel Cowen: An Exciting One-Man History presented by Neill Hartley
Wednesday, December 20
In the Middle
Wednesday, December 20
Middletown Planning Commission Meeting
Thursday, December 21
8th Annual Holiday Movie Extravaganza
Sunday, December 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Local sports
Short-handed Blue Raider wrestlers start season at Solanco Tournament
The Blue Raider wrestling team had an impressive showing at the Solanco Tournament on Dec. 8-9, despite only sending six wrestlers because of the football state championship game.
The tournament …
Middletown girls basketball team starts off season with a win
The Middletown girls basketball team started its season Friday with a 51-26 win over Boiling Springs in the Middletown Tip-Off tournament.
Saturday's game was canceled due to the weather.
Football success delays start of Middletown boys basketball season
The success of the Middletown Area High School football team has delayed the start of its boys basketball season.
The Blue Raiders were scheduled to start their season Friday by visiting Mifflin …
Longtime Blue Raiders fan gets special visit, team football after nasty fall at Scranton Prep game
After falling down the bleachers and going to the hospital, Paul Thompson was more banged up than the players following the Middletown Blue Raiders’ 35-0 win over Scranton Prep in Bethlehem on …
‘Raider Pride' is a sign of the times: Fans revel in football team’s second straight trip to title game
Judy Douglass can tell you the name and number of every player on the Middletown Area High School football team.
She’s most proud of No. 70, her grandson Brendan Douglass. But she’s …
One more for the title: Blue Raiders crush Conwell-Egan, will play for state championship again
WEST CHESTER — The Blue Raiders won the coin toss and elected to take the ball first Saturday at the start of their state semifinal game.
That decision turned out to be the right one as …
MAHS grad Bloes in Shippensburg Hall of Fame
Geoff Bloes, a Middletown Area High School graduate, was inducted into the Shippensburg University Athletics Hall of Fame in an on-campus ceremony Friday, Oct. 20.
Bloes helped Middletown Area …
Free transportation to Blue Raiders game Saturday when buying pre-sale tickets
Saturday’s game is at 1 p.m. West Chester Rustin (Bayard Rustin) High School is at 1100 Shiloh Road, West Chester.
Middletown will be the visiting team and will wear white jerseys.
Home …
Local news
Middletown Borough Council fills board seats, needs people for other vacancies
Middletown Borough Council on Dec. 5 acted to fill vacant seats on the zoning hearing board and the Historical Restoration Commission.
Council re-appointed to the zoning board John …
Lower Dauphin seniors named Students of the Month for November
Two Lower Dauphin High School seniors recently were named Students of the Month.
Brent Spencer was named Student of the Month for November by the Rotary Club of Hummelstown.
Brent is the son of …
Pack 97, Troop 97 donated 1,600 food items to pantry
Pack 97 and Troop 97 of Londonderry Township have a lot to be thankful for.
The pack and the troop recently teamed up for their annual “Scouting for Food” initiative. The two groups …
Ho ho ... how big is the crowd? Breakfast with Santa draws hundreds to Middletown Home
The lines were long, but the mood was merry Sunday at the Middletown Home’s Breakfast with Santa.
The fourth annual event has grown in popularity each passing year, receiving around 700 …
Windmills help mission of Friends in Action around the globe
You don’t see many windmills around Middletown, but you can expect to see some on top of a building just down the road from Saturday’s Market along Route 230 in the not too distant …
Area police again swarm the streets in saturation detail, make multiple arrests
Police from Middletown joined forces with officers from Dauphin County and other jurisdictions during a seven-hour “zero tolerance” saturation detail conducted from 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. …
'2018 is starting to look ominous' for gas prices, expert says
Average retail gasoline prices in Harrisburg fell 1.5 cents per gallon last week, averaging $2.66 a gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 241 gas outlets in Harrisburg. …
Editorials
New Lower Swatara board should fill key open positions: Editorial
The voters of Lower Swatara Township spoke clearly Nov. 7. They wanted a change on the board of commissioners.
In what is a somewhat rare occurrence, two incumbents were voted out. Gone are Laddie …
Columnists
I love my Jewish, Christian traditions at holidays: Susannah Gal
I might have mentioned previously that I come from a mixed family religious tradition. My father was Jewish and my mother Christian.
My parents met when they were at the University of Texas at …
Guns don’t save lives; they don’t protect us ... only we can do that: Amanda Hendler-Voss
My son points the stick like he’s just back from the shooting range. “Pow,” he says, a mischievous glint in his eye.
He already knows the family policy his older brother rattles …
Put end to collusion between state and special interests: Jessica Barnett
Should state government help special interest groups collect political campaign donations? Most Pennsylvanians would instinctively answer “no.” In fact, using government resources for …
Civic Science poll
Letters
Government needs to play strong role in stopping drug smuggling: Letter to the Editor
I read the column “A way to fight drugs — make it less profitable to traffic opioids” by John Cassara and Nathan Proctor that was published Nov. 15. In my opinion I strongly …
Closure of TMI would have major downsides: Letter to the Editor
Trump tax changes would hurt those with families: Letter to the Editor
Congratulations to the Blue Raiders boys soccer team: Letter to the Editor
