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Pa. Amish farmer gets jailtime in outhouse dispute (school, outhouses ordered padlocked by Judge)
AP on SFGate.com ^ | 3/17/09 | Genaro C. Armas - ap

Posted on 03/17/2009 3:06:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

Ebensburg, Pa. (AP) --

A western Pennsylvania Amish farmer was sentenced Tuesday to 90 days in jail after refusing to bring a pair of outhouses into compliance with state sewage laws.

Andy Swartzentruber, of Ebensburg, cited his conservative religious beliefs in refusing to abide by a court order to make the privies used by schoolchildren compliant and pay a $500 fine.

Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker said he respected the Amish's religious beliefs but had no choice but to sentence Swartzentruber to jail and fine him $1,000 for being in contempt of court.

"Quite frankly, this is not a religious issue," Krumenacker said.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: amish; dispute; eminentdomain; environazis; jailtime; kelo; outhouse; tyranny
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Judge Sludge has spoken..
1 posted on 03/17/2009 3:06:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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This one smells.


2 posted on 03/17/2009 3:07:09 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Sure makes one think twice before buying any produce from any Amish. Might as well buy it in Mexico.


3 posted on 03/17/2009 3:14:19 PM PDT by EggsAckley ("There's an Ethiopian in the fuel supply." W.C Fields)
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To: EggsAckley

It seems to me one can keep things clean without using modern technology. It would be more work, but the Amish aren’t afraid of work.


4 posted on 03/17/2009 3:17:13 PM PDT by Marie2 (Ora et labora)
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To: Marie2

The solution here is simple, don’t call them outhouses. Call them composting toilets. Swear that you owe allegiance to the great AlGore and are fighting to save the planet.


5 posted on 03/17/2009 3:20:51 PM PDT by rednesss (fascism is the union,marriage,merger or fusion of corporate economic power with governmental power)
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To: NormsRevenge

Gee, outhouses have worked for centuries - we still have one at the deer shack.


6 posted on 03/17/2009 3:20:55 PM PDT by From The Deer Stand
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To: Marie2

I’m sorry, but dumping raw sewage onto agricultural fields doesn’t seem the least bit “clean.” I agree with trying to avoid a lot of modern technology, but I have to draw the line at raw sewage.


7 posted on 03/17/2009 3:22:59 PM PDT by EggsAckley ("There's an Ethiopian in the fuel supply." W.C Fields)
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To: EggsAckley

I was stationed in Germany. When our convoy rolled down the back roads past a farm where they were using what we called a “s***slinger” to fertilize fields, you could really smell the difference.

Using manure from any source as fertilizer is an ancient and well established practice. But public hygiene can be protected with modern methods which this particular Amish sect chose to disregard.

Wonder if their kids know about the internet?


8 posted on 03/17/2009 3:24:19 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("O Muslim! My cartridges are lubricated with pig grease!")
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To: From The Deer Stand
Gee, outhouses have worked for centuries - we still have one at the deer shack.

Shhhhhh, hope you don't live in PA.

9 posted on 03/17/2009 3:24:21 PM PDT by ozarkgirl (I'll keep my money, my freedom and my guns. You can keep the change.)
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To: NormsRevenge

We had 2 holers at my gradeschool in the ‘50s!


10 posted on 03/17/2009 3:28:21 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch (The Irish - beyond your expectations)
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To: NormsRevenge
What's next????


11 posted on 03/17/2009 3:29:29 PM PDT by MadelineZapeezda (Have you girded your loins today??????)
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To: EggsAckley
I don't think this story tells the whole story. When the Amish fertilize, they plow it into the soil. That way it doesn't run off and stays in the soil.

If I had to guess, I'd say some new homeowners didn't like the smell and complained.

I could be wrong.

12 posted on 03/17/2009 3:31:37 PM PDT by airborne (Obama is finishing what Osama started! The destruction of the American economy!!!)
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To: airborne

I agree. I’d like to hear the “religious” reason for refusing to abide by the law.


13 posted on 03/17/2009 3:38:14 PM PDT by malkee (Actually I'm an ex-smoker--two and a half years-- But I think about it every day.)
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To: EggsAckley

I grew up around two holers in my yout’ in a rural country school and the farm in the early 60s. Talk about an experience in the winter. ;-)


14 posted on 03/17/2009 3:42:56 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
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To: malkee
I agree. I’d like to hear the “religious” reason for refusing to abide by the law.

I think it may be having to have an "outsider" come and pump out a "government approved" holding tank.

15 posted on 03/17/2009 3:45:05 PM PDT by airborne (Obama is finishing what Osama started! The destruction of the American economy!!!)
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To: malkee

I’ll bet that if this guy was a Muzzy the story would be different.


16 posted on 03/17/2009 3:45:31 PM PDT by biff
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To: malkee; airborne; EggsAckley

The jailed farmer is a member of the Swartzentruber Amish sect, they shun the modern world and technology bigtime.


17 posted on 03/17/2009 3:45:55 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
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To: EggsAckley
I’m sorry, but dumping raw sewage onto agricultural fields doesn’t seem the least bit “clean.” I agree with trying to avoid a lot of modern technology, but I have to draw the line at raw sewage.

You're joking, right???

What do you think manure is??? It's sold in stores all over the country as "potting soil". Farmers have been putting poop on the soil as fertilizer since before the Egyptians were the dominant civilization on earth. All "organic" or "naturally grown" foodstuffs were fertilized with manure. Think about that when you pick up an organic bunch of carrots next time.

Creating rules and regulations without proper knowledge leads to stupid rules and tyranny. The regulation to use eco-friendly materials on the space shuttle external fuel tank lead to the destruction of the Columbia. The non-eco-friendly materials that were used were tougher than the "new" and "improved" materials. The across the board banning of DDT worldwide has caused the deaths of millions from insect borne diseases. Don't make knee-jerk reactions.

18 posted on 03/17/2009 3:52:23 PM PDT by Conservative_Rob
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To: biff

The government would be tripping over themselves to find the funding and union workers to put in the tank for a muzzie


19 posted on 03/17/2009 3:52:40 PM PDT by boxerblues (Party like its 1773)
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To: NormsRevenge

Will the jail provide an outhouse for his use? Toilets may be too modern for him to be able to use during his stay and not providing an outhouse would violate his religious rights.


20 posted on 03/17/2009 3:58:26 PM PDT by Teflonic
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