Looking at the past, seeing the future


Since I recently hit 10,000 views on this blog, it got me to thinking about how this all started. Why I started to blog, and how I developed my skills over the past two years. It’s been a long journey. I started blogging back in 2010 in another blog, Debra Schell. After a few months…

Best Photojournalism Photos of 2011


 Photographs taken by Debra Schell during 2011 for the Press And Journal. Click the photo to go to story. ©Press And Journal/www.pressandjournal.com

Pinnical Health Family Care Center


DS Pinnical Health Family Care Center

Press And Journal photo- by Debra Schell
Pinnacle Health Family Care Center offers more examination rooms, a larger staff, and increased providers, which should mean shorter waiting times.

Oscar-Mayer Wienermobile visits the Middletown Public Library


Middletowners line up to get a glimpse of the inside of the Oscar-Mayer Weinemobile that stopped at the Middletown Public Library on Monday evening. The vessel traveled 600 miles from Indianapolis, to visit Central Pennsylvania, said driver Dylan (Dyl-icious) Hackbarth, of Appleton, Wisconsin. Middletowners listen as Kylie (Ketchup Kylie) Hodges, of Wisconsin, read a book…

‘We had to do something’


Middletown Area teachers band together to help flood victim By Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff Yvonne Helmer and her grandson Daunte Cruz came home after the flood to discover there was little left. “The first thing we saw was my grandson’s teddy bear,” Helmer said. The bear was lying in the smelly floodwaters that…

Down, but not out


Press And Journal Photo by Debra Schell- James Snook kisses his daughter, Kerri Twaddell, Friday afternoon as they picked through what was left of his home on Few Avenue in Middletown. In flood’s wake, a mountain of trashed memories By Jim Lewis and Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff The floodwaters have receded, leaving its…

Swept away


First an earthquake, then a hurricane, then, seemingly out of nowhere, a flood unseen since the days of Agnes, overtakes the region with devastating effect. In its wake, at least four dead, thousands forced from their homes, and damages yet to be calculated. By Jim Lewis, Debra Schell and Garry Lenton Press And Journal Staff…

Main St. Gym offers clothing, food for residents in need


by Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff : 9/12/2011 An abundance of clothing, personal care items, cleaning supplies, school supplies and food is available to Middletown flood victims through Friday, Sept. 16 at the Main St. Gym, according to Earl Bright, the school’s principal. The school will be open until 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12;…

For these seniors bowling is no handicap


By Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff June Keller remembers her highest score in bowling – a 285 rolled during a state bowling competition in Pittsburgh long, long ago. Keller, 89, had to give up bowling long ago, but now she has a chance to start the ball rolling again thanks to a new bowling…

Creating a buzzzzzzzz down on Main Street


By Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff Alex Westenberger is buzzing about his new experiment. Westenberger, 9, of Middletown, is the newest apiarist in town, and has hopes of breeding Northern Raised Pennsylvania queen bees by next year. Chris Jorich, owner of Jorich Funeral Home, in Middletown, and Westenburger’s grandfather, built the hives for his…

Tri’ing for a comeback


By Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff On a warm, sunny Sunday, earlier this month, Highspire Police officer Ron Weber competed in his first triathlon on City Island. He finished ninth in his age group. Most athletes would be satisfied with that. Not Weber. “I made a lot of mistakes my first time,” he said….

A new racket gets hearts pumping


Bob Gerlach won a silver medal for badminton in the 75-79 age bracket at the  Pennsylvania Senior Games in York last year. Since then, the Annville resident has picked up a new sport – Pickle-ball. “I like it so far, but I need to play more, to get used to it,” he said after his…

Highspire Carnival


Alexia Skye Bulgin, 4, and her aunt, Haliey Berrier of Harrisburg, play a game at the carnival. Carnival goers take in the sights at the Highspire Fire Company Carnival held all last week behind the fire department on Second Street.

Sinkhole discovered on Union Street in Middletown


by Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff : 6/22/2011 South Union Street in Middletown is closed between Emaus and Brown streets due to a sinkhole. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is on the scene investigating. The hole was discovered around noon. More photos HERE.

Walking the beat


    In Highspire and Steelton private citizens are banding together to patrol their towns. Police say they appreciate the extra set of eyes. By Debra Schell Press And Journal Staff It was about 90 degrees last Wednesday evening but the high temperatures didn’t stop Joyce Ohler and Jacob Stayer from taking a walk through…

Kuppy’s Cruise-in 2011


Cars lined South Union from Emaus Street to the railroad bridge – more than last year – and Brown Street past Kuppy’s Diner.  The show, in its 10th year, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State’s Children’s Hospital in Hershey, a charity that helps children with cancer…