Rejoice, once again we experienced “Election Day!” We got to cast our vote and participate in the creation of our government. Now we have been rescued from the constant drone of political messages on the airways and the “hee-haw” signs along the roadways. God bless America.

The new voting machines were a non-issue for my wife and me. They are easy to use.

For most people with whom I speak the challenge of who to vote for is getting more difficult each year. I agree that the list of candidates to consider before you vote can be daunting, but not for me. I have simplified my criteria. It contains one major category – morals.

Forget about party lines and look at the individuals. How do candidates live their lives? Are they excellent examples of what it means to be an American? Do they share the same values as you? Are they worthy of your vote?

The United States of America was founded on the principles of the Bible.

I believe that abortion is wrong. I believe that you cannot negotiate with someone who was reared to hate you and kill you. I believe that we must support Israel. I believe America’s freedom has and will always come with a price paid for with the American blood. I believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. I believe state sponsored gambling to fund state programs is wrong. I will not vote for someone who does not share my positions. I select and support candidates that share my values.

If two competing candidates pass my morals test, I move on to category two to make my decision. That category has many items so I just pick one and apply it to both candidates until I find the candidate that fails to share my views on – taxes, healthcare, social security . . . I have a long list if necessary.

The real fun of Election Day is the voting location for Lincoln Township - named after our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. My wife and I cast our ballot at the old Entriken schoolhouse. We step back in time and exercise our American right to vote!

There is seldom a long line at our polling place. Sometimes five or six people “crowd” into the room to vote, but most people spend more time chatting with the poll workers that voting.

This building has a special connection for our family because my wife’s father Charles Ross “Bill” Hess attended “grade” school there in the early 1900’s. Pappy did not like his given names so he decided to call himself Bill!

Another connection to our family is the town name. Entriken, Pennsylvania was named for the Entrekin family and my wife’s great-grandmother was Anna M. [Entrekin] Hess. The town of Entriken, formerly the Village of Coffee Run [nearby stream] was renamed on November 12, 1886, after James Entrekin.

By the way, the spelling of the family name and town name is an old mistake that lives on to this day. Darn typos!

Back to the schoolhouse - The only building improvements since Pappy attended school were electric lights and the installation of a propane furnace. Too bad, I really liked the old potbelly stove that was there for years.

No indoor plumbing, but the outhouse is in great shape just a bit drafty. Love that rural Pennsylvania charm.

You have an appreciation for modern waste management systems, when you can visit a place where the entire “system” is located beneath the floor boards in a 5’X5’ building.

No flush and forget it here

.I have found out that outhouses are not as scarce as I first thought. We have one in our yard too! Having one and getting family or company to use it is another matter. Outhouses can become “critter” condos so opening the door with caution is recommended!

I have strayed from the opening topic, but did you know why some outhouses have two holes. At first I thought of the buddy option – oh no way! I learned that they weren't usually doing double duty. The purpose of two holes is they were of different sizes - one for adults and one for children. Think about that for a minute and the consequences of a small child making the wrong choice!

Anyway, the Entriken Schoolhouse is now the township building and polling place. There were four other one room schoolhouses in Lincoln Township. Most closed about 1953 when they Woodcock Valley School Opened in McConnellstown.

And Woodcock is another story – my wife and our two daughters all attended Woodcock Valley Elementary and traveled to school on a bus driven by the same bus driver, Dean Lohr – a span of 30+ years!

Psalms 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.