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Amish say township should wake up and join the 18th century.

Citing a lack of sanitation and poor breeding practices, the once thriving Amish community in Snyder Township is dwindling.

Isaiah Yodle, a Snyder Township farmer and elder in the Amish community, said the township’s infrastructure and sanitation is terrible. “If I was to be growing garbage, maybe I’d stay,” Yodle said. “Because that appears to be what my neighbors are growing.”

Yodle spreads his sweat-soaked arms and points to the junk-filled neighboring lots. “The good book tells us to love our neighbors, but our Lord never told us we had to live next to them and share in their filth,” he said.

Yodle said the primitive nature of the township and lack of planning has sent the municipality back into the 17th century. The Amish also say that the lack of genetic diversity within Snyder Township scares them and they’re afraid that their own line of breeding could be contaminated.

May Belle Carson, a Snyder Township resident, said she doesn’t mind the Amish leaving the township. Carson said their modern ways and free-wheeling attitude are frightening and threaten the younger generation of Snyder Townshipians.

“Go on, git outta here, you and your fancy metallic ground farmin’ hooks and your modern wheel’d horse draggers!” Carson shouted at the Yodle family as they passed in their buggy. “They’re all tools of the devil! The devil got you boy! The devil got you boy!”

Yodle said his family has no where in particular to stay currently. “Camping at the gates of the nether regions would be preferable,” he added with a shrug as they wheeled by Ms. Carson.

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