EBENSBURG — Cambria County sheriff deputies padlocked the barns this afternoon on the farms of two ultraconservative Amish couples who were evicted from their properties under court order after failing to bring them into compliance with building and sewage regulations.
The farm houses and outhouses had been padlocked Monday by the deputies on the order of Judge Norman Krumenacker, who had found the two couples in contempt of court when they did not follow his January order to be in compliance within 60 days.
Robert Tutko, chief deputy sheriff, said that the padlocking had been delayed in order to give the couples time to get the cattle and horses out of the barns. The last animal - a bull that was sold by the one couple - was removed by the buyer Friday morning, he said.
The farm properties were the homes of John and Susan Miller and their family in Blacklick Township and Joely and Mary Swartzentruver and their family in Barr Township.
They are members of the Swartzentruver sect, which shuns most modern ways. They do not have telephones and could not be reached for comment.
