The appointment of a new Lebanon fire chief highlighted last night’s monthly Lebanon City Council Meeting, which began with a somber remembrance.
Chris Coyle
Chris Coyle writes primarily on government, the courts, and business. He retired as an attorney at the end of 2018, after concentrating for nearly four decades on civil and criminal litigation and trials. A career highlight was successfully defending a retired Pennsylvania state trooper who was accused, 40 years after the fact, of falsifying evidence in a 1970s murder case.
LebTown is his first foray into reporting, motivated by the decline of the once-great, locally-owned print newspaper he grew up with and read daily. Chris lives in the city of Lebanon. He holds degrees from Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He and his wife have two grown sons and a few grandkids. He enjoys all kinds of music, tinkering with electronic stuff, and lifting weights to avoid becoming a shrunken old guy.
Posted inNews
Is Lebanon County ready for a toxic train derailment?
Could the East Palestine disaster happen here? Federal law allows locals to be kept in the dark.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Late fall trial set for troopers who fatally shot Richland woman after car chase
Trial in the federal court civil lawsuit filed by the family of a Richland woman fatally shot in 2020 by two Pennsylvania state troopers is set to start in Harrisburg on Nov. 27, 2023.
Posted inNews
Details surface on Torres-Santos’ pre-homicide detention while on house arrest
Probation department detained, but could not hold, Santos due to “verbiage of the bail order” issued by Magisterial District Judge Aurelis Figueroa.
Posted inCrime & Safety
DA, police shed light on arrest of third alleged shooter in city triple homicide
At a Wednesday morning press conference at City Hall, Lebanon city police Chief Bret Fisher and Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf gave further details on the Tuesday evening apprehension of Ivan Claudio Rosero, alleged to be the third shooter in a May 30 triple murder on the city’s northside.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Two arrested in triple murder of children and teenager; third suspect at large
Two suspects have been arrested and charged with criminal homicide in the Tuesday evening triple murder of two children and a teenager on Lebanon’s north side, and a third suspect remained at large as of Thursday morning.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Triple homicide in Lebanon city: Victims were 8, 9, 19; 33-year-old hospitalized
Speaking at a Wednesday morning press conference at City Hall, Lebanon Police Chief Bret Fisher said four males were victims of a Tuesday night shooting outside 444 N. 5th St. on the city’s north side. Three are dead, and one is hospitalized.
Posted inNews
Fentanyl is driving a surge in fatal overdoses in Lebanon County
Four months into 2023, county is on pace to shatter 2022 fatal overdose totals.
Posted inNews
Lebanon City Council OKs contract adjustments with paid firefighters’ union
Lebanon City Council at its May 22 meeting unanimously approved changes to its contract with the union representing its 21 paid firefighters.
Posted inNews
A look at the future of the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas
No immediate plans for adding a fifth judge to the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas despite the county’s eligibility based on population.
Posted inNews
Quentin Riding Club’s final flourish: Firefighters train as clubhouse burns
It was a landmark, even to those who just drove through the busy intersection of routes 72 and 419 without ever setting foot inside the stately white building dominating the northeast corner.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
Farmers’ Market anchor Keener Poultry has new owner, and a familiar face, too
You’ll still find longtime owner Ken Keener behind the counter on market days.
Posted inNews
Without explanation, Duane Trautman confirms retirement as Lebanon fire chief
Lebanon Fire Chief Duane Trautman has retired from his position as the city’s top firefighter, effective March 30, after being placed on paid leave earlier that month.
Posted inNews
Appeals court rules against ex-North Cornwall cop charged with Jan. 6 crimes
The legal victory handed to former North Cornwall police officer Joseph Fischer, charged with multiple crimes relating to the violent Jan. 6, 2021, invasion of the U.S. Capitol, has been overturned by a federal appeals court.
Posted inNews
Crime, taxes, housing, streets: Lebanon mayor updates on 2023 State of the City
Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello concentrated on issues of everyday concern to city residents when she gave her annual State of the City Address to about 150 guests at the Hebron Banquet Hall on Wednesday, March 29.
