Lebanon County Commissioners held a special workshop session Wednesday afternoon to hear from representatives of the county’s America250 Commission, the local affiliate of America250PA.
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 (and misses Pittsburgh every day). 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 shriveled old guy.
Posted inNews
Annville-Palmyra police merger is on track to go live on May 27
The Palmyra Borough and Annville Township police departments are set to merge into the Western Lebanon County Regional Police Department on May 27, marking Lebanon County’s first regional police force.
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Lebanon City Council told downtown restaurant plans have been withdrawn
A proposal to open a restaurant at 7th & Cumberland streets in downtown Lebanon has been withdrawn, Lebanon City Council learned at its April 18 pre-council planning meeting.
Posted inNews
Ex-cop facing Jan. 6 charges won’t fight claim he threatened a ‘local official’
Fischer, ex-cop facing Jan. 6 charges, won’t fight claim of threatening local official, motion filed to restrict contact.
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Deadline looms to apply for Lebanon city Community Development Block Grants
The City of Lebanon is accepting applications through Friday, April 26, for 2024 Community Development Block Grant funds.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Criminal charges filed against subject of March 26 police standoff (Updated)
The Lebanon Police Department has filed a criminal charge against 58 year-old Thomas E. Cahill Jr., who was the target of a 4 1/2 hour police standoff on March 26 that brought downtown traffic to a near halt.
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Mayor Sherry Capello says Lebanon is in good shape, outlines plans going forward
In her annual State of the City Address, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello highlighted a decrease in serious crime, the city’s strong financial condition, and major improvement projects completed without tax hikes, while acknowledging ongoing housing shortage issues.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Mysterious police standoff at Lebanon furniture store ends abruptly, no arrests
After a four-hour police incident at a Lebanon store, officers left without apprehending Thomas E. Cahill Jr., who had reportedly refused to engage with them.
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Lebanon City Council hears pitches for new uses of old buildings
Giving new life to vacant and under-utilized buildings was Lebanon City Council’s main focus at its monthly meeting on Monday evening, Mar. 25, and at its pre-council planning meeting on Thursday, Mar. 21.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Retired city businessman faces child porn charges, trial scheduled for May
Ricky Lynn “Rick” Troutman, who for years owned and operated Camelot Cleaners at 12th and Walnut streets in Lebanon, faces decades in prison if convicted of multiple child pornography charges filed in Lebanon County Common Pleas Court.
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Fight over proposed North Annville solar farm moves to state appeals court
A nearly three-year-old legal battle over a proposed 858-acre solar power farm on North Annville Township farmland is moving to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, a statewide court that decides appeals involving governmental units.
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Lebanon City Council approves disaster relief plan despite some objections
The Lebanon City Council adopted a Hazard Mitigation Plan, despite objections to its climate change references, with a 3-to-2 vote at Monday’s meeting.
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Cleona man sentenced to jail for role in violent Jan. 6 invasion of U.S. Capitol
Cameron Hess receives nine-month sentence after pleading guilty to felony charge.
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MDJ finds attorney George Christianson in contempt, orders jail; appeal filed
Lebanon attorney George Christianson was sentenced to 72 hours in jail for criminal contempt by Magisterial District Judge Aurelis Figueroa, but an appeal has halted the sentence.
Posted inCrime & Safety
Jury convicts repeat offender of homicide by vehicle while DUI
A Lebanon County jury last week convicted Vincent Sosnowski of homicide by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter, and two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol for the death of 43 year-old Melissa Morrissey.
