Lebanon’s city government is back in downtown after a nearly six decade absence.
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.
Auditor General says Bethel Township must repay police pension funds
The Pennsylvania Auditor General says Lebanon County’s Bethel Township has an $879,361 police pension fund, even though it hasn’t had a police force since 2003.
Eastman emails show origins of Diamond plan to scrap PA’s election results, send pro-Trump electors to D.C.
In a series of recently released emails from December 2020 between state Rep. Russ Diamond and Trump lawyer John Eastman, the two discuss a plan to throw out at least 80,000 mail-in ballots.
Lebanon City Council honors Lt. Lebo at its final meeting in Municipal Building
City government on brink of returning downtown after six decades at 400 S. 8th St.
Bids received for new North Cornwall Township administrative building
North Cornwall Township supervisors learned what a new, larger headquarters building might cost when bids for the project were revealed at their April 19 meeting.
8th Street mural approved; mayor and owner explain their positions
The mural is not going away.
Will red tape block completion of downtown mural?
A 2020 ordinance and a cease and desist order issued by the City of Lebanon have cast a shadow over an outdoor mural project on South 8th Street, across from the Lebanon Farmers Market.
[Photo Story] Community celebrates Lt. William Lebo’s life and service
Hershey’s Giant Center was the scene on Friday of a celebration of the life of the late Lebanon police Lt. William D. Lebo, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 31 while responding to a residential break-in.
City police Lt. William Lebo killed while responding to domestic call
Lebanon City Police lieutenant William Lebo was fatally shot on Mar. 31 when he and three other officers responded to a domestic violence call at a home on the city’s northern fringe.
Lebanon Farmers Market sold
The Lebanon Farmers Market building has been sold to Richland-based Dunamis Holdings LLC.
Lebanon City Council honors the late Richard A. Bleistine for his service
Lebanon City Council took time from its regular business Monday evening to honor the memory of former councilman Richard A. Beistine, who died in February.
Shooting at man trying to escape deputies was justified, says DA
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf has ruled that sheriff’s deputies trying to serve an arrest warrant were justified in shooting at 35-year-old Victor Rivera.
Ex-county detective, city police chief, hired as interim chief in Middletown
Former Lebanon City police chief and Lebanon County Detective Daniel Wright will become Middletown’s interim police chief starting April 4.
Kim Maurer found guilty of first-degree murder for death of 12-year-old stepson
After six days of trial, a jury of seven women and five men needed only 45 minutes on Tuesday to convict 37-year-old Kimberly Maurer of first-degree murder and seven other charges resulting from the death of her 12-year-old stepson, Maxwell Shollenberger.
Testimony ends in trial of woman accused of killing 12-year-old stepson
Five days days of testimony concluded Monday afternoon in the trial of Kimberly Maurer, who, along with her fiance, Scott Shollenberger, is accused of killing 12-year-old Maxwell Shollenberger through starvation and a blow to the head.