WEPA’s new real estate entity to charge rent at existing facility, look to add new properties due to growing pains.
James Mentzer
James Mentzer is a freelance writer and lifelong resident of Pennsylvania. He has spent his professional career writing about agriculture, economic development, manufacturing and the energy and real estate industries, and is the county reporter and a features writer for LebTown.
James is an outdoor enthusiast whose hobbies include hunting, Ultimate frisbee, disc golf, spikeball and pickleball, biking, traveling and attending live concerts for a number of bands, including moe., String Cheese Incident and Widespread Panic.
His published works include the books Pennsylvania Manufacturing: Alive and Well; Bucks County: A Snapshot in Time; United States Merchant Marine Academy: In Service to the Nation 1943-2018; A Century of Excellence: Spring Brook Country Club 1921-2021; Lancaster Development, Inc.: An American Story of Family and Infrastructure, and several other titles. He has also had business profiles published in Central Pennsylvania: Our Time Has Come, and an article in The Columbiad, a scholarly publication of Civil War Times Illustrated, concerning a little-known African American fort and battle along the James River in Virginia. Another book is currently in production for Morris Country Club in Morris, Illinois.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County-owned bridge in Jonestown to be rehabilitated
Lebanon County Commissioners approve a bridge rehab project in Jonestown at their Aug. 21 meeting.
Posted inEducation
LCCTC signs public safety agreement with South Lebanon Police Department
The Lebanon County Career & Technology Center board unanimously approved two Memorandums of Understanding at the Aug. 19 meeting.
Posted inCommunity Shoutouts
Lebanon County shines at second annual international film festival in Mount Gretna
Lebanon teen filmmaker Olivia Wickenheiser won best high school film at the Mount Gretna International Film Festival for her documentary about local dance teacher Judy Williams Henry.
Posted inPeople & Places
Comedy short wins Best in Show at Mount Gretna International Film Festival
Over 40 short films from around the globe and Lebanon County highlight the second annual Mount Gretna Film Festival.
Posted inNews
Bethel Twp. supervisors agree to pipeline project terms for poultry producer
Bethel Township supervisors took action on numerous agenda items at their Aug. 14 meeting.
Posted inEducation
Lebanon County CTC explores options to replace non-ADA compliant hallway
Financing body members for the county’s career and technology center review various infrastructure options at biannual meeting.
Posted inNews
North Annville Township supervisors grant subdivision plan on farm
North Annville Township supervisors approved a subdivision plan for one farm while taking no action for a temporary housing variance request for another farm during their Aug. 11 meeting.
Posted inPeople & Places
Faith guides Myerstown teen’s donations to Lebanon-area charitable organizations
ELCO High School graduate Caleb Nolt, who has donated proceeds from his fair livestock sales to charity since 2023, split his final $20,000 donation between Jubilee Ministries and Crohn’s disease research at Penn State Health.
Posted inUpcoming Events
California director to show Oscar-nominated works at Gretna film festival
2nd annual international film festival to run this weekend in Mount Gretna over two days during the Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show.
Posted inPeople & Places
Donmoyer family receives Century Farm award for 129-year-old operation
East Hanover Township farm recognized with Century Farm award.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
Lebanon Expo Center & Fairgrounds set to grow again with new twin-like facility
The Lebanon Valley Exposition & Fairgrounds secured $4 million in state funding for a new multipurpose facility mirroring the existing North Hall, set to open in 2027.
Posted inNews
Lebanon quilters stitch together community spirit for America250
Lebanon Valley residents help stitch 250th anniversary quilt ahead of nationwide celebration in July 2026, with more opportunities to occur in the coming months.
Posted inNews
Air ambulance services in Lebanon County to be grounded in mid-October
Critical care air ambulance emergency services in the Lebanon Valley will end on Oct. 15.
Posted inNews
Clarence Schock Memorial Park board appointment process questioned
A long-serving board member at Lebanon County’s Clarence Schock Park was quietly removed from his position after the board failed to recommend his reappointment, raising questions about transparency and potential violations of Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
