The Lebanon County Commissioners held a workshop session on Wednensday, April 17, to consider an ARPA funding request for Soldiers Field in Mt. Gretna.
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
County commissioners OK Marcellus Shale grant requests totaling $228,000
The county commissioners approved 15 Marcellus Shale grants for various projects around the Lebanon Valley.
Posted inNews
Record number of Lebanon County farms to be preserved in 2024
Lebanon County’s farmland preservation program is set to preserve 11 farms in 2024, tripling the usual acreage to 1,200, thanks to a $765,000 donation from the estate of Esther Martin.
Posted inPeople & Places
Former Pittsburgh Steeler says human connections guide him through life
Former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Rocky Bleier, who will speak at an event in Lebanon County in May, believes support systems are a positive influence in our lives.
Posted inNews
Commonwealth dismisses criminal charges against Lebanon County attorney
The state has dismissed criminal contempt of court charges filed in January against Lebanon County attorney Lebanon County attorney George Christianson.
Posted inEducation
WEPA is prepping to provide adult education classes this fall
Tec Centro, which is part of the WEPA initiative, will begin offering an array of adult education classes this fall. WEPA received an ARPA grant to purchase the former Elks building in downtown Lebanon.
Posted inNews
11 projects funded, Lebanon County seeks to spend remaining ARPA dollars
The county has about $813,000 to disburse through the end of 2024 through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. LebTown recaps the 11 projects that have already received federal funds.
Posted inPeople & Places
Greg Vaitl honored as Merritt Marks Memorial Business Person of the Year
Greg Vaitl, owner of Christman’s Funeral Home, was honored Wednesday as the Community of Lebanon Association’s Business Person of the Year.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County commissioners consider courtroom dog for stress relief
Officials in Lebanon County’s Probation Department are going to explore the purchase of a facility canine to serve in the county court system.
Posted inNews
Local voters return mail-in, absentee ballots on 1st day of new satellite office
The county’s new drive-by mail-in and absentee ballot satellite office was busy on its first day of operation.
Posted inEducation
Would-be student, graduate discuss end of local adult nursing education program
After a long career in other industries, 50-year-old Brian Raub of Lebanon was motivated to pursue nursing, only to face the abrupt cancellation of his LPN class due to a board decision, amidst a broader termination of adult education programs.
Posted inEducation
Cedar Crest High School’s broadcast program wins six national awards
Cedar Crest High School’s broadcast program is gaining the attention of its peers nationwide after students won six awards at the recent Student Television Network’s national convention in California.
Posted inNews
County officials raise concerns of Gov. Dick park ranger’s enforcement authorityÂ
Dr. David Eichler, the park ranger at Clarence Schock Memorial Park, has been asked to return a county-issued weapon and cease enforcement activities following a review of county policies and potential liability concerns.
Posted inNews
County commissioners approve state grant request for new rail trail project
Working with a packed agenda, the county commissioners voted on 15 different items during its March 21 meeting at the county municipal building.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
State study shows tourism in Lebanon County rebounded in 2022
Tourists are traveling again following the pandemic, according to a new study.
