State Sen. Chris Gebhard shares his position on issues pending in the state legislature and 2023 accomplishments during an impromptu interview with LebTown.
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 officials continue to address workforce challenges
Lebanon County Commissioners have been proactively raising salaries during 2023 and making other changes to retain current employees while working to attract new ones.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County commissioners vote to raise 2024 taxes by half a mill for 2024
Lebanon County Commissioners on Thursday, Dec. 7, approved a tentative $94.4 million county fiscal budget for 2024 that includes a tax increase of .50 mills to cover its $5 million budget deficit.
Posted inNews
Pumpkin season is over, but their use continues through the fall
Pumpkin season may be over, but their use continues long into the fall.
Posted inNews
State bills seek to implement OSHA standards at municipal level
Two state legislative bills aim to extend OSHA-like health and safety standards to public sector employees, facing opposition from municipal associations due to potential unfunded mandates, but receiving support from labor organizations and educators for potentially improving workplace safety.
Posted inNews
Senate amends 911 surcharge bill, removes funding increase proposal
Bill to reauthorize and increase 911 surcharge funding is stripped of funding mechanism.
Posted inNews
Commissioners sign agreement to provide helipad access at 911 Center
New funding is flying into county coffers thanks to a leasing agreement signed by the Lebanon County Commissioners on Thursday, Nov. 16, at their biweekly meeting.
Posted inNews
Civil lawsuit for Thome’s fatal shooting by two state troopers is continued until 2024
The civil lawsuit involving the fatal shooting of Richland resident Charity Thome in March 2020 by Pennsylvania State Police troopers Jay Splain and Matthew Haber has been continued until the end of January 2024.
Posted inNews
Thome estate seeks $5-$6M in civil suit for fatal shooting by two state troopers
Jury selection begins Wednesday following an Oct. 20 settlement conference where both sides failed to reach a settlement agreement, according to court documents.
Posted inSports
Cedar Crest’s District 3 playoff run ends in Harrisburg with 54-28 loss to Cougars
Cedar Crest’s football season concluded with a 54-28 loss to Harrisburg in the District 3 6A quarterfinals, despite standout performances from senior running back Fernando Marquez and tight end Aiden Schomp.
Posted inNews
Voters re-elect County Commissioners to 4 more years in general election Tuesday
Lebanon County voters elected its three incumbent commissioners to four-year terms in Tuesday’s general election.
Posted inNews
50 years of consecutive voting qualifies 3 locals as Super Voters
Three local residents were elected and enshrined in the state’s Voter Hall of Fame for voting in 50 consecutive general elections, held the first Tuesday every November.
Posted inNews
Nine-county regional task force receives $1.27M federal grant to combat terrorism
Lebanon County commissioners approve a $1.27 million federal grant to join a nine-county terrorism task force.
Posted inNews
FTIG officials christen new security system at opening ceremony
Fort Indiantown Gap’s new Access Control Point, a $13 million security enhancement, officially opened, requiring visitors to undergo identification checks before entering the military installation.
Posted inNews
Certain county precincts will use E-poll books in Tuesday’s election
About 19 percent of the county’s voting precincts will run an experiment using E-poll books.
