The 2024 report of the Lebanon County coroner shows a decline in the number of overdose deaths but a climb in the suicide rate.
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
John Schlegel selected to chair House vocational education subcommittee
Lebanon County state legislator named chair of House’s Subcommittee for Vocational Education.
Posted inNews
Former Lebanon city mayoral candidate hosts spoken word event at Allen Theatre
Former Lebanon city mayoral candidate Scott Church held a spoken word event about politics at the Allen Theatre in Annville on Tuesday.
Posted inNews
Heated conversation at North Annville Twp. meeting over fire vehicle tax
A proposal to add a 1-mill property tax for new fire trucks drew debate at North Annville Township’s monthly meeting on Monday.
Posted inNews
State agencies partner to restore native habitats at Swatara, Memorial Lake parks
A joint effort between state agencies is transforming more than 200 acres in Swatara and Memorial Lake state parks into grassland ecosystems, aiming to reverse the 53% decline in grassland bird populations since 1970.
Posted inNews
Federal officials meet with Lebanon County farmers to discuss ag concerns
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and several members of Congress toured Lebanon County farms Monday to discuss challenges facing the agricultural industry, including trade barriers, avian flu response, and farm bill priorities.
Posted inPeople & Places
Statue rededication ceremony honors Lebanon County’s Civil War veterans
The Sentry Monument at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Bethel Township, was rededicated during a ceremony on Saturday, April 12.
Posted inNews
Congressman Dan Meuser holds electronic town hall with constituents
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, whose legislative district includes Lebanon County, held an electronic town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 9.
Posted inNews
Myerstown firm plans to renovate, reopen senior community in North Annville Twp.
North Annville Planning Commission members fielded a proposal to renovate and reopen a senior residential community along state Route 934 at their April 7 meeting.
Posted inEducation
Lebanon Valley College professor conducts prison recidivism study
LVC professor’s research project in Belize may help lower recidivism in prison population rates there and in the United States.
Posted inNews
Commissioners tentatively agree to sell S. Lebanon Twp. parcel to developer
Lebanon County Commissioners vote 2-1 at April 3 meeting to sell 17 acres of county-owned land if contingencies are met.
Posted inNews
Traffic plans for hazardous Bethel Township intersection revealed
Tentative traffic safety improvement plans for a dangerous intersection in Bethel Township were presented on Friday, April 4 during a special session of the township’s planning commission.
Posted inNews
Community connections make Cedar Hill’s Civil War sentry project possible
Civil War statue in Fredericksburg has returned to stand guard over cemetery and town following restoration.
Posted inNews
PennDOT reconsiders N. Annville Twp. intersection traffic improvement plan
PennDOT is exploring other traffic safety improvement options following public comment concerning the use of preserved farmland near the intersection of Hill Church Road and Thompson Avenue in North Annville Township.
Posted inCommunity Shoutouts
Coming attractions: International film festival returns at Mt. Gretna arts show
The second annual Mount Gretna International Film Festival returns during the Mount Gretna Outdoor Arts Show even bigger and better than last year.
