The Lebanon County Career & Technology Center’s governing board accepted federal and COVID-related grants while approving several staff changes, including two retirements and one new hire.
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
PA National Guard’s 3622nd unit deploys from Fort Indiantown Gap to Middle East
More than 140 Pennsylvania National Guard 3622nd unit members were deployed to the Middle East for one year to serve in Task Force Spartan.
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Route 72 bridge at Swatara Creek named after former state Senator Dave Arnold
Route 72 bridge over the Swatara Creek was named after former Lebanon County district attorney and state senator Dave Arnold at a dedication ceremony on Jan. 29.
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Friends of Old Annville seek solutions to continue Historic Old Annville Day
Friends of Old Annville continue to explore options to ensure Historic Old Annville Day occurs in 2025.
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Rezoning request by Bell & Evans tabled by Bethel Twp. Planning Commission
Bethel Township Planning Commission members denied a rezoning request by Bell & Evans at their January meeting to change the land from agricultural to manufacturing.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
25 in ’25: Lebanon Valley Conservancy poised to celebrate silver anniversary
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy turns 25 in ’25. LebTown spoke with officials about the organization’s past, anniversary plans, and future vision.
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Will it or won’t it happen? Historic Old Annville Day 2025 is up in the air
A denial of a traffic rerouting request for Historic Old Annville Day has called into question whether the event will be held this June.
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Dangerous intersection in N. Annville Twp. set for safety improvements in 2026
A projected $2.03 million, one-year roadway safety improvement project is slated to begin in North Annville Township at dangerous and heavily traveled intersection in late-September 2026.
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Lebanon County Commissioners certify 2025 ag preservation program funding
Lebanon County Commissioners certified the county’s contribution to the farmland preservation program for 2025 at their Jan. 16 meeting.
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Lebanon County’s VA office sees spike in number of tax exemption requests
Permanently and fully disabled wartime veterans are eligible for real estate tax exemptions via a statewide program.
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Old Annville Day no more? Waiver denial may end event, says township manager
There’s uncertainty if Historic Old Annville Day happens this year following denial of a traffic rerouting waiver that included a large truck exemption request.
Posted inPeople & Places
Animal welfare advocate Temple Grandin addresses Pennsylvania Farm Show
Animal and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin spoke at the Pennsylvania Farm Show about her life’s work in animal husbandry and agriculture and how she used her autism to build her career.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
LebTown exclusive: Animal expert praises Bell & Evans poultry-handling
Innovative professor and best-selling author Dr. Temple Grandin spoke to LebTown in an exclusive interview during the PA Farm Show about her consulting work with local poultry producer Bell & Evans.
Posted inNews
North Annville Township supervisors reappoint Clyde Meyer as board chairman
North Annville Township held a reorganization meeting on Monday, Jan. 6.
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Bethel Township supervisors reappoint Rudy chairman at reorganization meeting
Bethel Township supervisors reorganize board, approve land use waiver request for Fireman’s Park renovation project at Jan. 6 meeting.
