Five ELCO High School sophomores restored a 1955 John Deere tractor in just one month for display at the 110th Pennsylvania Farm Show, completing more than 200 hours of collective work from late September to late October.
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 inPeople & Places
Cleona podiatrist who founded Palmyra Public Library celebrates 100th birthday
Dr. Catherine Hand, a retired Palmyra podiatrist and founder of that town’s library, turns 100 later this week.
Posted inEducation
Lebanon County hosts election sticker artwork contest for area school students
Lebanon County students in K-12 are asked to share their talents with the first-ever voter sticker contest for area youths.
Posted inPeople & Places
Lebanon man loved announcing, writing & broadcasting Hershey Bears games
Don Scott, now in his late 80s, worked simultaneously as Easter Seals executive director for 20 years, Hershey Bears public address announcer for 27 years and sports correspondent for local newspapers during a 55-year career.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County Commissioners rename Mike Kuhn as board chairman for 2026
Lebanon County Commissioners set officers for 2026, approve other agenda items at Jan. 8 meeting.
Posted inPeople & Places
Pa. Farm Show launches statewide celebration of nation’s 250th birth
Celebrate history – and Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage – at the 110th edition of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, now through Jan. 17.
Posted inPeople & Places
Lebanon County youth take center stage at annual Pa. Farm Show in Harrisburg
From South Lebanon Township’s state dairy princess to ELCO students who rebuilt a vintage John Deere, Lebanon County youth are bringing homegrown talent and agricultural passion to this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show, which opens today.
Posted inNews
North Londonderry names new police chief, reorganizes positions for 2026
A new chief of police was named on Monday in North Londonderry Township, among other actions by the supervisors at their 2026 reorganization and regular monthly meeting.
Posted inNews
N. Annville Twp. supervisors reorganize, discuss ordinance nuisance enforcement
The North Annville Township supervisors discuss nuisance ordinance enforcement options, reorganize leadership positions for 2026 at Jan. 5 meeting.
Posted inNews
Bethel Twp. supervisors vote to issue violation letter, reorganize board for 2026
Bethel Township supervisors vote to send business violation letter and to reorganize for 2026 at Jan. 5 meeting.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
4-generation, 120-year Seltzer’s family tradition keeps on smokin’ in Palmyra
Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats Experience is a tour that’s been gaining in popularity, thanks to tourists arriving by bus to see how Lebanon bologna is smoked at the company’s Palmyra plant.
Posted inNews
8-phase renovation project to modernize county municipal building through 2026
Lebanon County has begun a multimillion-dollar renovation project that will relocate several offices, including moving Voter Registration from the second floor to the first floor to improve accessibility for residents.
Posted inNews
Bethel Township purchases gear, hires new employee at year-end meeting
Bethel Township supervisors approved the purchase of a $77,442.92 Bobcat compact track loader and hired a new maintenance employee during their Dec. 30 year-end meeting.
Posted inNews
N. Annville Twp. supervisors amend real estate tax rate, revise 2026 budget
North Annville Township supervisors lowered its first-ever and recently created real estate tax by almost half at a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 29.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County emergency tower project moves upward to improve comms system
Lebanon County’s $11.5 million emergency communications project is moving along with an expected completion date of this coming summer.
