Sound environmental practices earn an East Hanover Township farmer the county conservation district’s Conservation Farmer of the Year award for 2025.
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 inBusiness & Nonprofits
Lebanon County’s only winery and vineyard has a down-home feel
Jenny and Paul Cernek, owners of Lebanon County’s first winery and vineyard, have built a loyal following with a homey atmosphere, fresh wine slushies and events across Pennsylvania.
Posted inNews
Commissioners renew juvenile detention beds contract amid budget constraints
Lebanon County Commissioners set new agreement Thursday for juvenile detention beds despite budgeted amount already being exceeded.
Posted inNews
Children of Ft. Indiantown Gap employees experience military jobs at installation
About 225 students, including those from Lebanon County, attend Take Your Child to Work Day at Fort Indiantown Gap to learn about the many career opportunities that exist in the military.
Posted inNews
North Londonderry Township supervisors amend municipal recycling program rules
North Londonderry Township supervisors made changes Monday to the recycling program rules to avoid a conflict with state law.
Posted inNews
Community connections key to a strong, thriving Lebanon County, officials say
The 4th annual State of the County program on Wednesday provided a snapshot of the county’s overall health to about 200 attendees.
Posted inNews
Gebhard defeats Crane in contentious 48th District Republican primary race
Sen. Chris Gebhard defeated challenger Clovis Crane by a 2-1 margin in the Republican primary for Pennsylvania’s 48th District Senate seat after a contentious race.
Posted inNews
Bethel Twp. supervisors approve pool opening, poultry producer’s projects
Bethel Township supervisors move to open pool for the summer season and address actions involving several poultry producer operations at their May 14 meeting.
Posted inBusiness & Nonprofits
MG Mercantile changes owners, still offers various goods, gifts & groceries
MG Mercantile in Mount Gretna is open for the season and under new ownership.
Posted inNews
North Annville Twp. supervisors asked to replace tanker truck ahead of schedule
The need to replace a tanker truck and the announced sale of the former Union Water Works Fire Company building dominated discussion at Monday’s North Annville Township Supervisors meeting.
Posted inNews
Fallen law enforcement officers remembered at annual memorial service
Fallen law enforcement officers here and around the nation were honored Tuesday during a ceremony at the Lebanon County DES Complex.
Posted inNews
South Annville Twp. data center project scrapped after grass-roots opposition
A petition to rezone land in South Annville Township was withdrawn Tuesday by the developer of the proposed data center, which also said it has abandoned plans to further pursue the project
Posted inNews
Lebanon County Commissioners to consider ordinance to govern rail trail
An ordinance is being considered by the county commissioners to govern the actions of users of the Lebanon Valley Rail, as discussed at the board’s May 7 meeting.
Posted inNews
Commissioners asked about pending end to insurance coverage for ICE operations
A local citizens group continues to raise various issues regarding accountability and insurance coverage for interactions with federal officials during immigration enforcement operations in Lebanon County.
Posted inNews
First responders test mass shooting response in large-scale Palmyra drill
Local first responder agencies from Lebanon and western Dauphin counties conducted an active shooter drill at Palmyra Area High School on Saturday to enhance emergency preparedness.
