Bethel Township officials receive answers to questions at their Nov. 13 meeting concerning legality of electric substation construction project being conducted by utility company.
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 Valley’s assets celebrated at Visit Lebanon Valley’s tourism summit
Five hospitality workers received 2025 Hospitality Star Awards at Thursday’s tourism summit, which drew more than 80 industry professionals to celebrate Lebanon Valley’s growing tourism sector.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County residents share likes, dislikes at countywide planning session
About 40 residents attended the first public meeting Wednesday as Lebanon County, one of Pennsylvania’s fastest-growing areas, begins crafting a comprehensive plan to manage development through 2040.
Posted inNews
N. Annville Twp. proposes first-ever real estate tax to help fund fire company
North Annville Township supervisors released a preliminary 2026 budget that includes the township’s first-ever real estate tax, a 1-mill levy that will help fund the North Annville Fire Company’s equipment purchases.
Posted inNews
Public meetings for Lebanon County’s comprehensive plan to be held this week
Input sought from county residents concerning the new comprehensive plan on development trends and future planning priorities for Lebanon County.
Posted inNews
Commissioners hire counsel for child services agency facing neglect probe
Lebanon County officials retained outside legal counsel for its Children and Youth Services agency after District Attorney Pier Hess Graf announced an investigation into a case where a caseworker allegedly returned a 1-year-old child to suspected abusers.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County mourns David ‘Chip’ Brightbill, whose leadership secured Governor Dick park and shaped region
Former Sen. David “Chip” Brightbill is being remembered for his countless contributions during a lifetime of public service to Lebanon County.
Posted inNews
Bethel Twp. grants zoning variances for multi-faceted Bell & Evans signage
Bethel Township’s zoning board grants several variances to local poultry producer to construct promotional signage.
Posted inNews
Graf wins re-election in Lebanon County DA race; turnout higher than expected
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf secured a second full term Tuesday, receiving 21,501 votes to Democrat Michael J. Light II’s 15,112 in a race that saw higher-than-expected voter turnout of 25 percent.
Posted inNews
DA candidates file campaign finance reports before Tuesday’s election
Lebanon County’s 60 voting precincts open at 7 a.m. Tuesday for a municipal election featuring a contested district attorney race between Republican incumbent Pier Hess Graf and Democratic challenger Michael J. Light II.
Posted inNews
Clear Spring Road in North Annville Township slated to reopen in 2026
North Annville Township announces tentative reopening plan for railroad bridge closed for repairs last May.
Posted inPeople & Places
Rolling along: Lebanon Valley Rail Trail set to celebrate 30th year in 2026
The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail, initially planned as a five- to seven-year project when founded in 1996, is now approaching its 30th anniversary with completion expected in 2028, according to LVRT President John Wengert.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County DA’s office to investigate Children & Youth Services agency
Lebanon County DA Pier Hess Graf announced she is investigating county-employed child welfare caseworkers for allegedly returning children to abusers, while county commissioners defended them and cited complicated circumstances.
Posted inNews
Sims sworn-in as new police chief of Lebanon City Police Department
Eric Sims, a 19-year veteran of the Lebanon City Police Department, was sworn in as chief Monday during a ceremony that also saw Lt. Sean Buck promoted to captain.
Posted inNews
Lebanon County budget proposal for 2026 reveals a $5 million-plus deficit
Lebanon County officials held week-long budget hearings last week, and face a deficit in 2026 of over $5 million.
