(WHP) — A mountain fire in Lower Paxton Township on Friday sent one person to the hospital First responders said they contained the fire and that it wasn’t an act of nature According to Lower Paxton Township officials the fire on the mountain near Autumn Oaks Dr was caused by 'reckless' burning after a man illegally dumped trash and set it on fire "We've had people dump back there and we've tried to do things about it," neighbor Ed Lawson said There's other ways to get rid of your garbage and stuff like that You don't need to dump it in nature." Multiple fire agencies from all over Dauphin County spent hours putting out what started as burning trash Lower Paxton's deputy fire chief said that many of the 70-person fire crew were volunteers He said the only person who got hurt on the scene was the man who officials said started the fire He had some extensive burns due to the fire and that's the last update we have on him at this point," said Deputy Fire Chief Brett Graham if it is what it is then we're the ones that kind of have to deal with the aftermath," said Lawson Neighbors said it was a scary sight to see a fire burning on the mountain near their homes but the 10 mph winds never carried the flames any closer "I mean you could see it from Linglestown Road you think 'What's going on behind my house Is my house gonna be ok?'," said Lawson "We're lucky that they were all able to get here so quickly just looking out the window and all of a sudden the whole streets were lined that's for sure," said Mackenzie Thomas Emergency dispatch said the initial call came in around 2:18 p.m Graham said they had contained the fire to a five-acre area ''And if it's really true that it's somebody being reckless and careless and this is what it caused people really need to think twice about that," said Lawson The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will stay overnight to monitor the fire Officials said no charges have been filed against the man who was found burning the trash in the mountains at this time PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Fire crews are on scene in Lower Paxton Township after a man allegedly set fire to illegally dumped trash on the side of a mountain Dispatchers report that crews were dispatched to the fire around 2:18p.m Linglestown Fire and Lower Paxton Police Department remain on scene as officials are not sure how far the fire has spread across the five acre lot Officials state that the individual that allegedly started the fire had suffered severe burns and was transported to the hospital No road closures have been enacted at this time Crews are set to remain on scene for several hours for clean up (WHP) — After a fire broke out in their kitchen a Linglestown family is crediting their alarm company with saving the lives of their daughter and several pets The fire erupted Monday afternoon while Eric Belfanti was out running errands and his daughter was home taking a shower "On the way home we got a call from ADT presuming it was a false alarm," Belfanti said and then my daughter calls my wife and says there’s a fire." his main priority was making sure his daughter was okay—after that "Everything is replaceable in this house," Belfanti said "I just tried to find something to put the fire out the entire side of the kitchen was already in total flames up to the ceiling." The Linglestown Fire Department responded swiftly containing the fire to the kitchen and rescuing the family's pets PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Crews rescue cats, bird as Dauphin County home goes up in smoke letting them know that we do have three cats upstairs," Belfanti said it's not likely that they do make it out." The family is now urging others to ensure their fire alarms are up to date She [Belfanti's daughter] didn’t hear the alarm while she was in the shower with the fan on The cause of the fire has not yet been released Pa (WHP) — A Linglestown Middle School teacher has been cited for harassment after allegedly kicking a non-verbal student 27-year-old Myrakle Stokes kicked the 12-year-old "several times" on Jan 17 after the child "kicked or attempted to kick" her CBS 21 reached out to the Central Dauphin School District to confirm if Stokes has been fired or put on leave following this incident confirming that the district immediately put Stokes on after finding out about the incident: The district also reiterated its commitment to following every precaution and protocol needed to ensure the safety of its students (WHP) — A 5-year-old girl is now being honored for giving her dad an early warning call after a man illegally dumped and burned trash on a Dauphin County mountain near her home READ MORE | Man severely burned in Linglestown mountain fire now charged with arson, police say said she noticed smoke coming from the mountain behind her home on Box Elder Court in Lower Paxton Township while playing outside there's smoke on the mountain.' So a lieutenant with the Linglestown Fire Company initially thought it was just someone burning leaves But he and Cailynn got into the car anyway and headed up the mountain to see what was happening He said they found burning trash on that red flag warning day "You could see as the wind was blowing 20-miles-per-hour gusts pushing it right up the mountain," Matt said PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Man severely burned after setting illegally dumped trash on fire on Linglestown mountain Cailynn was honored this week by the Linglestown Fire Company for her speedy action "It brought tears to my eyes just when I think about it She saved — and she doesn't realize it — but she saved probably at least two homes and many acres of land she's not wrong — we could have had half the mountain burning," Matt said Cailynn said she loves being outdoors and looking at all the wildlife When she saw the smoke get bigger and bigger she said she felt sad thinking that they could all get hurt (WHP) — A man who illegally dumped and burned trash on a Dauphin County mountain is now facing felony charges for starting the blaze READ MORE | Man severely burned after setting illegally dumped trash on fire on Linglestown mountain Lower Paxton Police confirmed on Friday that Malcolm Kellogg is the man accused of setting trash that he illegally dumped on fire on Nov This led to Kellogg being badly burned and a large 70 person crew response as the fire worked its way along the mountain in Linglestown near Autumn Oaks Drive and Box Elder Court Authorities stated that Kellogg initially dumped the trash on someone's property back on Oct Officers say Kellogg later asked the property owner if he could come back to clean up what he had dumped and Kellogg went to the trash pile and set it on fire He is currently being charged with two felony counts of arson and one felony count of risking catastrophe The current status of his injuries is unknown (WHP) — The Linglestown cornerstone community pool has announced that the facility will not open for the 2025 season The company posted the announcement on Facebook saying the decision to close was as a result of "challenges posed by the pool’s age and infrastructure." "The water bills experienced during the 2024 season indicate that the underground piping needs to be evaluated," the company posted Koons Pool stated that long-term solutions are in the company's sights but there is no time frame as to when the facility will be reopened F&M Trust has opened a branch at 4765 Linglestown Road.Photo provided .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Daniel Urie | durie@pennlive.comF&M Trust has opened its first branch in Dauphin County The bank opened a new branch last month at 4765 Linglestown Road the building includes five offices for business banking and mortgage loan transactions Construction on the 1,700-square-foot building began in April This is the first time the bank has constructed a new branch in 12 years Williams Construction designed and built the office Campbell Commercial Partners was the bank’s real estate partner and we want to keep that going,” Tim Henry A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last month F&M Trust now has 23 branches across five counties in Pennsylvania and one county in Maryland Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Pa (WHP) — Crews responded early Monday morning to a house fire in Lower Paxton Township Emergency dispatchers reported that a call came in at 2:26 a.m for a blaze on the 2000 block of Brookes Lane Linglestown Fire Company said in a Facebook post that all residents were accounted for Three dogs and one cat were also rescued from the fire were likely saved by the fact that the garage door was shut "One note about this fire is that interior door to the garage was closed keeping smoke and fire from entering the garage where the dogs were sleeping Always sleep with your bedroom doors closed it just may save you or your pet's life," Linglestown Fire Company posted American Red Cross of Greater PA said it was called to help three people who were displaced from the fire No injuries have been reported at this time This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A crash on Interstate 81 is causing delays in Central Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler told Daily Voice An empty tractor-trailer rolled over on I-81 at Exit 72A: Paxtonia/Linglestown in Lower Paxton Township at 6:36 p.m. according to Schreffler and PennDOT's 511PA The tractor-trailer flipped over at the median for north and southbound traffic according to traffic cameras and it led to left lane restrictions in both directions "Hazmat called for a fuel spill," Schreffler said There is no word on any injuries or an estimated time to reopen at the time of publishing The woman injured after a propane explosion destroyed a recreational vehicle and damaged property at the Blue Mountain Service Plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike has died and been according to the Cumberland County Coroner's Office Her cause of death was listed as complications from burns covering 35% to 37% of her body in the rear commercial vehicle parking lot of the westbound service plaza at mile marker 202.5 in Hopewell Township A preliminary investigation revealed a propane leak inside a 2003 Ford RV with Delaware registration caused the blast which destroyed the vehicle and damaged several commercial vehicles and service plaza property was initially transported to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center for treatment before being transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital The explosion reportedly occurred when VanNewkirk attempted to light a cigarette Responding agencies included local fire and EMS units and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit (WHP) — A fire at a Linglestown home has left a family of six without a house on Wednesday on the 3900 block of Grace Rd Crews say one of the women in the house spotted the fire at the top of the home's steps and called officials to the scene authorities report that fire was showing on all sides of the residence the fire department states that no one was injured in the incident but that all six people who lived in the home will be displaced The cause of the fire is under investigation and the final assessment of damages has not been determined at this time a community bank with corporate headquarters in Chambersburg has broken ground for an office at 4765 Linglestown Road in Harrisburg The community office near Colonial Golf and Tennis Club will expand the 118-year-old company’s presence in Dauphin County The bank opened a regional headquarters at 4050 Crums Mill Road in February 2021 “This community office has been a long time in coming,” said F&M Trust President and CEO Tim Henry “It’s a natural progression of our growth and activity in the Capital Region and the community has been very supportive and encouraging We look forward to building lasting relationships with those who live The new office will share architectural features with the bank’s corporate headquarters in Chambersburg and feature a new layout and advanced technology the 1,700-square-foot building will feature five offices for business banking and mortgage loan transactions as well as a drive-up Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) rather than a traditional window An ITM uses a combination of touch screens and video technology to offer a virtual banking experience that “We worked alongside the internal development team to help design something that was going to be functional for the bank and will work hopefully for a long time,” said Nick Greyshock “This was quite different than just getting a set of plans then coming back and saying this doesn’t meet budget We really worked closely with the F&M Trust team to develop a successful project and we appreciate all the time and commitment from everyone involved.” F&M Trust worked with Campbell Commercial Partners LLC of Lemoyne to purchase the property “After we leased F&M Trust their regional office in Dauphin County ‘We need a community office for all the production we are doing,’ because some people still like the brick-and-mortar branches,” said Art Campell of Campbell Commercial Partners LLC “We looked at a lot of sites and identified a great location on a corner next to other viable businesses It was a great team effort between the current owners and we look forward to seeing a successful facility on the site.” The office will be the first new construction of a banking location since F&M Trust opened its office at 6375 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg in 2012 About F&M Trust: A subsidiary of Franklin Financial Services Corp. F&M Trust is an independent community bank headquartered in Chambersburg F&M Trust has 22 community-banking locations in Franklin Please visit fmtrust.bank for more information Family was the most important thing in his life and he watched college and professional sports of all kinds spending his free time hunting and fishing He loved animals and spending time with his grandchildren Dan was a lover of all things PSU and a staunch supporter of the legendary Joe Paterno Following a stint as a cryptanalyst with the NSA Olson took a job with IBM where he worked as a financial analyst for 26 years in a crash involving a lawn mower in Greene Township the public is invited to another ‘Paint Night With Patty’ in our downstairs area at Zion Reformed Church Penn State Extension Spring has sprung and while the change is welcome it is often when horticulturists see problems emerge that got The Franklin County Free Press is your local news website We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from Franklin County PA The Franklin County Free Press is a Neil Publishing, LLC Any views or opinions expressed in this publication are of the individual or entity who submitted it and not the publication Our publication is open to the public to weigh in on matters of public interest AI technology assists in content creation on this site; verify independently for accuracy Call or Text: (717) 862-5656   Email: info@fcfreepress.com Story and Photo By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Linglestown was established in 1765 by Thomas Lingle After Lingle purchased the land and laid out the town Thomas,” for the Christian apostle and his namesake but many people chose to call it “Lingle’s town.” Lingle died in 1811 and is buried at the St which was formerly known as Wenrich’s Church Cemetery the Linglestown moniker stuck and has been used ever since Many view Linglestown as a great place to raise a family It is home to both Linglestown Middle School and Linglestown Elementary where there are open grass fields for soccer and lacrosse teams to practice along with a football field and two playgrounds many families can be seen making memories at Koons Park Koons Park spans 33 acres and touts three picnic pavilions Linglestown is one big family when it comes to small shops that work together synergistically Visitors can buy anything from upscale pre-owned fashions and new apparel to pottery and even hardware Hornungs Ace Hardware on Bluebird Avenue has been in the Linglestown area since 1986 and is owned by Jason and William Hornung William Hornung started the store to fill a niche “He saw a real need for a hardware store in the area starting with a small store and eventually moving to a larger location,” he explains adding that the best thing about running the business is being a part of the community “There’s no better feeling than helping your neighbors day in and out,” he says Located in the blocks of shops before Linglestown’s roundabout is another independently owned business that has called Linglestown home for eight years Mud Queen Pottery opened on Mother’s Day weekend in 2014 Owner Audra Doughty said that she chose Linglestown to bring more creativity and artwork to the area and to showcase other local artists’ work in her retail space “I wanted to give them the opportunity to consign with us,” she says Mud Queen also offers four different class packages for all levels of experience where I teach beginner students the basics of using the potter’s wheel Classes last one hour and 30 minutes and students are taught to make two simple pots,” says Doughty For those who are interested in a more in-depth experience Doughty offers an eight-week course for burgeoning potters to hone their skills during longer classes which last three hours there are one-time classes that focus on skills like macrame Linglestown is brimming with places to enjoy a nice lunch One such place located at the west end of Linglestown in the Patton Place Mall is Giottis restaurant Run by Giovanni Barone and managed by Susan Owen Giottis is the place to go for Italian dishes like Fettuccini Alfredo and rigatoni popular dishes include lasagna and seafood vodka comprised of little neck clams tossed in their homemade creamy vodka sauce “People really enjoy our pasta and meatballs with our homemade marinera sauce,” says Owen adding that Barone’s mother is responsible for the recipe Those who prefer to enjoy Italian specialties from the comfort of their own home can’t go wrong with a trip to Penne from Heaven The Italian grocery store located at 1019 North Mountain Road sells plump and delicious specialty ravioli and fresh pasta shipped in from Brooklyn pre-made easy take-home dinners like meat lasagna baked ziti and meatballs made by their Italian chef Ducking in from the cold for a hot cup of coffee is always a treat this time of year and Geof and Pam Smith are ready and waiting at St with fresh coffee roasted daily using high quality beans sourced from around the world savory croissants and locally made quiche and you have a meal to enjoy at breakfast Thomas Roasters has been a mainstay in Linglestown for more than 21 years now The cozy coffee house is open seven days a week Smith laughs when he reflects on his old life as an AMP employee: “When they had those mass layoffs I would never have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know so many wonderful customers Owner Mike Keller strives to provide the public with healthy choices like detox smoothies Keller said that his most popular items are the grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup and the turkey avocado sandwich Keller also left the corporate world and said he couldn’t be happier.  You can’t miss it; just look for a historic church near the square Owner Martin Schoffstall said they have been open for special events in Linglestown since 2016 and recently partnered with Black Rock Brewing to create a brewery and restaurant said that guests can choose from Pennsylvania-made cocktails Chef Tony Glass runs the kitchen and turns out delicious pub fare for customers to pair with their choice of drinks If that’s not enough to tickle your tastebuds Irgo’s serves entrees like crab cakes and fish and chips and the food is very good.” She adds that the staff is not just friendly and “the appetizers like the nachos and the Irgo fries are fantastic!”  there’s Schenk’s Bakery at 1061 North Mountain Road Schenk’s has been doing business in Linglestown since 1997 fresh baked fruit pies and seasonal offerings the most popular items are the strawberry filled cakes She says that her customers are her favorite part of running the business “All my efforts are to provide them with the best baked goods at a reasonable price,” she says If you feel like getting to know the history of the town a little better you can wrap up your exploration with a self-guided walking tour You’ll find structures that date back to the 1800s that were once taverns You can access the tour on the Lower Paxton Historical Commission’s website at https://www.lowerpaxton-pa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/258/Historical-Walking-Tour-of-Linglestown—Guide-PDF.  Have fun enjoying time in this quaint and welcoming area where there’s a little something for everyone Mother Daughter Team Makes “Mudslinging” Fun (WHP) — Most artists across the globe work for years to have their art featured in galleries and museums a handful of local artists are getting that credit way earlier on in life Douglas Baillie is the art teacher at Linglestown Elementary in Dauphin County While on a search for more ways to get his students to engage in class he came up with the idea to create an online gallery using a popular gaming engine Roblox is a virtual video game website that is popular amongst kids today Many gamers spend time playing against others in mini games or role playing on the severs offered within Roblox After spending hours learning the ins and outs of computer coding Baillie was able to create a virtual art gallery featuring his students work that they could visit and play in while on Roblox The artwork featured in the gallery focused on that of which they made while at school most pieces inspired by different famous artists I'll choose like one or two to go up there and then we go to the next project and I choose one or two" said Baillie the gallery accumulates artwork from each grade Baillie said the students have been all too excited about the idea "They’re completely emphatic about it—like they’ll send me stuff that they’ll do at home and they’re like ‘please please please put this on the Roblox gallery please’.” Students are also able to play mini games that Baillie created in the gallery they have a chance to win prizes at school Linglestown Elementary School Principal Scott Pavusek said that he was excited to be able to see video games and school seamlessly blend together,“It’s neat to be able to involve technology within the school and we’re always looking for ways to involve students and make it relevant for their lives.” Baillie explained that the introduction of the gallery has inspired students to have a bit of a competitive edge and encouraged them to put more time into their artwork He also said it's created a boost in self-esteem for the students who are able to see their artwork online “The things that you’re learning in school actually can and do apply to the things you do at home or when you grow up and all that stuff," said Baillie So whether it's online or in the classroom it's clear that students in the Central Dauphin School District will never stop creating and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus is pleased to announce that Linglestown Fire Company has taken delivery of a KME aerial KME’s authorized dealer Fire & Rescue Products will provide the Lower Paxton Township with a new 102’ Midmount Platform AerialCat™ The new 102’ Midmount Platform is built on KME’s Severe Service™ X-MFD cab and will serve the Linglestown Fire Company #1 – Station 35 located near Harrisburg and replace their 2000 KME 95’ Midmount Platform “KME appreciates the opportunity to continue to serve the Linglestown Fire Company and we value the trust they have placed in our apparatus and our dealer Fire & Rescue Products,” said Chris McClung and maneuverability are top priorities for the Linglestown Fire Company and we are delighted to provide them the aerial that they need.” “The Linglestown Fire Company is a proactive department that relies on KME’s customization and creativity Being able to provide 250 cubic feet of space coupled with a full 205’ ladder arrangement is second to none,” said John Niebauer “We appreciate them seeing the value of purchasing locally and the outstanding service our team provides.”  and distributor of specialty vehicles and related aftermarket parts and services We provide customized vehicle solutions for applications including essential needs for public services (ambulances commercial infrastructure (terminal trucks and industrial sweepers) and consumer leisure (recreational vehicles) Our diverse portfolio is made up of well-established principal vehicle brands including many of the most recognizable names within their industry Several of our brands pioneered their specialty vehicle product categories and date back more than 50 years REV Group trades on the NYSE under the symbol REVG