Last Week in Carlisle | June 15 through 21, 2026 | Cold Cases, New Fairs, and Rising Taxes
Between juggling work, family, and summer plans, it’s hard to keep up with everything happening right here in Carlisle. Last week, from June 15 to June 21, 2026, brought some wild updates.
Here’s a quick look at the top things that happened last week:
- A Decade-Old Cold Case Cracked: An arrest was finally made after forensics disproved a fake suicide story.
- Chaos on Noble Boulevard: An intoxicated man was arrested after a spitting incident and assaulting police.
- Juneteenth Shifts and Sounds: A holiday concert rocked the town while trash pickup was delayed.
- Two Fairs Come to Town: A brand-new commercial “State Fair” joins the traditional Summerfair.
- Kids Cast a Line: Young anglers competed in the 17th Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby at LeTort Park.
- School Taxes Going Up: The district is looking at a 4.2% tax hike to cover a $6 million deficit.
- Food Truck Settles Down: Argana Cuisine is moving into a permanent building.
- Laundromat Skills Game Heist: Thieves broke into Dolly’s Wash House to steal cash from a machine.
A Decade-Old Cold Case Cracked
On June 15, the District Attorney announced that Betty Jane Adams was arrested for the 2015 murder of John Wesley Alleman. Adams had originally claimed Alleman shot at her before taking his own life. But forensic experts proved that story was impossible because his arm was tucked under a bedsheet, and they never found a second bullet. It turns out she even tried to hire someone to kill him before his death. Adams was actually taken into custody in Myrtle Beach back in May on a sealed warrant, and she’s now facing first and third-degree murder charges.
Chaos and Charges on Noble Boulevard
Things got pretty chaotic at 250 Noble Boulevard on June 17 when local police responded to a disturbance. Officers met 58-year-old Paul Michaletz, who was acting erratically and seemed intoxicated. The situation turned ugly when he became aggressive, ignored police warnings, and aggressively claimed he had a highly contagious disease. Michaletz then began spitting at the police officers. He was arrested and now faces serious charges, including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.
Holiday Impacts and Hometown Music
Carlisle celebrated the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, which meant a few changes for the borough. Since Borough Hall was closed, street sweeping was paused, and your trash and recycling pickup is delayed by one day for the rest of the week. On the bright side, the Carlisle Theatre hosted a fantastic free concert by 28-year-old local singer Terrell Brown. His performance had a great “feel-good” vibe that folks are already comparing to big stars like Khalid or The Weeknd.
Fair Season Confusion Cleared Up
Get ready for funnel cakes and Ferris wheels, because two different fairs are starting soon! The Carlisle Fairgrounds announced they’re hosting the first-ever “Carlisle State Fair,” a brand-new commercial event running from June 26 to July 4. It’ll have over 30 rides, a traveling petting zoo, the Aguiar Bros Circus, and the famous “Pork Chop Revue” performing pigs. Just remember that it’s separate from our traditional “Carlisle Summerfair“, which also starts June 26 but runs one day longer through July 5.
17th Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby
Our young local anglers had a blast at LeTort Park on Saturday, June 20, for the 17th Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby. Hosted by the Fraternal Order of Eagles #1299, this free event let kids ages 2 to 15 compete for prizes in their own age groups. It was a great day for families, though parents had to make sure to bring their own rods, tackle, and bait for the kids to use. There was even a special award for the overall biggest fish caught during the morning.
School Taxes on the Rise
If you own a home in the Carlisle Area School District, prepare your wallet. The school board is looking at a 4.2% property tax increase for the 2026-2027 school year, which is the highest hike we’ve seen in years. The district is facing a $6 million deficit, driven heavily by rising costs for special education and out-of-district placements, which can cost up to $85,000 per student. Even though they saved some money by refinancing debt, it just wasn’t enough to fill the gap.
Argana Cuisine Finds a Permanent Home
Great news for foodies! Argana Cuisine, a much-loved local Mediterranean food truck, is officially setting down roots. On June 16, they finalized plans to open their first permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant at 1075 Harrisburg Pike in Middlesex Township. It’s a great example of how local mobile vendors are building a loyal fan base before making the big leap into physical real estate.
Bizarre Laundromat Heist
Local police had their hands full with some strange crimes last week. On June 18, thieves broke into Dolly’s Wash House Laundromat and busted open a skills game to steal cash. Interestingly, this happened just days after the PA Supreme Court ruled that skills games are slot machines. However, the court delayed enforcing the rules for four months.
Looking Ahead
From long-awaited justice in a decade-old murder to the exciting buzz of a brand-new summer fair, it was certainly a busy week in Carlisle. As we head into the end of June, keep an eye on that school budget vote and get ready for the festivities. Don’t forget to plan your routes around town, as we’re expecting road closures for the Ford Parade and ongoing work on Post Road.
