MISSING | Pennsylvania State Police search for endangered 86-year-old man in Lancaster County
MAKE THEIR JOBS EASIER. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. GLAD YOU’RE WITH US ON THE START OF THE WARM UP. YEAH. YES. QUOTES IN QUOTES. IT MAY NOT HAPPEN. IT’S A WARM UP, BUT I THINK WHEN YOU SAY WARM, YOU EXPECT SOMETHING. BUT YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE NOT AS COLD. I GUESS WE’LL SAY THAT. THERE YOU GO. MATT BARCARO. KATELYN SMITH. LISTEN TO THAT ALARM THIS MORNING TO KNOW TWO HOUR DELAY. I DON’T THINK FOR TODAY. YEAH, THERE’S NONE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, SO KIDS HAVE TO GET OUT OF BED AND HEAD TO SCHOOL. IF YOU ARE HEADING TO WORK, REGINA’S GOT YOU COVERED ON THE ROADS. AND CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRISTINE FERREIRA IS HERE WITH THE WARM UP. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THAT BAD. 44 TODAY. THAT’S GOING TO FEEL A LOT BETTER. I THOUGHT IT FELT GOOD YESTERDAY, ACTUALLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUN WITHOUT THE WIND. IT WASN’T ALL THAT BAD TODAY. IT’S GOING TO BE WARMER, EVEN WITH MORE CLOUD COVER COMING IN. WE DO HAVE SOME CLOUDS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT’S KEEPING OUR TEMPERATURES IN THE 20S. IT’S 25 IN CARLISLE, 27 IN YORK, 24 IN HARRISBURG. BUT COMPARED TO THIS TIME YESTERDAY, TEMPERATURES ARE RUNNING 15 TO 25 DEGREES WARMER. SO THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE WARM UP IN QUOTES. HERE’S THE 12 HOUR FORECAST. WE WILL SEE PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES TODAY. OUR HIGH AS 44. YOU CAN THANK THE SOUTHERLY WINDS FOR THAT. A DRY COLD FRONT WILL COME THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN IT WILL TURN A LITTLE BREEZY LATER, BUT OVERALL PRETTY NICE LOOKING DAY. I’LL TAKE OFF THE QUOTES OKAY. 44 YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT IT LIKE TEN DEGREES MORE THAN YESTERDAY. REMEMBER YORK WAS AT ZERO YESTERDAY. THAT’S TRUE. OH MY GOSH. SO TODAY’S GOING TO BE GREAT. 502 EVERYBODY ON YOUR WEDNESDAY MORNING. AND IF YOU’RE HEADING OUT RIGHT NOW MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY IS LOOKING GREAT AS USUAL 5:00. NOT TOO MUCH GOING ON. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE ONE INCIDENT IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS IS ROUTE 11 HARRISBURG PIKE. TRAFFIC STILL FLOWING JUST FINE AROUND THIS INCIDENT THERE ALONG ROUTE 11. AND ALSO JUST A HEADS UP FOR FOR YOU DRIVING OR HAVING PLANS TO DRIVE THIS MORNING ON THE SOUTH BRIDGE IN HARRISBURG. THERE WILL BE SOME LANE RESTRICTIONS. RIGHT SHOULDER RESTRICTIONS THIS MORNING FROM 9 A.M. TO 3 P.M. ALONG THE SOUTH BRIDGE, INTERSTATE 83. THERE WILL, OF COURSE, LET YOU KNOW IF THERE’S ANY CHANGES TO THAT SCHEDULE THIS MORNING. IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT OF HARRISBURG TO CAMP HILL, FIVE MINUTES THERE TO CARLISLE, 21 AND A 15 MINUTE DRIVE. IF YOU’RE HEADED TO HERSHEY, WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE FOR YOU IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WE ARE FOLLOWING SOME BREAKING NEWS OUT OF YORK COUNTY RIGHT NOW, WHERE DISPATCHERS SAY CREWS WERE CALLED TO A FIRE IN CARROLL TOWNSHIP. THEY SAY THOSE CREWS GOT THE CALL AROUND 245 THIS MORNING TO GO TO A HOME ON AFFIRMED DRIVE. DISPATCHERS, THOUGH, COULD NOT TELL US IF ANYONE WAS HURT OR EVEN INSIDE THE HOME AT THE TIME OF THAT FIRE. WE’RE ALSO FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS IN LANCASTER COUNTY, 911 DISPATCHERS SAY TWO PEOPLE WERE HURT IN A CRASH IN MOUNT JOY TOWNSHIP. NORTHWEST REGIONAL POLICE SAY THE DRIVER HIT A SLICK PART OF THE SHOULDER, THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A UTILITY POLE. DISPATCHERS SAY THIS HAPPENED ON NORTH MARKET STREET AND CEDAR ROAD AROUND 130 THIS MORNING. THE SCENE IS NOW CLEAR, SO THAT AREA IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC THIS MORNING. DISPATCHERS SAY ONLY ONE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED. POLICE SAY TWO PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES. IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO TRAVEL FOR THE HOLIDAYS. TSA REMINDING YOU TO PLAN AHEAD. BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU’RE PACKING SO YOU CAN GET THROUGH SECURITY AT THE AIRPORT QUICKLY. NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIEL THOMAS IS JOINING US LIVE THIS MORNING AT THE HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND GABRIEL SAY I’M DREAMING OF GOING SOMEWHERE TROPICAL. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? GOOD MORNING. KATELYN. WELL, FIRST YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET HERE EARLY, BECAUSE YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THAT TSA CHECKPOINT LINE IS LONG. PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE IS SMOOTH. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU BRING YOUR REAL ID OR ANOTHER ACCEPTABLE FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, LIKE YOUR PASSPORT OR PASSPORT ID CARD. NOW, TSA SAYS STARTING FEBRUARY 1ST, ALL PASSENGERS WITHOUT A REAL ID WILL HAVE TO PAY A FEE OF $45 TO USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION. TSA IS ALSO ENCOURAGING YOU TO PACK SMART. REMEMBER, LIQUID OR EVEN GELS MUST BE 3.4OZ OR LESS. AND IF YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL WITH GIFTS, I KNOW YOU GUYS WANT TO GIFT YOUR FAMILIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. YOU WANT TO PUT THOSE GIFTS IN GIFT BAGS OR GIFT BOXES WITH LIDS RATHER THAN WRAPPING THEM. THIS ALLOWS TSA OFFICERS TO SWIFTLY CHECK YOUR GIFTS. WE SPOKE WITH TSA AND THEY SAY START PACKING WITH AN EMPTY BAG. WE’VE SEEN FULL ON TURKEY DINNERS PACKED IN PEOPLE’S CARRY ON, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING GRAVY AND GIBLETS. AND SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ADVANCED PREPARATION, GO TO TSA GOV, CALL YOUR AIRLINE, ASK PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW THAT ARE FREQUENT TRAVELERS. JUST THAT LITTLE BIT OF PREPARATION REALLY WILL GO A LONG WAY. IT WILL MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE A LOT SMOOTHER. NOW, MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THIS. IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, YOU SHOULD INFORM TSA OFFICER BEFORE SCREENING. REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD THAT TSA APP TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE IS SMOOTH. REPORTING LIVE HERE. HI, I’M GABRIEL THOMAS WGAL NEWS 8. ALL RIGHT. I’M JUST DREAMING ABOUT WHERE ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE HEADED OFF TO. YES, TO SEE FAMILY AND MAYBE PACKING SOME FOOD, MAYBE A BEACH. WE’LL SEE. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, GABRIELLE. AS YORK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WEIGH THEIR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, THE RATE THAT TAXES COULD GO UP IS GOING DOWN. TONIGHT’S AGENDA SAYS THE SPENDING PLAN NOW TOTALS $283 MILLION. THAT’S ABOUT 9 MILLION BELOW WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PLANNED. THAT MEANS THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WOULD NOT BE THAT 14%, BUT RATHER 9.4. THE PROPOSED HIKE WOULD BE THE COUNTY’S FIRST SINCE 2022. CHILD CARE WORKERS IN PENNSYLVANIA CAN NOW APPLY FOR A BONUS THROUGH THE STATE. STAFF CAN APPLY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES CHILD CARE WORKS PROGRAM FOR A $450 BONUS. WE HAVE THAT LINK ON YOUR SCREEN. THE STATE BUDGET SET ASIDE $25 MILLION FOR THESE GRANTS THIS YEAR. ANY MONEY THAT’S NOT PAID OUT TO CURRENT WORKERS WILL GO TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TO BE OFFERED AS RECRUITMENT BONUSES. THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SAYS THE STATE HAS 3000 UNFILLED CHILD CARE JOBS RIGHT NOW. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THESE BONUSES IS JANUARY 29TH. PAYMENTS SET TO GO OUT STARTING FEBRUARY 9TH. HAPPENING TODAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL GROUP IS SET TO SING MODIFIED VERSIONS OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN FAVOR OF A BILL FOR PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE. SO THE GROUP, CALLED CHILDREN FIRST, IS PUSHING FOR THE STATE ASSEMBLY TO PASS A BILL CALLED THE FAMILY CARE ACT, WHICH WOULD CREATE A PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE FUND HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT DOES HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE STATE SENATE AND HOUSE. THE MONEY IN THE FUND COULD BE USED FOR WORKERS TO CARE FOR SICK FAMILY MEMBERS, TAKE TIME OFF TO RECOVER FROM SURGERY, OR GIVE PATIENTS TIME OFF AFTER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. SUPPORTERS SAY THE BILL WOULD ALSO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES COMPETE WITH LARGER CORPORATIONS, WHICH CAN OFFER PAID LEAVE. LAWMAKERS WHO WROTE THE BILL SAY 66% OF PENNSYLVANIA WORKERS DO NOT HAVE PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE. THE CAROLERS ARE SET TO PERFORM AT THE STATE CAPITOL STARTING AT 10:00 THIS MORNING. YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE ASKING FOR IDEAS ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH PENN STATE. YORK’S CAMPUS AFTER IT CLOSES AFTER THE SPRING SEMESTER IN 2027, IT PUT OUT A SURVEY WHICH YOU CAN FILL OUT NOW. THE DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE BY APRIL AHEAD OF THE SHUTDOWN IN 2027. WE’RE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WHATEVER PLAN IS IN PLACE CAN TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THOSE LEGACY BUILDINGS AND ALL THE LEGACY DONORS. WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT SHOWS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE MAYBE 1 OR 2 OPTIONS, AND THEN PUSH THAT UP THROUGH PENN STATE UNIVERSITY AND DO OUR BEST. YOU CAN FIND THAT SURVEY ON THE YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE WEBSITE. HAPPENING TODAY IN DAUPHIN COUNTY, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY, CHRIS WRIGHT, WILL BE VISITING THE CRANE CLEAN ENERGY CENTER IN LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, ALSO KNOWN AS THREE MILE ISLAND. THAT’S WHERE THERE ARE PLANS TO RESTART REACTOR ONE AT THAT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. WRIGHT WILL DISCUSS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S AGENDA ON ENERGY, AND ALSO MEET WITH EMPLOYEES DURING A TOUR OF THAT FACILITY. TODAY. LEADERS IN EPHRATA BOROUGH AND LANCASTER COUNTY ARE EXPECTED TO HEAR A NEW PLAN FROM EPHRATA NATIONAL BANK TO DEMOLISH AN HISTORIC MILL TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW HEADQUARTERS. LAST MONTH, WE REPORTED ON A ZONING APPLICATION TO TEAR DOWN THE MILL, BUT THE BANK WITHDREW THAT PLAN BEFORE THE BOARD COULD HEAR IT. THE BANK SAYS IT NEEDED TO REDO A SPECIFIC REQUEST. NOW, IF APPROVED BY THE ZONING BOARD AND THE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND EPHRATA, THE BUILDING ON EAST MARKET STREET WOULD BE KNOCKED DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR A $25 MILLION OPERATIONS CENTER. THE ZONING MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 TONIGHT. THE ADMINISTRATOR TOLD US THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA, SO THERE’S A CHANCE THE DISCUSSION ON THE MILL MIGHT GET PUSHED UNTIL NEXT MONTH. BUT WE’LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT. A YORK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT AN $8,500 DONATION TO HELP BUY OFFICERS NEW VESTS. PENN TOWNSHIP POLICE SAY THE NEW VEST WILL PUT LESS WEIGHT ON THOSE OFFICERS WAIST AND HIPS. PATROLMAN MICHAEL SMITH SAYS HIS BODY HAS BEEN IMPACTED AFTER WEARING THOSE OLDER VESTS FOR 20 YEARS. IT WAS SEPTEMBER 9TH OF LAST YEAR. I HAD LOWER BACK SURGERY. GETTING THAT WEIGHT OFF OF OUR HIPS AND OUR BACK OVER A 12 HOUR SHIFT, I DEFINITELY FEEL A LOT BETTER. THE GROUP THE ALLIANCE OF BIKERS AIMED TOWARD EDUCATION, MADE THAT DONATION AFTER THE DEPARTMENT REACHED OUT, SAYING IT WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN ITS BUDGET TO BUY THOSE VESTS. IT’S 509 RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE THE LANCASTER SKY CAM BEHIND US. CHRISTINE, IT’S BEEN NICE TO SEE THE SNOW ON THE GROUND THE PAST COUPLE DAYS. IS IT GOING TO BE PROBABLY NOT LASTING MUCH LONGER? NOT MUCH LONGER, ESPECIALLY WITH TEMPERATURES POSSIBLY GOING UP ABOVE 50 THURSDAY NIGHT AND WE GET SOME RAIN. SO RIGHT NOW WE’RE FOLLOWING A COLD FRONT THAT’S BACK TOWARD DETROIT AND CLEVELAND. AND THAT MIGHT BRING A SPRINKLE TO PENNSYLVANIA TODAY. BUT I REALLY DON’T SEE MUCH HERE IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THAT FRONT SHOULD BE THROUGH BEFORE THE EVENING COMMUTE. IT WILL TURN A LITTLE BREEZY LATER, BUT OVERALL, NICE LOOKING DAY TODAY. IT’S GOING TO BE MILDER AND WE’LL HAVE CLOUDS WITH A FEW PEEKS OF SUNSHINE. 25 IN CARLISLE. RIGHT NOW IT’S 23. IN LANCASTER WE HAVE 24 IN LEBANON AND HARRISBURG, AND WIND SPEEDS ARE RELATIVELY LIGHT ABOUT FIVE MILES PER HOUR AT THE HIGHEST. WE DON’T HAVE TO BATTLE TOO MUCH OF A WIND CHILL THIS MORNING. HERE’S OUR WIND SPEEDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND NOTICE THEY STAY RELATIVELY LIGHT 5 TO 10MPH. THEY’LL PICK UP A BIT LATER ON. HERE’S YOUR WET TO WEAR FORECAST. MOSTLY CLOUDY ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR. TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE 30S BY ABOUT NINE 10:00 OR THE LUNCH HOUR. 42 WILL BE YOUR AFTERNOON TEMPERATURE. AND THEN I THINK BETWEEN HOURS THERE, WE COULD SQUEEZE OUT A 44 DEGREE READING BEFORE TEMPERATURES FALL BACK TO THE LOW 40S. NO PROBLEMS FOR THE EVENING COMMUTE. BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, CHRISTINE. WELL, INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AFTER A CAR YOU SEE HERE CRASHED INTO A BUSINESS IN DAUPHIN COUNTY. RIGHT THROUGH THE WALL, ALMOST INTO THE ENTIRE BUILDING. POLICE SAY WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A LEARNING CENTER. HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER IN LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP ON JONESTOWN ROAD. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR. OFFICERS SAY THEY FOUND THAT DRIVER WHO WAS MISSING. THEY FOUND THAT PERSON AT COLONIAL PARK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. THEY SAY THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. THE OWNER OF THE LEARNING CENTER SAYS REPAIRS ARE EXPECTED TO COST NEARLY $100,000. WE’RE HOPING WITHIN A DAY OR SO, WE HAVE EVERYTHING BACK TO AT LEAST BE OPERATIONAL, AND THEN WE’LL GO TO FINAL REPAIRS AFTER WE DEAL WITH ALL THE INSURANCE. AND POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE CRASH. A TRUCK HIT A HISTORIC SIGN IN DAUPHIN COUNTY. CUPPY’S DINER IN MIDDLETOWN SAYS A UPS TRACTOR TRAILER. YOU’RE SEEING IT HAPPEN RIGHT THERE. HIT THAT POLE THAT WAS HOLDING THE SIGN. THIS HAPPENED ON MONDAY. THAT SIGN HAD BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST 93 YEARS. THE DINER ALSO HAD SOME ROOF DAMAGE. IT TELLS NEWS EIGHT THE DRIVER DID NOT STOP AND THAT THE DINER HAS FILED A POLICE REPORT. CUPPY SAYS UPS HAS BEEN HELPFUL. WE REACHED OUT TO UPS, BUT SO FAR HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. IT SAYS THAT SEVERAL CUSTOMERS, ACCORDING TO THE DINER, HAVE REACHED OUT WITH CONTACTS TO HELP. NOW FIX THAT SIGN. WE’RE LEARNING SOME NEW INFORMATION THIS MORNING ABOUT A FIRE IN LEBANON, LEAVING TWO FIREFIGHTERS HURT, SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED AND 14 PEOPLE AND TWO CATS WITHOUT A HOME. LEBANON MAYOR SHERRY CAPELLO SAYS THAT FIRE CREWS WERE CALLED TO SIMONI PHOTOGRAPHY ON CUMBERLAND STREET FOR A REPORTED SMELL OF SMOKE JUST AFTER 930 ON SATURDAY NIGHT. THE CITY’S FIRE CHIEF FOUND A FIRE IN THE BASEMENT IN THE BUILDING. THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDING CAUSED THE FIRST FLOOR TO COLLAPSE. ONE FIREFIGHTER DECLINED TREATMENT, THE OTHER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FOR SECOND DEGREE BURNS. SIMONI PHOTOGRAPHY DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. WHAT A JUST HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE EVENT. FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER FOR A FOUR ALARM FIRE AND FIRST TIME FOR MY FIRE CHIEF. SO THOSE ARE PRETTY SERIOUS. AND YOU DON’T EXPERIENCE THEM VERY OFTEN. YOU HOPE NEVER. FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THIS FIRE, THE MAYOR SUGGESTS DONATING DIRECTLY TO THE RED CROSS, THEN MENTIONI
MISSING | Pennsylvania State Police search for endangered 86-year-old man in Lancaster County
Updated: 7:36 AM EST Dec 17, 2025
Pennsylvania State Police are searching for an endangered missing man in Lancaster County. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.Troopers said Robert Kunkle, 86, was last seen in the area of South Kinzer Avenue in New Holland on Wednesday, Dec. 17, around 1:30 a.m. Police believe Kunkle may be at a special risk of harm or injury, or may be confused. Troopers said Kunkle is 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 180 pounds, with hazel eyes and white hair. Kunkle is driving a red 2020 Lincoln Corsair with Pennsylvania registration, bearing the license plate number LKF5078, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police immediately by calling 911 or the New Holland Police Department at 717-664-1180. Stay with WGAL for updates as we learn more. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
NEW HOLLAND, Pa. —
Pennsylvania State Police are searching for an endangered missing man in Lancaster County.
Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.
Troopers said Robert Kunkle, 86, was last seen in the area of South Kinzer Avenue in New Holland on Wednesday, Dec. 17, around 1:30 a.m.
Police believe Kunkle may be at a special risk of harm or injury, or may be confused.
Troopers said Kunkle is 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 180 pounds, with hazel eyes and white hair.
Pennsylvania State Police
Robert Kunkle
Kunkle is driving a red 2020 Lincoln Corsair with Pennsylvania registration, bearing the license plate number LKF5078, according to police.
Pennsylvania State Police
Red 2020 Lincoln Corsair
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police immediately by calling 911 or the New Holland Police Department at 717-664-1180.
Stay with WGAL for updates as we learn more.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.