Columbia Spy

The meeting packet is HERE.

MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia school board committee meeting, March 3.

What happened: The board unanimously approved the appointment of Jasmine Preston as a new school board member. Preston, who was the only candidate to apply and be interviewed for the position, replaces Nathan Roach, who resigned at the Feb. 19 meeting due to moving out of the district.

Background: A safety manager and human resources coordinator, Preston currently serves on Columbia Zoning Hearing Board and last year ran for mayor against longtime incumbent Leo Lutz, losing out by less than 100 votes.

Quote: “I’m passionate about assuring that all students receive a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment,” Preston said in her statement to the board. “I believe strong schools are formed through the collaboration of families, executive leaders, administrators, and the community. Serving on the school board would allow me to continue to support the community in a meaningful way while helping guide decisions that support academic excellence and long-term district success.”

What’s next: Preston will serve through Dec. 6, 2027, the remainder of Roach’s two-year term, after which she will be on the ballot for the 2027 school board elections, should she choose to run.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-school-board-appoints-new-member-jasmine-preston/article_8d25b5fd-5951-4c5b-9725-be6ecabed74a.html

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 244 S. Fifth St. to Rosado Santiago Luis Francisco, Santiago Luis Francisco Rosado, Mercado Muniz Yamilet Milagros, Muniz Yamilet Milagros Mercado for $222,000.

JDW Property Solutions Inc. conveyed 552 Union St. to Hopkins Benjamin Thomas for $244,000.

Deptula Michael A, Deptula Michael, Deptula Amy conveyed 20 S. Fifth St. to Jessica James for $189,900.

Snyder Robert W, Snyder Gale L. conveyed 1040 Hilmar Circle to Nabilco Management LLC for $171,000.

The estate of Dennis L. Kemmick Jr. conveyed 804 Plane St. to G. Fisher Properties LLC for $165,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 238 S. Second St. to Christ S. Smucker for $155,000.

Neuman Michael W, Hostetter Kevin, Montano Demetrius conveyed property on South Third Street to One Stop Properties LLC for $1.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed property on South Second Street to Smucker Christ Stoltzfus for $155,000.

Elizabeth R. Smedley conveyed 258 N. Third St. to Julie Sprenkle for $234,536.

Mount Joy Holdings LP conveyed property on Locust Street to Mount Joy Holdings LP for $1.

This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At the Re-Uzit Shop: Uncle Sam costume 

Some patriotic accessories 

And some advice

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West Hempfield Township Police responded to a report of a gunfight in the vicinity of Oak Hollow Drive and Oswego Drive. At least two people involved in a gunfight there fled the scene. Police cordoned off the area. 

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Workers from Lewis Environmental and a member of the US Coast Guard were at Columbia River Park for two days to check for contamination from a recent spill on the York County side of the Susquehanna River.

According to LNP/LancasterOnline, federal, state and local agencies are undertaking clean-up operations after a February 25 fire at J&K Salvage released thousands of gallons of oils from containers into Codorus Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna. The oils have seeped into the Susquehanna watershed, according to officials. Members of the response team are testing water samples from the river near Columbia and Wrightsville.

An oil containment boom (along with two buoys) was placed near the water intake at the Columbia Water Company. 

The boom and buoys were tethered to a nearby tree.

Debris collected over the next few days.

On Sunday morning, the boom was no longer visible. 

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Authentic driftwood 

This is all that was left of the river ice the other day.

Life jacket zone

A bench for watching the fog

Witch hazel blooming at Columbia River Park 

The bushes were an Arbor Day planting dedicated to the late Fred Abendschein.

Keep your hands off government property. 

Especially this stream gaging station

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Board (and shovel) leaning against the siding

Sideways, it’s an accurate representation of the current world situation, cracks and all.

On the way back home 

This is all that’s left of the McGinness remediation project. 

Onward to Middle Creek!

“Sticker shock”

For want of a nail

Window cleaning on Locust 

Wood you look at that: lumber for sale at Tollbooth 

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Still life with cart and bridge

Detail

Looking kind of like an amusement park, the Von Hess project continues. 

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Frogs on the march at Clover Tattoo 

The snowdrops are blooming. 

High water levels lifted this boat off the shore, where it’s been tethered for three weeks. PA Fish & Game said they’re working with the owner to resolve the situation. 

A fast-moving train about to surge past the COLA building 

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JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Once again, Columbia Borough Council showed support for transitioning to a single trash hauler for the borough, with one member calling it a priority for the coming year.

A discussion led by councilman Kelly Murphy during Tuesday’s workshop focused on whether council will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and draft a new ordinance to allow the change.

Murphy told council he already located a draft ordinance used by another local borough — one he said would therefore be legal in Pennsylvania — but he wanted to gauge council’s interest before investing more time. “If council thinks this is a waste of time, I’m not going to pursue it any further,” Murphy said. “If it’s something we need to do, then let’s get it on the table.”

Eric Kauffman, council president, said he previously opposed the idea but that it now makes sense.

The four-minute discussion included specifics that would need to be addressed in the RFP, such as whether the borough would collect fees and pay the hauler directly or require the hauler to bill individual property owners, and whether commercial and residential properties would be served under the same contract.

Council decided to place the single-hauler discussion at the top of the agenda for the April work session.

Mayor Leo Lutz has been a driving force behind the single hauler idea. In January, he urged council to consider the idea. “It’s time for us to get with the rest of the world,” Lutz said. “Everybody around us, and probably most of Lancaster County is going to the single-hauler system.” 

In 2024, council explored the idea of contracting with a single hauler. At that time, Heather Zink, then borough president, said residents and businesses could save money with a single hauler. Lutz, noting the retirements of two of the borough’s longtime haulers said, “The time is right.”

Lutz opposed using a single hauler a few years earlier, however. In 2019, he said that doing so would put local haulers — some of whom are residents — out of business, adding that in many cases, those companies also employ borough residents. Lutz noted that a single hauler would not be available for special jobs like picking up mattresses or TVs, etc. “You’re not going to get a big hauler to do that kind of work, that kind of assistance, for you,” Lutz said.

Isaiah Jose Diaz

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/da/11617/post/columbia-man-pleads-guilty-taking-part-residential-shooting

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Workers from Lewis Environmental and a member of the US Coast Guard were at Columbia River Park this morning, with several trucks, boats and oil containment booms in tow. When questioned, one of the personnel stated they were there in relation to a recent spill on the York County side of the Susquehanna River.

According to LNP/LancasterOnline, federal, state and local agencies are undertaking clean-up operations after a February 25 fire at J&K Salvage released thousands of gallons of oils from containers into Codorus Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna. The oils have seeped into the Susquehanna watershed, according to officials. Members of the response team are testing water samples from the river near Columbia and Wrightsville.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At last night’s Columbia Borough Council Workshop, a resident complained about an ongoing dog poop problem on the 100 block of Walnut Street. A large dog has been defecating on several areas of the sidewalk for the last few weeks, leaving what the resident called “land mines.” 

Dog owners in the borough are required to clean up after their dogs and must carry a plastic bag that’s required to be shown if police ask to see it. Violators can be fined.

According to borough ordinance:

“No person shall allow any animal owned by him under his control to defecate on any sidewalk, walkway, or the property of another without immediately cleaning it up.”

However:

“Any vision- or mobility-impaired person who relies upon a dog specifically trained for such purposes shall be exempt from compliance with this section.”

Don’t forget to set clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

The PA Fish & Boat Commission said it is aware of the apparently abandoned boat at Columbia River Park. According to a representative during a phone call this morning, the commission is working with the owner to address the issue. The boat has been tied along shore for over two weeks and has a Maryland registration with 2023 tags.