Year: 2015

Proponents push to legalize hemp farming

COLUMBIA, Pa. (WHTM) – There is a push in Pennsylvania to legalize hemp farming, which some say would create an economic boom.
At Lancaster Trading House Inc.’s headquarters in Columbia, owner Shawn Patrick House had a number of his hemp food products on display, including pretzels and protein powder.

Columbia School District budget still lacks specifics

Columbia School District officials say they are not able to share any specific numbers with the public on their preliminary final budget even though they plan to vote on it Thursday.
The state requires that all school districts pass their final budgets by June 30.

Route 30 construction shutdowns

Crews are planning to close Route 30 for brief overnight stretches in the Columbia area the week of May 16.
 The move is needed so workers can install beams for an overpass carrying Columbia’s long-awaited truck bypass over Route 30.
The effort is planned tentatively for overnight Sunday, May 17, into Monday, May 18.
State Transportation Department officials said Friday the work will lead to intermittent closures of Route 30, of approximately 15 minutes at a time, for both eastbound and westbound traffic from midnight to 5 a.m. Monday, May 18.
“That’s the best time in terms of traffic volumes, since it has the least amount of traffic,” PennDOT spokesman Greg Penny explained.
Project managers are hopeful the beam installation will take only one night, but they have planned for additional nights if needed, officials said.
Motorists on Route 30 approaching the project area who don’t wish to wait for the highway to re-open will be able to use Route 462 as a detour.
Each road closure is expected to be in the 15-to-30-minute range as each of the five overpass beams are installed, officials said.

PennDOT to close Route 30 in Columbia area for brief stretches the night of May 17-18

Crews are planning to close Route 30 for brief overnight stretches in the Columbia area the week of May 16.
The move is needed so workers can install beams for an overpass carrying Columbia’s long-awaited truck bypass over Route 30.
The effort is planned tentatively for overnight Sunday, May 17, into Monday, May 18.
State Transportation Department officials said Friday the work will lead to intermittent closures of Route 30, of approximately 15 minutes at a time, for both eastbound and westbound traffic from midnight to 5 a.m. Monday, May 18.

Dr. Sherry Welsh named to council

Mayor Leo Lutz swore in Dr. Sherry Welsh, who was appointed by Columbia Borough Council on Monday night to fill a council seat vacated a few months ago by Jody Gable. Dr. Welsh will serve out the remainder of the term, which is two-and-half years. Welsh, who holds a doctorate in social work, is currently operations manager for York-Adams Transportation Authority and also works part time as a therapist.