Year: 2015

DA's office gets $22,312 grant to extract data from cell phones

The Computer Forensic Unit of the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office has been using Cellebrite for the past three years and has examined hundreds of mobile devices. The UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device) is portable and can be readily used in both the laboratory and field.
MORE:

The US Supreme Court ruled that the warrantless search and seizure of digital contents of a cell phone during an arrest is unconstitutional:

Keystone Testing – Columbia Borough School District

Students at the Columbia High School will participate in the winter wave of Keystone Exams or make-up exams from January 7, 2015 through January 21, 2015. Students who are currently enrolled in a Semester I class for Algebra I, Biology, and/or Literature will be taking these exams.  Students who have these classes scheduled during Semester II will take their exams in the spring.
Pennsylvania school code allows interested parents to review these exams prior to having their student participate with the testing.  Arrangements to view the tests must be made with the high school principal, Ms. Maura Meiser, by calling 717-684-7500 to set up an appointment. 
Additional information on the the Keystone Exams can be found at the following link:

Budget fight in Columbia about more than a police car

From an editorial in this morning’s edition of lancasteronline:
Mayor Leo Lutz gave two reasons for vetoing Columbia Borough’s hold-the-line budget for 2015: a budget process he saw as not including the public in discussions and council’s failure to include the lease of a new police cruiser.  Borough Council has scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the borough building, 308 Locust St., to discuss overriding the mayor’s veto.  The votes of five of the council’s seven members are required to override a veto.
MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/budget-fight-in-columbia-about-more-than-a-police-car/article_39232d9e-92be-11e4-b69c-a7a455783b30.html?mode=jqm

Evidence of strength

Clifford Shupp, owner of Shupp’s Barber Shop at 270 Locust Street, has twisted metal and bent nails hanging on his barber shop wall. Why? Because it’s evidence of several visits by Columbia artist and strongman, Tom Hermansader, who bent the metal objects by hand during his demonstrations of strength at the shop.
A profile of Tom Hermansader can found HERE.
Below are recent photos of his handiwork.

A happy ending to the story

Dear Cole,
A note of thanks to you for posting the “found cat” on your site a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, not one person has inquired about this cat, but there is a happy ending thanks to the Pet Pantry of Lancaster County.  I am writing to get the word out about the excellent facility that they operate.  Their services include no-kill animal rescue, low-income feeding program, and low-cost veterinary services.  I would encourage everyone that is able to help to do so, they have a wish list and several drop-off locations all over Lancaster County.  Luckily, there was room for the cat I was fostering and for a nominal fee, I was able to surrender her into their care.  She was tested for FeLV and FIV prior to being accepted.    They will continue to monitor her behavior and health, prior to putting her up for adoption.  The services that the Pet Pantry provides are invaluable.  The staff was empathetic toward my situation and went out of their way to help.
[Name withheld by request]