Bullets fired by two men struck four residences and three cars in Columbia on Saturday afternoon, the borough’s police department said.
Police were dispatched at 2:50 p.m. to the intersection of Third and Cherry Streets, one block away from The Columbia Market House, for reports of shots fired. Witnesses said two shooters wearing dark clothing targeted a person walking nearby.
Columbia Police Chief Jack Brommer said there were more than 20 shell casings from rifles and pistols found in the area.
Witnesses said the targeted individual fled on foot and was not injured. Police said they are reviewing footage from surrounding cameras and are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Matt Leddy or the department at 717-684-7735.
Contractor to evaluate barrier prior to barrier improvement project
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that a rolling traffic shift is planned for this Wednesday on the eastbound or westbound direction of the Route 30 (Wrights Ferry) Bridge connecting Lancaster and York counties. This will allow a contractor to evaluate the existing barrier on the bridge in preparation for a barrier improvement project.
Weather permitting, the traffic shift will occur on Route 30 bridge from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Wednesday, August 9. This will be a mobile operation to shift traffic from the left (passing) lane to the right (travel) lane so workers can evaluate the barrier. Only one direction will be shifted at a time.
This work could cause traffic delays on Route 30. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.
Work on the barrier project is expected to begin later this month. An updated press release will be issued prior to the start of the project.
JD Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, PA is the prime contractor on this $5,247,787 project. Work is expected to be completed by November 2024.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties at PennDOT District 8.
Information about infrastructure in District 8, including completed work and significant projects, is available at District 8 Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at PennDOT Projects.
Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Week Day 4 wrapped on Friday. These photos at South 5th Street are from earlier in the week. By the end of the week, a second floor had been added.
Emergency personnel effected a rescue last Sunday when they transported a patient down a precarious set of steps at 4th & Walnut.
Sidewalk wisdom
“We must do what is right, not what is easy”
Bullet hole on the windshield of a parked car near the intersection of South 3rd & Cherry, which was hit during the Saturday afternoon “shots fired” incident there. Alarmingly, a second incident was reported early Sunday morning. Today, many Columbians are on edge, afraid to sit out, wondering what can be done about the problem. There’s still no public statement from the mayor.
Four police departments responded to the Saturday afternoon incident.
A moving graffiti gallery down at the tracks rolls by daily
Strangely enough, State Representative Brett Miller voted against a bipartisan bill that would create a database of hazardous material being transported through the state on railways.
Trains carrying who-knows-what often speed through Columbia.
Up close and personal with a moving train near 2nd & Mill
(There’s no barricade or warning lights there.)
Sunday, August 13
Ice cream at Columbia River Park on Saturday
Meanwhile, at Rail Mechanical
Old style means of transportation, just add horse
Time for a new sign?
An orca-shaped plane flying over
A bag of flags at the Used Flag Deposit at the Elks
Even a hearse needs maintenance sometimes.
They don’t seem as bad this year.
A look down Walnut Street, from 3rd
This sight will be a thing of the past when it becomes one-way.
More work is being done on that fancy door at the Columbia School of Music.
Walk in love today!
Civil War Trail sign on the first block of North 3rd
SHOTS FIRED Aug 5th, 2023 On Saturday, August 5, 2023 at approximately 2:50 p.m., Columbia Police were dispatched to the area of Third and Cherry Streets in Columbia for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, responding officers found a large amount of spent shell casings on the sidewalk and street and spoke with several witnesses. The preliminary investigation showed that two individuals fired numerous shots in the direction of a third individual who was walking in the area. Multiple residences and vehicles were struck by the gunfire. The individual that is believed to have been targeted fled on foot and escaped injury.
Investigating officers are reviewing footage from several cameras located in the area, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this shooting is encouraged to contact Columbia Police Detective Matt Leddy or the on-duty patrol supervisor at 717-684-7735.
Location Third and Cherry Streets Columbia, PA 17512
Four police departments responded to the scene of a shots fired incident at 3rd & Cherry Street that reportedly occurred shortly before 3 pm today (8/5/23). Police on scene checked nearby homes and parked cars for bullet holes. Columbia Borough, West Hempfield, Manor Township, and Susquehanna Regional responded.
More details will follow.
[Photos of shell casings and yellow markers shown above were submitted by Josh Stoutzenberger.]
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 866-366-3723, uses a risk-based inspection reporting process for restaurants and other food handlers.
Level Up Pizza, 237 Locust St., Columbia, July 26. Pass. Raw shell eggs stored above lasagna in the reach-in cooler. Raw shell eggs stored above cooked pizza dough in the reach-in cooler. Frozen raw beef thawing above onions in the reach-in cooler; repeat violation of June 16, 2022. The scoop for ice stored on top of the ice maker, an area that is not cleaned and sanitized; repeat violation of Jan. 20, 2023. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food (cooked beef) prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours in the reach-in cooler is not being date-marked; repeat violation of June 16, 2022, and June 23, 2022. Commercially processed, refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food (deli ham) in the reach-in cooler held more than 24 hours and is not being marked with the date it was opened; repeat violation of June 16, 2022, June 23, 2022. Pots and pans stored beneath hand-wash sink plumbing. Working containers of cleaners beneath the front counter stored on a shelf with to-go boats and plates; repeat violation of June 16, 2022, June 23, 2022.
Taco to Go, 114 N. Third St., Columbia, July 26. Pass. No violations.
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Columbia Spy 
