Author: SPY

Officer Ed Mann retires from Columbia police force

Officer Edgar Mann

[Columbia Spy file photo]


Officer Ed Mann has retired from the Columbia Borough Police Department, it was announced at Tuesday’s borough council meeting. Mann, who was with the force since 1997, was instrumental in organizing Columbia’s “National Night Out” event, as well as the K-9 program, according to Chief Jack Brommer. “We greatly appreciate his service to the community, and we wish him well in his retirement,” Brommer said.

Unofficial Municipal Candidate Listing for Columbia Borough Primary on May 18, 2021


VOTE FOR 3:

Dem COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr

Robert Misciagna

Dem COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr

Becky Young

Dem COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr  Larry K. Laird

Rep COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr

Barbara Fisher

Rep COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr  

Peter Stahl

Rep COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr  

Todd Burgard

Rep COUNCIL COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr

Ryan Sexton

VOTE FOR 1: 

Dem MAYOR COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr

Rep MAYOR COLUMBIA BOROUGH – 4 yr 

Leo S. Lutz

VOTE FOR 4:

Dem SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr 

Devon Fisher

Dem SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr Katherine Miller

Dem SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr Michelle Grimes

Dem SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr 

Rep SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr 

Devon Fisher

Rep SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr

Katherine Miller

Rep SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr

Michelle Grimes

Rep SCHOOL DIRECTOR COLUMBIA – 4 yr

Jason Price II

Source: LINK

Arrests made after drug investigation on 900 block of Spruce St. | Columbia Borough Police Department

A joint drug operation, involving the Lancaster County Drug Task Force and Columbia Borough Police, was conducted on 2/16/21 at 4:10 pm at a residence on the 900 block of Spruce St. in Columbia Borough. 
A narcotics search warrant was executed after a lengthy investigation initiated by numerous complaints from residents in the area. 
As a result of the warrant execution, the following individuals were arrested: 
1.  Scott F. Ross, Columbia, PA, was charged with possession of a small amount of Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Ross was committed to Lancaster County Prison on a Probation detainer. 
2.  Bradley E. Kalbach, Columbia, PA, was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.  After arraignment on the charges, Kalback was released. 
3.  Lerone Neal, Columbia, PA, who fled the residence on foot after fleeing out a second-floor window, was arrested for two outstanding warrants.  During the course of the arrest, Neal resisted, and two Officers sustained injuries.  The following charges were filed against Neal: (2) counts of aggravated assault, (1) count of resisting arrest, (1) count of possession of a controlled substance, (1) count of criminal trespass.   
4. Ashley M. Dellet, Columbia, PA, was taken into custody for a bench warrant and turned over to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s department. 
5.  Serenitee Schultz, Columbia, PA, was taken into custody for a bench warrant and turned over to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department. At the conclusion of the warrant execution, the Columbia Borough Codes Department responded to the residence and conducted an investigation into various codes violations.  Subsequently, the residence was deemed uninhabitable and condemned.  The remaining occupants of the residence were relocated.   

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/arrests-made-after-drug-investigation-900-block-spruce-st

 

MARCH 2021 FRESH EXPRESS INFORMATION | Columbia Borough Police Department

The March 2021 Fresh Express Food Giveaway will take place on Friday, March 26, 2021 at the Salem United Church of Christ located at 324 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA from 3:30pm-5:00pm.  Columbia residents are welcome, please bring an ID or proof of address and bags/boxes to take food home.  For more information please https://www.facebook.com/FEColumbia or call 717-684-1497.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/march-2021-fresh-express-information

 

Linden Hall, Columbia ready to collide in Class 2A championship clash

Columbia got 19 points from Brie Droege and 14 points from twin sister Brooke Droege in its 49-34 semifinal triumph over Halifax, as the Tide is now 6-1 in its last seven games.

Linden Hall and Columbia had met in nonleague games the previous two seasons; the Lions swept the home-and-home series. This rematch is for the D3 gold trophy, and a spot in the PIAA playoffs next Tuesday against the District 2 champ. FYI: Linden Hall topped D2 winner Holy Cross in last year’s PIAA playoffs. Holy Cross is still alive in the D2 bracket, so that rematch is still in play.

Columbia is back in a district final for the first time since the Tide fell to Camp Hill in the 2017 2A title tilt. Linden Hall is appearing in a D3 finale for the fourth year in a row; the Lions fell to Lebanon Catholic in the 2018 1A championship clash before winning the last two 2A titles. Don’t forget: Linden Hall joins the L-L League as an associate member in 2022-23.

Columbia has won four D3 crowns: 2A banners in 1995, 1996 and 2000, and a 1A crown in 1997 to polish off a nifty run of three championships in a row. Twins Brie Droege (19.3, 80 percent free throws on 96-of-120 attempts) and Brooke Droege (14.7, 10 3’s) are having breakout ninth-grade seasons for the Tide, while Morgan Bigler (9.5) has protected the paint and sniper MacKenzie Burke (7.5, 23 3’s) has chipped in on the perimeter.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/sports/4-local-girls-basketball-teams-still-dancing-in-district-3-playoffs-previews-notes-facts-stats/article_06c92fbc-7f5a-11eb-877b-2f1ed4bcd66a.html

About Town – March 7, 2021

This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)

On Saturday night, the LanCarolers from Lancaster’s Prima Theatre 
performed on the 400 block of Chestnut Street, as they did 

Columbia Spy was lucky enough to catch part of their performance.

Earlier in the week, this guy was maintaining streetlights around town.
Earlier yet, this murder of crows made themselves at home atop the Elks.

The one who squawks the loudest becomes the boss.
No brains required.
Same with humans.

Sudstown, a once-great Columbia establishment

The borough hall clocks will soon get new, updated motors. 

According to legend, the two holes in the one clock face (near XII o’clock and VI o’clock) are the result of someone firing a .22 from across the street.
It seems there’s only one way of doing things in Columbia, quite often the wrong way.
Chopper flyover
Elevated mailbox for airmail, possibly from the chopper flyover . . .

. . . or from the warthog flyover.
New, improved dumpster, now with porta-pottie built right in!

Heavenly light leaking through the firmament

New reflective street signs are being installed around town due to state requirements.
So much for history.

Here’s an example of the older ones.
This “Survey Vehicle” with a “Max Speed [of] 5 mph” hung briefly on Front Street last Thursday.
(It was going more than 5 mph after it pulled away.)
Not bad artwork at the canoe/kayak launch under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

Car transport trailer on North 6th

Lost door looking for a vehicle on South 3rd
We’re still waiting for that bridge rehabilitation project – 
Will it happen in time?

This show window at Burning Bridge Antiques was replaced on Monday morning due to a large crack in the previous window.

Obviously a good place to drop your drawers

No ADA access!
Why?
Because someone didn’t allow enough setback when the posts were installed.
Oh well, the borough will say it’s “grandfathered in.”
Dead but not gone

Tis the season
Seating for chairmen and chairwomen

A head for flowers
Searching for salvation at Borough Hall
Here are three views of the river from Todd Stahl:

Columbia school board prepares 2021-22 budget with no tax increase

The board reviewed a preview of its general fund budget for the 2021-22 school year with no tax increase.
Overview: The school district’s real estate tax rate is set at 26.46 mills. Taxpayers with an average assessed property would pay $2,470 in taxes. Overall, the district estimates revenues of $26.56 million, up 1.49% from 2020-21, and predicts $27.43 million in expenses, up 1.11% from the current year.
Expenses: The $300,782 rise in expenses is attributed to a $420,000 increase in cyber charter tuition. The district will also seek to hire new technology and autistic support teachers and fill six other vacant positions. District reserves would be used to cover an estimated $878,982 deficit between revenues and expenses.
What’s next: The board expects to adopt a proposed final budget in May and a final budget in June.
Federal aid: The school district will receive $2.38 million in additional federal grant funds to assist with coronavirus-related expenses. This financial aid, according to chief of finance and operations Keith Ramsey, must be spent by Sept. 30, 2023. To date, the district has received $2.97 million in federal aid related to COVID-19.
Cyber charter school reform: Last month, the board adopted a resolution calling for reforms to the current cyber-charter funding formula. The district initially expected to spend $1.5 million on tuition to enroll 70 standard and 26 special education students in cyber charter schools in 2021-22. However, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed measures to reform charter school funding that would cap tuition rates for standard students at $9,500 a learner, down 14.63% or $1,629 from initial district estimates. If approved, the district would save roughly $414,030 on tuition costs as of next school year, Ramsey said.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-schools-prepare-2021-22-budget-with-no-tax-increase/article_f9c621c0-7ec4-11eb-83fb-a31e0932612a.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share