Author: SPY

Police respond to shots fired call on the 200 block of South 3rd Street

Columbia Borough and West Hempfield Police Departments responded to a call of shots fired this morning on the 200 block of South 3rd Street. A witness told Columbia Spy that four shots rang out at 9:21 a.m. Police blocked off the street from Union to Perry as the investigation continued. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Columbia Borough Police at 717-684-7735 or text tips LANCS to 847411.

NOTICE: TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES AT SOUTH 12TH STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019 | Columbia Borough Police Department

A Traffic Circle will be installed as a traffic calming measure due to issues with speeding, vehicle accidents and pedestrian safety.

Effective on Monday, October 7, 2019 there will be a new traffic pattern at the intersection of South 12th Street and Central Avenue.  A Traffic Circle will be installed as a traffic calming measure due to issues with speeding, vehicle accidents and pedestrian safety.  Yield signs will be placed near each corner and a 19′ X 8′ barrier will be placed in the center of the intersection.  Please see the attached diagram to view detail regarding the new traffic pattern.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/notice-traffic-pattern-changes-south-12th-street-and-central-avenue-beginning-monday

Residents push back on Council's idea for single trash hauler

Any notions Council may have had about switching the borough to a single trash hauler got a serious pushback from residents, business owners – and the mayor – at Tuesday night’s Columbia Borough Council work session. Those in attendance overwhelmingly rejected the idea, preferring instead to stay with their own haulers.

Councilman John Novak said Council was merely opening a discussion to weigh the pros and cons of the idea. Novak offered some potential positives:

  • Less impact on roads 
  • Less traffic 
  • Reduced cost 
  • Recycling improvement 
  • Reduced noise pollution
Mayor Leo Lutz opposed the single hauler idea, saying it would put local trash haulers, some of whom are residents, out of business. Lutz said that in many cases, those companies also employ borough residents. He added that a single hauler would not be available for special jobs like picking up mattresses or TVs, etc. Lutz also cited volunteer work that haulers do for Columbia Borough and organizations in the borough. “You’re not going to get a big hauler to do that kind of work, that kind of assistance, for you,” Lutz said.

Several residents also commented, all of whom opposed using a single hauler:

JoAnn Fritz: “Just because you’re going to get a cheap estimate – cheap is not the best.”

Shirley McBride: “I’ve been through the single hauler, and it was an absolute nightmare.”

Council candidate Sharon Lintner: “Gamby is the best. As long as you pick him, I’m for it.[joking]”

Kelly Kline of River Valley Disposal: “Cheaper is not better. You’re not going to be able to control the quality of what you get with a single hauler.”

Council candidate Howard Stevens: “Mr. Gamby and River Valley – You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Frank Doutrich: “Myself, I’m happy with my hauler.”

Robin Gamby of Gamby’s Disposal Service: “There’s a lot that’s been given back to this town by the trash haulers that are represented here.”

Council candidate Heather Zink: “Let us enjoy the good service that we enjoy.”

Follow these links to see what council candidates are saying about the issue on their Facebook campaign pages:

Sharon Lintner 

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal from 'Remorseless' Man who Fired at Police | Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

Marquell Rentas

A Columbia man serving up to 62 years in prison for shooting at police will get no relief from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The state court recently decided it will not grant Marquell Rentas’ request for a review of his sentence. 

Rentas, 20, was sentenced to 30½ to 62 years for opening fire on police responding to a shots-fired call on Bethel Street in Columbia. Rentas fired at a 27-year-old veteran officer, who was one of many officers on the block on July 29, 2016. 
The Pennsylvania Superior Court in February denied Rentas’ appeal which argued that a mandatory prison term involved in his sentence was unconstitutional. Rentas petitioned for the Supreme Court to hear that argument; the Supreme Court declined. 
First Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson, who won the conviction and represents the Commonwealth in post-conviction matters, presented evidence at trial that Rentas shot at the veteran officer using a high-powered rifle from a hiding place in the Mount Bethel Cemetery, near where Rentas was staying. As he was arrested, Rentas admitted to firing at police, Anderson presented at trial. Rentas later told a detective, “I hate (expletive) cops.” At sentencing, Anderson said Rentas was “entirely remorseless.” 
The jury convicted Rentas of attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer, conspiracy, assault of a law-enforcement officer and reckless endangerment. Columbia police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges. Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered the sentence.                             
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright Source:  Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/supreme-court-won%E2%80%99t-hear-appeal-remorseless-man-who-fired-police

Lt. Gov. smacks down State Rep. Stan Saylor on Twitter over marijuana stance

John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) tweeted at 6:44 PM on Tue, Oct 01, 2019:

Actually, @RepStanSaylor the “fact of the matter” is cannabis prohibition is a true minority viewpoint in Pennsylvania.  The actual “extremist base” would be, well- yours.

Columbia Borough accepting proposals for a parking study


The Borough Council of the Borough of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is accepting proposals for a one-time contract to perform certain professional (consulting) services work for the Borough of Columbia involving the development of a parking study focusing on the downtown commercial, riverfront commercial, and surrounding densely populated residential neighborhoods of the community. 
Proposals must be received by the Borough of Columbia via email (rdenlinger@columbiapa.net) no later than October 15, 2019 at 2:00 PM EST.
If additional information is needed or you are interested in submitting a proposal for this work, please contact: 
Rebecca S. Denlinger
Borough Manager Columbia Borough
308 Locust Street
Columbia, PA  17512-1121
Office:  717-684-2467 x7331 FAX:  717-684-7764
Email:  RDenlinger@columbiapa.net  

https://planningpa.org/rfps-rfqs/columbia-borough-parking-study-rfp/

About Town 9/29/19

This week’s photos of Columbia

Plumb tuckered out
Taking another look on the first block of North 2nd
 Does this warrant a HAZMAT call?

 Breakfast biscuit “online”

 LANCO SERVICE STORES

 Down at the culvert not much has changed.

 Yep, the scale’s still there.
A touch of paradise

 The pole’s still there, but the sign is missing.
Here’s the sign that was. It disappeared sometime around 2012. It used to greet visitors coming into Columbia from Washington Boro. There’s a similar sign currently on the Route 462 side of Locust Street Park.

 Frontier justice

 The Plane Street “Tunnel”

 Is there an afterlife?

 That wind sock is still there.

 Here’s a close-up.

 There’s obviously no room here.

 Two different painting schemes of similar houses on South 4th

 There’s a sheriff in town, though not necessarily a new one.

  There’s a ghost hanging around looking for Halloween.

 A dragonfly that’s probably on its last legs (or wings)

 Missing light at River Park

 More campaign signs

 No comment

 Working after hours

 Overnight sensation

 The street sweeper was here.

 Big eagle at BB&T Bank

 Little doves meeting for breakfast

 Low visibility signage – not good for sales

 Another sign down!
A witness reported seeing a Penske truck run it over minutes before this photo was taken.
 LASA checking our pipes

 Things are not always what they seem, as in this photo.

 Seagulls and ripples

 Thirsty Puppy Pit Stop at Kristen’s Katering, 301 Cherry Street

 Cats hate water except when they’re thirsty.

 Halloween’s comin’

 Graphic Image at the former Keystone Firehouse

 Mom turkey herding her flock into the weeds.

 There she is.

 Mighty big star

 Cell towers lurking in the fog

 That old car at Rivertowne Antiques is finally for sale. It probably qualifies as an antique.

 Fog afar

 Morning mist

 At the Wright’s Ferry Bridge

 Morning light

 Mist on the river

 This is apparently the logo of a bichon frise breeder in Hanover, PA.

 Floyd Landis is moving a CBD oil processing facility there, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

 Behind bars
 Look who showed up.

Newly installed speed bumps on Riverfront Drive
 A Kindness Rock

 Says so on the back

 Fire truck for sale. The iced tea might not be included.
And last but not least, photos from two Columbia Spy readers:

The four photos below show an interesting way to repair a curb – part concrete, part blacktop:

 Meanwhile, what’s up with Park Avenue? (See below.)

****************

Another reader sent the following photos of more roadwork on the 200 block of Union, where UGI is installing gas lines:

Photographer explores towns in the United States named Columbia – including the one in Lancaster County

“Columbia (Pennsylvania) was the sweetest place,” Smith says. “I just loved the architecture in that town. I liked the old buildings. I was sad to hear that Hinkle’s Pharmacy went out of business. I loved that place. It was so Americana — a pharmacy with the lunch counter. I liked the vibe there.”
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/features/photographer-explores-towns-in-the-united-states-named-columbia-/article_7179aad0-e159-11e9-871e-cfba15aa8cd2.html