Author: SPY

Several guns stolen in burglary on 300 block of Avenue J

On 1/11/20 at approximately 10:17am the Columbia Borough Police Department responded to the 300 block of Avenue J for a report of a burglary not in progress.  

Upon arrival the officer spoke with the victim who said that they had been on vacation and when they returned home a Springfield Saint AR-15 223/556 with a red dot sight, a 60 round drum magazine (serial #ST187449). a Colt 357 Magnum 6 round with a silver finish with a black handle (serial #RA215936), a Smith & Wesson Shield 380 (Serial #NDN3060), a Black Aces Tactical Pro 12 gauge shotgun with a pistol grip (Serial #PSS02511AA), a Walther CCP 9mm (Serial # WK116078), a Springfield black canvas bag with ammunition and a 3 round magazine for the AR-15 had been taken as well as a purple metal tin with $50 in change.  
The officer observed that both screens on the North side of the house were in the up position which the victim said was not normal.  There was also a chair moved  along the fence.  
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or you can ‘Submit a Tip’ by clicking the tab below.  You may also contact Lancaster Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913 or text a tip to Crime Stoppers by using your cell phone.  Text LANCS plus your message to 847411.  Callers may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names. 
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2020
Reference ID:  CB-20-00202/2001011313 Case Status: Current 
Case Type: Criminal 
Case Region: Northeastern 
Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/burglary-300-block-avenue-j

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/burglary-300-block-avenue-j 

Jenkins, Timothy D – Robbery; Terroristic Threats; Simple Assault | West Hempfield Township Police Department

**UPDATE – Arrest made in Robberies of Turkey Hill stores in West Hempfield Township and Columbia Borough**

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/westhempfieldpd/11465/arrests/jenkins-timothy-d-robbery-terroristic-threats-simple-assault

Columbia school board OKs property acquisition of 521 Locust for rehabilitation

School board meeting, January 16:
The board approved the acquisition of property at 521 Locust St. by the Lancaster County Land Bank.
When a property in the county is vacated, foreclosed or tax delinquent, it becomes eligible for purchase by the land bank. Once obtained, these properties can be rehabilitated and returned to a saleable state.
Kathleen Hohenadel, board vice president, said a fire recently occurred at 521 Locust St. and resulted in severe structural damage. By request of the property owner, plans are underway for the land bank to both acquire and restore this property.
What’s next: The land bank now requires a vote of approval from Columbia Borough Council before it can proceed.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-school-board-oks-property-acquisition-for-rehabilitation/article_5a0f1330-3c58-11ea-8728-9fa3d99f2895.html 

Take the Survey: What's your vision for transportation in Lancaster County?

The Lancaster County Planning Commission on behalf of the Lancaster County Metropolitan Planning Organization (Lancaster MPO) launched a new survey at http://lancompo.org/connects2040 …and they want our help.

Information provided through the survey will help the MPO update the County’s long-range transportation plan, known as “connects2040”, both to serve as a blueprint for the county’s decision-making on transportation services and projects and develop a long-term spending plan for addressing critical infrastructure needs over the next 25 years.

This is important. Don’t miss the chance to provide your thoughts! The survey will be open until February 9th.

About Town 1/19/20

This week’s photos of Columbia

This snowman is about the only one you would have seen last week.
The predicted 4-8 inch snow never materialized.
Anyway, what’s that white powder on 7th Street?

Porch pirate bait on Locust

Here’s a sub-sub-compact (?)

Doesn’t take up too much parking space. If every resident had one of these, our town’s fictional parking problem would be solved in no time.

Might not be too good for hauling furniture, though.

Tight squeeze

Signs of progress at Hotel Locust – a new sliding gate out back

Down on Bridge Street

Might want to keep these handy. Winter’s not over yet.

Tie a yellow ribbon, yes, but maybe something bigger and more respectable.

This will never work.

Meanwhile, downtown:
NO PARKING
JULY 8, 2019 TO
FEBRUARY 28 [?], 2020

There’s another one.

Crane’s back.
Down at 401-403 Locust

It was scheduled for Thursday, but due to high winds was postponed until Friday.

Nope, no 4-8 inches, just a light dusting

New office building at the self-storage on North 2nd. We hear the ugly trailer’s gonna go.

Out at 4th & Manor

Also there: a great bargain

PennDOT on the job, ready to plow the nearly non-existent snow

Just one from Hellam

The twin towers at Turkey Hill
Trump says windmills cause cancer, so don’t get too close.

Route 441 up towards Chickies, as seen from downriver

St. Peter Apartments vs Trinity House

Columbia High School

On the bridge, the road’s nice and clear.
But who’s responsible for clearing the sidewalk?
Looks like you’re spit out of luck, if you’re a pedestrian.

Who knew that someone makes these things – almost like putting several bottomless trash cans together.

Lone gull braving the wind

New sign at the entrance to Locust Street Park at South 6th & Locust

And another one – along Route 462

 Sorry, S.A. Comunale, you’ll have to park elsewhere. Your space expired on December 31, 2019.

 You’re still good, H.B. McClure, but five months seems a bit extreme.

 SECCO gets to park in front of the Presbyterian church.
On Sunday afternoon, Columbia Spy counted seven NO PARKING signs attached to meters. That’s 14 meters not collecting revenue for several months near 4th & Locust and on the 200 block of Locust. Not to mention the freebie for Hickernell’s secretary on the 200 block of Locust.

Out at CMX – an army of dumpsters

 How rusty does a sign need to get before it’s considered invalid?

 Out at the Linden Street Turkey Hill Store –
Next snowstorm, get your bread and beer.
Things might work out better that way anyway.

There are even signs at the gas pumps, so…
Fill ‘er up!

Letter read at January 6 council meeting explains council president's stance on reopening the budget

Copy of Council President Heather Zink’s letter that she read at the January 6, 2020 Columbia Borough Council Reorganization Meeting.
[Click to enlarge.]
During the discussion of a motion to reopen the borough budget at the January 6, 2020 Columbia Borough Council Reorganization Meeting, Council President Heather Zink read a letter explaining her stance on the issue. Zink said that after agonizing over the issue for the last few weeks, she believes that “a line by line exam will be unfeasible given the constraints spelled out in the Borough Code.”  Those constraints include a February 15, 2020 deadline to adopt the revised budget, before which meetings must be held to discuss and proposed changes, and a subsequent 10-day period made available for citizens to inspect the budget. During that period, no further changes can be made.
Zink stated that having just under a month to advertise and make changes allows little time for research, unless council knows immediately what those changes are. She said she “would much rather move forward with the understanding that we will be controlling expenditures with our votes throughout the year as well as exploring ways to leverage the recent vacancies to find cost savings in the General Fund than look back by opening the budget.”
The complete text of the letter is shown above.