Author: SPY

About Town 3/10/19

This week’s photos from around Columbia
(Click/tap on photos for larger, clearer images.)
Giant cat face at the animal shelter-to-be
Here’s a long view.
 Earlier this week

 Yep – snow again

 Part way down that sidewalk at the high school

 The work week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

 The great thaw

Looks like Living Stones Masonry got its zoning application approved for 53 North Front Street. Columbia Spy reported on it HERE.
Skids full of stones were unloaded on Friday at the former home of Take Away Refuse.

 Here’s a look inside the building.

 And a look outside

 That can’t be right – a downspout but no gutter to empty into.

 Mr. and Mrs. Merganser
 Backside
(Hotel Locust)

 Parley

 Giving the evil eye in a sidewise glance

 Photo of a photographer

 Giant fruit fly invades town.

 Happy guys from across the river

 There go those ethereal tundra swans again.

 And here are some lowly Canada geese, with a seagull trying to blend in.

 He happens to be an amputee.

 Water leaking from an electrical box

 That can’t be good.

 Foggy tree line

 And another – with a soft glow in the middle.

Here’s a long shot.
 Tundra swans yet again

 More tundra swans

 And a few snow geese thrown in for good measure

 Huge tree root causing all manner of trouble on the 500 block of Chestnut

Time to drug test that snake?

Everything but the kitchen sink.
On second thought, there might be one in there.

Pickup truck wipes out Visitors' Center shed during police pursuit, officer cuffs driver

An out-of-control pickup truck demolished a storage shed at the Visitors’ Center shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday. The truck was reportedly being pursued by Columbia Borough Police traveling east on Route 30 when the driver lost control near the exit ramp at Linden Street, and the truck slid across a small grass field into the shed.
According to a witness, the pursuing officer handcuffed the driver as he exited the truck.

[Above photos by Howard Stevens]

Howard Stevens posted a video of the crash on Facebook:

LINK

LNP applauds Columbia residents for questioning Borough Council's private meetings

Sunshine needed
We applaud the Columbia residents who recently questioned why the Columbia Borough Council was holding information sessions in private prior to most of its public meetings.

Resident Sharon Lintner helped create the Columbia Concerned Citizens group and is seeking a seat on council in this year’s election. She filed a complaint with the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office alleging council violated the state’s open-meetings law — known as the Sunshine Act — when it voted in a closed-door meeting in November to fund a proposed new position. (Lintner is a former LNP correspondent.)

The DA’s office decided not to investigate, saying it could not prove there was intent to violate the law. But it sent the borough a letter warning that future allegations would be investigated.

“We are suspicious of how much is going on behind closed doors,” Lintner told LNP last month.

Council President Kelly Murphy told LNP the board doesn’t deliberate or vote during information sessions.

We hope this is the case. And we’re cheered that folks in Columbia are keeping an eye on the workings of their elected officials.

This is a good moment to point out that Sunday is the start of Sunshine Week, an annual celebration of access to public information. According to  sunshineweek.org , a website filled with great tools, ideas and resources, “Sunshine Week lasts seven days, but it’s up to all of us to keep the sun shining on government all year.”

SOURCE:

https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/our-hearts-go-out-to-alabama-tornado-victims-opinion/article_244efbd2-412e-11e9-86e4-1bc3ec7d5641.html

COLUMBIA BOROUGH POLICE ARE CRACKING DOWN ON UNPAID PARKING TICKETS | Columbia Borough Police Department

Effective immediately the Columbia Borough Police Department will begin placing “Boots” on vehicles that have outstanding parking warrants against them. Contact the District Justice Office at 341 Chestnut Street, Columbia, PA 17512:  Ph: 717-684-2761 to pay your outstanding warrants and to avoid an additional fee of $35 to have the “Boot” removed from your vehicle. See the attached list to determine if you have outstanding parking warrants. Attachments:  HERE

Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: