Columbia Spy

https://local21news.com/news/local/more-explosive-devices-found-in-columbia-after-evacuation-of-lebanon-county-homes-lancaster-county-pennsylvania-pa-newmanstown-protection-from-abuse-order-district-attorney-investigation

JACK PANYARD | LNP Staff Writer

A Columbia man charged with shooting a man to death in Pittsburgh in 2022 will spend up to 35 years in prison for his role in a 2023 Columbia carjacking.

Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright sentenced Sammie Edward Lane Jr. to 15 to 35 years in state prison Wednesday in the carjacking case.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Chris Miller argued that Lane, 37, who has 10 previous criminal convictions, keeps escalating his offenses. He has convictions on charges of burglary, drug possession, and escape going back to 2006 across five counties.

“His history shows you exactly what he’s going to do again, this crime or worse,” Miller said. “How long are you going to put him away so he just can’t do this again?”

Lane was convicted June 13 of robbery, simple assault and related charges in the carjacking case. Lane, Destiny Delgado-Diaz, and Alexander Ethan Delgado-Diaz, lured a man to Columbia on Dec. 31, 2023, strangled him, threatened him with a handgun and stole his Dodge Durango SUV and items he had in the vehicle.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-man-charged-in-pittsburgh-homicide-sentenced-up-to-35-years-in-prison-for/article_a0c41c7a-94b5-4acf-85b4-47edfd824ef3.html

Police in Lebanon County on Tuesday cracked open a safe containing more than a dozen homemade explosive devices, including one rigged for remote detonation, according to the county district attorney.

The Tuesday incident started after a woman went to a Berks County police station regarding a violation of a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order against Timothy Shaeffer Jr., of Columbia.

The woman told investigators Shaeffer had a safe in Newmanstown, Lebanon County containing several explosive devices. An unknown number of children live in the home, the DA said.

The woman also showed police a remote firing system she said was hooked up to the explosives.

After Berks County police notified Pennsylvania State Police, troopers were sent to the home at 11 Central Drive, where residents within a quarter-mile were evacuated.

A resident of the Newmanstown home told police Shaeffer previously said the safe contained explosives.

Investigators eventually x-rayed and opened the safe, finding 14 explosive devices “of varying capabilities” and personal belongings of Shaeffer, the district attorney said.

One of the explosives had an advanced wiring system that appeared to be connected to the remote detonator the woman showed police.

During questioning, police say Shaeffer admitted to them that he owned the safe.

Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf consulted with state police and the FBI before charging Shaeffer with weapons of mass destruction, risking catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.

The meeting packet is HERE.

Kostoff Amy S, Hall Amy Sue conveyed 160 Walnut St. to Burgos Tifany Jimenez, Foster Travis Ray for $268,000.

New Heritage Building LLC conveyed 272 Locust St. to KDR Limited Liability Co. for $519,000.

This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.  

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Federal, State, and local emergency responder agencies held a train derailment exercise at Columbia River Park on Saturday.  Many more photos of the event are shown later in this post.

Jess & Kyle (and friend) provided music on Locust Street again on Saturday. 

Bob Smith supervised another banner hanging.  This one was at 4th & Union.

Land Studies sprayed the banks of Shawnee Run again.

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This is some sort of delivery inlet on the sidewalk on South 2nd.

The Turkey Hill Experience 

Several units responded to a medical emergency Thursday afternoon North 2nd.

You’d probably have to be a crow to understand this behavior. 

Sunrise

Respect the zone.

Web coverage

A big head emerging from a vehicle 

This car with whatever that is on top was on Locust Street the other day.

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Traffic stop 

A traffic incident involving two vehicles occurred Friday morning on South 8th. 

One of the vehicles hit a porch.

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This message should’ve been removed on Tuesday. 

Here’s why.

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This is Lancaster’s treatment plant on South 15th Street. “Raw” water will be pumped there from the Susquehanna through a water pipeline to be installed under borough streets. Council will vote to send a letter of support for funding for the project at Tuesday’s meeting. 

Progress at the Linden Street Build 

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Meanwhile, at the innovation park project or whatever it is now

Rick Breneman was on site. Columbia Borough hired him to oversee the project. 

Excavators dug up whatever this is.

Workers also extended a road from 11th Street into the property. 

At 9th & Manor 

It’s not a great idea to leave this like this.

Not to mention leaving this cap lying around.

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Columbia Curiosities held an event on Saturday.

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Several agencies, including the U.S. EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, Norfolk Southern, area fire departments, and others held a train derailment drill from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at River Park. 

Brad Chambers spoke with personnel at the event.  He’s opposing Brett Miller for a seat in the PA State House.

Miller didn’t attend the event. According to LNP, he voted against a bill that proposed the creation of a database of hazardous material being transported through the state on railways; that database would be accessible to emergency management agencies. His office is less than a block away from the rail lines.

Lewis Environmental showed off their airboat…

Sergeant Brent Keyser launched the police drone and sent it on a flight downriver.

Food trucks were set up for a different event.

That event was International Vulture Awareness Day at Columbia Crossing.

The star of the show was Barron Von Vulture. 

There’s Barron (an appropriate name for a vulture.) 

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JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia Borough Council must decide whether or not to provide a letter of support for funding for Lancaster City’s proposed water transmission pipeline project that would run through Columbia’s streets. 

Christine Volkay-Hilditch, Deputy Director of Public Works, Utilities at the City of Lancaster, suggested that without Columbia’s support letter, funding could be delayed, but the issue will ultimately be decided by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Council previously voted to send a letter of non-support for the project, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

Volkay-Hilditch provided information about the project via a PowerPoint presentation at Tuesday night’s council work session, outlining plans for the $40-50 million undertaking that will significantly disrupt local streets while providing no direct benefits to the borough.

The project

The Susquehanna Large Diameter Transmission Main project represents what Volkay-Hilditch called “a once-in-a-generation project.” The centerpiece is a 42-inch diameter water main designed to provide redundancy for an aging pipeline that currently serves approximately 120,000 people across Lancaster County. The city is supplied by two water treatment plants, one pulling “raw” water from the Conestoga River, and the other from the Susquehanna.

The existing transmission main is over 70 years old and supplies water to about 70% of Lancaster City’s customers. Repairs, which included an emergency repair in 2012, have become increasingly difficult and costly, according to Volkay-Hilditch. The new pipeline would create backup capacity if the current line fails.

The proposed route through Columbia
The pipeline’s underground path would begin at a pumping station in Columbia along the Susquehanna River, across the railroad tracks, then travel across Front Street, up Mill Street, over South 4th Street, and up Manor Street to the water treatment plant at the bottom of South 15th Street. The line will occasionally zigzag to accommodate existing utilities.

 

Construction is slated to begin in February 2026 and conclude in March 2027, spanning approximately 15 months. The line will sit in an 8-foot deep, 8-foot wide trench. Installation will proceed at a rate of 50 to 100 feet per day. The project’s impact on Manor Street could last up to six months.

Council concerns
Columbia Borough officials opposed having to bear the burden of a project that offers the borough no direct benefits. Councilman Kelly Murphy said, “This project is going to have serious impact on a good many people, especially anybody who lives anywhere near Manor Street.”

Councilman Todd Burgard stated, “We don’t get any value out of this project. All we get is disruption. What does the borough stand to gain? We’re allowing another entity to use public land to serve other folks free of charge.”

Heather Zink, council president, was concerned about the effects of excavation on Manor Street, particularly the question of where residents would park during construction.

Councilman Peter Stahl mentioned that comments and concerns from the borough’s engineer had been ignored during the planning process. “All of our comments and suggestions were ignored,” Stahl said. “Now we have to write a letter of support for something that we’ve commented on and suggested things that really concern us and we haven’t been heard at all.”

Fire department concerns
Jared Barninger, president of the Columbia Borough Fire Department, was concerned about access to the fire station during construction. Barninger said that Manor Street serves as the fire company’s main travel route, and with an all-volunteer department, access is crucial not only for fire trucks but also for volunteers’ personal vehicles. “We’re all volunteers, so not only do we need to get the fire trucks out, we need to get cars in,” Barninger explained. “That’s what we’re mostly concerned about is getting in and out of the department for access to it and then to get to the calls.” Volkay-Hilditch requested Barninger’s contact information. 

Resident concerns

Residents also voiced opposition during the meeting. Frank Doutrich talked about the disruption the project would cause: “You’re coming in and disrupting that whole area right there. It’s going to be some time involved. It’s our property. We need to get something out of this.” Another resident told Volkay-Hilditch: “We’re solving your problems. We’re being harmed.” Mary Wickenheiser raised concerns about bus routes and asked whether there would be additional public meetings with residents to address their concerns. Volkay-Hilditch said a meeting could be held.

In response to concerns about road conditions, Volkay-Hilditch told council members that after excavation, the full length of Manor Street would be repaved, though not from curb to curb. The 200 block of Mill Street, which was recently repaved as part of a CDBG project, will be completely restored.

Mayor Leo Lutz suggested that a lawyer could draft an agreement to address some of the borough’s concerns. Council members emphasized the need for short-term and long-term protections.

Funding
Lancaster City initially applied to the Commonwealth Finance Authority for ARPA funding in 2023 for the full cost of both Phase 2 and 3, but received only $3.132 million for Phase 2 of the project. The city has since applied for PENNVEST funding, which offers lower interest rates but comes with specific requirements.

As part of the PENNVEST application process, Lancaster City must demonstrate that the project aligns with local land planning efforts. The application requires letters of support from all affected municipalities, including Columbia Borough, West Hempfield Township, Mountville Borough, and East Hempfield Township. 

The city expects to receive permits by September 2025, with pipe purchasing scheduled for October/November 2025 and construction bidding in December 2025.

Council is scheduled to vote on whether to provide the requested letter of support at its next meeting on Tuesday, September 9.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia Borough Council outlined a succession plan Tuesday night that will see Police Chief Jack Brommer transition from his current role to become the borough’s next manager.

“We would like to have him step in as a full-time borough manager,” Heather Zink, council president, said during the work session. Brommer is scheduled to retire as police chief next April. The plan is for him to become full-time borough manager in May. In the meantime, council wants to hire him as interim borough manager with a part-time assistant. He will receive mentorship support through two successive assistant managers.

Brommer will receive a $2,000 monthly stipend for the added duties. An assistant borough manager will receive $50 an hour for 24-30 hours a week.

Ron Youtz, a former West Hempfield Township manager who previously worked in Columbia Borough’s public works department, will serve as assistant borough manager through the end of this year to mentor Brommer. Following Youtz’s departure, another individual will take over as assistant until May when Brommer is appointed full time.

When questioned by resident Sharon Lintner about how the two candidates were found, Heather Zink replied “Networking.”

Councilman Peter Stahl said the total pay for the interim borough manager and assistant will not exceed what current borough manager Steve Kaufhold is making. (Kaufhold is retiring this Friday, September 5.) Resident Frank Doutrich told council that the word on the street is that Brommer will make $110,000 annually when he goes full-time as borough manager.

Council members expressed enthusiasm about Brommer’s appointment. Councilwoman Barbara Fisher said, “We felt like it was a gift.” Stahl said, “This was in the works from the get-go,” adding, “All of council was involved in the process.“

Brommer has been Columbia’s police chief since 2011.

Council plans to vote on the appointments at its next meeting on September 9.