Columbia Spy

The longstanding high weeds at the former McGinness property were being cut down this morning in preparation for a soil remediation project to be done there. The remediation will be carried out by Iron Eagle Excavating of Lancaster.

Remediation will involve stabilizing the ground to support future buildings through a multi-step process. Teams will sift contaminated areas to remove materials that don’t belong in the soil, while buried organic matter such as trees will be chipped on-site rather than transported elsewhere.

Go HERE for more information on the remediation project. 

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-seeks-federal-grant-for-columbia-wrightsville-bridge-overhaul/article_e6b8c8da-729f-469f-b9b5-96c205009f51.html

Driving 4 Drama Will Take the Stage

Event To Benefit Beards for Brothers

The meeting packet is HERE

https://www.wgal.com/article/lancaster-community-urges-lawmakers-to-support-school-funding/65528970

A Columbia man is charged with shooting a person in the head in East Lampeter Township early Saturday morning and leaving them hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. 

Marquis Angel Aguilera, 22, is charged with felony criminal attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and possession of a deadly weapon. 

East Lampeter police say they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head after responding to reports of a shooting at the 1900 block of Lincoln Highway East at 2:34 a.m. The victim was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Aguilera was arrested and charged following the shooting Saturday. Police say the shooting is likely an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Aguilera is currently in Lancaster County Prison after being denied bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4. 

East Lampeter police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact Detective Heather Waltman at 717-291-4676 or submit a tip through their CRIMEWATCH website.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/1-hospitalized-following-east-lampeter-township-shooting-columbia-man-charged/article_9cc788a0-61ac-4df2-aa09-844abec43cd7.html

An SUV collided with a US Mail relay box at 4th & Poplar on Friday, landing atop the box and displacing it several feet along the beauty strip on 4th Street. Cindy Wiker caught a shot of the aftermath, showing the vehicle atop the box (see above). 

Columbia Spy posted a photo of the box after it was moved, on the weekly “About Town” post.

The collision moved the mailbox several feet along the beauty strip on North 4th Street.

A worker repaired the damaged mailbox this morning. 

Showing only a few minor “battle scars,” the box was moved back into place after being repaired. 

This morning, a worker was seen repairing the unit. Afterwards, it was moved back into place at the corner. 

Further details are posted HERE.

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

These second-floor mirrors were exposed during the demolition of 700 Franklin on Monday. 

Farhat Excavating knocked the house down, creating a lot of dust in the process.

The whole house was down in one day.

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Farhat also demoed the remaining structures at 1020 Manor Street.

The entire project – house and structures – took four days. 

The next step will be soil remediation, to be done by Iron Eagle Excavating at a cost of about $2.2 million. 

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Morning clouds 

Spraying the banks of Shawnee Run 

Public Art Station on North 4th 

For settin’ out at the pole

Taking down an old utility pole on Walnut: The pole on the right is being taken down. The worker on the lower right is collecting the pieces.

Kreider & Sons Excavating continued work at the Habitat for Humanity Linden Street Build site this past week.

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Hey, who moved the mailbox?

The relay box at 4th & Poplar was moved from its position sometime Friday/Saturday(?)

School bus vs trash truck: an impending traffic jam?

Animal control officers were on the 100 block of Walnut the other day. They appeared to be armed.

They took a dog from a residence, according to a witness.

CBFD 80 responded to a report of a brush fire near 6th Street and Avenue H on Tuesday afternoon.

There was a mass casualty event on Front Street.

Hundreds of mayflies died. 

The skeletons at Columbia Curiosities reenacted a scene from a famous movie. 

Guardian of the pot

Morning glory and friend

Flower frenzy 

Takin’ it easy down at the dock

There’s a peach tree on Locust. 

Really 

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Farhat Excavating began knocking down the house at 700 Franklin Street this morning. Next, they’ll take down the remaining structures at 1020 Manor Street as part of the project at the former McGinness airfield. Farhat submitted the low bid of $52,780 for the demolition.