Columbia Spy

Electrical problem near Weis Markets causes power interruptions for some in Columbia

Some in the borough may have noticed a power interruption around 2 – 3 a.m. today. A PPL spokesperson told Columbia Spy that this stemmed from a problem near Weis Markets in West Hempfield (1786J Columbia Avenue), and crews were still on scene as of 6:30 this morning. Other interruptions are possible until the work is completed.

PPL UPDATE (Friday morning, 10/27/17):

According to the outage report for your account, there were 2412 customers who experienced the same outage due to a tripped distribution breaker. There are a multitude of reasons that a distribution breaker can trip, including weather-related issues, trees, animals, etc. Unfortunately the specific cause of this tripped breaker was not noted on the report.

Man charged with kidnapping says incident was a misunderstanding, says grandmother is senile

Dustin Wetten admitted he had a fight with Jordan Fischer, his boyfriend, but he says the incident was a “misunderstanding.”

“She’s senile,” he said of Fischer’s grandmother as police led him from District Judge Miles Bixler’s office in handcuffs. “She’s 89 years old and she doesn’t like the fact that we’re gay.”

http://abc27.com/2017/10/26/police-searching-for-missing-endangered-man/

UPDATE: 21-year-old man kidnapped from Columbia home found safe

Dustin Wetten (left) and Jordan Fischer

Jordan Fischer was found safe Thursday morning, according to district attorney’s office spokesman Brett Hambright.

Dustin Wetten is being arraigned, Hambright said just after 10:30 a.m. Columbia police will give an update, he said.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/year-old-man-kidnapped-from-columbia-home-found-safe/article_daab87ee-ba3c-11e7-8a21-d3d94e1620f8.html

Columbia man taken by force, whereabouts unknown

Jordan Fischer

Dustin Wetten

On 10-26-17 at approx. 12:38AM the Columbia Borough Police Department was called to the 500 blk. of Concord Ln. for a report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival police were advised that Dustin Wetten (30), last known address in Enola, had kicked in the front door of the house, threatened a resident in the house that he had a gun and then went upstairs and kicked in another door and forcibly removed the victim, Jordan Fischer (21) of Columbia, from the house.

The whereabouts of Wetten and Fischer are unknown at this time. Wetten has ties to several towns in Lancaster, Dauphin and Cumberland counties. Wetten is possibly operating a gold in color, 2002, Saturn L200 with PA registration JJA-1585.

Jordan Fischer is described as a white male, brown hair, brown eyes, 5’08” and approx. 150lbs. Fischer is listed as a missing endangered person.

Wetten is described as a white male with blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’11” and approx. 200lbs. Wetten should be considered armed and dangerous. A warrant is being issued for Wetten for Burglary, Kidnapping and Unlawful Restraint. If anyone observes the vehicle or those involved they are asked to contact their local police department. If anything else is known they are asked to contact the Columbia Borough Police at 717-684-7735 or submit a tip below.

Case Status:
Current

Case Type:
Criminal

Source: Columbia Borough Police Department

Bits 'n' Pieces 10/25/17

A few quick pics from around town today…

Jimmy Jones landscaped the River Trails sign over by the bridge.

Thanks, Jimmy Jones!

The Highway Department painted pedestrian walkway lines down at the tracks near River Park.

Thanks, Highway Department!

Cement was poured under Columbia Crossing today to form part of the slab for vendors.

Thanks, cement pourer!

The river was still low today.

Thanks, Brookfield Renewable!

Looks to be about 223 (?)

Lots o’ rocks. Lots o’ shoreline.

Low low low

Hinkle’s was transitioning this evening.

Thanks, Don & Becky!

October 25 Zoning Board meeting canceled

Pipeline builder funds improvements for Columbia Fire Department, others

The Columbia Borough Fire Department will receive $10,000 to purchase gas detection equipment funded by the latest round of community grants awarded by the builders of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/pipeline-builder-funds-improvements-to-conestoga-community-pool-firefighter-equipment/article_5a6c6438-b369-11e7-9dc2-ff01e87e9f72.html

Hinkle's closing for 4 days, reopens Monday, October 30

After today, Hinkle’s will shut down for four days as it undergoes a transition to its new operation. It will reopen Monday, October 30, at 7 a.m. Among other things, the restaurant will feature an updated logo (shown above) in which the traditional mortar and pestle icon has been changed to a bowl of hot soup. (Hinkle’s is getting out of the pharmacy business. That part of the operation has been acquired by CVS.)

The river's low and here is why

Folks along our portion of the Susquehanna (Lake Clarke) may have noticed an extremely low water level today. Brookfield Renewable, operator of the Safe Harbor Dam, is responsible for the drawdown.

The painted scale (shown above) on one of the piers of the Veterans Memorial Bridge read about 223 feet at 4:42 this afternoon. (In previous years, 227 on the scale was marked as “normal.”)

A sign posted near the River Park boat ramp stated that water levels at Lake Clarke will be lowered from October 23 through October 25 and will begin to rise again on October 26.

The following is an excerpt from a post on the Brookfield Renewable website:

Be aware that diving into the waters of Lake Clarke is dangerous due to fluctuating lake levels, shallow waters, river currents, and submerged debris. Please note that on October 24th & 25th, there will be a drawdown on Lake Clarke to approximately 222.0 feet. Water will start coming back up on October 26th.

No reason is specified for the drawdown.

Children play on an outcropping of the shoreline today caused by the recent drawdown.

Unfortunately, the low water level revealed another dead eel – this one in one piece.

Here’s a temporary peninsula uncovered by the drawdown.

There was a wider shoreline this afternoon, as seen here under the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Here’s another view of the shoreline, with Columbia River Park in the background.

Bits 'n' Pieces About Town

A few more pics about town (and slightly beyond) – Sunday and Monday…

The mural as of Monday afternoon

A wider view

No work was being done at the pipeline construction site Sunday morning. The project has made some folks joyous, even those without a financial stake in the enterprise.