Columbia Spy

Living River Herbals, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, Opening, March 22. Pass. No violations.

Columbia High School, 901 Ironville Pike, Columbia, March 18. Pass. Hard-boiled eggs, a refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food in the walk-in cooler, was date-marked by the facility but was beyond the seven-day use-by date and requires discarding. Old food residue observed on the inner rim of the slicer and on a couple of scoops.

Level Up Pizza, 237 Locust St., Columbia, March 18. Pass. Observed raw beef stored on top of cooked gyro meat in the reach-in cooler. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food (taco meat, camarones and chicken) prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the reach-in cooler, is not being date marked. Meatballs, a refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food in the reach-in cooler, was date-marked by the facility but was beyond the seven-day use- or sell-by date and requires discarding. Observed two mouse traps inside the hand-wash sink in the food preparation area. Observed mouse feces in the back corner of the food preparation area. Food facility using rodent bait placed in bait stations, which are not covered and tamper resistant.

Salem United Church of Christ, 324 Walnut St., Columbia, March 18. Pass. No violations.

Columbia Borough voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidate James Andrew Malone as PA State Senator in Tuesday’s special election. Following are the election results – as of Thursday morning, March 27, 2025 – according to the Lancaster County Board of Elections:

Malone led in all of Columbia’s wards:

The following two letters were provided by Chris Vera and are published here with his permission. 

https://www.wgal.com/article/pa-special-election-results-state-senate-36th/64272825

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Parents at the Columbia School District say their children have been bullied and tonight they’re taking action.

Today parent Samantha Short stood outside the school to peacefully protest bullying in the schools, holding a sign that said ‘my child is bullied here’.

“This is how we help our children this is what we do, as a community we have to come together. We got to show our children what it’s like to not bully— if we’re not teaching and leading them, who are they following?”

Just last Thursday— Short met with school officials and informed them she’d be standing outside Columbia High School with a sign.

She told me parents were waving and children were coming up to hug her — but the district was not pleased.

“When the school saw the sign, she walked up to me and said Mrs. Short— I’ve called the cops on you and walked away. I issued no response to her because I was here for a peaceful protest to let them know what’s happening to my child,” Short explained.

Since Short’s peaceful protest this morning dozens of other parents in the district have come forward about other instances of alleged bullying.

Some say they’ve gone as far as to move their kids out of the schools to online learning.

“As of right now, as a parent, I am absolutely horrified to send my kids to school there,” said former Columbia parent Harold Rote.

MORE:

https://local21news.com/news/local/horrified-to-send-my-kids-to-school-columbia-sd-parents-speaking-out-against-bullying#

The meeting packet is HERE.

https://www.wgal.com/article/west-hempfield-township-fire-truck-crash-columbia-borough/64279701

JACK PANYARD | LNP Staff Writer

Jayden Whitlock, 20, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, endangering the welfare of children and two other charges for a June 2, 2024, shooting in his family’s home. Whitlock’s 3-year-old brother picked up a stolen Glock model 23 .40-caliber pistol lying in Whitlock’s bedroom and shot himself in the head.

Whitlock’s attorney, Rian Thompson, said Whitlock has been on house arrest since June awaiting his plea, and his family wants him to stay home and avoid prison. Assistant District Attorney Cody Wade asked Reinaker for prison time to underscore the seriousness of the crime.

“I’m sorry. I take all responsibility for my actions. I know I’m in the wrong,” Whitlock said.

Reinaker sentenced Whitlock to 1 to 2 years minus one day in Lancaster County Prison and gave him credit for his house arrest. Ultimately, Whitlock will spend four months in prison.

Reinaker said he was sentencing Whitlock to prison because the gun was stolen, and he likely would have shown more leniency if that were not the case.

Whitlock told police he bought the gun illegally from an unknown man in York within the past year, charging documents said. Police said the gun was reported stolen in Reading in March 2024.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-20-year-old-to-spend-4-months-in-prison-for-accidental-child-shooting/article_b95d01b6-5fc4-4a07-9e8d-c287dfbdfa2e.html

Harris Tomoney Jenetta D, Tomoney Jenetta D. Harris conveyed 203 S. Eighth St. to House Shawn P, House Corinne M. for $235,000.

Gerfin Samantha E, Gerfin Laurie A. conveyed 120 Lancaster Ave. to Eric M. Reilly for $100,000.

Honest Home Solutions LLC conveyed 308 Avenue Q to Above The Line Homebuyers LLC for $35,000.

The estate of Albert Vonschaaf conveyed 308 Cherry St. to AJ Home Solutions LLC for $185,000.

John J. Devic conveyed 658 Walnut St. to Amie R. Hall for $260,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 636 Fairview Ave. to Powers Shannon Lamar Jr. for $176,000.

Geoffrey S. Cooper conveyed 441 S. Front St. to Kenneth W. Hoffman Jr. for $285,000.

The estate of Reese Sarah A. Est, Reese Sarah Anne conveyed 536 Franklin St. to Joseph L. Reese for $1.

David T. Mountz conveyed 553 Locust St. to Thomas W. Fleckenstein for $245,000.

Kolb Gordon S. Jr, Hurst Katrina N. conveyed 916 Spruce St. to Miranda M. Tripus for $160,000.