PPL admits some customers weren't notified of planned outage in Columbia Borough

https://local21news.com/news/local/columbia-borough-church-opens-doors-to-community-during-power-outages 

US wants back millions in COVID relief from local governments

https://www.twincities.com/2025/07/30/covid-relief-funds/ 

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS ONE WEEK AWAY!!! - TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2025 | Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/national-night-out-one-week-away-tuesday-august-5-2025 

Say goodbye to the "Field of Weeds"

 

It's time to say goodbye to the field of weeds.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

The long-standing 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. 

Agenda - Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board Meeting - July 30, 2025

 

Lancaster County seeks federal grant for Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge overhaul | Local News | lancasteronline.com

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 | TownLively

https://townlively.com/driving-4-drama-will-take-the-stage/ 

Event To Benefit Beards for Brothers | TownLively

https://townlively.com/event-to-benefit-beards-for-brothers/ 

Lancaster community urges lawmakers to support school funding

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

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - July 29, 2025

 

The meeting packet is HERE

1 hospitalized following East Lampeter Township shooting; Columbia man charged | Local News | lancasteronline.com

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 

SUV vs Mailbox: Both lose

An SUV collided with a mailbox at 4th & Poplar, landing atop the box and moving it several feet. [Photo: Cindy Wiker] 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

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.

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - July 28, 2025

The estate of Elizabeth K. Buzzendore conveyed 222 Union St. to Lakeisha R. Smith for $250,000.

Luis D. Galvez conveyed 204 Poplar St. to Galvez Holly Jean for $1.

Beiler Vernon S, Beiler Lydia Rose conveyed 430 Avenue K to Stoltzfus Steven Lee, Stoltzfus Lillian for $235,000.

About Town - July 27, 2025

 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.

***

Farhat also demoed the remaining structures at 1020 Manor Street.

The entire project - house and structures - took four days. Both sites were cleaned up exceedingly well.

The next step will be soil remediation, to be done by Iron Eagle Excavating (not shown here) at a cost of about $2.2 million. 

*****************

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.

*****************

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 

###

Restaurant Inspections - Columbia Borough - July 25, 2025

 

King's Butcher Shop, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, July 19. Pass. No violations.

Columbia to vote on where data centers, smoke stores and tattoo parlors can set up shop | Community News | lancasteronline.com

TRAVIS MUELLER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, July 15. Mayor Leo Lutz, Vice President Eric Kauffman and council member Joanne Geesey were absent.

What happened: Council voted to advertise a public hearing to be held Aug. 26 for a zoning ordinance, which proposes new definitions for data center, smoke shop, tattoo parlor and package delivery distribution center.

Details: The ordinance would specify where these uses are permitted in the borough’s zoning districts. The ordinance also revises building-height limits and dimensional requirements in the light-business district, including protections that new buildings don’t block sunlight on nearby residences in the winter.

What’s next: Public input will be invited at the hearing before council considers these changes.

Loan: Council voted to adopt a resolution to issue a $5.03 million general obligation note, a type of municipal loan, to finance development and construction at McGinness Innovation Park.

Details: The loan would be repaid over more than 20 years at an interest rate of 3%. The borough’s taxing power guarantees it will be paid back.

What it means: If the borough doesn’t have enough money from other sources to make the loan payments, it has the legal authority and responsibility to raise the money through taxes to cover the debt.

National Night Out: Jack Brommer, police chief, invited council and members of the community to the National Night Out event from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Glatfelter Memorial Field at 1249 Lancaster Ave. in Columbia. The event features free food and is an opportunity to interact with police officers and borough employees.

What’s next: Council will meet for a regular meeting at 7 p.m., July 29.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-to-vote-on-where-data-centers-smoke-stores-and-tattoo-parlors-can-set-up/article_6b7866be-a8a8-403a-ac79-5f30155caaf3.html