COLUMBIA SPY

JULISSA RODRIGUEZ | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE What happened: [On April 13] Columbia resident Adam Copenhaver told Mountville Borough Council that water test results sampled at a tower operated by Columbia Water Co. at 224 Eagle Path, Mountville, exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level for total trihalomethanes by 36% at 109 parts per billion versus 80 parts per billion, on Oct. 14, 2025. Columbia Water provides Mountville, Columbia and several other communities in Lancaster and York counties with public water. More: Copenhaver asserted TTHMs are a carcinogen. According to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, total trihalomethanes, or TTHMs, are a byproduct of a reaction between a disinfectant and natural organic matter in water. Acknowledgement: Council members thanked Copenhaver for bringing this issue to their attention. Public matter: The information Copenhaver provided is readily available on DEP’s website, where LNP | LancasterOnline found the most recent sa...

Lieutenant (soon to be Chief) Holly Arndt honored the promotion of Corporal Jack Kopp at Tuesday's Columbia Borough Council meeting.  [Photos: Joe Lintner] The promotion of Officer Jack Kopp to the rank of Corporal was recognized during the Columbia Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The promotion was presented by Lieutenant Holly Arndt, who is set to assume the role of Chief of Police on May 1. Corporal Kopp, who came to Columbia from the Harrisburg area, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a focus in Criminology, graduating with honors from Millersville University in 2022. He also minored in Psychology. Before joining the department, he briefly worked for the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office as a booking agent. Kopp began his tenure with the Columbia Borough Police Department in December 2022 and attended the 122nd HACC Municipal Police Academy, where he graduated near the top of his class. He was formally sworn in as an officer on March 11, ...

Mayor Leo Lutz swears in Holly Arndt as Columbia Borough's new police chief. [Photo: Joe Lintner] JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  History was made Tuesday night as Columbia Borough Council voted unanimously to approve the promotion of Holly Arndt to Police Chief, making her the first woman to hold the position in the department's 131-year history. Arndt succeeds Jack Brommer, who is retiring at the end of April and will assume the position of Columbia Borough Manager on May 1. Arndt is a graduate of York College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. She launched her law enforcement career in 2004 as a corrections officer at York County Prison, and in 2006 became a deputy sheriff with York County. She joined the Columbia Borough Police Department as a patrol officer in March 2008.  Over the course of her 18-year tenure with the department, Arndt became the first — and only — female officer to achieve the rank of lieutenant in the department's history whe...

Lieutenant Holly Arndt [Photo: Joe Lintner] Council will vote on it at Tuesday's meeting.  Here's the agenda: The meeting packet is  HERE .

GPS LLC conveyed 1001 Spruce St. to Alexander Farver for $295,000. The estate of Burg Vivian Louise conveyed 745 Walnut St. to Ashworth Stephen D., Ashworth Cynthia D., Ashworth Abigail B. for $195,000. The estate of Haug Carole A. Est., Haug Carole Ann conveyed 45 S. Sixth St. to Murphy Becky L., Kashner Lisa A., Sumpman Christine M., Haug Stephen M. Sr. for $1. Michael H. Leary conveyed 497 Norwood Road to Hurst Camden, Hurst Chase for $600,000. Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 714 Plane St. to Cordero Maricella Porfiria for $200,000.

This week's photos of Columbia   Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.  JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  Columbia is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. Actually, Wright's Ferry/Columbia is. The Old Columbia Public Grounds Company is celebrating 200 years. Some folks are celebrating recovery. New door murals by anndope at the State Theatre Vintage Emporium  And some theatre seats outside  More artists around town . . . ***************** More progress at the South 9th Street project  ***************** Iron Eagle was back at the former McGinness property. Aren't they supposed to be done out there? ***************** C.S. Davidson was checking out the area around Shawnee Run.  There's their truck. ***************** Remodeling at the smoke shop  Progress at the Wright's Ferry Mansion/Von Hess project  When you want that pole to stay in place, just tie it to another one with an old piece of rope. It's always a good time for a selfie....

Gene Sweeney with Kathleen Scheydt, Hearing Instrument Specialist, at the HearingLife Presidents Club 2026, on April 19. Gene Sweeney traveled to Texas recently to tell his story in order to help others like him who are hearing impaired. Speaking at HearingLife Presidents Club 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort, Gene, accompanied by Hearing Instrument Specialist Kathleen Scheydt, shared the following story. Gene's Story Gene Sweeney grew up in Camden, New Jersey amid drugs, violence, and instability — and did so largely in silence. He suffered six ear surgeries by age 5, and went without hearing aids until he was 41 years old. Unable to hear, he was isolated at school, constantly bullied, labeled "the bad kid," and unable to defend himself. Without family support, he found refuge with drug dealers who provided food and shelter. One of his earliest memories captures the heartbreak of his condition: as a young child, he tried to clean up what he thought was a finished meal — ...

Weaver Patricia A, Weaver P. conveyed 321 Perry St. to Maverick Equity LLC for $30,000. William C. Gochenauer conveyed 343 N. Third St. to Robert Reyes for $170,500. Karen Derr conveyed 305 Cherry St. to First Choice Home Buyers LLC for $100,000. Heaps Amanda, Bedwell Amanda M. conveyed 292 S. Fifth St. to Heaps Amanda, Heaps Chris for $1. Santiago Jose A, Murillo Jolinda A. conveyed 170 S. Fifth St. to Allen Tyrone A, Frey Allen Chasity, Allen Chasity Frey for $295,000. Halterman Corey S, Halterman Corey conveyed 138 S. Sixth St. to Galicia Diana Emperatriz Arevalo for $220,000. The estate of Eugenia L. Clinton conveyed 531 Manor St. to Olivia Clinton for $1. Awakened Properties LLC conveyed 852 Blunston St. to FMJ Real Estate LLC for $144,000. Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 30 S. Fifth St. to Kauffman Property Group LLC for $205,000. Brothers Brothers Properties LLC conveyed 495 Manor St. to Krystal L. Campbell for $185,000. Alec Cannon conveyed 46 S. Eighth St. to Luttman John, Ya...

This week's photos of Columbia  Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.  JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY   Enjoying the view  Also at the river was this 3D camera that operators were using to take photos of the bridge, in preparation for the upcoming rehabilitation project. The camera is similar to the one on the Google car used for photographing street views. ***************** Working on the railroad: Workers unloaded this prefab track switch. It arrived by rail. Well, of course it did. This structure, which has been sitting there for over a decade, most likely figures into the project somehow.  ***************** There's some artfully done sidewalk graffiti. Victoria's Cleaning and Maintenance drove by. The phone numbers are on the car.  More dirt is being moved at the South 9th Street project.  Exclusive offers out along the highway  Those unsightly trailers at the former Cycle Den have finally been removed.  Don't forget to set your yard...