COLUMBIA SPY

Susquehanna Regional Police Chief Anthony Hall faces three felony counts of theft by deception and other charges. He had previously been placed on administrative leave. At a Thursday afternoon news conference, Adams said Hall would retroactively alter his work records so it appeared he had worked days he had actually taken off. Then at the end of the year he would be paid for working those days. MORE: https://www.wgal.com/article/pa-lancaster-county-police-chief-theft-anthony-hall/74219985  

Columbia Borough officials want to replace coin-operated parking meters and aging citation system.  JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  Borough officials said at a budget workshop Wednesday that they want to move ahead with long-delayed plans to replace the borough's coin-operated parking meters and its aging citation system. The changes have been discussed for roughly two years. Zink: "When are we going to rip the band-aid off?" The topic came up during review of the police budget at the October 21 workshop, when Heather Zink, council vice president, asked about a line item and said, "When are we going to rip the band-aid off?" The borough has been paying monthly to maintain the current system while a plan to phase it out has stalled. The new system would eliminate the meters entirely, replacing them with electronic payment. Several problems with the current setup were cited: Coin handling : The borough has about 21 bags of quarters on hand, and officials said they nee...

John Weidman of Browns Plus presented the draft budget at Wednesdays workshop. JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  Columbia Borough Council on Wednesday got a first look at a 2027 general fund budget that projects spending about $474,000 more than the borough takes in. Budget: deficit, covered by cash on hand John Weidman, of the accounting firm Browns Plus, has been helping the borough with finance one day a week while it lacks a finance manager. Weidman presented the draft budget in which revenue is projected at $8.255 million against expenditures of $8.729 million. "The budget is in a deficit position, but luckily those reserves are on hand," he said. The general fund is expected to end 2026 with a little over $2 million in cash. Weidman cautioned that the projected 2027 year-end balance depends partly on a roughly $1.3 million grant the borough has pursued for a year or more. If the grant doesn't arrive, he said, the balance would be about $1.476 million. "I don't wa...

Ron Youtz  [File photo] JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY   Veteran administrator to serve through end of year at $50 an hour Columbia Borough Council voted 7-0 to appoint Ron Youtz as acting borough manager, effective October 30, 2026, during Wednesday's budget workshop. Youtz was not present at the meeting.  Youtz will serve through the end of the year at a rate of $50 an hour. A former West Hempfield Township manager, Youtz previously worked in Columbia Borough's public works department. He returned to the borough last fall under a six-month term as assistant borough manager, a role created to mentor Borough Manager Jack Brommer as he transitioned from police chief to the manager's post. Brommer, who is leaving the position November 13, was absent from the workshop. It was the third consecutive meeting he has missed. Lutz was also absent.

The meeting packet is  HERE .

When Drum Majorettes of America held its Nationals competition in Aiken, S.C., this summer, two Columbia girls took top honors for the second year in a row. Myrah Baker won Little Majorette Princess of America, and Gracelynn "Gracie" O'Dell won Wee Majorette Princess of America. Both girls are students at Paula's School of Baton in Mount Joy, and both have been twirling batons almost since they could walk. Now 9 years old and a fourth-grader at Our Lady of the Angels School, Myrah began twirling at age 2. That's the same age Gracie, now 8 years old and a second-grader at Park Elementary School, also took up the baton. https://townlively.com/twirling-toward-another-national-win/

The Columbia Economic Development Corporation recently awarded two Small Business Grants to local businesses. Each grant was for $1,000, and the recipients were Angry, Young, and Poor and Shupp's Barber Shop. MORE: https://townlively.com/businesses-receive-grants/  

Halloween Happenings will take place on Sunday, October 25, in and around the Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St., from 3 to 8 p.m. Coordinated by Create Columbia, a nonprofit that promotes Columbia as a creative and vital community, the festivities will provide an opportunity for spooky fun for people of all ages. MORE: https://townlively.com/a-spooky-day-in-columbia/  

Stu Huggens  [Columbia Spy photo] Huggens will be the speaker at the 11-11-11 Club's annual luncheon. The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Red Rose Memorial VFW Post 2435, Fourth and Manor streets, Columbia. The 11-11-11 Club event is open to all veterans and the general public, and it will begin with the tolling of a bell 11 times to mark the signing of the armistice agreement that ended World War I. That agreement was signed at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. MORE: https://townlively.com/11-11-11-club-will-honor-veterans/  

The Columbia Borough School Board approved the resignation of member Thomas Ziegler at its October 15, 2026, meeting. The resignation took effect October 9, according to LNP | LancasterOnline. Ziegler was appointed to the board in December 2025, according to the district's website. His brief letter to the board did not give a reason for stepping down. "We do thank Mr. Ziegler for the time and the energy and the passion that he put into his time on the board," said Finance Chair Kathleen Hohenadel. Under Pennsylvania law, the board must try to fill the vacancy within 30 days, according to the board's website. Members said they hope to interview candidates and vote to fill the seat at their November 5 meeting. The new member's term would expire in December 2029. To serve on the board, a person must be at least 18 years old and have lived in the district for a year before being elected, the board's website states. Eligible Columbia residents must submit a letter ...

Photos of Columbia, PA Week ending 10/18/26 Leopard sneakers on granite Slice of sun Pumpkin, safe and sound These other ones didn't fare as well: ***************** Tis the season for spooky stuff . . . ***************** Restless sky Two towers Happy to be here Part of the problem at the dangerous 5th & Chestnut intersection is worn paint at the curve. At the former fire company on 2nd  Heading south? Evening primrose at the railroad tracks Outfall #310, which sits behind Elite Energy and empties into Shawnee Run, became detached from the tributary storm sewer because of heavy streambank erosion. It was recently repaired.  Milkweed and milkweed bugs Join cub scouts! A red light at 3rd & Chestnut was burned out the other day. It was changed the next day. Traffic jam due to two buses at the bus stop The "Under the Bridge Gang" looking bad ass. All they need are some leather jackets.  More new signage at 2nd & Walnut  Looking down Walnut from 3rd ***********...