Bank robbery suspect photos

Police have released photos of the suspect in yesterday's robbery at Union Community Bank in West Hempfield Township.

West Hempfield Township Police described the suspect as a white male with a medium build and light complexion who weighs about 170 pounds, stands around 5 feet 10 inches tall and has closely-shaved brown hair and scratches on his face.

Police said that when he entered the bank, the suspect was wearing a black, long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, sneakers, sunglasses and a black-and-white ball cap emblazoned with the letters "EB."

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the West Hempfield Township Police Department at 285-5191.

No street sweeping July 7-10

Maintenance is required on the street sweeper; therefore, there will be no street sweeping for  the remainder of this week, July 7 thru July 10.

Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 | Phone: 717-684-2467

Armed robber hits Turkey Hill store in Columbia

Police are trying to track down an armed robber who struck a convenience store in Columbia Tuesday morning, they said.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/armed-robber-hits-turkey-hill-store-in-columbia/article_381abda0-24a3-11e5-aba7-d36a420e0a2a.html?mode=jqm

Columbia park belongs to gang

The following letter was published in last Friday's LNP and is posted here with permission of the author.

A flag-burning on the Fourth?

This partially burned American flag was seen hanging from a fence in the alleyway across from Bank Avenue early this afternoon.  

Does that make two parking violations?

 This morning, a trailer without a vehicle, and a vehicle without a trailer, were parked side-by-side at River Park.

But the sign says the parking spaces in that area are for VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS ONLY.

So does that make two violations?

More on that imperiled building

Wooden barriers and caution tape have been set up to restrict access to the building at 208-210 Locust Street. This is the building that was thought to be in danger of collapse a few weeks ago. Interior bracing was added to reinforce the front wall.

This morning, a car was parked right next to one of the barriers, almost touching it.

Common sense might tell one not to park next to a potentially imperiled structure.

 Caution tape has fallen off or been removed in several places.

Temporary construction fencing, such as that shown above, should be installed to help deter entry. This option was discussed at a recent council meeting but was not followed though on.

Here is another option for temporary fencing.

This note was taped to a front window.

Near the "gate to the right" stands this side wall, with a chronically open attic window, where rainwater can enter, potentially adding to the instability of the structure. 

And behind the gate stands this mess.

No collection for Fill the Bus on July 4

There will be no collection of school supplies for Fill the Bus on Saturday, July 4.

Collections will resume next Wednesday, July 8.

Fourth Street is a mess

The 100 block of South Fourth, that is . . .

Trash constantly lines the gutter and is frequently strewn on the sidewalk.

(This video was shot on Thursday of this week.)

 This morning, a pizza box, complete with remnants, was still lying near Fourth and Union, along with other trash.

Either the street sweeper didn't clean this street on Tuesday, or the litter is fairly recent (although there is always an accumulation of trash in this area). 

Wait, what are those hours on the sign?

Someone better check it again.

And last but not least . . . this "classy" graffiti was spray-painted on the sidewalk outside 137 South Fourth. The residents there must enjoy seeing this, because no one has made an attempt to remove it over the past couple of weeks.

We might be done with the mayflies, but the mayflies aren't done with us

More mayflies, many still fluttering, were gathered in the vicinity of the former Masonic Temple on the 300 block of Locust Street on Thursday morning.

 This datestone might also designate the number of mayflies on and around the building.

This white one hid in the grass at River Park. The next wave of mayflies coming this year will reportedly be white.

Do you know these ladies?

These ladies, who are well known to most residents of Columbia, were sitting in the Columbia Plaza parking lot Wednesday evening.

Can you name them?

If you know who they are, then you probably also know they were there to collect donations for the first night of the "Fill the Bus" campaign.

Throughout July, donations of school supplies will be accepted at Musser's Market parking lot (in the Columbia Plaza) on Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. The donations help Columbia Borough School District.

More information can be found HERE.

Brucekie's busted

Sorry, Brucekie's.

And in a few days, this song will finally be relevant

"Saturday in the park,

I think it was the Fourth of July."

Everyone loves Loreto's

And that empties the jar.

And this is 

THE END.

-Anonymous

Something's burning, once again, in the vicinity of the Canoe Club

This video and the following photos were taken Tuesday evening. They show a fire in the vicinity of the Columbia Canoe Club.  Fires have been spotted there several times in the past.  Columbia Spy hopes last night's fire was not unattended and wonders about the legality of such fires within the borough.

About Town June Wrap-up

Some shots from around town in June and elsewhen . . . 

Welder at the Columbia Water Company

 Pressure washing the bus stop near Third & Linden

 A ladder to a stairway to a walkway at Columbia Water Company

(Your money at work)

 Conversation

Artillery near 304 Union 

We initially thought this was the artillery piece to be substituted for our existing piece in the plaza of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, as discussed at a council meeting last year.

Columbia Spy checked the plaza and found that no substitution had been made for the existing piece.

 Seen on the side of a bomb car

Keep this number handy. We might need it.

 Goin' fishin'

 This used to be a common sight around town.  Not so much these days.

 OK . . .

 Councillor kayaking

 Crows plotting

 Rufus T. Firefly

 Caught one

 Hawk surveying

 Bumperless

 Lost and cranky

 Cutting concrete on Central Avenue

 One squirrel's trash is another squirrel's . . .

Well, never mind.