St. Paul's Lutheran Church held a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Locust Street Park this morning. Pastor Skip Nizinski led the 15th anniversary service, which was attended by about 50 people from the community.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Columbia Police give info on shooting
From a press release provided by the Columbia Borough Police Department:
On 9-11-16 at approximately 0303 hours, Columbia Police were dispatched to the 200 block of Locust Street in Columbia for a report of shots being fired. Upon arrival, responding officers learned that a large fight occurred in the area involving patrons of the Venues nightclub, which is located at 237 Locust Street. Witnesses reported multiple shots being fired. Officers from multiple jurisdictions responded to assist. No shooting victims were located at the scene.
As Police were conducting their investigation, information was obtained that two shooting victims were being treated at area hospitals for gunshot wounds suffered as the result of the fight that occurred in the 200 block of Locust Street in Columbia. The shooting victims are receiving treatment at this time. No information concerning their respective identities or conditions will be released at this time.
Police ask anyone with information regarding this shooting to contact the Columbia Police at 717-684-7735.
Police investigation on 200 block of Locust this morning
At least half a dozen police departments responded to an incident on the 200 block of Locust Street at about 3 a.m. today. Officers scrutinized the exterior of surrounding buildings and sidewalks and set up yellow numbered incident markers in the street in front of the Columbia Water Company building. What appeared to be a baseball cap was observed lying in the street near the markers.
A resident of Third and Locust Streets told the Spy that he heard five to six "pops" this morning sometime between two and three o'clock. He also reported hearing a group of women shouting around that time. An officer informed the Spy that a shooting occurred.
Fire police detoured traffic away from the entire block, which was lined with police tape. Police also established an inner perimeter near the center of the block.
More information will follow as it becomes available.
SUNDAY MORNING, 200 BLOCK OF LOCUST CLOSED, POSSIBLE CRIME SCENE
HAPPENING NOW, SUNDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 11- POSSIBLE CRIME SCENE ON THE 200 BLOCK OF LOCUST. POLICE APPEAR TO BE GATHERED IN FRONT OF VENUES.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
School safety line repainting not in the budget
The lines have faded. At the top of the quarter-mile long hill to Columbia Jr/Sr High School, painted lines and arrows designating pedestrian crossings and traffic flow are now barely visible. Fran Resch, former crossing guard and former school board member, made three requests to school officials to have the lines repainted - once at the beginning of the last school year, and twice at recent school board meetings (including Thursday night's committee of the whole meeting). He is concerned about the safety of students who need to cross the road several times a day when vehicles are traveling up the hill. So far, his requests have been ignored. According to Resch, he was told that line painting couldn't be worked into the budget.
Recent photos of safety lines and arrows at the high school:
An Autumn Day
Columbia Spy is privileged to publish several articles by Columbia native Mike Clark, with permission of the author. The essays were previously published in The Globe Leader and 50-plus Senior News and will continue to be reprinted in the Spy over the next few weeks.
An Autumn Day
By Mike Clark
I feel rejuvenated by the sunshine; it’s been absent for so long. A string of chilly, gray days had driven me into a mild funk. I’m fine, now.
An occasional autumn gust strips the remaining leaves from the maples and oaks around the neighborhood as nature prepares the giant trees for a long winter nap. The colorful carpet beneath is blown downwind, relieving me of the dreadful chore of raking or firing up that infernal, high-decibel gas blower.
I ponder that humble blessing as I set fire to a layer of kindling in the wood stove. I’ll add a few chunks of hardwood and the fire will grow to a small blaze. My plan is to sit in peace before the radiant warmth as I read an old book—A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Those who know me will quickly detect the irony of my choice.
Eventually (maybe tomorrow), I will have to walk around the property to perform a late fall cleanup. There are fallen branches and small limbs to fetch; terracotta pots must be gathered and stored; and those leggy, desiccated annual plants must be plucked from their summer beds. It’s a job that probably should have been done weeks ago, but a weather-induced indifference set me back.
A tree-service expert extracted forsythia trunks from the corner of the yard last week. My wife and I cut the beautiful but invasive shrub as far down as we could, shortly after it finished displaying the bright, yellow flowers that make early spring seem warmer.
The bare spot must now be raked level while the earth is damp and loose. I’ll wait until spring to plant grass, of course. By then, that plot will have to be weeded. As the wind now clears the leaves, so too will it bring new weeds.
A plant stand that sits in front of the garage displays a few wilted mums and a large pumpkin that my wife wants to adorn with some kind of a turkey ornament. I wanted to remove the ponderous gourd, but my wife thinks it is in good-enough condition to serve as the anchor for our Thanksgiving motif. I’m fine with it.
It’s hard to believe that a Christmas display will soon fill that space. There’s no way to incorporate a shriveled pumpkin into that, is there?
Yes, I’ve got work to do. The air is brisk and the sunshine stimulates my dormant enthusiasm. The problem is that I am currently more passionate about my fire and my book.
The clocks have been turned back; the days will assuredly get shorter and colder. We’ll all find ways to steel ourselves against the inevitable driving snow and cutting wind. As for me, I have many books and a lot of firewood. I’ll be fine.
As published in The Globe Leader newspaper, New Wilmington, Pa.
An Autumn Day
By Mike Clark
I feel rejuvenated by the sunshine; it’s been absent for so long. A string of chilly, gray days had driven me into a mild funk. I’m fine, now.
An occasional autumn gust strips the remaining leaves from the maples and oaks around the neighborhood as nature prepares the giant trees for a long winter nap. The colorful carpet beneath is blown downwind, relieving me of the dreadful chore of raking or firing up that infernal, high-decibel gas blower.
I ponder that humble blessing as I set fire to a layer of kindling in the wood stove. I’ll add a few chunks of hardwood and the fire will grow to a small blaze. My plan is to sit in peace before the radiant warmth as I read an old book—A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Those who know me will quickly detect the irony of my choice.
Eventually (maybe tomorrow), I will have to walk around the property to perform a late fall cleanup. There are fallen branches and small limbs to fetch; terracotta pots must be gathered and stored; and those leggy, desiccated annual plants must be plucked from their summer beds. It’s a job that probably should have been done weeks ago, but a weather-induced indifference set me back.
A tree-service expert extracted forsythia trunks from the corner of the yard last week. My wife and I cut the beautiful but invasive shrub as far down as we could, shortly after it finished displaying the bright, yellow flowers that make early spring seem warmer.
The bare spot must now be raked level while the earth is damp and loose. I’ll wait until spring to plant grass, of course. By then, that plot will have to be weeded. As the wind now clears the leaves, so too will it bring new weeds.
A plant stand that sits in front of the garage displays a few wilted mums and a large pumpkin that my wife wants to adorn with some kind of a turkey ornament. I wanted to remove the ponderous gourd, but my wife thinks it is in good-enough condition to serve as the anchor for our Thanksgiving motif. I’m fine with it.
It’s hard to believe that a Christmas display will soon fill that space. There’s no way to incorporate a shriveled pumpkin into that, is there?
Yes, I’ve got work to do. The air is brisk and the sunshine stimulates my dormant enthusiasm. The problem is that I am currently more passionate about my fire and my book.
The clocks have been turned back; the days will assuredly get shorter and colder. We’ll all find ways to steel ourselves against the inevitable driving snow and cutting wind. As for me, I have many books and a lot of firewood. I’ll be fine.
As published in The Globe Leader newspaper, New Wilmington, Pa.
Mike Clark writes a regular column for The Globe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington, Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational behavior/applied psychology from Albright College. Mike lives outside Columbia, Pa., and can be contacted at mikemac429@aol.com.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
School board interviews two, waits to vote
At tonight's Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole meeting, two candidates were interviewed for the still vacant board seat.
In addition, Board President Cole Knighton announced that another board resignation was submitted today. The name was not announced as the board has not officially accepted the resignation as yet.
Candidates Iris Garrido and Barry Ford answered questions from board members during simultaneous interviews. Garrido ran against Fran Resch in a recent election. Resch resigned in May of this year. Ford resigned from borough council in May due to health reasons.
At the conclusion of the interview there was confusion as to whether a vote could be taken at the meeting. Superintendent Robert Hollister said he thought the position had not been advertised correctly and advised the board to err on the side of caution and delay a vote until next week at the regular board meeting.
Three board members absent from the meeting - Ms. Mattern, Ms. Anspach, and Mr. Lutz - will need to abstain when the vote is taken, according to Hollister.
Columbia School Board: Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, Sept. 8
Columbia School Board: Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, Sept. 8
The Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole will meet 9/8/2016 [7:00PM-8:00PM] @ District Administration Center 200 North Fifth Street, Columbia, PA 17512.
Go here to see the agenda items:
http://www.agendaman.com/cbsd/meeting/view/0/14012
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Special budget meeting tonight
Special budget meeting tonight:
2017 Budget, Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at 6 p.m at Columbia Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street, Columbia.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Columbia School Board: Meeting of the Whole, Thursday, Sept. 8
The Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole will meet 9/8/2016 [7:00PM-8:00PM] @ District Administration Center 200 North Fifth Street, Columbia, PA 17512.
Go here to see the agenda items:
http://www.agendaman.com/cbsd/meeting/view/0/14012
ELANCO slashed jobs - Will it happen here?
Residents questioned the board. A resident questioned compassion in the way teachers were told that they would be losing their jobs. Residents questioned clearances for outsourced workers and who evaluates them.
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