Jimmy Sheckard, Columbia's Major League Baseball Player

Jimmy Sheckard

Columbia's only major league baseball player, Jimmy Sheckard, was honored at a memorial dedication on Saturday, May 4, at 4 p.m. at Glatfelter Field.

The event was sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, along with the Glatfelter Field Foundation and the Columbia Boys Athletic Association. The event was followed by the Susquehanna Valley chapter's annual awards and installation banquet at the Susquehanna Fire Company, 10th and Manor.

A stone and bronze monument measuring 3 x 5 feet was dedicated to Sheckard. It features his image and lists his baseball accomplishments. A list of financial donors appears on the back.

The program included remarks by Mike Kuhn and Phil Glatfelter of the Glatfelter Field Foundation, Ray McCarty of the Columbia Boys Athletic Association, Jay Lutz, grandson of Charles E. Herr who was a boyhood friend of Sheckard, Bob Herman of the Susquehanna Valley chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Chryst, a friend of Sheckard, and Gregg Dubbs, local baseball historian. Bill Kloidt was master of ceremonies. Several members of the Sheckard family helped unveil the monument. As Sheckard was also a barbershop-style singer, the Lazy Daze Barbershop Quartet performed during the ceremony.

A baseball card depicting Sheckard's major league accomplishments was given to those attending the ceremony.

 Master of Ceremonies Bill Kloidt led the dedication.

 Members of the Sheckard family and others attended.

Kevin Kraft Sr. gave the invocation.

 A color guard stood by.

 Jamie Hess led the pledge of allegiance.

 Aspiring major leaguers listened to the proceedings.

 District Justice Bob Herman offered remarks.

Barbershop quartet "Lazy Daze" sang several songs, including "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

 J. Freeland Chryst, a friend of Jimmy Sheckard, reminisced.

The audience listened to several speakers. 

The monument was unveiled by members of the Sheckard family.

Several were in attendance.

Other attendees gathered.

The monument

Back of the monument

One last attendee

Lancaster County animal cruelty investigator re-hired

WPMT FOX43
Lancaster County now has its animal cruelty investigator back.

In January, budget cuts forced the Humane League of Lancaster County to lay off its longtime Humane Society police officer, Keith Mohler.

Now, the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania SPCA has stepped in to help, hiring Mohler to continue animal cruelty investigations in Lancaster County.

MORE HERE:
http://fox43.com/2013/05/03/lancaster-county-animal-cruelty-investigator-re-hired/

Fourth body in two weeks pulled from Susquehanna River

Another body has been pulled out of the Susquehanna River, the fourth one to be found in just over two weeks.

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni said he was notified late Saturday morning that a body had been pulled from the river.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/845612_Fourth-body-in-two-weeks-pulled-from-Susquehanna-River.html

Wrightsville Presbyterian Church celebrates 185 years

LANCASTERONLINE
To some in the Columbia/Wrightsville area, it's known as the church whose old building got hit by a Confederate cannonball 150 years ago, at the height of the Civil War.
But Pastor Christine Blackford wants Wrightsville Presbyterian Church to be known better as "a congregation that wants to respond to people who are in need."
And the many who have been and continue to be blessed by the church's outreach on both sides of the Susquehanna River surely agree.
The Wrightsville church, which draws a third or so of its congregants from the Lancaster County side of the river, celebrates its 185th anniversary this weekend.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/845477_Wrightsville-Presbyterian-Church-celebrates-185-years.html

Gruesome death in Columbia PA

GO HERE:
http://paoddities.blogspot.com/search/label/Lancaster%20County?m=0

Columbians seek to boost town's quality of life

LANCASTERONLINE
More than 80 residents of Columbia borough gathered Tuesday for the first in a series of town hall meetings aimed at improving the quality of life in the borough.

Police Chief Jack Brommer told the group — which included residents, members of council, and local business owners — that the meeting stemmed from daily conversations he and Mayor Leo Lutz have about issues voiced by residents.

The concerns include a lack of cleanliness, especially dog waste; visual code violations, such as trash left piled up outside homes; and personal behavior, such as truancy and disorderly conduct.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/844874_Columbians-seek-to-boost-town-s-quality-of-life.html

Senator Mike Brubaker wants to silence whistleblowers

HARRISBURG, Pa.
State Senator Mike Brubaker, who represents Pennsylvania's 36th district, wants to crack down on people who secretly videotape farms.

Animal rights activists call it the "Ag-Gag" bill. They say the real goal of this legislation is to silence whistleblowers.

MORE HERE:
http://www.abc27.com/story/22134899/lawmaker-crack-down-on-undercover-farm-videos