Breaking: Pa. DEP has approved air permits for Perdue's soybean extraction plant proposed for Lancaster County

The main concern is pollution: more than 4,500 tons of greenhouse gases a year, including 208 tons of hexane, which is federally classified as hazardous.

Here's the backstory:
http://www.witf.org/news/2015/03/lancaster-county-community-divided-over-soybean-plant.php

Officials clash over volume of Wrightsville fire siren

Federal guidelines appear to show that even a single exposure to the siren could be enough to cause hearing damage, Wrightsville Borough Councilman Eric J. White said.

MORE:

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2016/05/04/officials-clash-volume-wrightsville-fire-siren/83935114/

A chance to add your two cents

A group of non-profit organizations will meet at the Locust Street Park gazebo to hear your concerns about Columbia on May 20, 4-6 p.m.

Has Columbia's trolley arrived?

No, not really. Just some sort of trolley-like contraption found sitting at Burning Bridge Antiques today, along with the sleighs (including a sub-compact model) shown below:

Not to mention this mini-carriage:

Motorcycle hits van, cyclist thrown

Emergency crews responded to the scene of a vehicle accident today at 5:17 p.m. on Lancaster Avenue, near the entrance to the Columbia Plaza. Reportedly, a motorcyclist traveling east on Lancaster Avenue collided with a westbound van that was turning left into the Plaza parking lot. The motorcycle hit the passenger side of the van near the rear wheel and spun into the opposing lane.  The cyclist was thrown about 50 feet from the point of impact before coming to rest in the westbound lane. The motorcycle's front wheel assembly broke off during the collision.

The female cyclist, who was wearing a full face helmet, was conscious at the scene and was treated by medical personnel before being transported by ambulance. The van, a Chrysler Town & Country LXi, sustained passenger side body damage and a rear driver's side flat tire.  The male driver of the van appeared to be uninjured.

Website lists Columbia data - home sales, crime rates, costs

Go HERE to visit the website CityData.com which offers facts and figures about Columbia Borough.  The data appears to be accurate; the site often lists its sources and includes bar graphs comparing Columbia's figures with state averages. Unfortunately, the data is several years out of date. However, anyone following local trends over the past few years could estimate current figures with a fair degree of accuracy.

Following are examples of information found at the website:

 Columbia home sales from 2012 through the third quarter of 2014

 Crime rates 2001-2013

 Religion in Columbia

Local government payroll as of March 2012

Columbia sees real estate value decline

According to the Lancaster County Assessment Office, Columbia was among four boroughs in which the assessed value of taxable real estate declined slightly. The others are Millersville, Denver and Ephrata. Columbia experienced a decline of 1.46% ($-5,231,500).

MORE INFORMATION HERE.