Hempfield School District says it's closing today because of icy roads

Hempfield School District is closing for the day due to road conditions, the district announced on its website.

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The forecast is for snowflakes - $15,000 worth

The sample snowflake light shown above is currently on display in front of the borough offices at 308 Locust Street. The sample is a "cool" light, but the plan is to go with "warm" lights.

Council approved the purchase of 37 snowflake lights for Locust, Third and Fourth Streets, another five for Locust Street Park and 12 for Columbia River Park, at Monday night's meeting. The total cost will run close to $15,000. Councillor Cleon Berntheizel explained that this is a sale price through "Rileighs Outdoor Decor" and is good only until the end of February.

The old snowflake lights are in storage, because the current lamp posts that line the streets cannot support the size and weight of those older lights. Berntheizel has discussed other ways to make use of the old lights rather than keeping them in storage.

There are four designs of LED snowflake lights that will alternate on the poles.

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In other business, resident Frank Doutrich questioned why council tabled Councillor Stephanie Weisser's resignation in December. President Kelly Murphy said it was due to the Christmas season coming up. Later in the meeting, Mary Wickenheiser also questioned this move by council.

Wickenheiser said that the interviews for vacancies were being done at regular council meetings. She questioned why there was a separate special meeting scheduled for this on February 6. Wickenheiser also announced that she would have to withdraw her letter of intent because she would not be available to interview on that date.

She also questioned why filling this vacancy was delayed. President Kelly Murphy said it was due to the holiday season. Wickenheiser said it made no sense to her.

There was a brief discussion of having her interview via telephone, but she did not feel as if this was an option for her.

Council voted to change the meeting date from February 2 to February 6 at 6 p.m. All letters of intent must be received by February 2, 2017 at close of business that day.

Addressing council, Frank Doutrich said "With all due respect to Mary, would you do the same for me?"

Fire on South Fourth

Several units responded to a fire call at 234 South Fourth Street shortly before 5 o'clock this afternoon to find smoke seeping from a roof at the rear of the house. Personnel quickly extinguished the fire which was believed to have started on the second floor. Columbia, Blue Rock, Wrightsville, and Mount Joy responded.

State grants key approval for $56 million, 50-foot-high expansion of Frey Farm Landfill

Echoing complaints from some residents in Lancaster and York counties, as well as another state agency, DEP acknowledged that piling another 50 feet of waste atop an already visible artificial landmark will be noticeable to those living along the Susquehanna River near the landfill as well as those who use the river and nearby trails for recreation.

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Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Overturned vehicle on Route 30 near Route 441

Emergency crews responded to a report of an overturned vehicle in the westbound lane of Route 30 near Route 441 at 5:43 p.m. today. The incident was listed as "Vehicle Accident - Entrapment - 1A." Traffic was delayed in the westbound lane.

Hazardous sidewalk on Locust repaired

The hazardous sections of sidewalk on the 100 block of Locust Street that Columbia Spy reported on HERE were recently repaired.  The sidewalk is now passable.