COLUMBIA SPY

Jenna Geesey is sworn in as school board director by District Judge Miles Bixler at Thursday night's Committee of the Whole meeting. Jenna Geesey was sworn in as school board director by District Judge Miles Bixler at Thursday night's Committee of the Whole meeting at the District Administration building. The board voted unanimously to appoint Geesey to fill the vacancy at a special meeting last Wednesday night. Geesey had previously interviewed before the board for the position. The vacancy was created when Leo Lutz, Jr. resigned in December.

Mary Wickenheiser is sworn in by Mayor Leo Lutz. Mary Wickenheiser was appointed to Columbia Borough Council tonight, filling a vacancy left by Stephanie Weisser's resignation in December 2016. Interviews for the vacant borough council seat were held this evening during the special meeting. Frank Doutrich and Mary Wickenheiser, both of whom previously served on council, had submitted letters of interest. Doutrich took the podium first and rescinded his bid for the seat telling council, "I don't feel I can work with you people." He also told council that he has a better chance of being hit by lightning than being appointed to fill the vacant seat. Mary Wickenheiser was next to be interviewed and told council that she would be required to resign her position as tax collector if she were appointed to the seat. She had a letter of resignation prepared, and gave it to council. Wickenheiser said that she does a significant amount of volunteer work and knows...

The Columbia Borough Police have responded to numerous vandalism reports in the downtown section.  Reports started around 8:00 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.  Several school buildings, a public building and a monument in the Locust Street Park in the 500 blk. of Locust Street, and various private out buildings throughout the downtown section have been targeted.  Purple spray paint was used in all of the incidents.  Police are asking for assistance in identifying any actor(s) that may be involved.  Tips can be called in to the Columbia Borough Police Department at (717)684-7735 or tips can be sent to the Lancaster County Crime Stoppers text "LANCS" to 847411. Case Status: Current https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/police-looking-assistance-vandalism

HARRISBURG — Rep. Stan Saylor, the new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday he will, if necessary, use subpoenas for information from Gov. Tom Wolf's administration during budget hearings that begin later this month. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/insider/rep-saylor-says-he-ll-file-subpoenas-if-governor-s/article_673bf8a8-e8ea-11e6-8f6b-cb85091de16a.html

On Tuesday, January 31, 2017, Officers from the West Hempfield Township Police Department, responded to the Speedway located on 1792 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512, for a fight. Officers learned that an adult male, Walter Smith, had kept asking the Speedway clerk for her phone number, and asking her wheither or not she liked him. The clerk became nervous due to Smith's persistence. The clerk then called a friend and the friend's husband, Clarence McMinn, had responded to the store. Clarence arrived at the store and tried to get Smith to leave. A physical altercation broke out between Smith and McMinn, in the store, and during the struggle C. McMinn slashed Smith's arm with a survival knife that he was carrying on his person. The officers reported that Smith was found sitting near the gas pumps bleeding when they arrived on the scene. The officer reported that both males involved in the altercation were transported to the LGH f...

A good Samaritan was an unwitting getaway driver in a bank robbery after offering a ride home to a man he met in a Columbia tavern Monday. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/good-samaritan-offers-man-a-ride-winds-up-getaway-driver/article_ffc789a4-e8cf-11e6-af3f-5f2b7bfa5560.html

Columbia will front $100,000 to the Lancaster County Land Bank to begin its mission of buying and restoring blighted properties in the borough. The funds are considered "seed money," according to Borough Finance Committee member Kelly Murphy at January's finance meeting. Explaining the borough's need to pony up the funds, Murphy said, “Lancaster County Commissioners created this [the Land Bank], but there is no funding mechanism for it at the moment.” The funding will require an extra line item on the 2017 budget, according to Murphy. Murphy said representatives from the borough and the school board met with the Land Bank and targeted 18 properties, with an initial two, that could benefit from the program. All parties agreed that $100,000 is a suitable figure to get started in 2017. Murphy said that smaller, more manageable projects, which he termed "low-hanging fruit," will be undertaken first. The Land Bank has a variety of options for a targe...