Red Cross going door-to-door with free smoke alarms - May 19

Two-alarm Fire on South Ninth

Units from about half a dozen departments responded to a dwelling fire on South Ninth Street, near Avenue W, shortly after 2 p.m. today. A neighbor told Columbia Spy that flames were initially visible coming from the structure but everyone got out safely. Personnel worked for over two hours fighting the fire.

Flint moves to permanently take care of lead problems, while efforts in Lancaster still stalled

Percentage of Columbia children tested for lead who had elevated blood levels: 20-25%

Even miniscule amounts of lead can cause serious mental and emotional problems in children and can increase the chances they could end up in prison.

A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that 8 percent of children under the age of 6 in Pennsylvania had seriously elevated levels of lead in their blood, 5 or more micrograms per deciliter.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/flint-moves-to-permanently-take-care-of-lead-problems-while/article_b0312390-13eb-11e7-83d6-db5834625aef.html

COLUMBIA POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A FORMER LAUREL HILL EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH THEFT BY DECEPTION

                     Edward G. Knee

Edward G. Knee, 40, of Brogue, was employed by Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens in Columbia and is charged with one felony count of theft by deception.

Anyone with information regarding Knee's whereabouts is asked to call Columbia police at 717-684-7735.

MORE HERE

Coach won't confirm or deny, but his Facebook post announced resignation last week

Columbia Spy received the following information last week from a reader. The message shown below reportedly appeared recently on the Columbia High School Football Booster Club page on Facebook, announcing the resignation of Columbia's head football coach, Anthony Sottasante. Sottasante is the owner and operator of Parma Pizza & Grill in Spring Garden Township, York County. He is charged with failing to pay a total of $68,961.07 in sales, employer withholding and personal income taxes between 2013 and 2016. The total includes $58,181.68 in state sales tax, $2,108.39 in employer withholding tax and $8,671 in personal income tax, according to a press release from the PA Attorney General's office.

Columbia Superintendent Robert Hollister announced the resignation in a March 27 LNP article, although Sottasante refused to confirm or deny it. 

I regret to inform everyone that I have resigned as the head football coach at Columbia High School. This was and is a very difficult decision but I feel it is the right decision based on the fact that I don't have the time available to meet the daily demands of a head coach.
I appreciate all the assistance from the booster club, parents, and the community that was given during my time with the Tide.
I wish the players, program, and community the best of luck and believe this team has developed into a group that will do great things in coming seasons. I want the players to know that they will always have a special place in my heart and I will consider them my players forever. I will continue to support the players in any way possible. I will be following you and will be your biggest fan next season. Good luck.
Win All Day Long.
Coach Sottasante

Columbia High School football coach resigns, charged with failing to pay nearly $70K in state taxes

Anthony Sottasante, 47, was charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced March 9.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-high-school-football-coach-resigns-charged-with-failing-to/article_0f6deaa8-1312-11e7-be0a-93a1ffdfc436.html

Suspects arrested at CVS for prescription fraud

The suspects were arraigned and committed to Lancaster County Prison.
MORE:
https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/prescription-fraud