Thursday, June 1, 2017

June 2017 Columbia Public Library Calendar of Events


Driver shot himself in Columbia after police chase that began in York County

A 52-year old man is being treated at Lancaster General hospital after a police incident that closed Route 441 in Columbia Wednesday evening.

The man shot himself after a police chase that began in Hellam Township, York County and ended in Columbia on Wednesday evening, said Brett Hambright, a spokesman for the Lancaster County district attorney's office. No officers fired shots, Hambright said.

MORE:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/05/police_incident_closes_route_4.html#incart_river_mobile_home




Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Police chase ends with car crash at Route 441 bypass; possible shooting

PRELIMINARY: At about 6:15 p.m., medics and QRS units were dispatched to the Route 441 bypass near Bridge Street for a medical emergency.

Upon arrival, Columbia Spy observed police vehicles and officers from Hellam Township, Lower Windsor Township, West Hempfield Township, and Columbia Borough. One officer was carrying rifles.

A silver-colored car was off the road on a grassy area just below the Colonial Metals storage units.

A white male was placed on a stretcher and was bleeding profusely from the head. He was transported from the scene by ambulance.

Bystanders claim to have heard "officer involved shooting" on scanner, but this was not confirmed. Another bystander said the chase started in Hellam Township.

A witness said he saw the car go off the road on the Route 441 bypass, with police in pursuit. He said officers approached the car with guns drawn.

The scene was completely cleared by 8 p.m.

















LNP reports the following:

"A police pursuit that started in York County culminated with a the driver shooting himself Wednesday evening in Columbia, an official said."

$25 fine for trash that's not in a container


Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Columbia School Board to consider 2.9% tax hike


The draft agenda for this Thursday's Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole meeting includes the following item for consideration:

"The final budget includes a proposed tax increase in the total amount of .8508 mills or 2.90%, which is within Columbia Borough School District's approved index of 3.7%, and use of $800,000 ($250,000 is in Budgetary Reserve) of Fund Balance. The real estate tax rate for 2017-18 will be 30.1908 mills."

With the increase, the annual tax liability for an assessment of $100,000 will be $3,019.08. (The increase of .8508 mills translates to $85.08 a year for a $100,000 assessment.) At the current 29.34 mills, Columbia already has the highest school tax of any district  in the county. The proposed increase will further cement that position.

With the increase, the TOTAL millage for Columbia Borough (county millage + municipal millage + school millage) will be 41.9258.  The total annual tax liability for an assessment of $100,000 will be $4,192.58.

Current millage rates for Lancaster County are shown below.




Paint removed from vandalized Buddhist statues

The recently vandalized statues at the Chua Phap Hoa Buddhist Temple at South Second and Cherry have been cleaned of the black spray paint. Unfortunately, faint residue remains in some areas.






Serving on a local school board is difficult and thankless, but still necessary