Columbia man to serve up to 62 years for shooting at police

Marquell Rentas

A Columbia man will serve up to 62 years in prison for shooting at a police officer – one of several cops in the area as gunshots rang out in a Columbia neighborhood.

Marquell Rentas, 18, will serve 30½ to 62 years in prison for the events of July 29, 2016, as ordered by Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker.

Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson said a local jury in September concluded Rentas “tried to kill” a 27-year veteran officer, who was one of many officers who responded to a shots-fired call on Bethel Street.

A jury convicted Rentas of attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer, conspiracy, assault of a law-enforcement officer and reckless endangerment.

Anderson discussed the shooting, but also statements Rentas made to police afterward, both at the scene and during an interview with Columbia police Detective Matthew Leddy.

Anderson called Rentas “entirely remorseless” for his actions and the “shocking callousness of his statements.”

President Judge Reinaker commended the brave officers at the scene that night and specifically Detective Leddy for keeping his composure as Rentas attempted to provoke him during the interview.

“It is absolutely and utterly disgraceful for anyone to behave that way toward law-enforcement,” President Judge Reinaker said of Rentas, while ordering sentence.

“Rentas is an unrepentant would-be cop killer with no place in an orderly society,” Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said after Wednesday’s hearing. “We appreciate the President Judge ordering a sentence that matches the gravity of the situation.”

Stedman noted that when the shots-fired call was dispatched every officer radioed rushed to the scene. In court, Anderson said the officers responded “toward danger” and the officer fired upon “put his life on the line to protect others.”

Chiefs of the three departments who had officers at the scene – Columbia, East Hempfield and West Hempfield – were in court Wednesday, along with several other Columbia officers.

Rentas did not apologize to any of the officers. He said to President Judge Reinaker:

“Mr. Anderson wasn’t there. You [referring to the judge] weren’t there. You don’t know what really happened. I wasn’t shooting at anybody, I wasn’t trying to kill anybody… I’m young. It’s not even where I wanted to be.”

Trenton Nace also was charged in the incident. He pleaded guilty in October and is serving 10 to 20 years in prison.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright

Source: Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

No Johnson Trash Service pickup November 2

According to a message from Columbia Borough:

DUE TO A VEHICLE BREAK DOWN JOHNSON TRASH SERVICE WILL NOT BE PICKING UP TODAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017.   FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT 717-684-3844.

Was trick-or-treat candy tampered with?

Columbia Borough Police received one report of possibly tainted candy that was received during trick-or-treating last night. The candy in question is a miniature Nestle Butterfinger bar in a yellow and blue wrapper. A parent noticed an apparent puncture in the packaging and upon opening the package, saw a hole in the bar with a dark red substance around the hole. The parent believes the candy bar was received while trick-or-treating between 6th St. and 9th St. and between Locust and Chestnut St. People are encouraged to carefully inspect all candy for damaged packaging or suspicious substances.

Source: Columbia Borough Police Department

Help the Library with Extraordinary Give

Your support can help the library renovate, expand and redefine the operation into a vibrant community hub for all who have a passion for lifelong learning, creativity and the sharing of knowledge.

New Worlds Await at the Columbia Public Library – where visitors of all ages are welcome to read, learn, relax and connect. 

The Columbia Public Library is an Extraordinary Give participant organization, so please consider it in your giving!

Seafood Feast at CBFD November 4

Help our volunteer firefighters...

Support the Columbia Borough Fire Department by attending their upcoming "All you can eat" seafood feast on November 4 at 10th & Manor Streets. Doors open at 4 p.m. and dinner is served 5 to 8 p.m.

Includes a steak and a baked potato - plus all the steamed crab legs and steam shrimp you can eat.

Tickets are $30 each.

Call Jean C. Rummel: 717-203-6914

100 Years of Columbia Basketball to be Celebrated

This season, the Columbia Boys' Basketball program will be celebrating its 100th year of existence. 

As part of the celebration, plans have been finalized to honor the program's rich history. On Saturday, Jan. 13, the celebration will take place with a special day planned for the Elmer Kreiser Gym, beginning at 2 p.m. That's when the Crimson Tide girls basketball team will take on Pequea Valley. At the conclusion of that game, a special ceremony will be held recognizing the boys' basketball programs' 100 years. All past teams, players an coaches will be introduced and asked to walk around the gym.

Following the ceremony, the Crimson Tide boys' basketball team will take on Pequea Valley beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Following the completion of the boys' game, the celebration will move to the Columbia Fire Department, 10th and Manor Streets, for a reception until 10 p.m.

Invitations have and will continue to go out to former players and coaches. If you are a former player and have not received an invitation, please send your contact information to kkreiser@columbia.k12.pa.us.

For the two games and celebration at the gym, each former player and coach along with one guest will be admitted free of charge. They are asked to enter the school via the main entrance. All others must purchase a ticket for the game in the gym lobby.

For the post-game reception, there will be a $10  donation asked. Those planning to attend the reception should email the number of people attending to kkreiser@columbia.k12.pa.us or send their checks made out to the "Columbia Boys' Basketball 100 Anniversary Committee" and mailed to Charles R. Gerfin, 1019 Locust St., Columbia, 17512.

The deadline to RSVP is Dec. 15. Only players and coaches over the age of 21 will be admitted to the post game reception.

In addition to the celebration, the committee is running a contest to vote on the top five players in school history and the five most memorable games. That information can be emailed to 100bball@columbia.k12.pa.us. Those winners will be announced at the ceremony.

Also being sold are t-shirts ($15), hats ($20) and a 32-page yearbook, which can be ordered by mail at a cost of $15. It will feature teams pictures and other information covering the 100 years of the program.

The goal of the celebration is to raise $25,000 to purchase and replace the current scoreboards in the gym. Crimson and Gold sponsors will be recognized with a banner in the gym when the new scoreboards are installed.

Committee members are Karl Kreiser, Steve Wisler, David Mountz, Mike Burke, Donna Kreiser, Toni Pittman, Jeff Deascenti, Mark Wisler, Barry Ford and Charles Gerfin. 

Seen on Halloween: A House of Horrors in Columbia

The following photos were taken at a "house of horrors" at 750 Ridge Avenue today (October 31).