THEFT OF A FIREARM - 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH FIFTH STREET | Columbia Borough Police Department

On 9/30/19 at approximately 9:22am the Columbia Borough Police Department was dispatched the 200 Block of South Fifth Street for a report of a stolen firearm from a vehicle.  Upon arrival the officer spoke with the caller who stated that his firearm had been stolen from his vehicle sometime between 11:00am on 9/28/19 and 9:22am on 9/30/19.  The missing firearm was described as a Hi-Point C9 pistol with a desert digital camouflage coating, serial no. P1967834.  The victim also said that an 8 round magazine, which was filled to capacity, was stolen with the pistol. 

Anyone with information regarding this crime or the location of this firearm should contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or text LANCS to 847411. 

Date:  Monday, September 30, 2019 Reference ID:  CB-19-03922/1909035339 Case Status: Current Case Type: Criminal Case Region: Central Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/theft-firearm-200-block-south-fifth-street

Agenda - Columbia School Board Meeting of the Whole - October 3. 2019

Police respond to shots fired call on the 200 block of South 3rd Street

Columbia Borough and West Hempfield Police Departments responded to a call of shots fired this morning on the 200 block of South 3rd Street. A witness told Columbia Spy that four shots rang out at 9:21 a.m. Police blocked off the street from Union to Perry as the investigation continued. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Columbia Borough Police at 717-684-7735 or text tips LANCS to 847411.

NOTICE: TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES AT SOUTH 12TH STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019 | Columbia Borough Police Department

A Traffic Circle will be installed as a traffic calming measure due to issues with speeding, vehicle accidents and pedestrian safety.

Effective on Monday, October 7, 2019 there will be a new traffic pattern at the intersection of South 12th Street and Central Avenue.  A Traffic Circle will be installed as a traffic calming measure due to issues with speeding, vehicle accidents and pedestrian safety.  Yield signs will be placed near each corner and a 19' X 8' barrier will be placed in the center of the intersection.  Please see the attached diagram to view detail regarding the new traffic pattern.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/notice-traffic-pattern-changes-south-12th-street-and-central-avenue-beginning-monday

Residents push back on Council's idea for single trash hauler

Any notions Council may have had about switching the borough to a single trash hauler got a serious pushback from residents, business owners - and the mayor - at Tuesday night's Columbia Borough Council work session. Those in attendance overwhelmingly rejected the idea, preferring instead to stay with their own haulers.

Councilman John Novak said Council was merely opening a discussion to weigh the pros and cons of the idea. Novak offered some potential positives:

• Less impact on roads 
• Less traffic 
• Reduced cost 
• Recycling improvement 
• Reduced noise pollution

Mayor Leo Lutz opposed the single hauler idea, saying it would put local trash haulers, some of whom are residents, out of business. Lutz said that in many cases, those companies also employ borough residents. He added that a single hauler would not be available for special jobs like picking up mattresses or TVs, etc. Lutz also cited volunteer work that haulers do for Columbia Borough and organizations in the borough. "You're not going to get a big hauler to do that kind of work, that kind of assistance, for you," Lutz said.

Several residents also commented, all of whom opposed using a single hauler:

JoAnn Fritz: "Just because you're going to get a cheap estimate - cheap is not the best."

Shirley McBride: "I've been through the single hauler, and it was an absolute nightmare."

Council candidate Sharon Lintner: "Gamby is the best. As long as you pick him, I'm for it."

Kelly Kline of River Valley Disposal: "Cheaper is not better. You're not going to be able to control the quality of what you get with a single hauler."

Council candidate Howard Stevens: "Mr. Gamby and River Valley - You couldn't ask for anything better."

Frank Doutrich: "Myself, I'm happy with my hauler."

Robin Gamby of Gamby's Disposal Service: "There's a lot that's been given back to this town by the trash haulers that are represented here."

Council candidate Heather Zink: "Let us enjoy the good service that we enjoy."

Follow these links to see what council candidates are saying about the issue on their Facebook campaign pages:

Sharon Lintner 

Howard Stevens

Heather Zink

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal from 'Remorseless' Man who Fired at Police | Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

Marquell Rentas

A Columbia man serving up to 62 years in prison for shooting at police will get no relief from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The state court recently decided it will not grant Marquell Rentas' request for a review of his sentence. 

Rentas, 20, was sentenced to 30½ to 62 years for opening fire on police responding to a shots-fired call on Bethel Street in Columbia. Rentas fired at a 27-year-old veteran officer, who was one of many officers on the block on July 29, 2016. 

The Pennsylvania Superior Court in February denied Rentas' appeal which argued that a mandatory prison term involved in his sentence was unconstitutional. Rentas petitioned for the Supreme Court to hear that argument; the Supreme Court declined. 

First Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson, who won the conviction and represents the Commonwealth in post-conviction matters, presented evidence at trial that Rentas shot at the veteran officer using a high-powered rifle from a hiding place in the Mount Bethel Cemetery, near where Rentas was staying. As he was arrested, Rentas admitted to firing at police, Anderson presented at trial. Rentas later told a detective, "I hate (expletive) cops." At sentencing, Anderson said Rentas was "entirely remorseless." 

The jury convicted Rentas of attempted murder of a law-enforcement officer, conspiracy, assault of a law-enforcement officer and reckless endangerment. Columbia police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges. Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered the sentence.                             

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright Source:  Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/supreme-court-won%E2%80%99t-hear-appeal-remorseless-man-who-fired-police

Lt. Gov. smacks down State Rep. Stan Saylor on Twitter over marijuana stance

John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) tweeted at 6:44 PM on Tue, Oct 01, 2019:

Actually, @RepStanSaylor the "fact of the matter" is cannabis prohibition is a true minority viewpoint in Pennsylvania.  The actual "extremist base" would be, well- yours.

(https://twitter.com/JohnFetterman/status/1179165327164395520?s=03)

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