COLUMBIA SPY

  Download the 61-page meeting packet  HERE. Zoning/Planning Report 1/12/2021

Shawn Stryker An armed West Hempfield Township man was arrested Sunday night after an hours-long standoff at his home. Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) took 49-year-old Shawn Stryker into custody about 9:15 p.m., about 10 hours after police were initially called to the 500 block of Goldfinch Drive.  During the standoff, a SERT officer fired a shot when Stryker exited the home with a rifle drawn and aimed at police. Soon after, Stryker fired two shots while inside his home.  No one was struck by gunfire. MORE: Sourced via CRIMEWATCH ® :  https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/armed-man-arrested-charged-after-hours-long-standoff-west-hempfield-township-home  

This week's photos of Columbia  Ready for the trail Here's an example of the right to "bear arms" and the responsibility to wear a mask. A good, swift kick usually knocks 'em over. Happy holidays! Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration of life from December 26 to January 1. In 2020, Hanukkah began at sundown on Thursday, December 10, and continued through Friday, December 18. Oversize load Coming through Why? Recent river flooding left piles of debris at River Park . . . Fortunately, our highway/public works department cleared the way with tools of the trade. Alan S. helped clear the boat ramp. A hawk waiting for dinner to walk by. Is the gas station-to-be now a car dealership-to-be? St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church reaching heavenward More scarf bombing on Locust What happened? Get your Zig-Zag Cones here. Meanwhile in Manheim, Trumpism runs strong . . . 

  Download the 6-page meeting packet  HERE.

Several people have received calls today (12/30/20) from a woman claiming to be from "PPL." The caller states, "your account reflects a disconnection order taking place today for non-payment history." The caller (from 717-431-5989) then gives an option to be connected to a billing department. PPL has verified to Columbia Spy that the calls did not originate from them and that they are investigating the issue as a scam. Comments regarding the calls (https://who-called.us/Number/1-717-431-5989) are shown below:

Takeaways from council's last meeting of 2020: [An interruption of the Facebook livestream halted the public's ability to view the Columbia Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, but an archived version was posted on the borough's Facebook page on December 24.] The 2021 budget Council voted 6-1 to adopt the 2021 budget, projected to be $6.87 million.The municipal millage rate will remain at 8 mills, but only because over half a million dollars was pulled from reserves. Councilman Howard Stevens was the no vote. (The municipal millage rate has fluctuated over the past five years. In November 2015, council shot down an opportunity to reduce millage a quarter of a mill, from 8 mills to 7.75. Council had discussed lowering the rate but ultimately voted 4-3 to keep it at 8 mills. In 2017, the rate dropped to 6.6 mills for the following year. The decrease was due to the 2017 reassessment in which the rate decreased in proportion to an increase in taxable assessme...

"We don't want to lose our business license. Plus, we're a new business here," said Michael Sivri, one of the owners of Black Olive Family Diner in Columbia, who just helped reopen Ephrata's Cloister Restaurant in November. Sivri said he considered the possibly of staying open and was encouraged to do so by some customers. But he ultimately decided to close, lay off his roughly 40 employees, and maintain some kind of presence by offering takeout even though it barely makes any money He says he just hopes the lockdown really does end Jan. 4. "Three weeks is not going to hurt us, but I hope he's not going to expand it," he said. MORE: https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/restaurant-owners-workers-struggle-with-shutdown-during-normally-busy-holidays-its-painful/article_64930ec6-4600-11eb-b83f-ff34142c2836.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share