Friday, January 5, 2024
Columbia Spy photos and information on Friday's Cherry Street incident
Several law enforcement agencies apprehended a gunman who had barricaded himself in a building on the 300 block of Cherry Street in Columbia on Friday.
The man, identified by Columbia Borough Police as Charles N. Harris, was wanted on a weapons violation warrant and is currently in custody, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, which is conducting an investigation into the incident.
Law enforcement agencies responded to the incident at about 11 a.m. Friday. The man was apprehended shortly after 1 p.m. Officers used a loudspeaker several times to urge the man to surrender before apprehending him.
During the incident, some residents on the 300 block of Cherry Street were evacuated from their homes, and officers prevented one resident from reentering his home for several hours after he stepped outside his front door. Park Elementary School was placed on lockdown, as was Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School on Cherry and Fourth Streets.
Snipers were stationed on nearby rooftops. Officers expanded the perimeter several times during the event, and a K9 unit was deployed. The suspect fired his gun but did not injure anyone, including the K9.
Agencies responding included Columbia Borough, Manheim Borough, West Hempfield Township, East Hempfield Township, Susquehanna Regional, Ephrata Township, Pennsylvania State Police, Lancaster County SERT, and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Department.
(More details will be posted as they become available.)
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Judge drops attempted homicide charges in 2021 assault on Columbia man; attacker committed to state hospital
Michael A. Newport
A Lancaster County judge dropped attempted homicide and related charges against a man charged in a 2021 assault that fractured a Columbia man's skull after determining the attacker will likely remain incompetent for some time.
Judge Thomas Sponaugle also on Wednesday ordered Michael Newport, 39, be involuntarily committed to Wernersville State Hospital in Berks County, where he will undergo involuntary treatment and yearly evaluations to determine whether he becomes competent.
The judge found Newport, who was homeless at the time of the attack, a danger to himself and others if released.
Newport was charged with attempted homicide, burglary and aggravated assault after police said he walked in through the back door of the victim's home on July 8, 2021, chased the man around and beat him, breaking his skull.
MORE:
Where to take your Christmas tree in Columbia
Drop off at the Columbia Fire Company at the corner of 10th and Manor Streets or the Columbia Borough Yard Waste Center on Blue Lane from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 13.
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
[LNP | LancasterOnline] Columbia again OKs billboard, approves budget and salary increases for police
• When: Council meeting, Dec. 28. Council member Peter Stahl was absent.
• What happened: Council members, who unanimously approved a zoning amendment at the Dec. 12 meeting, reintroduced the topic and voted 5-1 to approve it again after Mayor Leo Lutz failed to sign the document because he disagrees with the amendment for safety reasons.
• More: Council member Sharon Lintner changed her vote to no Dec. 28 because she researched safety concerns, she said.
• Background: Oaktree Outdoor Advertising of Lancaster asked council Nov. 9 to approve an amendment that would allow the company to seek permission from the state Department of Transportation to replace an existing billboard on 0.5 acres south of Route 30 and north of Linden Street with a much-larger digital billboard. The property formerly housed the borough's visitors center and is visible from Route 30.
• More: Lutz said he failed to sign the amendment because he wanted a statement read into the minutes of the Dec. 28 meeting. Under state law, a governing body must vote again on a matter if the mayor doesn't sign off on it.
• Quotable: "I do not feel that this ordinance addresses the safety problems that may exist with the placement of the sign close to the westbound exit of Route 30," Lutz told council members, explaining that drivers who look at the billboard may become distracted. "I also believe the erection of this sign will be a nuisance to adjacent property owners."
• Details: The Lancaster County Planning Commission and the borough's planning commission previously recommended approving the amendment.
• Pay raises: The starting salary for a new police officer will jump by about $14,000 per year, under a new contract between council members and the borough's police association.
• Quotable: "We were having a hard time attracting new officers," Mark Stivers, borough manager, explained during a Dec. 29 phone call.
• More: The current contract offered a $45,929 starting salary, about $10,000 lower than some municipalities in the area, Stivers said. The new salary of $60,000 should bridge that gap. In addition, officers who stay with the borough six years will receive 5% raises during years seven and eight and 4% raises during years nine and 10.
Budget: Council members adopted a $17.17 million budget for 2024, up from $16.73 million for 2023. Major expenses include $4.1 million for the police department and $1.1 million for public works on highways.
• Details: The spending plan, which does not include a tax increase, is predicted to use about $8.5 million from the borough's general fund and roughly $8.6 million from other accounts including two capital funds, a liquid fuels account and one that contains federal pandemic relief money.
• What's next: Council will hold a reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 2 at 308 Locust St. The meeting also will be available on the borough's YouTube channel the next day.
Go to: https://www.youtube.com/@columbiaborough9899 to access the meeting.
—Gayle Johnson For LNP | LancasterOnline
Monday, January 1, 2024
Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - January 1, 2024
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Diane D. Hudzik conveyed 435 Poplar St. to Nature Ridge Farm LLC for $165,000.
Raymond C. Hess conveyed 24 N. Eighth St. to Valley View Capital LLC for $150,000.
Margaret S. Nelson and Margaret Nelson conveyed 354 Maple St. to Margaret S. Nelson and Paul M. Schmoel for $1.
Sheriff of Lancaster County PA and The Estate of Mark W. Sr. Murray conveyed 30 N. Seventh St. to Valley View Capital LLC for $62,000.
Sheriff of Lancaster County PA and Justin M. Gohn conveyed 100 Cedar St. to Valley View Capital LLC for $91,000.
Stonehedge Holdings LLC and Jacob K. King conveyed 640 Fairview Ave. to E&E Rental Properties LLC for $93,400.
Amanda Sue Goodwin conveyed property on Walnut Street to Dianthe Papouras Livanos for $307,500.
Samuel M Jr. Donnan and Gina M. Donnan conveyed 460 Manor St. to Carol Ann King and Courtney E. King for $185,000.
John D. Herr conveyed 525 Locust St. to Donna Lassa and Todd Lassa for $300,000.
The estate of Donald J Kuhn and The estate of Wilma B Kuhn conveyed 253 S. Eighth St. to Karen A. Kuhn for $1.
The estate of Mary Jane Salvatore and Victor J. Salvatore conveyed 244 N. Second St. to Victor J Jr. Salvatore and Lauren K. Salvatore for $1.
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