COLUMBIA SPY

Thursday, February 1, 2024

[LNP | LancasterOnline] Reptiles removed from Columbia home transferred to other shelters after ownership dispute [video]

The nine pythons, two lizards and a scorpion recovered from the home of a Columbia resident on Tuesday will no longer be up for adoption at the Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary's event this Saturday after an individual put forward disputed claims of ownership.

The sanctuary recovered the reptiles from the home of Ryan Paraschos, 33, after he died unexpectedly.

Following the disputed ownership claims, Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary Director Jesse Rothacker said he consulted with Paraschos' family and Columbia police before deciding that the best option was to transfer the animals to other shelters with experience in handling reptiles.

"Our hands are tied," Rothacker said. "Ultimately, our main concern is the animals."

Although Paraschos' animals will not be present, a reptile adoption event co-sponsored by the Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary and That Fish Place - That Pet Place is still on for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 237 Centerville Road in East Hempfield Township.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/reptiles-removed-from-columbia-home-transferred-to-other-shelters-after-ownership-dispute-video/article_0cb5e898-c11a-11ee-a784-8fa1d314a77d.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Columbia Park Rangers post 2023 outings

[LNP | LancasterOnline] Local school-based health center proposes partnership to Columbia Borough School Board

What happened: Alisa Maria Jones, president and CEO of Union Community Care, formerly Lancaster Health Center, presented to the board regarding the possibility of establishing health centers at Park Elementary and the Columbia High/Middle School Hill Campus.

Details: Union Community Care is a federally qualified health center based in Lancaster and Lebanon counties intended to provide affordable primary medical care to underserved communities, such as low-income families and immigrants. More than half of Union Community Care's patients are on Medicaid, while at least a quarter of them are uninsured. Union Community Care currently has school-based health centers at six schools in the county, all of which are within the School District of Lancaster.

Cost: The establishment of the health centers would come at no cost to the district, Keith Ramsey, business manager, said via email after the meeting.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/local-school-based-health-center-proposes-partnership-to-columbia-borough-school-board/article_76699a8c-b963-11ee-8194-7b735e10e4c4.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

PennDOT cleans bridge, but no rehab in store until at least 2027

PennDOT workers have been cleaning the Veterans Memorial Bridge for the last two days to remove salt and gravel, but the public shouldn't expect the planned rehabilitation project any time soon. According to Columbia's borough manager, PennDOT has delayed construction until the beginning of 2027 so the state can find money for the project, estimated at more than $230 million.

In 2018, the project was slated to begin in 2020-21 at a cost of $54-60 million, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

[LNP | LancasterOnline] Pythons and lizards up for emergency adoption after owner in Columbia dies

Nine pythons, two lizards and a scorpion are in urgent need of new homes after their owner, a Columbia resident, died unexpectedly.

The Elm-based Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary, which is offering the animals emergency housing, reported that the reptiles were all well cared for and that the owner's family told his building manager he would want to see them sent to good homes.

The sanctuary is hosting an adoption event on Saturday at That Fish Place - That Pet Place, 237 Centerville Road, in East Hempfield Township from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Updates on the adoption event can be found at lanc.news/pythonadoption.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/pythons-and-lizards-up-for-emergency-adoption-after-owner-in-columbia-dies/article_8f62931e-c051-11ee-ba23-3f934769826a.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

3 arrested on Perry Street on various charges Wednesday morning

On 01/31/24 at 6:30 a.m. the U.S. Marshalls' Fugitive Task Force and the Columbia Borough Police served arrest warrants for three suspects at a residence on the 300 block of Perry St.

The suspects, Destiny Delgado-Diaz, Sammie Lane, and Alexander Delgado-Diaz were wanted in connection with a robbery of a motor vehicle which occurred on 12/31/23 in Columbia Borough.

All three suspects were located at the Perry St. residence and taken into custody without incident. Officers with the US Marshalls Service, PSP, Lancaster County Sheriff's Department, and Columbia Borough PD conducted the warrant detail.

In addition, Columbia Police provided overwatch with an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to better protect the officers and residents.

Destiny Delgado-Diaz, Sammie Lane, and Alexander Delgado-Diaz were arraigned before MDJ Miles Bixler and committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.

All Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by a Court of Law.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/delgado-diaz-alexander-e-1-count-robbery-motor-vehicle-f1-and-3-additional-charges

LINK

[LNP | LancasterOnline] Homelessness Coalition conducts Point-In-Time homeless count in Lancaster County

Volunteers last year counted 526 people experiencing homelessness in Lancaster County. The Jan. 24, 2023, PIT count found 107 unsheltered people and 419 staying in shelters. That was an 11% increase from 2022, when 472 people were counted. Of the 472 people counted in the Feb. 23, 2022, PIT count, the number of unsheltered people was 20 and the number of people staying in shelters was 452.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/homelessness-coalition-conducts-point-in-time-homeless-count-in-lancaster-county/article_68df2e5c-bfa5-11ee-ba62-83e03c1b1f95.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share