About Town — March 8, 2026

This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At the Re-Uzit Shop: Uncle Sam costume 

Some patriotic accessories 

And some advice

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West Hempfield Township Police responded to a report of a gunfight in the vicinity of Oak Hollow Drive and Oswego Drive. At least two people involved in a gunfight there fled the scene. Police cordoned off the area. 

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Workers from Lewis Environmental and a member of the US Coast Guard were at Columbia River Park for two days to check for contamination from a recent spill on the York County side of the Susquehanna River.

According to LNP/LancasterOnline, federal, state and local agencies are undertaking clean-up operations after a February 25 fire at J&K Salvage released thousands of gallons of oils from containers into Codorus Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna. The oils have seeped into the Susquehanna watershed, according to officials. Members of the response team are testing water samples from the river near Columbia and Wrightsville.

An oil containment boom (along with two buoys) was placed near the water intake at the Columbia Water Company. 

The boom and buoys were tethered to a nearby tree.

Debris collected over the next few days.

On Sunday morning, the boom was no longer visible. 

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Authentic driftwood 

This is all that was left of the river ice the other day.

Life jacket zone

A bench for watching the fog

Witch hazel blooming at Columbia River Park 

The bushes were an Arbor Day planting dedicated to the late Fred Abendschein.

Keep your hands off government property. 

Especially this stream gaging station

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Board (and shovel) leaning against the siding

Sideways, it's an accurate representation of the current world situation, cracks and all.

On the way back home 

This is all that's left of the McGinness remediation project. 

Onward to Middle Creek!

"Sticker shock"

For want of a nail

Window cleaning on Locust 

Wood you look at that: lumber for sale at Tollbooth 

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Still life with cart and bridge

Detail

Looking kind of like an amusement park, the Von Hess project continues. 

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Frogs on the march at Clover Tattoo 

The snowdrops are blooming. 

High water levels lifted this boat off the shore, where it's been tethered for three weeks. PA Fish & Game said they're working with the owner to resolve the situation. 

A fast-moving train about to surge past the COLA building 

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Columbia Borough Council revisits single-hauler trash collection in the borough

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Once again, Columbia Borough Council showed support for transitioning to a single trash hauler for the borough, with one member calling it a priority for the coming year.

A discussion led by councilman Kelly Murphy during Tuesday's workshop focused on whether council will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and draft a new ordinance to allow the change.

Murphy told council he already located a draft ordinance used by another local borough — one he said would therefore be legal in Pennsylvania — but he wanted to gauge council's interest before investing more time. "If council thinks this is a waste of time, I'm not going to pursue it any further," Murphy said. "If it's something we need to do, then let's get it on the table."

Eric Kauffman, council president, said he previously opposed the idea but that it now makes sense.

The four-minute discussion included specifics that would need to be addressed in the RFP, such as whether the borough would collect fees and pay the hauler directly or require the hauler to bill individual property owners, and whether commercial and residential properties would be served under the same contract.

Council decided to place the single-hauler discussion at the top of the agenda for the April work session.

"It's time for us to get with the rest of the world...Everybody around us, and probably most of Lancaster County, is going to the single-hauler system," Lutz said earlier this year.

Mayor Leo Lutz has been a driving force behind the single hauler idea. In January, he urged council to consider the idea. "It's time for us to get with the rest of the world," Lutz said. "Everybody around us, and probably most of Lancaster County is going to the single-hauler system." 

In 2024, council explored the idea of contracting with a single hauler. At that time, Heather Zink, then borough president, said residents and businesses could save money with a single hauler. Lutz, noting the retirements of two of the borough’s longtime haulers, said, “The time is right."

Lutz opposed using a single hauler a few years earlier, however. In 2019, he said that doing so would put local haulers — some of whom are residents — out of business, adding that in many cases, those companies also employ borough residents. Lutz noted that a single hauler would not be available for special jobs like picking up mattresses or TVs, etc. "You're not going to get a big hauler to do that kind of work, that kind of assistance, for you," Lutz said.

Columbia man pleads guilty to taking part in residential shooting | Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

Isaiah Jose Diaz

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/da/11617/post/columbia-man-pleads-guilty-taking-part-residential-shooting 

Environmental workers and Coast Guard stage at Columbia River Park in response to recent oil spill

Workers from Lewis Environmental unloaded oil containment booms on the boat ramp at Columbia River Park this morning as part of an operation there.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Workers from Lewis Environmental and a member of the US Coast Guard were at Columbia River Park this morning, with several trucks, boats and oil containment booms in tow. When questioned, one of the personnel stated they were there in relation to a recent spill on the York County side of the Susquehanna River.

According to LNP/LancasterOnline, federal, state and local agencies are undertaking clean-up operations after a February 25 fire at J&K Salvage released thousands of gallons of oils from containers into Codorus Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna. The oils have seeped into the Susquehanna watershed, according to officials. Members of the response team are testing water samples from the river near Columbia and Wrightsville.

Set clocks ahead one hour this weekend

 

Don't forget to set clocks ahead one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Disgusting! Dog poop problem on Walnut Street

Disgusting! The sidewalk on the 100 block of Walnut Street is full of "land mines" on the north side.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

At last night's Columbia Borough Council Workshop, a resident complained about an ongoing dog poop problem on the 100 block of Walnut Street. A large dog has been defecating on several areas of the sidewalk for the last few weeks, leaving what the resident called "land mines." 

Dog owners in the borough are required to clean up after their dogs and must carry a plastic bag that's required to be shown if police ask to see it. Violators can be fined.

According to borough ordinance:

"No person shall allow any animal owned by him under his control to defecate on any sidewalk, walkway, or the property of another without immediately cleaning it up."

However:

 

"Any vision- or mobility-impaired person who relies upon a dog specifically trained for such purposes shall be exempt from compliance with this section."