COLUMBIA SPY

On July 30, 2017 at approximately 1:09 pm Franklin Smith of Columbia and Amy Edwards of Columbia were arrested and cited in the 200 Blk of S Fifth Street for Public Drunkenness. Both were staggering on the sidewalk and severely impaired. The call originated as a "check on the welfare." Both admitted to being under the influence of synthetic marijuana. They were both transported to an area hospital to be evaluated. MORE: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/edwards-amy-1-count-public-drunkenness

On July 30, 2017 at approximately 1:09 pm Franklin Smith of Columbia and Amy Edwards of Columbia were arrested and cited in the 200 Blk of S Fifth Street for Public Drunkenness. Both were staggering on the sidewalk and severely impaired. The call originated as a "check on the welfare." Both admitted to being under the influence of synthetic marijuana. They were both transported to an area hospital to be evaluated. MORE: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/smith-franklin-1-count-public-drunkenness

Problems were reported at a Columbia nursing home in the months preceding an incident last weekend that displaced dozens of residents, state records show. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-nursing-home-was-under-sanctions-before-evacuation-caused-by/article_a09d6748-72fc-11e7-9f42-2fc0b4c1a555.html

Columbia's recently purchased Columbia Trolley Works trolley was nowhere to be seen today (no driver available), but the Rivertowne Trolley was back in town. The Rivertowne Trolley, owned by Andre and Kelly Underhill of Marietta, arrived at Columbia Crossing this morning to take several dozen people for a series of private tours around town. The riders were attendees at a birthday party at the Crossing.  Columbia Borough  employed the services of Rivertown Trolley  last year before breaking its contract with the company. The borough instead opted to  buy its own trolley.

The borough codes department recently condemned 134 North Third Street due to an "unlawful structure." The letter accompanying the posted notice defines an unlawful structure as "A structure which is found to be occupied by more persons than is permitted under this code or which was erected, altered or occupied contrary to law."  According to the letter, the rental does not have a certificate of occupancy or rental license. The owners have 30 days to correct the violations. The full text of the letter is shown in the photograph below.  The building contains several rentals units. Sources tell Columbia Spy that occupants have regularly been noisy and disruptive.

Once again, Don and Becky Murphy are giving a facelift to the downtown - or at least part of it. The Murphys, through their company Cimarron Investments LLC, have committed to a major renovation of the building at Third and Locust that many Columbians remember as the Jack Horner shoe store. The Murphys plan to put on a new roof, install an elevator, and replace first-floor windows with full-length ones. The building will be renovated inside and out, including existing apartments.  Current occupants will be moved to other units in the building as their apartment comes up for renovation.  When the project is completed, the Murphys hope it will resemble Eagle Hall, a men's and boys' club that once occupied the building. However, existing awning hardware can't be used, because new windows won't be compatible. New awnings will be installed at a later date and will resemble the ones at the Marriott Hotel in Lancaster.  Target date for completion is mid- to late f...

The July 17 front-page article about the chapel built in Columbia, Pa., “ Build a chapel, and perhaps they won’t come ,” noted that it’s in “rural Lancaster County.” MORE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/can-a-county-with-a-half-million-people-be-considered-rural/2017/07/28/59a30d58-71a2-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html?utm_term=.8f79ad3aaf33