Tuesday, March 25, 2025

'Horrified to send my kids to school': Columbia SD parents speaking out against bullying


LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Parents at the Columbia School District say their children have been bullied and tonight they're taking action.

Today parent Samantha Short stood outside the school to peacefully protest bullying in the schools, holding a sign that said 'my child is bullied here'.

"This is how we help our children this is what we do, as a community we have to come together. We got to show our children what it's like to not bully— if we're not teaching and leading them, who are they following?"

Just last Thursday— Short met with school officials and informed them she'd be standing outside Columbia High School with a sign.

She told me parents were waving and children were coming up to hug her — but the district was not pleased.

"When the school saw the sign, she walked up to me and said Mrs. Short— I've called the cops on you and walked away. I issued no response to her because I was here for a peaceful protest to let them know what's happening to my child," Short explained.

Since Short's peaceful protest this morning dozens of other parents in the district have come forward about other instances of alleged bullying.

Some say they've gone as far as to move their kids out of the schools to online learning.

"As of right now, as a parent, I am absolutely horrified to send my kids to school there," said former Columbia parent Harold Rote.
MORE:
https://local21news.com/news/local/horrified-to-send-my-kids-to-school-columbia-sd-parents-speaking-out-against-bullying# 

Lancaster County Land Bank Meeting (3-25-25) to include Resolution on 318 Poplar Street



Agenda - Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission Meeting - March 24, 2025

 

The meeting packet is HERE.

Fire department vehicle struck in West Hempfield Township crash


Monday, March 24, 2025

Columbia 20-year-old to spend 4 months in prison for accidental child shooting | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Jayden Whitlock [Photo: Columbia Borough Police]

JACK PANYARD | LNP Staff Writer
Jayden Whitlock, 20, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, endangering the welfare of children and two other charges for a June 2, 2024, shooting in his family's home. Whitlock's 3-year-old brother picked up a stolen Glock model 23 .40-caliber pistol lying in Whitlock's bedroom and shot himself in the head.

Whitlock’s attorney, Rian Thompson, said Whitlock has been on house arrest since June awaiting his plea, and his family wants him to stay home and avoid prison. Assistant District Attorney Cody Wade asked [Lancaster County Court Judge Dennis] Reinaker for prison time to underscore the seriousness of the crime.

“I’m sorry. I take all responsibility for my actions. I know I’m in the wrong,” Whitlock said.

Reinaker sentenced Whitlock to 1 to 2 years minus one day in Lancaster County Prison and gave him credit for his house arrest. Ultimately, Whitlock will spend four months in prison.

Reinaker said he was sentencing Whitlock to prison because the gun was stolen, and he likely would have shown more leniency if that were not the case.

Whitlock told police he bought the gun illegally from an unknown man in York within the past year, charging documents said. Police said the gun was reported stolen in Reading in March 2024.
MORE:
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-20-year-old-to-spend-4-months-in-prison-for-accidental-child-shooting/article_b95d01b6-5fc4-4a07-9e8d-c287dfbdfa2e.html 

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - March 24, 2025


Harris Tomoney Jenetta D, Tomoney Jenetta D. Harris conveyed 203 S. Eighth St. to House Shawn P, House Corinne M. for $235,000.

Gerfin Samantha E, Gerfin Laurie A. conveyed 120 Lancaster Ave. to Eric M. Reilly for $100,000.

Honest Home Solutions LLC conveyed 308 Avenue Q to Above The Line Homebuyers LLC for $35,000.

The estate of Albert Vonschaaf conveyed 308 Cherry St. to AJ Home Solutions LLC for $185,000.

John J. Devic conveyed 658 Walnut St. to Amie R. Hall for $260,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 636 Fairview Ave. to Powers Shannon Lamar Jr. for $176,000.

Geoffrey S. Cooper conveyed 441 S. Front St. to Kenneth W. Hoffman Jr. for $285,000.

The estate of Reese Sarah A. Est, Reese Sarah Anne conveyed 536 Franklin St. to Joseph L. Reese for $1.

David T. Mountz conveyed 553 Locust St. to Thomas W. Fleckenstein for $245,000.

Kolb Gordon S. Jr, Hurst Katrina N. conveyed 916 Spruce St. to Miranda M. Tripus for $160,000.


Sunday, March 23, 2025

About Town - March 23, 2025

This week's photos of Columbia

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

 

A few photos of Monday's sunset . . .



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Here's the problem: If there's a call at Columbia River Park and a train is passing, the ambulance must wait.

Fortunately,  it doesn't happen often, but it does happen, as these photos show.

Even so, the ambulance made it to the scene in 10 minutes to help a man who had fallen off a scooter. 


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Rock's CardioBox holds exercise classes a few times a week, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.

Evening scene

InfraSource workers ran a lot wires on the first block of Walnut Street and at the entrance to Columbia River Park. 

They also installed this giant steel pole
(in the background).

Here's how it looked "post-installation."

Someone's gotta be the stand-around guy.

Upper and lower levels

Hooked

Hope that's not hot!

Testing 

Bad Apprentice

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OnlyGuns

This graffiti looks almost like it was stitched onto the car.

Ladder, extended

Some visitors to town . . .



A friendly conversation?

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Tollbooth, around back

Their website is HERE.

Pieces of the railroad 

Statement 

St. Francis seems to be saying: "Slava Ukraini"

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Following are photos by Todd Stahl from today's Emergency Boat Operations & Rescue (EBOR) training session.

The training was hosted by the Columbia Borough Fire Department and attended by members from Fame FC, Conestoga FC, Blue Rock Regional Fire District, Chester County Park Rangers and members of Columbia Borough FD. This rescue boat training session was instructed by WhiteCap Water Rescue Training.

This morning's temperature was 32° F. Water temp was 42°.





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