Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Wheels without a car

This truck holds the wheels of the train car that will be arriving in Columbia from Harrisburg today for refurbishing. (See previous post.) The truck is currently at 4th and Manor.



Monday, December 15, 2014

Historic railroad car coming to Columbia for an upgrade

The Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society is sending a 1953 Budd Company RDC (Rail Diesel Car) to Columbia for refurbishing. Rail Mechanical Services will be doing the work.



Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/12/15/4510188_historic-railroad-car-moved-for.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

MORE INFO HERE

Market House Trust Board of Directors - Update


Don Haines of the Columbia Historic Market House Trust has provided the following update on the organization's Board of Directors:

VOTING MEMBERS
Chair - Cleon Berntheizel
Vice Chair - Don Haines
Secretary - Jodie Eck
Treasurer - Elaine Beckley
Director - Rebecca Murphy
Director - Jeanne Cooper
Director - Roche Fitzgerald
Director - Dan Carrigan
Director - Kellan Kernisky
(All of the above members are directors.)

NONVOTING MEMBERS
Standholder Representative
Market Manager

Questions or concerns may be directed to Don Haines.


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Just the facts . . .


 At a vehicle accident in November, photographers were approached by officers of local police departments who strongly advised them to stop taking photos, and in one instance to wait a few days before publishing any photos that had already been taken. In another instance, a police officer allegedly intending to photograph a news photographer (for "identification" purposes) relented when the photographer showed his press credentials. (At no time did photographers cross the police line or otherwise interfere with the investigation.)

 While executing these actions, the officers said they have the right to confiscate cameras and hold them for a few days, and that District Attorney Craig Stedman has the authority to confiscate cameras and extract images of potential crimes scenes.  In at least one instance, the officer indicated that this accident scene was a potential crime scene. According to an official source, the directive to stop taking photos and “Do something about this” came from a West Hempfield police officer at the scene. 

About a week later, a representative of this website met with the West Hempfield police chief, who said that an officer ordering such an action would be in violation of the department's policy and that he would speak to the officer in question.  

In a phone call placed shortly after this meeting by a representative of this website to District Attorney Stedman's office, an officer there said that the DA does not have the authority to command officers and that police departments are in charge of their own officers. He suggested the matter be discussed with the police chief - which had already been done.

[Names (except for Stedman) are being withheld at this time.]

A page on photographer's rights is HERE.  Information will be added periodically.

Crews respond to one-alarm incident at Trinity House





Several fire departments and EMS crews responded to a one-alarm fire incident at Trinity House Apartments at 4th and Mill Street at about 4 o'clock this morning. According to Columbia Fire Chief Scott Ryno, a faulty wall heater in apartment 608 caused smoke to fill the hallway of the 6th floor. One woman was taken by ambulance, complaining of symptoms related to smoke inhalation. Departments responding included Columbia No. 1, Susquehanna No. 4, Mountville, Mount Joy, Hempfield, York Engine 41, and Lancaster Township.







Saturday, December 13, 2014

Watch "Kettle Works Brewery Documentary" on YouTube

Owners Bill Collister and Rod Smith talk about their Kettle Works operation in this documentary by Nate Maurer and Luke Wolgemuth.
Kettle Works Brewery Documentary: http://youtu.be/aY_YJWJxnP8

Here's more info on Kettle Works:
Beer Advocate

Emergency personnel rescue stranded boater

Susquehanna No. 4 and Columbia No. 1 were among the rescue companies responding to a report of a boater stranded near the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Friday afternoon.  The boat, which was spotted a few piers out from the Wrightsville side, was towed by emergency crews to the ramp near the John Wright Outlet in Wrightsville. No injuries were reported.


Putting in on the Columbia side . . .




Returning on the Wrightsville side . . .



The boater was apparently a duck hunter whose boat motor had stalled, stranding him along the southern edge of the Veterans Memorial Bridge.