Watch Columbia wrestling live

The Columbia wrestling team is in North Carolina. Here is a link to a live stream of their match tonight: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/uphs-wrestling

QRS receives non profit status

: After months of hard work by the Columbia

Quick Response Service, Inc after having their 501 C (3) status revoked for failure to file

appropriate 990 year end tax returns the now 501 C (3) Tax Exempt organization was approved

once again by the Federal Internal Revenue Service.

• Now having the tax exempt status approved donations made to the Columbia QRS are

now Tax-Deductible.

• During the time prior to approval the Columbia QRS was facing the possibility of not being

able to provide 911 emergency services to the residents of Columbia Borough.

Paperwork was filed by the Columbia QRS to be reinstated on September 22nd, 2011, but

at that time the organizations funding was dwindling with major concern to it’s current

operations being able to continue, along with the yearly main donator was holding the

group’s yearly donation until which time the 501 C (3) was approved. Over the waiting

period overdue fuel invoices began to pile up. Executive Director Frank A. Splain, Jr. of

the Columbia QRS stated that he had been keeping Columbia Borough Council advised

of the organizations taxing problems and that the overdue fuel bills payable to the

borough of Columbia could not be paid until the group regained their tax-exempt status.

Columbia Borough’s finance committee at their November meeting gave the Columbia

QRS until December 1st, 2011 to have all unpaid fuel invoices paid and if not the finance

For Release 9 a.m. EDT, December 02, 2011

Page 2

Columbia QRS, Inc. is once again a Tax-Exempt Organization

committee of Mary Wickenheiser, Mary Barninger and Kelly Murphy gave the order to the

borough’s finance manager to suspend the Columbia QRS fuel credit cards. At The

November Columbia Borough Council Meeting Executive Director Splain asked the

borough officials to give leniency, but borough council Murphy’s reply “we appreciate

what you do for the community” but we can not have delinquent bills outstanding” which

was the reason for the borough recently hired a collection company out of York to begin

collections on unpaid invoices due to the borough by residents. Council member Sandy

Duncan stated that she was “totally appalled that her colleague’s were handling their very

own dedicated all volunteer emergency medical service in this fashion” . Director Splain

stated that the volunteer group had responded to over 1,700 calls in 2011 as of

November and has responded to over 10,000 911 emergency medicals calls from the

sick and injured since going into service on July 1st, 2003. However no other council

members were budging at Spain’s pleas for assistance of asking just for the time needed

to get the proper approval from the Federal IRS. With much hard work that approval

could not have come any faster than Friday December 2nd, 2011, at which time the

donation check that was on hold was able to be released to the Columbia QRS and the

Borough of Columbia’s past due fuel invoices were all paid in full by the Columbia QRS.

The Columbia QRS went into operation on July 1st, 2003 at the exact time of the closing

of the Lancaster General Hospitals Susquehanna Division. In September of 2006 Council

woman Mary Wickenheiser cited the Columbia QRS as being the wake-up call to the

current ambulance service Susquehanna Valley EMS which then borough council was

making a vote on whether or not to recognize Susquehanna Valley EMS as the

ambulance service to the community due to 911 response issues that were brought to

the borough’s attention by the Columbia QRS. The Columbia QRS, Inc. is an all 100%

volunteer organization which has no affiliations to any other emergency services,

volunteers from the Columbia QRS respond to an average of 150 calls per month to the

needs of the community residents. Columbia QRS does not bill for any services and

strictly relies on donations alone.

Burke and Flory named all-state in football

but several players are picked at First-Team selections …

OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Matt Bodamer, Port Allegany – 6-1, 175, junior
Mike Gaval, Mahanoy Area – 6-0, 165, senior
A.J. Long, Pius X – 6-0, 180, senior
RUNNING BACK
Tyler Boyd, Clairton – 6-1, 170, junior
Colin Bryan, Windber – 6-0, 188, senior
Alex Holland, Curwensvile – 6-0, 180, senior
De’Andre Moon, Rochester – 6-0, 215, senior

WIDE RECEIVER
Mike Burke IV, Columbia - 6-2, 200, senior
Tyce Miller, Port Allegany – 5-10, 160, junior
Boise Ross, Pius X – 6-0, 175 junior
TIGHT END
Ian O’Shea, Bellwood-Antis – 6-0, 180, junior
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Alex Karlovich, Line Mountain – 6-1, 300, senior
Todd Munchak, Curwensville – 5-11, 295, senior
Zach Rugg, Bishop McCort – 6-5, 269, senior
Carvan Thompson, Clairton – 5-10, 215, senior
Michael Weber, Mercyhurst Prep – 6-3, 310, senior
OFFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
Danny Ferrens, Penns Manor – 6-0, 190, junior
David Argust, Old Forge – 6-0, 178, senior
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Jacob Craig, Berlin-Brothersvalley – 6-2, 220, senior
Eric Hirschfield, Bishop Canevin – 6-0, 182, senior
Quinton Hixson, Northern Bedford – 6-3, 295, senior
Tom Schetroma, Southern Columbia – 6-0, 260, senior
Eric Walker, Clairton – 6-3, 245, senior

LINEBACKERS
T.J. Armstrong, Clairton – 6-2, 215, junior
Mike Dunn, Bishop Canevin – 6-1, 225, junior
Bryan Flory, Columbia - 5-10, 175, junior
Luke Patten, West Middlesex – 5-10, 180, junior
Deaysean Rippy, Sto-Rox – 6-2, 205, senior
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Marzett Geter, Sto-Rox – 5-9, 180, senior
Brody Pollock – Union-Rimersburg – 5-11, 180, senior
Trenton Coles, Clairton – 6-3, 180, senior
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
Cole Weachock, Minersville – 5-10, 170, senior
Matt Moore, Southern Columbia – 6-2, 200, senior
PA SPORTS WRITERS’ “A” PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tyler Boyd, Clairton
PA SPORTS WRITERS’ “A” COACH OF THE YEAR
Bill Packer, Penns Manor

A district championship and a trip to the state playoffs is still working its magic.

Because of that two Columbia football players -- senior Michael Burke IV and junior Bryan Flory were named to the Class A Pennsylvania Sportswriters All-State team.

It was the second straight selection for Burke and the first for Flory, who failed to make the Section 3 All-star list for the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

Here is the all-state team by position:

Columbia Library newsletter

Now that the excitement of Christmas is past and the decorations are packed away, long
winter evenings stretch ahead of us. Why not fill them with some good books….either
the “old standard” physical volume or a book downloaded to an e-reader!
E-readers have become quite the rage. If you were lucky enough to have Santa bring you
one for Christmas, we have step-by step instruction cards at the library on how to
download books into it! And, yes, the Library System of Lancaster County has a
collection of e-books! Called “Overdrive”, there is a link directly on the front page of
our website (www.columbia.lib.pa.us). Just look for the “Download audiobooks ebooks”
link at the bottom of the page.
While you can browse and choose the titles to fill your “ecart”, internet connection
limitations prevent you from actually downloading the books into your device at the
library itself. It is recommended that you use a home or office PC with internet access
for the actual download.
Overdrive’s front page includes a quick start guide, frequently asked questions, and a
guided tour of digital media. The guided tour is exceptionally helpful, especially if you
are new to digital media (like myself!)
If you prefer to hold a physical book in your hands (as many of us do!), here are some of
the new releases for January:
Private: # 1 Suspect by James Patterson
Love In a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
Gun Games: a Decker/Lazarus Novel by Faye Kellerman
Breakdown: a V.I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky
Deadline by Fern Michaels
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Gideon’s Corpse by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Look of Love: a Piper Donovan Mystery by Mary Jane Clark
Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James (this is a mystery involving the characters of
Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. It is already here!)
Mrs. Coni Haas’ Monday Night Storytimes have “Winter Fun” as their theme:
Monday, January 2: library closed for New Year’s
Monday, January 9: “Animals and Birds In Winter”
Monday, January 16: “Mittens and Snowy Days”
Monday, January 23: “It’s All About Cookies!”
Monday, January 30: “Nursery Rhymes”
Our annual Mitten Tree was another success. 224 items have been donated to help keep
your neighbors warm this winter. Kudos to Shirl Stumpf, who is continuing the
Columbia tradition of creating caps and scarves all year long. Shirl donated a total of 155
hats and scarves….ALL HAND CROCHETED! She is continuing the legacy of our
anonymous donor, who passed away in 2011. Thanks also go to Danielle Peters of St.
Paul’s Episcopal and Jean Phiel of St. John’s Lutheran for distributing the items collected
to families who need them.
Family Film Nights for January (Wednesdays at 6 PM)
Wednesday, January 4: “Alvin and the Chipmunks” (postponed from
an earlier date)
Wednesday, January 11: “The Wizard of Oz”
Wednesday, January 18: “Madagascar”
Wednesday, January 25: “Cars 2”
The Columbia Public Library is following up on a very worthwhile and popular outreach
begun last year. “Food For Fines” involves bringing in nonperishable food items for the
Columbia Food Bank during the weeks of January 16 through January 30. Personal
hygiene items for the traveling winter shelter will also be collected. Each item donated
will allow the donor to have $1.00 removed from their outstanding library fines. Of
course, people who have no fines are certainly welcome to donate as well!
According to Danielle Peters and Sue Ohler of the Columbia Food Bank, most-needed
items are jelly (any flavor), canned meats such as Spam or canned stews, baked beans,
and chunky-style soups Items needed for the winter shelter include personal (travel)
sized soap, shampoos, and toothpaste. Items will be collected between Monday, January
16 and Monday, January 30.
January also means tax materials are arriving. The Columbia Public Library has the most
popular forms you’ll need….and we can print any specialized forms from the IRS or PA
Revenue websites. If you need help preparing your forms, remember to schedule an
appointment with Mr. Samuel Edmond. He will be happy to help you complete and
submit your form electronically. Please call 406-8143 for an appointment.
The Columbia Public Library is offering a Highmark/Blue Shield Medicare Solutions
Seminar on January 30, 2011 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. Topics of discussion include
Medicare Advantage products such as FreedomBlue PPO, Medigap and Prescription
Drug products (BlueRx PDP). This seminar is especially beneficial to those who are new
to the Medicare process. There is no charge.
The Columbia Public Library is located on 24 S. 6th Street, next to Park Elementary School.
(Cattycorner to CVS Pharmacy and across the street from St. John’s Lutheran Church) Phone
number is 684-2255 and web address is www.columbia.lib.pa.us. Find us on Facebook! Please
stop by and visit often!