Columbia Police Reports

KENNETH EARL MURTIFF, AGE 18, OF MANCHESTER, WAS CITED FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS; PROHIBITIONS ON EXPENDITURES FOR EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM; AND FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, ON ROUTE 30 EAST, AT ROUTE 441, JULY 13.

KHALED SHEHATE ABDOU, AGE 37, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, ON WALNUT STREET, JULY 12.

ANDREW JAMES BILLET, AGE 25, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED WITH PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 300 BLOCK OF AVENUE I, JULY 11.

ASHLEY HORN, COLUMBIA, REPORTED THE THEFT OF GASOLINE FROM HER 2004 KIA, WHILE IT WAS PARKED NEAR HER RESIDENCE, BETWEEN JULY 12-13.
VALUE OF THE GAS WAS $27.. SHE

TWO PEOPLE, ONE ON CHESTNUT STREET AND THE OTHER IN THE 200 BLOCK OF AVENUE I, REPORTED THEIR VEHICLES HAD BEEN KEYED WHILE PARKED NEAR THEIR
RESIDENCE. NO ESTIMATES OF THE DAMAGES WERE GIVEN.

A RESIDENT OF SOUTH THIRD STREET, REPORTED THAT SOMEONE HAD ‘PUNCHED’ A HOLE IN HIS AIR CONDITIONER, JULY 11.
 THE UNIT WAS IN A FIRST FLOOR WINDOW. NO ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE WAS GIVEN IN THIS INCIDENT,

A CHESTNUT STREET RESIDENT REPORTED SOMEONE HAD STOLEN A BLACK & DECKER DRILL AND ASSORTED ACCESSORIES, VALUED AT APPROX. $100, ALONG WITH SOME CHANGE, FROM HIS VEHICLE, JULY 12.

JANICE C. ARMSTRONG, AGE 50, OF MARIETTA, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS AT FOURTH AND MILL STREETS, JULY 15..

DANIEL NEGRON-MARTINEZ, AGE 30, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 300 BLOCK OF CHERRY STREET, JULY 15.

JUAN P. COLON, AGE 25, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS AND FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AT ROUTE 30 EAST AT ROUTE 441, JULY 16..

ADRIAN FREDERICK FIELDS, AGE 41, OF COLUMBIA WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT ROUTE 462 AND 15TH. STREET, JULY 16.

TYLER RUPP FISLER, AGE 19, OF GETTYSBURG, WAS CITED FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, JULY 16.

WAYNE A. YOHE, JR., AGE 33, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES AT FIFTH. AND LOCUST STREETS, JULY 17.

BOBBY D. JONES, AGE 32, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVERS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED AND FOR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, IN THE 300 BLOCK OF PERRY STREET, JULY 17.

JAMES B. JONES, JR., AGE 42, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, IN THE 100 BLOCK OF SOUTH SECOND STREET, JULY 17.

AMANDA MAE CARNES, AGE 29, OF MOUNT JOY, WAS CITED FOR DRIVERS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED; REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED; AND FOR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, IN THE 400 BLOCK OF LOCUST  STREET, JULY 18.

JONATHAN KENNETH GRUBE, AGE 20, OF MOHNTON, WAS CITED FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS, AT ROUTE 30 AND ROUTE 441, JULY 10.

JORGE ANDREY BELERRA-ERAZO, AGE 20, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS, AT ROUTE 30 AND ROUTE 441, JULY 19.

So what happened?

What happened to the Bricktown skate park in the 200 block of Chestnut Street. The park apprently closed about two weeks ago. The sign on the side of the building is down and the contents were placed on the sidewalk for sale.

Sometimes, I think too much

When I went on vacation last week, there were a couple of things I wanted to do – see my friend, have fun and take in the scenes and events.


I think I pretty much accomplished that. But in taking in the events and reading all the brochures I received from down South, I got to thinking if the Southern events would work here as add to what we already have.

Well, if we could all work together, they could.

Throughout the area, starting with our town, we have two 5-K Runs, the Antique, Art and Craft Show, the Bridge Bust, Fourth Fridays, activities for Memorial Day and July 4th. Across the pond (Susquehanna), they have Heritage Day and River Fest and the long running Stay at Home Fourth. North of the mountains (Chickies), there is Marietta Day, their July 4th carnival and both areas have Memorial Day Parades.

But when I was down South, there were a couple of events I attended such as the Marketplace and Peach Festival. There were other events coming up or previously held and I thought what the heck, I’m gonna throw them out there and see what the thoughts are.

The Marketplace was an event similar to our craft show, but the focus of this once a month event is farm produce and community groups. There were some craft stands, but not many and it closed off a few streets. Looked like a good event tat could work here, if it were limited to farm produce and community groups.

The Peach Festival is a lot like the Washington Boro Tomato Festival and was very well attended. So, we already have something like that.

One event I didn’t get to because of the weather was Hartsville Idol. It rained that night and the event was pushed back a week. That could work here, teamed with something like the car show or craft fair.

They had a Bluegrass Festival in May, along with a ton of other events throughout the year, but they didn’t do anything in Hartsville for Memorial Day.

There’s a lot going on in our area now and I think a couple of new events added to what we have could work. Sorry when I get to thinking, the ideas just keep coming.

These are just suggestions and nothing more. I’d be willing to share the various brochures and talk to people, but if we could all work together and promote the area, good things could happen.

It's Fourth Friday time again

It's another Fourth Friday in Columbia. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fourth-Fridays-in-Columbia/128464630512582?ref=ts#!/pages/Fourth-Fridays-in-Columbia/128464630512582?ref=ts

Road construction

North Second Street between Poplar and Linden streets is closed for a road project for at least two months.

CEF plans golf tournament

Attention golfers, the Columbia Educationn Foundation is looking for you! http://www.columbiapaeducationfd.org/events.htm

Changes coming to downtown meters

When I was down south, one of the first things I noticed was the lack of parking meters in all of the towns but Columbia.


Down in the state capitol of South Carolina, it cost 25 cents for 20 minutes. In our town, its 25 cents for an hour downtown. I hear the meters near the post office and in the municipal parking lot are differently timed.

While, Columbia trains a new parking enforcement officer to work late afternoons and weekends, which COLUMBIA TALK warned all about a few weeks ago, comes word that borough council might approve changes to the meter timing at its Aug. 9 meeting.

At a recent meeting of council’s finance committee, it was approved to take to the full council a change in the time. If approved, 25 cents will get those parking downtown just 30 minutes on a meter.

Okay, it is not like the borough is getting rich and lowering its debt with the money from the parking meter, but once again this is not a business friendly move on the part of our council if approved.

If you want people to come downtown and I’m sure there will be comments on this part of the forum about not having much to go downtown for, but, why affect those people who have businesses downtown? Want to drive people out of town, this is one way to do it.

Sure, taking the parking meters away for good, would be an excellent idea. But, here’s the catch for that idea.

Those who live in apartments were the meters are would take up a large number of parking spaces. Been downtown when the borough isn’t checking the meters, you’ll see what we mean. Or, since M&T Bank closed, their parking lot is full. Since, the borough has no idea who is renting what downtown, this may or may not be a good idea. It would be a good idea, if our Code Enforcement folks would be doing their jobs and finding out what cars go with what rental properties and hold the landlords accountable for parking.

But again, COLUMBIA TALK ia asking are the downtown parking meters giving us the “biggest bang” for the buck that we really need them, or can we do without them?

Rotary Club to hold golf tournament

The Columbia Rotary Club will holds its annual golf tournament this week: http://www.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=36125

It's just a matter of Town Pride!

The week I just returned from in South Carolina was very fun and enlightening.


One of the first things I saw was how clean the various towns I visited were. No street trash, no trash, except for one small area of the roads with trash laying along side and most of the properties were well groomed and taken care of.

As I found out with the people I talked too and asked why the streets and sidewalks were cleaned and well groomed (also well constructed), everyone said it was a matter of community/town pride.

So, as I’ve traveled the streets of our town, even before my vacation and now after my vacation, is why are the streets of Columbia trashed with trash and weeds.

It’s not everywhere mind you, but, more places than it should be.

Why? I think I got the answer when I was down south – community/town pride.

Again, I’m not saying we don’t it, but you don’t have to look real far in town not to see it.

Why? Well, perhaps we take for granted someone else will clean up the mess.

Perhaps, which I agree with, we have too many out “out of towners,” who want us to live by their lifestyles. And it should be the other way around, the “out of towners” should live as us native Colunbians live.

Until that changes, our town is going to continue to be trashed.

We need to get that PRIDE back in our town and make it a better place to live, work and play.

West Hempfield Police continue investigation

West Hempfield Township Police are continuing their investigation into a Sunday morning fatal accident: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/267588

Making the daily list

Just making a list for the first full weekday back -- looks like there are plnety of things to check on, including the possibility of changes coming to Columbia's parking meters.

General from Columbia dies

Major General Frank H. Smoker, one of the genrerals and admirals, who hailed from Columbia has died.http://obits.lancasteronline.com/index.php?p=2546955

CCFD Fireworks

CCFD carnival photos

I'm back and here is something to ponder

Except when I was in the hospital and a handful of other times, I’ve been attending borough council meetings in our town for 26 years.


I’ve seen a lot of councils come and go. I’ve seen a lot of people serve our great town, who did a great job and others I have wondered why they have even run. Yes, being on borough council or school board is a thankless job. More headaches than pats on the back.

With that said, here are a couple of things to think about on how our council meetings are conducted.

First off, I don’t like the current citizen comment format, because its just my impression but it leads to a notion that things are being covered up. Council needs to open up the line of communication and not make its citizens (i.e., the people who elected them) wait a month to contradict what a member of borough council says. I am not saying, there has to be banter back and forth, but loosen the reigns a little bit.

Second, unlike what Borough Manager Norm Meiskey said two months that citizens don’t have to pre-register to speak at the meetings, I think if people feel its important to speak, they should have the right to register ahead of time.

Third, I know this will be controversial. But, citizen comment needs to be limited. I’m not saying five-minutes per speaker, but maybe 90 minutes for the entire comment period.

Now, let’s move on. There are different thoughts on this and I’ve been to a number of municipal meetings throughout Lancaster, York and Chester counties. Some have their department heads at meetings, others don’t. Some have their attorney at the meetings, some don ‘t and others have their solicitor issues at the beginning of the meeting, then they leave. Here, we have our attorney sit through the entire meeting and when it comes time for him to give his report, there is usually nothing. So, the question here, why not have the solicitor speak at the beginning of the meeting and get hin out of the meeting. Remember, the money clock is running.

Also think, the department heads should be at the monthly meetings as well.

Now, the various committee reports. Why not make the meeting minutes and agendas from those meetings available to the public to pick up at the meeting. That way, those who attend just the monthly meetings may understand what happens. As I understand it now, all committee meeting minutes go to the council president.

Speaking of meeting minutes and agendas, why not make them available to the citizens ahead of time. Use the borough web page or have print outs available at the meetings.

Now, let’s have one other addition to the meeting, which is at the end of the meetings – the part where it says reports from boards, commissions and authorities. Here usually are none. So, let’s have them give or provide reports for meetings.

And as for inviting citizens to the various committee meetings, just open things up a little and stop the secrecy. I also understand why the citizens get invited to the council committee meetings and I’m not sure I like it. But, here’s my theory. They want citizens to come to the monthly committee meetings because they are rarely covered by the local press. And I know for a fact, there are those in charge of our town, you just would assume that no one would come to any meetings and there would be no coverage in the newspaper, television or other media, so they can do things “their way.” But that will be denied as well. And that is just sad.

Perhaps I’m asking too much, but Columbia Borough has to be more open with its citizens and not make them feel like they are not being heard. On the same token, our citizens need to do the same thing, try to respect our borough council and maybe it’s not too late to turn things around.

Still, if there are others who sit at the head table who don’t like how things are being run, speak up and don’t be afraid to step to the plate.

Burglary in town

A Burglary just occurred within the past two hours in the 200 Block of N. 3rd St.
Two large T.V.'s were taken.
Anyone who may have witnessed this or that has any information is asked to call Columbia Police. 684-7735

Agreements needed for bridge repairs

Here is a story from the York Daily Record: http://www.ydr.com/ci_15515739

Help the team out

Please help the Smitrh's Hotel baseball team: http://www.ydr.com/sports?_requestid=552090

News from the Really Deep South

Here's a story from Alabama about a former Columbian: http://progress.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100714/PROGRESS04/7140340/1002/sports

SERT team respons to Mountville

The Lancaster County SERT team was involved in an incident in Mountville: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/265926

Meters pulled following complaint

This is from WGAL: http://www.wgal.com/video/24253504/index.html

Weekly Columbia Police reports -- so who got busted?

VINCENT MICHAEL MELEY, AGE 27, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOR AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN THE 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH THIRD STREET, 2:21 A.M., JULY 3..
HE WAS TAKEN TO CENTRAL BOOKING IN LANCASTER, ARRAIGNED AND COMITTED TO L.C.P. IN LIEU OF $7,500 BAIL.

LUKE HENRY GROVE, AGE 28, OF LOGANVILLE, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS & YIELD SIGNS, AT ROUTE 30 AND LINDEN STREET, 6:48 A.M., JULY 7.

SPANKY DIVIDO, AGE 30, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, IN THE 900 BLOCK OF LANCASTER AVENUE, 1:18 S.M., JULY 7..

CRYSTAL DAWN SMITH, AGE 27, OF WRIGHTSVILLE, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 5:05 P.M., JUILY 7.

JONATHAN M. NAUSS, AGE 25, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT NORTH THIRD AND LINDEN STREETS, 4:40 A.M., JULY 8..

EDWARD JOSEPH HUDZIK, JR., AGE 55, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WITH HARASSMENT, FOR AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON POPLAR STREET.
HE WAS ARRAIGNED AT LANCASTER CENTRAL BOOKING, JULY 8, AND COMITTED TO L.C.P., IN LIEU OF $2,500 STRAIGHT BAIL.

JENNIFER LYNN EISENHART, AGE 37, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF CHESTNUT STREET,  2:50 A.M., JULY 11.

JULIE A. STROMBERG, AGE 39, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 10:35 A.M., JULY 11.

COLUMBIA BORO. POLICE HAVE CITED MORE THAN FOUR JUVENILES, IN THE PAST WEEK, FOR CURFEW VIOLATIONS.
AGAIN, CURFEW HOURS ARE 10 P.M. FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AND 11 P.M. ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

JOSEPH C. BUNNELL, III, AGE 27, OF CRALEY, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, IN THE 800 BLOCK OF LANCASTER
AVENUE, 8:50 P.M., JULY 9..

GLORIA JEAN NIES, AGE 67, OF MOUNT JOY, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 9:32 A.M.,JULY 11.

Greetings all from South Carolina

Only three more days, well actually two after today as Friday is a travel day.
Hartsville is a nice place and has plenty of activities going on. It also has rained three of the five days I have been here (not today yet).
Been to McBee, Florence, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Mullin's Inlet to name a few.
A couple of things I've noticed that are a lot different than back home are: There are no weeds coming out of the sidewalks, including the downtown. All the streets are well kept and nice. Only saw one road project downhere.
The people down here are extremely friendly and helpful.
The only place I have seen parking meters is in Columnbia, which is the state capital. A quarter for 20 minutes.
It is very different down here. Hotter than a bugger, but I am handling it.
Got some ideas and thoughts to pass along once I get back about things that could work or at least tried in Columbia (PA).
More including some pictures when I return on Friday.

Borough Council Meeting of 7/12

Tonight’s meeting started as usual, and then it came to the exciting part. Citizen Comments is always, uh, interesting at least. The meeting itself was packed, only a few seats lay empty, and there was quite a bit of chair rearranging. Mr. Frank Doutrich was the first speaker, and started the meeting with a thanks/reprimand about the trees being trimmed down at the recently remodeled River Park. He was glad that they had been trimmed, but complained that we as a borough has the equipment and could have had it done much earlier. He quickly moved on to a query about the half-day closing of the borough offices on June 30th, and said that he had heard rumors on the street that it was for a party for the borough workers. Council President Mary Wickenheiser later confirmed that it was so, and it was later asked by Mr. Tony Mosteller if the party itself was paid for by the taxpayers. Borough Manager Norman Meiskey confirmed that the funds for the party were taken from the ‘Miscellaneous’ portion of the borough budget.

He also asked about the closing of 9 th St. today, and complained that the same state inspector was there as was on many other projects around town that were badly handled. President Wickenheiser said that they were simply milling out loops for the new lights to be placed. Mayor Lutz added that the lights on that street had been malfunctioning for quite a long time, and that the state had had engineers recommend new lights that will reduce car speed when flashing by eighty percent, compared to the fifty percent before. On the fun topic of the 441 relocation project, Mayor Lutz said that it is a Penn Dot project, and we as a town has no say in who works there and what can be done.

Two new part-time code officers were added to the roster, to supplement our full-time code officer. In addition, it was cleared that most properties lines in the borough go to the center of the street, with some exceptions. I always assumed such, but I guess this validates it. The topic of the contract was an object of much contention for a space of ten minutes or so, when Mr. Mosteller brought it up during his part of Citizen Comments. This was violently attacked by President Wickenheiser, during which she said that if the borough workers would just have a sit down, the Council will and has always been open to a contract. She also said that the borough finances are in limbo because they cannot calculate the costs for healthcare and other related things without said contract. The town debt was asked about by Mr. Vernon Detz, who alleged that the figure of 3.4 million was inaccurate, and was actually 5 million. Borough Manager Meiskey said that the figure is correct, and that the other debt is self-liquidating.

After the speakers were done, a representative of the Columbia Heritage River Cottage Association read a statement and asked that the parcel being gifted to the borough by Safe Harbor not be accepted, simply because the cottage owners did not believe that Columbia Borough had their best interests at heart. The lady who spoke lives in Lancaster, and admitted that she had never been to a meeting before. So we only care about Columbia when they can affect us in some way? Not on my watch. The only other thing of note was the approval to borrow $125,000 for repairs and upgrades in the Markethouse and borough, along with the purchase of two new police vehicles.

Introductions:

I figured that since I'm covering the Borough Council meeting tomorrow, and that I may be posting more in the future, that it would be polite to introduce myself. My name is Hillary Glenn. Many of you know me or know of me, yet some of you do not, and such is the need for this post. My late mother was Melissa Glenn, the Director of the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce until her untimely death in October of last year. My father is Kerry Glenn, whom you also may know. My mother was the Director for four years, during which she fought long and hard to improve our great town through bringing strong new businesses into our midst to support Columbia and revive it again. I am eighteen, and Barry Ford has been a family friend for as long as I can remember. I believe in this town, and I will not stand to let it fall into ruin, hence my part-time blogging position here at Columbia Talk. If you knew anything of my mother, you would know that I inherited this feeling from her. Columbia is my home, I learned to walk here, graduated from high school here, and I and many others hope to keep it alive and thriving, pushing through the red tape to reach the truth.

Anyway, tomorrow's Borough Council meeting will be covered by me, since Barry is sunning himself in South Carolina. I will put my best effort forward to bring you the news and all the news. Thanks for reading!