Township man is charged

Manor Township Police have charged a West Hempfield Township man with DUI following a traffic stop, Jan. 1.
Charged with DUI was Derek R. Zink, 23, of Maple Drive, as the result of an incident on Hershey Mill Road at Fieldgate Drive.

Are police fully equipped to do their job?

Columbia Borough passed its 2011 budget this week.

The good news, property owners in Columbia will not face a tax increase for 2011.

The bad news was that the budget exposed other issues. (http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/330404).

Those issues involve the police department, which were exposed at this week’s special meeting.

The council overturned Mayor Leo Lutz’ veto of the budget by a 7-0 vote. The mayor wanted an additional officer and two vehicles purchased among other issues.

The bone of contention during the meeting was the lack of a police budget submitted to the borough over the last three years, not having a working Breathalyzer for the department and only one AED.

The Breathalyzer has been out of service for at least three years, according to what COLUMBIA TALK has learned. It would cost more to replace the out-of-service equipment, than it would to purchase a new one. Without the equipment, police have been transporting alleged DUI suspects to Lancaster General Hospital for blood tests.

Therefore, without the Breathalyzer, which can test blood alcohol contents immediately, taking officers off the street to run to Lancaster was the only option.

So as this information comes to light, one has to ask a few questions again.

One, wouldn’t it be cheaper for the borough to replace the broken unit, tan take officers out of Columbia and run to Lancaster for BAC testing?

Two, since there has been no working Breathalyzer for at least three years are the officers still certified or if one is purchased will the4re be training required?

Three, why wasn’t this pointed out until this week that no police budget has been submitted for the last three years?

In most places, heads would roll if this type of information wasn’t provided.

Four, have we sacrificed the safety of our citizens by not having one?



This raises even more questions:



What about the rumor circulated around town this week that possibly one council member wants to disband the police department? Columbia is use to police coverage 24/7 and having another department or state police serve our town, would make open season for the criminal element.

Are the certifications of the officers to use the lone AED the department has up to date?

There are many other issues within our borough, but one thing that should never be sacrificed is the safety of its people. Right now, there seems to be a lot of playing around with that.

As Eagles coach Andy Reid says weekly at his post-game news conference, “Times’ yours.” The time is now for Columba Borough to explain this mess and if someone has to take the fall for it, so be it.

Market stands leaving

As 2010 turns into 2011, big changes are coming to the Columbia Market House and it is not very good.

As of today, three stand holders are leaving, as is Brian Long the acting market manager. To say the market is in a state of flux is a huge understatement.

The three stands who are leaving are Sadie’s Pretzels, M&M Meats and Sunnyside Pastries.

Mahlon and Ruthie Stoltzfus, the owners of M&M Meats and Sunnyside, were thanking their customers today. The pastry stand is expected to reopen in May at the Turkey Hill Experience.

The lunchmeat stand is staying open.

Friday will be Long’s last day as market manager. He is leaving to pursue other ventures.

Depending on what day you go to market, who you talk too, etc., there have been good days and bad days for stand holders at the Columbia Market.

With the recent improvements made by the borough from government grants, the market has gotten a little bit of a new look. One of the big problems, in addition to the lack of people venturing into the market, is the lack of hot water for the stand holders to properly clean their stands. It was suppose to be installed by the borough as part of the grants, but never was.

Can you say code violation, right under the borough’s nose? Yes.

Whether you want to believe it or not, the Columbia Market House is on the decline. For months, there has been talk of a private market trust taking over running the facility from the borough, but nothing has moved forward and the market is floundering.

The stand holders are not making a lot of money is another issue.

I might be in the minority on this one too, but with other markets in the area (Root’s, Green Dragon, Central Market in Lancaster, and close markets in York), our market is not a two-day market.

Brian Long has tried hard to make the market work, but his hands are tied by the politics of our town.

That needs to change.

I am just going to point out some other issues. Since the bucks are tight in our town, what are we losing each week keeping this facility open? Second, perhaps if there were some other events in the facility, it might work. Third, Columbia Borough still hasn’t learned it should not be in the real estate business and fourth, will those who gave our town the grant money look into how the money was used, if the job (no hot water, etc.) was not completed or if the facility were to close?

Plenty of questions, not a lot of answers, but I really think the market could work if it was marketed right and politics were taken out of the equation.

Just right now, things are broken and need fixed.

More honors

Columbia football players Michael Burke and Tyler Harrison have been honored by the Pennsylvania Football News. Here is the link: http://www.pawrsl.com/pfn/2010_pfn_all_state_index.htm

Honor for Donegal grad

Donegal grad Mike Sarbaugh has been named Minor League Manager of the Year. One of the good guys, Mike is the son of former Columbian the late Jim Sarbaugh. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/awards/manager-of-the-year/2010/2611032.html

There's more to the hunt

There can be lessons learned in the hunt: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/329432

Finally progress on North Second Street

There has been some progess made in demolishing fire damages homes in Columbia: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/328933

Flea market opens

The former skateboard place is part of a new venture: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/327418

Another Marietta man is charged

Marietta man busted: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/329787

Special meeting

Columbia Borough Council will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. tonight to address the 2011 budget.

Views of the town



Picture of the recently completed parking lot next to the Market House.



COLUMBIA TALK reader Albert Storm submitted these photos.

Picture of the recently completed fenced in parking lot at Front and Locust streets.

Picture from the East side of the Turkey Hill Experience showing the window glazing.

Picture of the THE from the Third and Linden streets side, showing the gas pumps.

Turkey Hill has website for Experience

Turkey Hill has developed a website for the Turkey Hill Experience: http://turkeyhillexperience.com/default.asp

Quarter auctions might be illegal

Ran into this while looking at the York Daily Record: http://www.ydr.com/ci_16922295?source=most_viewed

Party is busted

Four individuals have been arrested as the result of an underage drinking party at 131 Timber Lane, Mountville, Dec. 18, according to Manor Township Police.

Marietta man charged in bank robbery

Police have charged a Marietta man in conneection with an East Hempfield Township bank robbery: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/328177

Undecided future for 717 area code

The future of the 717 area code is still up in the air: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnzVq2t7bi4

Burke named All-State

The Pennsylvania Sportswriters have named their Class A All-State football team. Columbia's Michael Burke IV was named as a first team wide receiver, along wit Josh Page from state champ Clariton. Here is the link: http://www.rodfrisco.com/

West Hempfield Township police reports

Police have charged Justin Flaharty, 28, of Columbia, with DUI, terroristic threats and driving under suspension, as the result of a traffic stop on Prospect Road, Dec. 19.

Police have charged Seth McKenzie, 28, of Columbia, with two counts of endangering the welfare of children and leaving children unattended in a vehicle, as the result of an incident at 1786 Columbia Ave., Dec. 18

Three Columbia doctors combine

Three Columbia doctors are combining forces: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/326855

Tide boys battle state power tough

On any team's schedule, no matter the sport or level of competition, there are rival games and games against teams who have lofty expectations.
Saturday, was one of those games for the Columbia boys' basketball team -- a game against a rival and a team that has higher expectations in Eastern York.
Eastern, who almost went to the state finals last season, returns two of the top players in the state in big man Andrew Nicholas and Austin Tillotson. Across the river, there are big expectations and despite an injury that will cost Tillotson six weeks of his season, the Golden Knights are still good.
Saturday in the marquee match-up in the Day of Basketball between Eastern and Columbia, the Knights had their hands full against an inspired Tide team, pulling out a 54-46 win.
The did it in part because of Nicholas, who put the Knights on his back, scoring 30 points, and the Tide's failure to score for about five minutes in the fourth quarter. Columbia went into the fourth quarter leading 42-38, but scored just four points in the fourth quarter.
Columbia had the joint across the river rocking early, leading11-2 at one points and 19-15 after eight minutes. The Knights finally caught up in the second quarter and the game was tied at 29 at the half.
The Tide had a strong third quarter and looked poised for a major upset until they went cold.
Nick Nobile led the Tide in scoring with 20 points, followed by Michael Burke with 12.
Also last week, the Tide lost its league opener at L-S, 60-53 as they were outscored 20-8 in the third quarter.
Nobile had 22 points in that one to lead the Tide.
Columbia opened the week with an easy 65-28 win over Mount Calvary. Tre Simms scored 20 for the Tide.

Tide wrestlers dominate at Upper Dauphin

The December part of the Columbia wrestling team's schedule has been anything but an early Christmas present.
There was a season-opening match with Hanover traditionally one of the top programs in York County and three league matches with some of the top teams in Section 3 of the L-L League and a trip to the northern parts of Dauphin County for a day of dual meets.
The Tide enters the week before Christmas with two more league matches with Annville-Cleona and Elco. Last week, the Tide opened Section 3 play with a heart breaking loss to Donegal, but bounced back in a big way Saturday to win the Upper Dauphin Duals.
Saturday in Elizabethville, the Tide went 4-0, beating the home team,  Upper Dauphin, 44-36 in the last match of the game.
That one pitted brother against brother as the Tide's Scott Rupp beat his older brother Todd, the UDA  coach.
In that one, the Tide got five pins from Todd Lingafelt, Jotrdan Halter, Byran Flory, Marcus Fischer and John Markley to score the win. Derek Zercher also won his match by a tech fall and Nate Warner was a winner by forfeit. Josh Elliot was a winner by decision.
The other three matches for the Tide were relatively easy one. Columbia beat Trinity, 66-11; Twin Valley, 60-14 and Camp Hill, 69-6.
Against Trinity, the Tide won eight bouts by forfeit and got pins from Ezar Bush and Byron Germer. Johnny Vazquez won his match by decision.
In the Twin Valley match, Columbia picked up six wins by forfeit and got pins from Markley and Fischer.
In the Camp Hill match, the Tide got eight wins by forfeit.
In the league opener, Donegal topped the Tide, 42-35.
Columbia led the match 23-12 after getting Zercher and Elliot, a tech fall from Warner and decisions fro Halter and Lingafelt before Donegal won five of the next six bouts to take command of the match. The lone win during that tie was a pin by Fischer. Columbia also won the final bout of the night when Rachael Knighton won by forfeit.

Tide girls finish tough week

When you are a young team, still trying to learn the game and how to win, the last thing you need is a four game week.
That's what happened to the Columbia girls' basketball team last week. Columbia played non-league games Tuesday and Wednesday night, a league game Friday and a non-league encounter across the Susquehanna with Eastern. And it won't get any better for the Tide this week as they have league games Monday and Wednesday.
So that's six games in nine days Even NBA teas get more time off.
So let's start with the good news. The Tide girls did get their second win of the year, when they opened the week at Mount Calvary. Coach Gary Sutton's team scored a 41-8 win leading 15-2 after eight minutes and 25-2 at the half.
Freshman Megan Seibert scored a career-high 15 points for the Tide, followed by sophomore Jenna Plastino with 13.
A night later, the Tide was on the road again at Christian School of Lancaster and were beaten 42-31.
The Tide was limited to 11 points in the first half.
Plastino was the leading scorer for the Tide with 19 points.
Friday, the Tide girls opened league play with a crossover game, at home, against Lampter-Strasburg.
The Tide girls struggled the entire night and lost 70-16.
Columbia scored four points in the second half and only scored one field goal.
Seibert and Jenai Plowden led the Tide with five points each.
The Tide girls will travel to Donegal on Monday and host Elco on Wednesday. Columbia has already beaten Donegal once this season.

Shop lifter busted

West Hempfield Township Police have charged Casey Rider, 32, of Colorado with retail theft in connection with the theft of 19 DVDs from the Kmart store, 3975 Columbia Ave., Dec. 16.
He was placed in Lancaster County Prison

Columbia man is charged

Columbia man is charged with second rape: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/324970

West Hempfield Township police reports

Victoria Deynes of Lancaster, was charged with DUI as the result of an accident on Spring Hill Lane at Huntington Drive, Dec. 14.

Jeffrey Stevenson, 52, of Willow Street, was charged with DUI as the result of a traffic stop on Columbia Avenue at Lincoln West Drive, Dec. 12.

Police are looking for a white male with short brown hair driving a white Ford crew cab truck, who exposed himself to a driver in another vehicle on Route 30 Eastbound at Stony Battery Road, Dec. 10.

Two brothers from Mountville ages, 24 and 26, were assaulted while they were existing the Turkey Hill store in the 300 block of East Main Street, Mountville, Dec. 10, police said.
The 26-year-old was treated at Lancaster General Hospital.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen the incident to call them at 285-5191.
Police have charged Martin Remauro, 34, of Landisville, with DUI, false identification, driving on the right side of the roadway and driving under suspension, as the result of an incident in the 3400 block of Marietta Avenue, Dec. 16.
Police said Remauro was stopped Nov. 20 for a traffic violation and used his brother's identification to avoid arrest.