Two injured in fall

Two teenagers were injured in a fall at Chickies Rock this afternoon: http://www.abc27.com/Global/story.asp?S=13046170

Shopping center evacuated

The bomb squad was called to the Shoppes at Prospect today: http://www.wgal.com/news/24759646/detail.html

Booted

This car was parked in the 200 block of Walnut Street.

Council woman resigns

COLUMBIA TALK has learned Anna Gerlitzki, who was just sworn in as a member of borough council in Januaury, submitted her resignation to Council President Mary Wickenheiser on Monday.

Plan to be unveiled

The Columbia Economic Strategic Plan will be presented at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Columbia High School auditorium.
The plan, which will serve as a blue print for Columbia's economic revitalization, has been in the works for two years. Municipal, school, non-profit organizations and local business leaders made up the committee.
Copies of the plan will be available at the meeting.

Event is postponed

NOTE: Event has been postponed until a later date.

Mark Thursday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. on your calendars.
There will be a tree planting in Locust Street Park to recognize Columbia citizens, who were instrumental in the burning of the wooden bridge that connected Columbia and Wrightsville during the Civil War back in 1863.
The Columbia Shade Tree Commission is putting together the program, which will include the planting of a Liberty Tree Elm in honor of John Q. Denny, John Lockhard, Jacob Miller and Jacob Ruth.
The program is still in the planning stages but representatives from the Columbia Shade Tree Commission, the borough, Columbia Historic Preservation Society and Rivertownes PA USA are expected to speak.

Kitchen fire in Columbia

A major fire was adverted today in the East end of Columbia.
With firemen from the Susquehanna Fire Company on stand by at their fire station because of a major fire in Rapho Township, they were able to respond quickly late this morning to a structure fire a block from their station.
Crews from all three Columbia fire companies, along with Wrightsville and Maytown-East Donegal were called to a fire at Plane and Manor streets shortly before noon.
When the first crew from the Susquehanna arrived, a kitchen fire was found and quickly put out. Had the firemen not been on stand by at their station, several houses could have been damaged  by the blaze.
No damage estimate was available.

Marietta man faces charges

Marietta man is charged by police: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/280699

Weekly police reports

WESTON CHAD SMITH, AGE 18, OF MOUNTVILLE, WAS CITED FOR PURCHASE, CONSUMPTION, POSSESSION OR TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUOR OR
MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES AND FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT, IN THE 300
BLOCK OF AVENUE J, AUG.15.
ROBERT DARRYL DIXON, AGE 20, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, IN THE 1400 BLOCK OF LANCASTER AVENUE, AUG. 16.
ROBERT JAMES PHILLIPS, AGE 46, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE AREA OF THE 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH FIFTH STREET, AUG. 12.

JOSE JUAN RIVERA, JR., AGE 21, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 100 BLOCK OF LOCUST STREET, AUG. 15.

JOANNE LEE PERRY, AGE 48, OF COLUMBIA, WAS ARRAIGNED AT CENTRAL BOOKING, LANCASTER, FOR BEING A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE, AUG. 16.
PERRY WAS WANTED IN FLORIDA, ON FELONY LARCENY, THIRD DEGREE CHARGE.

DOUGLAS CLAIRE GARNER, AGE 42, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR
PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS AND FOR OPEN CONTAINER, IN THE 100 BLOCK OF SOUTH FOURTH. STREET, AUG. 18.

JUSTIN THOMAS WELSH, AGE 20, OF COLUMBIA, WAS ARRAIGNED FOR SIMPLE ASSAULT AND FOR UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT, AUG. 21.
CHARLES KINNEY, AGE 40, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED AND FOR OPERATION FOLLOWING SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION, AT FOURTH AND LOCUST STREETS, AUG. 20.
AMANDA M. CARNES, AGE 29, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVERS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED IN THE 400 BLOCK OF UNION STREET, AUG. 22.

KAREN L. BAWELL, AGE 43, OF RONKS, WAS CITED FOR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRED; DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED; AND FOR OPERATION FOLLOWING SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION, IN THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH THIRD STREET, AUG. 22.
ASHLEY N. RICHARDSON, AGE 23, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED, ON ROUTE 30 EAST AND ROUTE 441, AUG. 23.

Donegal grad hired

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FROM PHILLY.COM

Hall of Fame pitcher and Donegal High School grad Bruce Sutter has been added to the Phillies’ player development staff as a minor league pitching consultant, the team announced.
“Over the next several weeks, Bruce is going to help us evaluate our pitching staffs at Lehigh Valley and Reading,” Chuck LaMar, the assistant general manager, player development & scouting, said in a statement. “Having someone with his expertise who can help us with our prospects is outstanding.”
Sutter is scheduled to work with the Phillies through the end of the regular minor league season.
Over a 12-year career (1976-87; 1988) with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves , Sutter went 68-71 with 300 saves and a 2.83 ERA in 661 games, all in relief. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 1979, one of his five seasons leading the NL in saves. Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

Tailgating for the opener

To get the 2010 season off to a rousing start, the Columbia Crimson Tide Football Booster Club will be holding a pre-game potluck tailgate party for our team’s family, friends and fans.

When: Friday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. – before our first game, against Eastern.
Where: Columbia High School parking lot.
Please RSVP by Monday, Aug. 30 and let us know what food you plan to bring. Call or email:
Josie Lefever – 278-3530 mailto:jmlefever@embarqmail.com%20or Patti Fischer – 615-0987 pfisch732@aol.com

Tide hits someone else

Quarterback Tyler Harrison follows through on a pass.

After the first week of two-a-days, the 2010 Columbia High School football team got the chance Saturday morning to hit someone else this morning on the hill.
That someone else was York Suburban, who torched the Tide for 62 points a year ago.
The Michael Burke III era got off to a pretty good start as the Tide, coming off its first winless season since the 1950s,  as they punched in three scores.
The scrimmage started with the first units running 15 plays each, with the Tide finding the end zone on the 14th play on a 56-yard pass and run from new quarterback Tyler Harrison to D.J. Wells.
Harrison was 4 for 5 in the first 15 plays for about 90 yards.
Defensively, the Tide had a couple of sacks and a fumble recovery in the first 15 plays.
Columbia also dominated the second team play during another 10 and 10 series.
The two teams also played seven series under game conditions, where the Tide scored twice -- one on a long pass from Harrison to Michael Burke IV and another on a short run from Brock Taylor.
Columbia did give up six first downs to the Trojans, but stopped YS twice inside the 30.
Coach Burke told the team after the scrimmage there was still a lot of work to do with opening night less than two weeks away.
Columbia will scrimmage at Hanover Friday.

Veteran official Dennis Bachman talks with the York Suburban players.

Defensively, the Tide played pretty good.

Quarterback pressure

Linebackers in action

Dunking for the Tide

 The Columbia High School athletic program was the benefactor of a dunk tank at Union Station today. Coaches in the "tank" were Scott Rupp, Mark Wisler, Mike Burke and Michel Burke among others.

General Smoker rembered

Major General Frank Smoker graduated from Columbia High School. http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/08/remembering_frank_smoker_perso.html

New lights have been installed

New school crossing warning lights have been installed at intersections near the Taylor Elementary School to alert drivers of people/students in the sidewalk. The lights are on the poles, replacing the lights that were suppose to light up the intersections.

Music at the Market

There was some music coming through the walls of the Historic Columbia Market House as Deeter Lutz performed the last two days.

You are invited

Two to play at LVC

Ben Guiles, a junior, and Yahya McIntyre, a sophomore, are members of the Lebanon Valley College football team. Here is a preview: http://godutchmen.com/news/2010/8/6/FB_0806101734.aspx

Would this be useful locally?

Another push for local police to use radar: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/08/local_police_departments_conti.html

Your help is wanted

Crimestoppers looking for area man: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/news/ci_15821308

Video of Columbia football

Last week was Media Day for the L-L League in football. Here is the video of Columbia: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/18/278160/4364

I know this may not sit well

When I first started COLUMBIA TALK back in February, I did so because I saw a need since our town, which was left without a newspaper for the first time in well more than a century.
Although some make think otherwise, and that is their right, I didn't do it for personal gain or satisfaction, I did it for the town of Columbia. I am getting no financial gain out of it and have enjoyed trying to help Columbia as well.
I've tried to tolerate the comments as much as possible and probably deleted more than I've posted. And, I've put my name to the comments. I tried to change it a few weeks ago, asking people to sign their names. It worked but it didn't. So, I've decided to change back to all posts being signed, something like a Letter to the Editor. There will be a limited on the number of words as well -- under 75.
Yes, last week, I did delete comments on Mayor Lutz' letter because I was posting something myself and by my own lack of computer technology posted on that comment portion. So since it really had nothing to do with the post and really that wasn't needed, I had to remove the entire post with the comments. It was much easier for me to just repost the mayor's letter, minus the comments and picture.
I've decided to take a new approach as I look to improve this website and may even try to make it into an on-line newspaper and take a different approach and it starts with the comment portion. If you believe in what you are saying, which I do, post your name.
There are some good things going on in town and along with that, a few things that make you shake your head. I urge residents to continue attending meetings, ask questions and become involved in this great town of Columbia. As much as I would like to tell the "Negative Nellie's" in town that if they don't like living here, hit the road, I'll reserve comment on that.
Yes, things have got to change and if we all work together, it will happen. If not, we'll remain a fractured town. I don't want that and I hope neither do you.
And yes, I will continue to work for a better Columbia too.

Softball champions

The Columbia girls' softball team won the 2010 Garrett Field Summer League on Friday, Aug 13. They beat Lancaster 1-0 in the championship game. Jenai Plowden tripled in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Brittany Germer for the game's only run. Emily Detz pitched the shutout for the Tide. The Tide went 4-0 in the playoffs to win the summer league. Detz pitched three shutouts and gave up only two runs in 27 innings of work. Back Row Left to Right: Coach Ben May, Coach Matt Phillips. Middle Row: Vallesa Corolla, Jenna Plastino, Alex Slick, Brittany Germer, Kelsey Habestroh, Jenai Plowden, Ashlyn Phillips. Front Row: Emily Hooper, Emily Detz, Emily Groft, Kayla Lambert. Missing from photo: Megan Seibert, Mercedes Rentas, Alexis Eckman.

West Hempfield Police file charges in fatal accident

West Hempfield Township Police have filed a number of charges against a 19-year-old Columbia girl in connection with a fatal accident last month.
Cpl. Douglas Ober filed the following charges today with District Magistrate Robert A. Herman against Tiffany Shoff, 19, of the 700 block of Chickies Hill Road:
* Homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
* Homicide by vehicle.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance - general impairment.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance - high rate of alcohol.
* Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance as a minor.
* Minor prohibited from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
* Reckless driving.
* Driving vehicle at a safe speed.
* Limitations on driving on the left side of the roadway.
Cpl. Ober said Shoff was the driver of a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse, in which a passenger, Andrew Wagner, 20, of Columbia, was killed at 1:01 a.m., July 18.
Ober said because Shoff is still recovering from injuries as the result of the accident, a preliminary hearing and bail hearing will be set at a later date.

Paying to play

Saw this article on PennLive: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/08/post_115.html