Dan Sahd
[Columbia Spy file photo]
Dan Sahd, co-owner and team leader at Sahd Metal Recycling in Columbia, will receive the Small Businessperson of the Year award. The award will recognize Sahd as an individual whose vision, innovation and leadership drive not only the growth of their company but also strengthen the economic and social fabric of Lancaster County.
JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY
Columbia Borough Council has decided to shelve discussions about switching to a single, borough-wide trash hauler, with members agreeing that now is not the right time to make the change.
The topic was kicked around again at the April 7 Columbia Borough Council work session — held without Mayor Leo Lutz, who was at an event at Columbia Crossing. The discussion began in January when Lutz urged council to look into trash collection under one contracted provider. Currently, residents and business owners choose their own hauler from a list of approved companies on the borough’s website.
Councilman Ethan Byers said feedback from residents is mostly against having a single hauler. However, councilman Kelly Murphy claimed there are potential upsides, including lower costs and more consistent service.
With a single-hauler, the borough would negotiate a contract with one designated trash company, but residents would give up the ability to choose their own provider.
Resident Frank Doutrich said, “I just want to know why you’re trying to fix something that’s not broke.”
Heather Zink, council vice president, suggested having an “opt-out” for residents who don’t want a borough-chosen hauler.
Former councilwoman Mary Barninger said, “This topic has many layers and more tentacles than you think.” She suggested that council meet with some of the top single hauler vendors it wants to do business with, to find out about issues such as pricing, dumping, pickup, etc. She also suggested putting the issue on a referendum to find out what residents really want.
After a nearly hour-long discussion, council decided to drop the idea. Byers said, “It’s a significant undertaking and we have enough stuff on our plate this year,” he said. “I don’t know if we want to add the complexity that it would require to do it well, on top of everything else this year.”
Councilman Tom Ziegler, who was previously “fairly supportive” of having a single hauler, said he changed his mind after hearing citizen comments.
Lancaster Avenue and Barber Street closed as crash reconstruction team responds
A motorcyclist suffered cardiac arrest Saturday morning following a crash at the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Barber Street, according to Lancaster County emergency dispatchers.
The call came in at 6:17 a.m. as a Class 1 vehicle accident — the highest priority designation for crashes involving life-threatening injuries. First responders arrived to find the rider not breathing and in cardiac arrest.
Dispatchers advised the public that the area around Lancaster Avenue and Barber Street would be closed for an extended period, as a crash reconstruction team was called to the scene to investigate.
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Boss Lady Sweets Bakery, 28 N. Fourth St., Columbia, opening, April 3. Pass. No violations.
Bigler Julie, Bigler Julie A. conveyed 1250 Staman Lane to Koch Matthew J, Koch Sarah L. for $125,000.
Morales Crystal M. Roldan, Rios Tayari Acevedo conveyed 1126 Lancaster Ave. to Faller Sandra, Milliron Mason for $224,900.
Lancaster Area Habitat For Humanity Inc., Lancaster Lebanon Habitat For Humanity conveyed 237 S. Fifth St. to Hashimi Said Massoud for $325,000.
This week’s photos of Columbia
Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.
JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY
The Columbia Water Company is getting ready to do a project on the 600 block of Locust Street.
Cool cats with their eyes on the prize.
Glowing sky
Lone jet trail at sunset
Bridge in the fog
Markings on Walnut Street, most likely for the upcoming project on the 100 and 200 blocks, set to begin in about two months
REGULATIONS
SMOKED & LOADED
Henry the Horse is still hanging on Chestnut.
Piano at Columbia Crossing
Sharing the view
Fresh coffee at Front & Walnut
Park Ranger staking out
Whoa Buddy, that’s a helluva wide turn!
Inside Tollbooth
At the Legion
More work is being done at the new outbuilding behind the Wright’s Ferry Mansion, next to the Von Hess building.
Speaking of the Von Hess building, there it is – newly painted.
Work on Bank Avenue, as seen from Locust Street
The borough thinks this is ok for the historic district.
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Car storage at 2nd & Linden
Donate your car.
The Gifted Church of God will take it.
Tree on the tracks near Malleable Road
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Gas prices, as of Saturday afternoon . . .
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Flowers for Easter . . .
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Two teenagers from Lancaster County are facing serious charges following a midday shooting and high-speed police pursuit along Route 30 in early March.
Emilio A. Medina-Aponte, 16, and Anthony Marin Gonzalez, 17, have been charged as adults in connection with the incident, which spanned from West Hempfield Township to East Hempfield Township. As of Thursday afternoon, neither suspect was in custody.
The Shooting
On March 2, West Hempfield Township police responded at approximately 12:30 p.m. to reports of shots fired near Oswego and Oak Hollow drives, close to the Rivercrest Apartments. Arriving officers recovered roughly 30 shell casings along with two live rounds of .40-caliber and 9mm ammunition.
Investigators say the two teens had been driving through the area since at least 11 a.m., searching for two individuals they were targeting. Surveillance footage placed them at a nearby McDonald’s at 1788 Columbia Avenue before the shooting occurred.
According to charging documents, the intended targets were seated inside a dark Volkswagen Jetta on Oswego Drive when they spotted Gonzalez and Medina-Aponte, triggering an exchange of gunfire. The Jetta then fled the scene.
Following the shooting, the teens ran to a parked vehicle on Oak Hollow Drive. When they were unable to enter, they smashed the driver-side window, got inside, and drove away.
The Chase
Northwest Regional Police later located the vehicle and pursued it to a business in the 2900 block of Columbia Avenue in East Hempfield Township. The suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot toward the nearby Arbor Park mobile home community.
Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for the Arbor Park area as the search unfolded — a precaution taken as children were returning home from school. Police ultimately identified the suspects through witness accounts and security footage.
The Charges
Medina-Aponte faces four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, possession of a firearm by a minor, two counts of fleeing police, carrying a firearm without a license, and conspiracy.
Gonzalez faces one count of aggravated assault, one count of reckless endangerment, one count of fleeing police, and two counts of conspiracy, among other related charges.
West Hempfield Township police have not released information regarding the occupants of the Jetta.
[Source: LNP/LancasterOnline]
NATHAN WILLISON | LNP Staff Writer
An East Donegal Township man is facing criminal charges after police say he struck a 13-year-old with his truck and fled the scene last month.
Derek Scott Mohr, 28, is charged with causing an accident involving death or injury without a license, failing to stop to render aid, driving at an unsafe speed and related charges.
Mohr had been driving a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado through Chestnut Street in Columbia around 8 p.m. March 20 when he struck a 13-year-old boy riding a motorized scooter and continued driving, according to charging documents filed by police.
When police arrived, they found the boy with a broken leg and a cut to his forehead. His scooter was lying nearby, its handlebars completely snapped off.
Another teenager who witnessed what happened described the truck to police and said that the driver made no attempt to stop after striking the boy. Surveillance footage collected from the area shows the truck striking the boy and driving away, police said.
Following the incident, police released a statement requesting assistance from the public in identifying the driver, and a tipster told investigators Mohr owned the truck.
According to an affidavit, police found Mohr and the truck which showed blunt force damage to its front bumper, grill and hood. Police say Mohr admitted operating the vehicle when it struck the teenager. Mohr told police it had been raining at the time, and he did not see the teenager in the intersection. Mohr told investigators he left the scene because he was unsure of what he had struck.
At the time of the incident, Mohr’s license had been expired for just under a month, police said.
Mohr is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing, and bail conditions have not been set, according to court documents. An attorney representing Mohr was not listed in his docket as of Wednesday afternoon.
Columbia Spy 
