There is no denying it: Columbia has been through a difficult stretch. Between heartbreaking tragedies, acts of violence, and the daily challenges that come with a growing community, many residents are emotionally exhausted. Our first responders, especially our police officers, have been asked to carry an increasingly heavy burden. They answer the calls at all…
By The Columbia Chronicle Editorial Board Twenty-year-old Saige Zink should be alive today. Instead, her family is preparing for a funeral after she drowned in the Susquehanna River following a crash in Manor Township during the early morning hours of July 30. There will be time for courts, attorneys, evidence, and criminal proceedings. Those processes…
More Than News. We’re Part of the Community. At The Columbia Chronicle, we believe local news should do more than report what happened. It should help bring a community together. While many news outlets focus primarily on government meetings, politics, and regional issues, The Columbia Chronicle is committed to covering the full story of Columbia….
By Jesse Sweigart | The Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, Pa. — In the wake of yesterday’s arrest of a 17-year-old Columbia resident in connection with a fatal stabbing earlier this month, our community continues to grapple with grief, sadness, and difficult emotions. An arrest may answer some questions, but it does not erase the pain being…
By Jesse SweigartThe Columbia Chronicle COLUMBIA, PA — In a town where neighbors know one another and community has always been one of our greatest strengths, two recent homicides have left residents searching for answers and asking a difficult question: What is happening to Columbia? Within just days of each other, Columbia Borough became the…
By Jesse SweigartThe Columbia Chronicle Columbia is hurting. Over the last several weeks, our community has witnessed an alarming series of violent incidents that have left families grieving, residents frightened, and many of us asking the same question: How many more vigils will we attend before something changes? This week, community members are gathering for…
By Jesse SweigartThe Columbia Chronicle Over the past several weeks, Columbia has been forced to confront a troubling reality. Residents have watched reports of a homicide investigation, multiple stabbings, and other violent incidents dominate local conversations. These events have shaken our community and raised understandable concerns about public safety. Every victim has a family. Every…
For months, we’ve watched something incredible happen. What started as a simple idea to provide honest, community-focused local news has grown into something much bigger than we ever imagined. Today, we are proud to officially welcome you to The Columbia Chronicle, the next chapter in our journey to serve Columbia and the surrounding communities. Our…
In government, authority is supposed to be visible. Who drafts.Who negotiates.Who approves.And who signs. But in Columbia Borough, a series of internal documents obtained through Right‑to‑Know requests reveal something very different: A process where contracts move through multiple hands—but final control appears concentrated in one place. Two Parallel Contracts—Two Different Voices The documents show that…
In government, transparency isn’t tested when things are easy. It’s tested when the public starts asking questions—and the answers don’t come quickly. In Columbia Borough, that moment has arrived. And now, there’s a paper trail. The First Document: A Delay, Not an Answer On June 2, 2026, Columbia Borough Manager Jack Brommer responded to a…
In any local government, there are always two versions of events: In Columbia Borough right now, the gap between those two is getting harder to ignore. This isn’t about speculation.It’s about the questions that remain unanswered—and why they matter. The Contract You Still Haven’t Seen Let’s start with the most straightforward issue—and the one that…
In government, moments of concern rarely appear overnight.They build—step by step, decision by decision—until a pattern becomes impossible to ignore. In Columbia Borough, that pattern is now coming into focus. This is a timeline of how we got here. 2024: A Leadership Transition Begins In September 2024, Columbia Borough appointed Steven Kaufhold as borough manager…
Something isn’t sitting right in Columbia Borough, and more residents are starting to notice. Over the past several months, a pattern has begun to emerge involving borough leadership decisions that, while perhaps technically permissible, raise serious questions about transparency, accountability, and respect for the public’s right to know. At the center of these concerns is…
“The Bid Was Stopped — But the Fight Has Just Begun” Columbia—you did something rare. You showed up. Hundreds packed the fire hall. People lined the walls. Some were turned away. For the first time in a long time, this town made it clear: We are paying attention now. And it worked. Borough Council rejected…
Columbia Borough’s recent 4–3 vote to approve Chief Holly’s contract has done something impressive: it got just about everyone talking. Not shouting—this isn’t that kind of town—but definitely talking. At first glance, it looks like a typical local government decision. There was a process, a vote was taken, and a contract was approved. Case closed….
Columbia, PA — What started as one of the most shocking local stories in recent years is now becoming something much bigger… a second chance for an entire community. Just two years ago, the Columbia Boys Athletic Association (CBAA)—a foundation of youth sports in town—was rocked by a major theft case involving a former co-treasurer….
And Celebrating a New Chapter with Chief Holly Arndt In every town, there are individuals whose dedication quietly shapes the character and safety of a community. In Columbia, Pennsylvania, Chief Jack Brommer stands among those few. As of May 1, 2026, Chief Brommer officially retired as Chief of Police, concluding a distinguished career that began…
