today’s news and information gleanings from here and there!

Quote for today… “This archaic and highly partsian redistricting system is inefficient and costly. It caters to politicians rather than to the people they serve.” – Excerpted from the editorial about “redistricting” in today’s Intelligencer Journal: “Enough Seahorses.”

• ” … and why would anyone want to watch? “Brenda Heist grants interview to Dr. Phil” – LancasterOnLine

• News release – Columbia Borough Police Department

• OPINION: The above-mentioned editorial about redistricting serves the “same-old” menu: We have way too many self-serving career politicians at all levels in this country. Vote them out! Get them away from the trough!

• “massive and unprecedented intrusion” – “U.S. Justice Department secretly obtains Associated Press phone records, won’t say why” – Harrisburg Patriot-News

In the 2008 commemorative event “Flames Across the Susquehanna,” 25 wood-fueled fires burned atop the stone piers that still remain from Columbia-Wrightsville Covered Bridge, which was deliberately burned during the Civil War. (Lancaster Newspapers file photo)

• Not enough Amish Mafia? Unbelievably, there’s going to be a season two. –Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era
  

Nice work!

• “More remnants of the former Gundel Funeral Home are being sold at a two-day sale this weekend in Conestoga.” – Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

• Dr. Joyce Brothers dies – Los Angeles Times

• Letters to the editors in today’s Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

• “dumass” decision rescinded: New Orleans newspaper will now return to seven day publishing – BestofNewOrleans.com

• “Salute to Veterans’‘ will be held Monday, May 27. The event offers veterans and one guest free admission to a Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game, plus Barnstormer Bucks for food and drink. Veterans can register by filling out the electronic form on this  website, RepMentzer.com, or by contacting Representative Steve Mentzer’s office at 626-1776 during office hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. – Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

• POLICE LOG: “MANOR TWP.: Ryan Bloom, 24, currently in Lancaster County Prison, was charged with four counts of forgery, four counts of access device fraud and two counts of theft by deception after making numerous false transactions at Members First Federal Credit Union branches between December and February. He faces similar charges from several other local departments. – MANOR TWP.: Tanya Westfall, 21, and Juan Velazquez, 25, both of Jemfield Court, were charged after an April 11 fight involving girls at Charlestown Park. They brought one of the girls to the park to take part in the fight, police said. Velazquez was also charged with simple assault for assaulting a 17-year-old boy who tried to intervene in the fight. – WEST HEMPFIELD TWP.: Marcos Sanchez, 41, of Reading, was charged Friday at Weis Market, 1400 Stony Battery Road, for trying to take 15 to 20 cans of baby formula from the store. He fled on foot, but was caught by police. Sanchez was committed to county prison in lieu of $8,000 bail. – MANOR TWP.: Logan Gorman, 18, of South Prince Street, Lancaster, was charged with taking about $50 worth of video games and equipment from a home of an acquaintance April 28.” – Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era