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

Question for today… “Who covets more, is evermore a slave.” – Robert Herrick, 17th century English poet. 

• Columbia’s councillors will vote on the 2014 budget at the December 9 council meeting. The budget includes no increase in the 8 percent real estate tax millage rate. This is in one of two borough LEGAL NOTICES published in today’s Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era.

• Today’s Lancaster New Era editorial references the Johnstown Flood Tax; here’s more about one of Pennsylvania’s notorious “temporary tax schemes” cooked up after the 1936 flood.

• There’s a press release blip in today’s Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era; it reads: “A patriot meeting for all conservative, freedom-loving residents who want to preserve, protect and defend the U.S. Constitution will be held Thursday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. December 14.” The release does not tell readers where the meeting will be held; to find out that, readers must call Ken Brenneman. Columbia news, views & reviews located this Ken Brenneman “tea party” video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIxvMzYnKrI

• If you watched the video, here’s more about that “German Air Force base” – Holloman AFB Website –[NOTE: Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located near Alamogordo, NM.]

• Aren’t open FaceBook pages just a great way to tell people about local events, local business or a local police department? (o-o-p-s, that one’s not an open, current page!) These Columbia police departments, though, have active, open, community-focused, information-filled FaceBook sites: Columbia, TN – Columbia, IL – Columbia, MS

• It keeps happening. “A former Dauphin County bank employee is charged with stealing $80,000.” – FOX43-TV