removing columns

[rod]

I have some text files that I would like to modify by removing columns 60 thru
180.  I have been trying to use the  colrm  command without much luck.
It seems that the colrm command dies  when it gets to caracter (ASCII
226) That character shows up as an a with a hat (shift 6) on it.  
I would assume that there may be other charaters that kill colrm.  

Anyone know why this is happening?  What other tool sould I be using?
Sed or Awk?  

Thanks
rod h.