Articles

Salisbury Rejects Referendum

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury City Council put the final nail in a petition started by one of its own members Monday to have a controversial charter change placed on next year’s ballot. “This was a missed opportunity for the council majority to hear from citizens,” said Mayor James Ireton. “The resolution was non-binding, so council would have done no harm being respectful to our citizens.” Earlier this fall, Councilwoman Laura Mitchell took issue with what she felt...READ MORE

Ashley Wants Beach Horseback Riding Discussion

OCEAN CITY – A resort councilman brought the concept of horseback riding on the beach back to the Mayor and City Council’s attention this week, hoping for further discussion in the future. Councilman Brent Ashley initially offered the idea of allowing horseback riding on the beach back in October and has attempted to discuss it further on a few occasions. This week Ashley added that horseback riding on the beach would be an added attraction to go hand-in-hand with the Winterfest of...READ MORE

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Features Army Commander

OCEAN CITY – The commander of the infamous Black Hawk Down has been announced as this year’s Ocean City Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast speaker. Ocean City Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Director Bruce Spangler expressed excitement this week about Lieutenant General William G. “Jerry” Boykin of the US Army, retired coming to Ocean City next month. “Talking to people that know this guy, they say he’s a soldiers-soldier … he isn’t somebody that lives...READ MORE

Worcester Schools’ Economic Impact Gauged At $186M

SNOW HILL -- Every dollar spent on Worcester County Public Schools brings more than double that back to the county at large, according to a new study by Salisbury University. “Our study shows that the economic impact that Worcester County Public Schools has on Worcester County is $186 million,” said Dr. Memo Diriker, the founding director of Salisbury University’s Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON).  “This total is two-and-a-half times...READ MORE

Problem Property Demolition Avoided

SALISBURY -- A non-compliance hearing on the planned demolition of a known trouble spot in Salisbury set for this week was postponed again at the last minute after the property changed hands again. Salisbury officials and residents have long considered the Thrift Travel Inn on North Salisbury Blvd. to be a public nuisance. Over the past several years, numerous city agencies, including police, fire department and code compliance, have responded to calls for service at the property nearly 1,600...READ MORE

Mayor Learning While Juggling Multiple Duties

OCEAN CITY – This week The Dispatch caught up with Acting City Manager and Mayor Rick Meehan to discuss the multiple duties he is currently carrying out. When former City Manager Dennis Dare was removed on Sept. 9, Meehan assumed his responsibilities. According to the City Charter, the mayor shall act as the city manager of the town during the prudency of any vacancy in the position of the city manager and during such time shall be the chief administration and financial officer of the...READ MORE

Local Writer Hoping To Land School Free Books

OCEAN CITY – A local mom is hoping to hit the jack pot -- a year’s worth of free books for her son’s school -- but needs your votes to get there. Andrea Bowland has made it to the second round of MeeGenius Author Challenge 2011. The second round of the contest features a public vote in order to get the author through to the final round. Voting concludes on Dec. 18 at midnight with the third round to follow. The finalists in the third round will have their children’s books...READ MORE

Berlin Christmas Parade Results

BERLIN -- The Berlin Lions Club’s 41st Annual Christmas Parade was held last Thursday. Here are the results by category. (BULLET)Adult Sponsored Floats: River Church of the Nazarene, first place; Maryland Coastal Bays Program, second; and Son Rise Church, third. (BULLET)Youth Sponsored Floats: Beary Best, first; Stevenson United Methodist Church, second; and Assateague Coast Kids, third. (BULLET)School Sponsored Floats: Berlin Intermediate, first; Ocean City Elementary, second; and...READ MORE

Turtle Rescued By OCBP Released

OCEAN CITY -- Continuing a long-running series of positive outcomes, the National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP), with the help of some friends, successfully released a rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle rescued off the coast of Ocean City in July last week in North Carolina. On July 26, the Ocean City Beach Patrol rescued the young adult loggerhead turtle found floating in the ocean off 15th Street. OCBP Sgt. Brent Weingard rescued the turtle from the surf and brought it...READ MORE

Engagements

Fowler-Witherow BERLIN – Rick and Barbara Witherow of Ocean Pines have announced the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Mary Witherow, to Stephen Thomas Fowler, son of Jim and Kathy Fowler of Ocean Pines. The bride-to-be is a 2006 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and a 2010 graduate of Stevenson University with a bachelor’s degree in business communication. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications at Duquesne University in...READ MORE

CASA Program Provides Stability For Local Children

BERLIN -- Worcester County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) program is running at full tilt and, without new volunteers, may soon become overloaded. With 40 volunteers, 38 of which are assigned with two on hiatus, CASA is at maximum capacity and more children are expected to become eligible for advocacy in the next few months. “We’d have to put kids on a waiting list,” said Program Director Brigitte Saulsbury on what may happen if more volunteers...READ MORE

County Delays Approval Of Watershed Plan

SNOW HILL -- Dissatisfaction with the current language in a state-required Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) caused the Worcester County Commissioners to delay authorization of the proposal Tuesday. “There are so many unknowns,” said Commissioner Madison Bunting while analyzing the WIP. After reviewing the plan, Bunting felt that the wording was not “generic enough” and could have a negative impact on Worcester. “We haven’t even addressed cost,” he...READ MORE

New Salisbury Towing Ordinance Nearly Complete

SALISBURY -- After two years of work, it looks like the Salisbury City Council nearly has a citywide police towing ordinance ready to hit the streets. During a work session Monday, the council put some finishing touches on the document, adding language protecting vehicle owners from having to pay a fee if their car is parked near the site of an emergency and needs to be towed through no fault of their own. In such a scenario, the city, or whatever public agency responded to the emergency, would...READ MORE

County Seeks Route 113 Light

SNOW HILL -- A recent fatal crash has the Worcester County Commission demanding safety improvements at a local intersection. “I’ve heard excuses and quite frankly, I’m fed up,” said County Commissioner Virgil Shockley. Shockley is leading the charge to have a traffic light installed at the intersection of Routes 113 and 12, where an accident resulted in a fatality last Friday. The crash is hardly the first to occur at the intersection. Shockley estimates upwards of 50...READ MORE

New Wicomico Councilman Appointed To Fill Vacancy

SALISBURY – Some seats were swapped this week as the Wicomico County Council was joined by a new council member followed by the traditional election of officers. In late November, the Wicomico County Council appointed John Hall, a local businessman, to fill a vacant seat on council left by Councilman Bob Caldwell who had passed away after a long battle with cancer. According to the county charter, when a council vacancy takes place before the end of the term of office the vacated...READ MORE

OC Finalizing Komen Race For Cure Details

OCEAN CITY – Plans to turn the resort pink next year continue to be finalized, as the inaugural Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Ocean City approaches. Earlier this year, the Mayor and Council authorized the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to take place in Ocean City. Before this week, the last time the event’s coordinators approached the Mayor and City Council requesting minor changes was in the spring. “After our review and further consideration of what this event will be...READ MORE

OC Condo Bookkeeper Charged In Theft Scheme

OCEAN CITY -- On the heels of one of the largest condo association theft schemes in recent memory, a Dagsboro, Del. woman last week was indicted on 15 counts of theft scheme and theft for allegedly bilking an Ocean City condominium association out of tens of thousands of dollars over a three-year period. Carolyn H. Miller, 51, last week was indicted on 15 total counts including theft scheme over $10,000 and under $100,000 after the property management company hired to replace her by the Marlin...READ MORE

Worcester Parents Urged To Fight For Budget

SNOW HILL -- The Worcester County Board of Education is gearing up for a tough budget season and encouraging parents to fight for more funding for schools. According to County Commissioner Virgil Shockley, however, what happens at the state level over the next few months will play the largest part in deciding how much funding schools will be given next year. “This is a year we need to fight,” said Board President Bob Hulburd during Tuesday’s annual budget review...READ MORE

Pocomoke School Earns Title I Designation

POCOMOKE -- Pocomoke Elementary School (PES) received a National Title I Distinguished School designation this week, making it one of only two schools in Maryland to do so this year. “I think it’s quite an accomplishment,” said Board of Education President Bob Hulburd. PES joins an elite list of schools to receive the designation in 2011. “Each year, only 100 schools in the country are selected,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Andes. Each state selects two,...READ MORE

Wicomico May Host Two National Softball Tourneys

SALISBURY – The Wicomico County Council took the swing to go ahead with a request that will bring two softball tournaments into the county along with a predicted millions of dollars in revenue. The County Council reviewed a request on Tuesday to authorize the appropriation of $30,000 from the tourism fund balance to tourism capital for improvements to athletic fields. Wicomico Recreation Parks and Tourism Director Gary Mackes, requested the appropriation to make improvements to the...READ MORE

November Casino Figures Released

BERLIN -- The November figures for the Casino at Ocean Downs were released this week, representing a steady decline in off-season numbers after peaking this summer. The Maryland State Lottery Agency, which oversees the two existing slots facilities in the state, released the final numbers for November for the Casino at Ocean Downs this week, revealing the monthly revenue figures had dropped to a level not seen since the second month of operation last February. The Berlin slots facility generated...READ MORE

Farmer, State Settle Pollution Complaint

BISHOPVILLE -- Avoiding what would have been the largest penalty of its kind, a Bishopville poultry farm recently reached a settlement with the state for a groundwater pollution complaint. In June, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) filed an administrative complaint against the Jacobs Farm, a poultry operation in Bishopville, seeking a $30,000 fine, which would have been the largest ever handed down by the department for the alleged unauthorized discharge of animal-related...READ MORE

Music Festival Organizers In Process Of Picking Bands

OCEAN CITY – Bands are in the process of being selected to perform in the next big thing to come to the resort, next summer’s High Tide Music Festival. “We have sent out offers to headliners and are in the process of locking in which ones make the most sense for the event,” partner of Founders Entertainment Tom Russell wrote on Monday. “The venue will be right on the beach, between Dorchester Street and N 2nd Street, and event hours are 11 a.m to 11 p.m. Not too...READ MORE

Parents Fed Up With Wicomico Education Problems

OCEAN CITY – Members of the newly formed Parents in Action group came before the Wicomico County Council this week to express their concerns for Board of Education funding, in particular the maintenance issue at James M. Bennett Middle School. Kim Hudson, one of the founding members of Parents in Action, said the group strongly believes solutions can be found when all parties put aside their differences and work together. “Our newly formed independent parent group, Parents in Action,...READ MORE

OC Man Faces Felony Theft Charges

OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City man was arrested last week on felony theft and other charges after allegedly bilking an elderly relative out of over $110,000 over the course of several years. Last week, New Castle County, Del. police, with the assistance of members of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, located and arrested Rick Foster, 49, of Ocean City while the suspect slept in a vehicle in a parking lot in New Castle. Foster was wanted by Delaware and federal officials after an...READ MORE

Thunderbirds Returning To OC In 2012

OCEAN CITY – The U.S Air Force Thunderbirds team released its 2012 show schedule on Wednesday, revealing it will be heading to Ocean City for this summer’s OC Air Show, scheduled for June 9-10, 2012. Ocean City Air Show LLC President Bryan Lilley will be coming before the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday to announce the Thunderbirds will return for the OC Air Show’s fifth anniversary event. Lilley said discussion with the Thunderbirds on their return to Ocean City started back...READ MORE

Q&A With Former City Manager Dennis Dare

BERLIN -- The former city manager of Ocean City broke his silence this week, three months after being forced to retire by a majority of the City Council and a week after his severance agreement with the city was made official. Dennis Dare retired in early September after the City Council voted 4-3 in closed session to terminate him if he did not submit his resignation. He resigned on Sept. 9, 2011. Council members Brent Ashley, Joe Hall, Jim Hall and Margaret Pillas supported the move, while...READ MORE