About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.

Route 90 Bridge Maintenance Announced

OCEAN CITY — Local motorists can expect delays traversing the Route 90 Bridge starting Monday as the Maryland Department of Transportation-State Highway Administration (MDOT-SHA) begins an extensive maintenance project on the spans.MDOT-SHA will begin routine maintenance work on the bridges over the St. Martin’s River and Assawoman Bay starting on Monday. Crews will make repairs… Read more »

Track Teams Fare Well in Conference Meet

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s indoor track teams acquitted themselves well at the Bayside Conference Championships last week in Snow Hill with several top 10 finishes in various events.On the boys’ side, in the 55-meter dash, Waylon Hobgood was sixth and Jaden Holland was 15th. Riley Calloway was 13th in the 300, while Ethan Cowder was 24th… Read more »

Biden Administration Denies 10-Knot Speed Limit Emergency Request

Biden Administration Denies 10-Knot Speed Limit Emergency Request

OCEAN CITY – While it remains to be seen if a proposed federal rule change to reduce offshore speed limits for recreational and commercial vessels comes to fruition, the Biden administration this week denied a petition to institute the changes immediately.In an effort to save endangered North Atlantic right whales, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Read more »

Seven Rescued 30 Miles Off Resort’s Coast

OCEAN CITY — Seven people were hoisted from a disabled tugboat adrift about 30 miles off the coast of Ocean City early Saturday morning.Around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, a crewmember aboard the tugboat Legacy notified watch-standers at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region that while towing a 290-foot barge from New Jersey to… Read more »

Petition Signature Verification Process Challenged

OCEAN CITY – The organizer of a successful petition drive aimed at reversing an ordinance conveying an abandoned portion of right-of-way along Baltimore Avenue continues to challenge the verified signature count.Last year, local resident and former councilperson Margaret Pillas launched an effort to petition to referendum an ordinance passed by the Mayor and Council to… Read more »

Seahawks Edge Rams, Remain Unbeaten

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team edged Bayside South rival Parkside, 44-40, last week to remain unbeaten in the regular season.The Seahawks are now a perfect 10-0 in the regular season although they did drop a pair during the Governor’s Challenge over the holiday break. Since then, the Decatur girls have reeled off five… Read more »

Early Ocean City Union Contract Extension Called ‘Historic’; Signed Agreement Bypasses Collective Bargaining Process

OCEAN CITY — After negotiations called “historic,” resort officials this week inked an amended contract that improves wages and benefits for its firefighter-paramedic union and extends it out three years.The current International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 4269 labor agreement was set to expire on June 30, 2024. The looming deadline would have set in… Read more »

Seahawks Excel at War on the Shore

Seahawks Excel at War on the Shore

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team excelled in the War on the Shore tournament they hosted last weekend, finishing fourth overall among some of the best high school programs in the mid-Atlantic region.The Seahawks finished fourth overall in the War on the Shore at Decatur last weekend and placed seven wrestlers including two first-place finishes…. Read more »