BERLIN – Worcester County’s Department of Social Services was among nine departments around the state honored this week by Governor Martin O’Malley for the progress they have made in reforming Maryland’s child welfare system.On Tuesday, O’Malley honored nine local Social Services departments around the state including Worcester for accomplishments in meeting or exceeding state mandates… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A visiting Circuit Court judge this week agreed to dismiss the Worcester County Commissioners as defendants in a $125,000 civil suit filed in June by an Ocean Pines man against the elected officials over an erroneous press release issued to local media.On July 2, 2008, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office issued a… Read more »

SNOW HILL – State cuts in Worcester County’s highway and police funding made in September will be absorbed through staff vacancies and departmental savings.Worcester County lost $865,000 in highway user revenues and $30,704 in police aid in the recent round of cuts handed down by the state of Maryland.The large drop in the highway user… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A smoother, faster county process for handling nuisance abatement on unkempt properties could be on its way in response to increasing complaints over abandoned properties, according to informal discussions during the Worcester County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.“I’ve noticed particularly in my district where more and more properties are beginning to look like… Read more »

SNOW HILL – Another step has been taken toward completing Worcester County’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan as the County Commissioners got their first look at revisions to the draft rezoning and subdivision code this week during a Tuesday afternoon work session with staff.Staff and the Worcester County Planning Commission have been working on amending the draft… Read more »

BERLIN – An official gold shovel groundbreaking ceremony for the Berlin wastewater treatment plant expansion and improvements on Friday inaugurated the long-awaited project, which is intended to improve the plant’s effect on the environment and make more growth in Berlin possible.The event on Friday attracted a large crowd, including U. S. Congressman Frank Kratovil and… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – On Saturday, Oct. 10th, the waterfront docks of West Ocean City will come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the sea. Harbor Day at the Docks will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and is being held along the working harbor docks adjacent to Sunset Avenue. Created last year, this… Read more »

BERLIN – More than 400 athletes from across the region competed in the 10th Annual Osprey Sprint Triathlon at Public Landing Saturday, Oct. 3 to benefit the Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation. The $75 entrance fee and generous local sponsorships helped raise more than $43,000, which will be used for restoration, monitoring and education in the… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – More details emerged this week in the decades-old alleged child sexual abuse case involving a former Catholic priest and an unidentified victim in Ocean City, dating back as early as 1977, although the accused has not yet been extradited from North Carolina to Worcester County and, subsequently, has not been indicted on… Read more »

SNOW HILL – One young life had been taken, another seriously damaged and a third hung in the balance early Wednesday morning, but in the end, Michael Ryan, who started the fight on a tragic night in May 2008 that ultimately led to the beating death of Michael Mitchell, got a second chance at a… Read more »