Although
the county would not disclose the kind of health insurance plan they accept,
i.e. single, husband/wife or family, we did hear five of the seven County
Commissioners are currently enrolled on the county’s health insurance plan,
meaning their coverage is funded by taxpayer dollars. In a letter this week,
Administrator Gerald Mason said I did not allow the county enough time to
respond to all aspects of the health insurance inquiry last week and that the
county did not intend to withhold information to the press. On Friday morning,
Public Information Officer Kim Moses reported the county would not reveal the
health plans of the commissioners because it would violate the health privacy
act, but she did release the names of the commissioners whose health insurance
is funded by the taxpayers. They are Commissioners Judy Boggs, Bud Church,
Louise Gulyas, Jim Purnell and Virgil Shockley, and those who have their own
coverage elsewhere are Commissioners Linda Busick and Robert Cowger. For those
keeping score, all eight of the Ocean City Mayor and Council members utilize
some sort of health insurance plan from the city and two of the six Berlin
Mayor and Council members have coverage through the town.
It’s
been a long time since the state’s harness racing industry has had any good
news. Last week’s work that Ocean Downs will offer a modified live racing meet
(four consecutive Saturdays in August with no live betting) did little to
assuage fears the industry’s death knell is near, although it did breathe a little
bit of life into it. The most recent pessimistic thoughts stem from official
word that Rosecroft, the largest harness racing track in the state up until
last week, will be shuttered. It was not too long ago that horseracing
lobbyists were pressuring Annapolis lawmakers on the need for slots to save
Rosecroft from fiscal demise. Sources say slots were approved too late and are
taking too long to come.
It’s no
secret it’s been hot lately and the heat yesterday was simply sweltering. How
hot was it? At mid-day, the Bank of Ocean City’s electronic marquee/thermometer
on 59th Street in Ocean City read 107 degrees, which is reportedly
the highest any staff member can ever recall seeing it.
In
other news, I love a fish tale and a unique one came across my desk this week.
Although
not as large as the White Marlin Open, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament,
which drew 156 boats in North Carolina, was beset by drama last week. A costly
error – the failure of an angler to secure a fishing license – led to a
first-place, 883-pound blue marlin being disqualified and consequently costing
a boat and its crew more than $900,000. According to the Big Rock Blue Marlin
Tournament’s Board of Directors, a mate who did not have a fishing license, a
requirement to participate in the tourney, hooked the beast. As expected, the
drama dominated the tournament, causing the tourney’s board to release a
statement.
It
read, “The
rule violation involves the “mate” not having a Coastal Recreational Fishing
License. This license is required by North Carolina law. It is required by the
Tournament as written in our rules. Participants and crew were reminded of the
license requirement at the Captains meeting prior to the Tournament. The mate
engaged in fishing activities without a valid license and later obtained a
license at 5:51 p.m. while heading to the weigh station. The fish was boated at
3:16 p.m.”
For what it’s worth, Maryland does not have the same license requirement.
