About The Author: Bethany Hooper

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Bethany Hooper has been with The Dispatch since 2016. She currently covers various general stories. Hooper graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 2012 and the University of Maryland in 2016, where she completed double majors in journalism and economics.

Amendment Proposed To OC Smoking Ordinance

OCEAN CITY – Efforts to amend a smoking ban on the beach and Boardwalk were initiated at a resort committee meeting this week.In an Ocean City Police Commission meeting Monday, Councilman Wayne Hartman began a discussion on amending the town’s smoking ordinance to include any substance.Currently, smoking tobacco or vaping is banned along the beach… Read more »

Teacher’s Financial Literacy Efforts Honored

Teacher’s Financial Literacy Efforts Honored

SALISBURY – A Wicomico County teacher has been awarded a statewide honor for her efforts to incorporate financial literacy lessons in the classroom.Emily Shank, a family and consumer science teacher at Pittsville Elementary and Middle School and Bennett Middle School, was honored as the Outstanding Teacher in Middle School for the entire state of Maryland… Read more »

OC Drone Program Moving Forward

OCEAN CITY – Plans to implement a drone program in Ocean City are “moving in the right direction,” according to resort officials this week.In the city’s Police Commission meeting Monday, Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald updated resort officials on efforts to establish a program that could use drones and mounted cameras for public safety, incident… Read more »

Wicomico Approves Funding Requests

SALISBURY – Officials in Wicomico County this week agreed to give nearly $230,000 to three agencies, but not before some debate over a request that was eliminated from the budget prior to the current fiscal year.On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council approved requests from Wor-Wic Community College, the Wicomico County Circuit Court and the Tri-County… Read more »

Community Health Initiatives Discussed At Annual Conference

Community Health Initiatives Discussed At Annual Conference

OCEAN CITY – Discussions on various community-based initiatives took center stage at the Worcester County Health Department’s annual public health conference this week.On Wednesday, health department officials, county agencies, and community members and organizations met at the Clarion Fontainebleau Resort Hotel in Ocean City to discuss community-based initiatives recently implemented in Worcester County and the… Read more »

PACE Program Introduced To Wicomico Council

SALISBURY – A loan program is expected to benefit commercial property owners in Wicomico County who want to pursue green energy projects.In a Wicomico County Council meeting Tuesday, officials introduced a legislative bill that would establish a Clean Energy Loan Program, a Maryland Commercial PACE – Property Assessed Clean Energy – program that enables low-cost,… Read more »

Area Earth Day Clean Up Events Start This Weekend

BERLIN – A slew of celebrations and cleanup activities to honor Earth Day will take place across the Eastern Shore in the coming weeks.In conjunction with Earth Day, which takes place April 22, several local communities and organizations are encouraging residents and businesses to participate in annual spring cleanup and celebration events.On Saturday, April 7,… Read more »