BERLIN – The reality of the County Commissioners’ no public comment policy was brought home this week when they ignored this reporter’s questions after the last item of the day.Obviously smarting from an extensive article published in last week’s issue on the lack of public comment at commissioner meetings and the capricious nature of the… Read more »

SNOW HILL – No elected official reported the outcome of the County Commissioners’ private discussion of its public comment policy at Tuesday’s meeting, but one thing is clear: open comments from the public are still not permitted. The commissioners reportedly made some kind of decision on public comments, but there was no announcement of any change… Read more »

SNOW HILL – On Tuesday, the County Commissioners approved county enrollment in a program to provide free prescription drug discount cards to local citizens.The discount drug card program, established by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in partnership with Caremark pharmaceutical services company, is free and covers the entire family.There is no word yet on… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A large commercial project adjacent to two schools should tie into Berlin’s utilities, the Worcester County Planning Commission said last week, and not build its own wastewater and water facilities.The sketch plan of the Liberty Square commercial development, planned for the east side of Seahawk Rd. opposite Stephen Decatur Middle and High… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – In a regular session of the Mayor and City Council Monday night, a variety of topics were addressed and voted on. The following is a brief look at issues:New AppointmentsChris Shanahan, co-owner of K-Coast Surf Shops, was appointed to serve as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.Walter “Buck” Mann, of… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – While the sluggish resort real estate market has not completely turned a corner, there are signs it might be starting to recover, resort business leaders learned this week.Looking for any sign of optimism in what has been a dismal several months for the local real estate market, members of the Economic Development… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A Seaford, Del. man accused of first-degree rape and first-degree assault for allegedly raping his former girlfriend at knifepoint and gunpoint at a downtown Ocean City residence last March was officially cleared of all of the charges this week after a two-day trial.Juan Vicente-Morales, 33, of Seaford, appeared in Circuit Court this… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Less than 24 hours after the County Commissioners formally opposed slots in Worcester, the resort business community was celebrating the apparent demise of the gaming machines at Ocean Downs as proposed, but it remains to be seen if the letter from the county’s elected officials will achieve the desired results.After listening to… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Resort police last week got a big break in an unsolved Ocean City hotel robbery case dating back to August when one of the persons of interest in the case was arrested in Somerset County after a bizarre chase involving a Maryland State Police trooper being dragged by a car before shooting… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A worker made it safely to the ground Thursday after a scaffolding accident left him hanging from a condominium building by a safety harness.The scaffolding accident yesterday morning at the Capri, located on 110th Street, resulted in a desperate attempt by the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company to remove the restoration worker… Read more »