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.

Seahawks Roll Past Jags, Improve To 3-1

Seahawks Roll Past Jags, Improve To 3-1

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season last week with a thorough rout of visiting Washington at home on Tuesday.The Seahawks opened the season with a pair of impressive wins including a tight 59-56 victory over Queen Anne’s followed by an 87-44 rout of county rival… Read more »

Worcester Boys Close Out With Home Win

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity basketball team continued its see-saw early start to the season this week with a pair of wins sandwiched around a loss.The Mallards opened the 2018-2019 campaign with a pair of losses to Indian River and Laurel in the Tip-Off Classic, followed by two Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) losses… Read more »

North Ocean City Beach Stand Bid Interest, Prices On Decline; Council Mulls Policy Changes

North Ocean City Beach Stand Bid Interest, Prices On Decline; Council Mulls Policy Changes

OCEAN CITY — Faced with declining revenue from the north-end beach stand parcels, resort officials this week considered increasing the maximum threshold for the number of parcels a single operator may hold in the interest of sparking competition.The results of the auction for 18 beach equipment vendor parcels on the north end of Ocean City… Read more »

Mallards Sweep Two, Remain Unbeaten

Mallards Sweep Two, Remain Unbeaten

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s girls’ varsity basketball team continued to roll this week with a tight win over Delmarva Christian last Friday followed by another blowout over Holly Grove on Monday.The Mallards’ record now stands at 7-0 after the pair of wins last week and they are scoring in bunches. The seven-game win streak to start… Read more »

Decatur Girls Fall To Washington, 68-55

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team fell to host Washington High, 68-55, on Monday to drop to 2-2 on the season.Last Thursday, the Seahawks won a big Bayside South conference game with a 48-34 win over Crisfield at home. The win was the second in a row for the Decatur girls after dropping the… Read more »

Single Bidder Awarded Scoper Franchise In OC

OCEAN CITY — Resort officials this week approved the one and only bid for one of the two available beach photography franchises that came in slightly over the minimum acceptable bid.Continuing a theme prevalent throughout Monday’s meeting, the Mayor and Council approved the bid for one of two beach photography franchises. Earlier in the meeting,… Read more »

AGH Announces Medical Center Plans In Ocean Pines; Ground Breaking Planned For May

BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital officials have announced plans for a new facility in Ocean Pines that will house a proposed surgery center in addition to primary and specialty care physician practices and other outpatient services.The project, which will expand surgical services and help consolidate existing community services into a single location that is convenient… Read more »

Seahawks Blank Wicomico, Improve To 2-0

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team improved to 2-0 in the season last week with an 84-0 win over Wicomico and have yet to yield a single point thus far early in the season.The Seahawks won their all five matches in the lightest weight classes with forfeit victories by Caleb Myers at 106, Shamar Barnes… Read more »

Decatur Track Teams Solid In Bayside Meet

BERLIN- Decatur’s varsity indoor track teams turned in a solid performance in the second Bayside Conference meet of the year last week in Snow Hill including some outstanding individual performances.Decatur’s Kevin Beck finished first in the 1,600, while Carter McClendon finished eighth. The Decatur boys did well in the 800 with George Cheynet finishing fourth,… Read more »