SNOW HILL- Despite hours of testimony and mountains of evidence, a Stephen Decatur High School teacher charged in November with sexual abuse of a minor and sexual solicitation of a minor was acquitted in Worcester County Circuit Court on Tuesday.In November, Decatur High School social studies teacher Austin Martin, 26, of Berlin was charged with… Read more »
Author Archives: Shawn Soper
55 ‘Ghost’ Pots Removed From Bays
OCEAN CITY – The Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP), along with a team of local watermen and volunteers successfully removed dozens of hidden “ghost” crab pots from the waters, in and around the resort area that were either abandoned or lost, causing a danger to several species along with navigation.The MCBP recently partnered with local… Read more »
Boardwalk Merchants Split On Proposed Summer Fireworks Start Time
OCEAN CITY- When it comes to deciding the best time to start the summer fireworks shows in Ocean City, it appears the Boardwalk business community is just as split as the town’s elected officials and staff members were when the issue was broached a month ago.During a larger debate on value-added special events in February,… Read more »
Three Seahawks Earn Medals At States
BERLIN- Six members of Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team competed in the state championships last weekend in Prince George’s County and half placed in their respective weight divisions.By virtue of a strong performance in the state 4A-3A South regional tournament, Decatur sent six wrestlers to the state championship meet last weekend including Robert Kaminski (113)… Read more »
City Zoning Veteran Celebrated
OCEAN CITY — Long-time Ocean City Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith was feted with a special retirement ceremony this week at City Hall.Smith worked for Ocean City back in 1969 to 1971, but left to pursue private sector endeavors. He returned in 1985 when he was hired as the zoning administrator at a time of remarkable… Read more »
Council Votes Down Deed Transfer For Median Project
OCEAN CITY — Concerned about the appearance of a prominent corner near the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, resort officials this week decided not to deed a small parcel at 41st Street and Coastal Highway to the State Highway Administration (SHA) this week.Last year, the Mayor and Council approved the development of a dune-style fence… Read more »
Mallards Dominate ESIAC Post-Season Awards
BERLIN- After wildly successful 2016-2017 campaigns, Worcester Prep’s boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams were well represented last week when the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) post-season awards were announced including a pair of Player of the Year honors.The Worcester boys’ team used a big second half run to defeat rival Salisbury School, 55-45,… Read more »
OC Looking To Illuminate Beach Ball Water Tower
OCEAN CITY — An effort is underway to illuminate the new beach ball-themed water tower at 1st Street, but thus far a possible solution has been elusive.Last year, the new municipal water tower was constructed at 1st Street and St. Louis Avenue and was later adorned with a distinctive beach ball design paint job. The… Read more »
Martial Arts Instructor Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse Of Minors
SNOW HILL — A Salisbury martial arts instructor, indicted last fall on dozens of counts of sexual solicitation and sex abuse of a minor in both Worcester and Wicomico counties, pleaded guilty this week and now faces a maximum of 75 years in jail and a lifetime on the sex offender registry.Last October, Zachariah Bennett,… Read more »
Mixed News On Fed Beach Replenishment Funding
OCEAN CITY — It was good news and bad news last week for Ocean City’s beach replenishment program after the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) approved the funding for the next phase slated for this fall, but left uncertain federal funding for subsequent phases in the future.The Ocean City beaches are routinely replenished every four… Read more »