About The Author: Shawn Soper

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.

Summer ‘Play It Safe’ Program Ends After 30 Years

Mar 17,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY – For three decades, Ocean City’s Play it Safe program provided fun, safe alternatives to countless recent high school graduates visiting the resort for Senior Week, but the amazing run is coming to a close.The Play it Safe program was borne out of the Ocean City Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Committee, in… Read more »

Pickleball Court Expansion Discussed

Mar 17,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY – While Ocean City continues to move forward with an effort to rebrand the resort as a sports destination, could ever-growing pickleball be the answer?That was a question the Recreation and Parks Committee had before them this week. Ocean City over the last few years has been seeking ways to rebrand the town’s… Read more »

Seahawks Collect All-Bayside South Honors

Mar 17,2022 by Shawn Soper

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball was well-represented in the Bayside South awards announced last week.The Seahawks went a perfect 19-0 in the regular season and finished with a remarkable 21-2 record overall. Decatur was rewarded for their outstanding season when the Bayside South conference post-season awards were announced.Nadia Bullock and Parkside’s Amanda Ballard were… Read more »

Resort Planners Debate Occupancy Code Amendment

Mar 17,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY – Maintaining the sanctity of the resort’s R-1 single-family residential neighborhoods was the subject of an informal discussion by the Planning Commission this week.The Planning Commission this week had a discussion on a handful of code amendments that will be coming up for public hearing. The particular amendments up for discussion on Tuesday… Read more »

Bill Aims To Establish Shrimp Fishery Pilot Program

Mar 14,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY – A bill in the Maryland General Assembly that would clarify the rules for developing a shrimp fishery pilot program in the state with implications for the resort area and the Lower Shore got favorable reports this week from state Senate and House committees.Shrimp, a staple in most resort area restaurants in many… Read more »

Route 50 Bridge Work To Include Lane Closures

Mar 10,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will perform routine inspections of the Route 50 Bridge next week.Officials say inspections will begin Monday, March 14, weather permitting, with crews working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on the bridge. Work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Friday, March… Read more »

Suspect Charged In 2010 Homicide

Mar 10,2022 by Shawn Soper

SALISBURY — A Lower Shore man was arrested this week after a Wicomico County grand jury indicted him on first-degree murder charges for a cold homicide case over 22 years ago.Ryan Joseph Ellis, 32, of Princess Anne, was indicted by a Wicomico County grand jury on first-and second-degree murder charges. Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers… Read more »

MDTA Board Approves Grace Period For Pandemic Toll Bills

Mar 10,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY – Maryland residents and visitors surprisingly whacked with exorbitant bills from using the state’s tolled facilities, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, for example, will have a grace period to catch up, state transportation officials decided last week.At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state quickly went overnight to a cashless system for… Read more »

Seahawks Represented on All-Conference Teams

Mar 10,2022 by Shawn Soper

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team was well-represented when the Bayside South conference end of season awards were announced last week.Brycen Coleman was named to the All Bayside South Second Team. Coleman averaged a double-double on the season and led the team in average points per game and average rebounds per game. Named to… Read more »

Atlantic General Presents Annual Report To Council; Officials Discuss Townsend Medical Center’s Flexibility

Mar 10,2022 by Shawn Soper

OCEAN CITY — Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) officials this week presented their annual report to the Mayor and Council, and while some of the focus was on the facility’s many accomplishments, there was not shortage of discussion about some of the challenges during the pandemic.Each year, hospital officials come before the Mayor and Council to… Read more »