BERLIN — Despite a growing trend toward “pay-to-play” policies for sports and other extracurricular activities in the face of shrinking budgets and other cutbacks, Worcester County public schools officials will not be collecting fees from student athletes any time in the near future.Public school systems across Maryland and throughout the country are adopting stringent fee… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — A Finksburg, Md. man who escaped on Monday from the Somerset County Detention Center, where he was being held awaiting trial on numerous sex offense and assault charges, was captured on Monday morning at a bank in Ocean City.Around 5:30 p.m. last Sunday, Maryland State Police (MSP) were called to the Somerset… Read more »

ANNAPOLIS — The planned expansion of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City got put back on the fast track this week when state officials approved the $8.15 million contract for the project.In what turned out to be a love fest of sorts for the resort, the state’s three-member Board of Public Works,… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The Dew Tour set record breaking attendance numbers this week, but before dismantling was complete this week some town officials openly pondered whether the event provided a true economic benefit to Ocean City.According to Demoflush, there was an estimated 321,323 people in Ocean City last weekend, representing a 7-percent increase from last… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – As City Council members approved a bid on deck lumber for phase one of the Boardwalk reconstruction, they began to back track in how far they have come in their decision of what material to use.After reviewing the many bids submitted to provide the lumber to deck the new and improved Boardwalk,… Read more »

FENWICK ISLAND — Spurred by pressure from several residents and business owners suffering through one of the worst summers in decades, Delaware transportation officials this week announced the construction schedule for the ongoing Route 54 rehabilitation will be limited to nighttime hours for the remainder of the season.Last fall, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDot)… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The Dew Tour has taken over the resort this week and BMX vert athlete Jamie Bestwick and skate vert athletes Bob Burnquist and Pierre-Luc Gagnon found the time to talk to The Dispatch prior to the start of the Pantech Open.Bestwick of England has won first place in year-end Dew Cup standings… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Council chambers was packed to capacity on Tuesday afternoon when the Art League of Ocean City’s long battle with the city for a new cultural headquarters in the resort finally came to an end.The Art League of Ocean City (ALOC) originated in the 1960’s and has been working out of the same… Read more »

ASSATEAGUE — In an effort to reduce often dangerous and sometimes tragic interactions between visitors to Assateague and the wild horses that inhabit the barrier island, National Park Service officials this week announced two new regulations in the hopes of improving safety.Superintendent Trish Kicklighter this week outlined several new initiatives aimed at preventing harmful interactions… Read more »