OCEAN CITY — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration team, expected to be the feature act at the Ocean City Air Show in June, announced this week it was canceling all remaining appearances for 2013, putting an apparent damper of the resort’s air show, but organizers said this week the show will go on with… Read more »
Category: Top Stories
NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Natural Gas Could Be Available Locally By Fall If PSC OKs Acquisition
BERLIN — Conversion to natural gas in Worcester County could become an option as early as the fall depending on the final ruling of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding Chesapeake Utilities Corporation acquiring assets from the Eastern Shore Gas Company (ESG).Citizen turnout for Tuesday’s PSC public hearing on the acquisition was light, although… Read more »
NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: OC’s Early Budget Plan Calls For Tax Increase; Average Taxpayer To Pay $40 More A Year
OCEAN CITY – The next fiscal year’s proposed budget for the Town of Ocean City was presented this week with a total operating budget of about $130.4 million, along with an increase in the tax rate that will affect the average taxpayer by about $40 per year.“While the information has been presented and characterized as… Read more »
NEW FOR TUESDAY: OCPD Officer Sued For Excessive Force; Town Seeks Dismissal, Denies Any Wrongdoing
OCEAN CITY — A resort police officer, who allegedly viciously beat a Severn man during an incident outside a resort nightclub last August, is seeking a dismissal of the case on a variety of grounds including a nearly blanket denial of the allegations.In March, attorneys for Branden Thomas, 26, filed suit in U.S. District Court… Read more »
NEW FOR MONDAY: Skimmer Island Restoration Work Completed
OCEAN CITY — Work wrapped up last week on the dredging of a navigation channel at the entrance to a West Ocean City marina, including depositing the dredged material on Skimmer Island north of the Route 50 bridge in an effort to restore critical nesting habitat for a handful of threatened bird species.In a continuation… Read more »
Delegate’s Attempt At Gun Bill Amendments Falls Short
BERLIN — The effort to make Maryland’s gun control laws among the toughest in the nation moved closer to becoming reality when the House passed the governor’s legislation by a 78-61 vote.After hours of often contentious debate, the House of Delegates last week passed Governor Martin O’Malley’s Firearm Safety Act of 2013 by more than… Read more »
County OKs $170K For School Security; Security Cameras, Visitor ID Systems Featured In Plan
SNOW HILL — A list of school safety improvements that the Worcester County Board of Education has been advocating for months was partially approved this week by the County Commission, but a few commissioners revealed a fear that county schools might soon resemble prisons.The safety project list, which has received a lot of attention since… Read more »
County Liquor Monopoly Will End In 2014 If House Follow Senate’s Lead On Bill
BERLIN — Compromise legislation that would allow the Casino at Ocean Downs to serve alcohol later than 2 a.m. while moving up the sunset provision for the Department of Liquor Control (DLC) wholesale operation breezed through the Senate by a 47-0 vote last week and now appears headed toward passage in the House.In March, feathers… Read more »
School’s Sign Request Stalls
BERLIN — After its third trip to the Berlin Historic District Commission (HDC) this week, a proposed sign for Buckingham Elementary School (BES) has once again failed to move forward.Principal Roger Pacella first approached the HDC in July of 2010 requesting a replacement sign for the simple wooden structure currently in front of the school…. Read more »
Ocean City News In Brief
OCEAN CITY – This week the Mayor and City Council worked their way through several agenda items and voted unanimously to move forward several pieces of business.This week in the briefs is a Proclamation designating April as National Child Abuse Awareness Month, Fire Headquarters design service was approved, the selection of a new ice cream… Read more »