SNOW HILL — The air cleared up in Worcester County a little bit more last week when the County Commission voted to make County Health Department offices “smoke-free” as well as certain park areas and events.In this context, “smoke-free” actually means that no tobacco products at all will be allowed. County health facilities are already… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — Despite the warm spell this week, the sudden phenomena of “cold-stunned” sea turtles discovered on beaches up and down the east coast, including some as close as Chincoteague, keeping marine mammal rescue crews in the region on high alert.Over the last couple of weeks, hundreds of sea turtles have been discovered on… Read more »

BERLIN — Reports of a Berlin Police Department (BPD) officer driving an ambulance transporting a victim in a fatal accident in December to the hospital have prompted a request for an investigation by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service Systems (MIEMSS).The Berlin Mayor and Council and the Berlin Fire Company (BFC), which responded to… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City man, who pleaded guilty in November to one burglary in north Ocean City, was arrested last week after resort police were able to connect him to six other unsolved break-ins in the Montego Bay community in May.Last Thursday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) concluded a nine-month investigation into… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — A future offshore wind energy farm off the coast of Ocean City inched a little closer to becoming a reality last week when the state Board of Public Works approved a $3.3 million contract for a private firm to conduct a geophysical survey of the proposed site about 10 miles off the… Read more »

SALISBURY — The bidding process to find a group that will conduct a salary study for Salisbury employees was delayed this week so that the terms of the deal could be revised to include benefits as well as salary in the review.Additionally, which of the half-dozen potential agencies that applied will eventually conduct the study… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — While stopping short of attempting to take advantage of the competition’s misfortune, Ocean City business leaders this week discussed the potential impact from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy last fall on the resort’s rival communities to the north.In late October, Hurricane Sandy rolled through Ocean City and the mid-Atlantic, flooding low-lying… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) this week held its annual legislative meeting just hours before the start of the Maryland General Assembly session and the conversation ultimately came around to the state’s tourism budget.Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association President David Reel, who lobbies on behalf of the hospitality industry in… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — The December revenue figures for Maryland’s three operating casinos were released this week, while resort business leaders discussed what the next evolution might bring on the eve of another General Assembly session.The state’s three casinos generated just over $45 million in revenue in December, driven largely by Maryland Live!, the juggernaut in… Read more »