BERLIN — Less than a week after the Maryland General Assembly session ended, Gov. Martin O’Malley this week announced the formation of a task force to study the impact of septic system pollution on the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.During the 2011, O’Malley introduced legislation that would ban the use of on-site septic systems in new… Read more »

NEWARK — Despite an increase in state aid, the Worcester County Board of Education has learned that it will have to phase out three additional positions in the school system beyond what was originally anticipated due to rising state costs.“It is more and more challenging each and every year to make sure we maintain small… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — His infamous remark about the Eastern Shore being an “outhouse” notwithstanding, former Maryland Governor and Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer, who passed away this week at the age of 89, was a strong advocate for the shore in general and Ocean City specifically, local elected officials said this week.Schaefer, whose strong, often… Read more »

BERLIN — A Mardela Springs man, arrested in connection with a bomb threat made at Showell Elementary this month, was extradited to Worcester County from Delaware last week and remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond.Patrick Earl McCready, 23, has been charged with making a false statement of a destructive device, arson threat and disturbing… Read more »

SALISBURY — Faced with declining revenues and a growing list of budget obligations, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt this week painfully called for a five-cent increase on the property tax rate to help balance his proposed $111.4 million fiscal year 2012 budget.Pollitt pitched the proposed property tax hike to the County Council during his budget… Read more »

BISHOPVILLE — A local man was killed in a motorcycle accident yesterday morning after colliding with a deer on a rural road in northern Worcester County.Around 2:43 a.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported motor vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Bishopville Rd. between Route 113 and Jarvis Ave. The investigation revealed… Read more »

SNOW HILL — Worcester County entered into a non-exclusive service agreement with Chesapeake Utilities for natural gas Tuesday.Chesapeake joins Eastern Shore Gas (ESG) as the two franchises so far that have taken advantage of a general intention to bring natural gas to Worcester by next year.“Natural gas will benefit Worcester County,” said Steve Thompson, Senior… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – As the Mayor and City Council and staff officially enter into fiscal year 2012 talks, City Manager Dennis Dare explained that Ocean City is above other surrounding jurisdictions in keeping its cool during this tough economic time.“A great deal has been accomplished to ‘right size’ our operations since the recession began in… Read more »

BERLIN — The ongoing expansion and rehabilitation of Berlin’s aging sewer treatment facilities got a much needed fiscal shot in the arm this week with the announcement of over $3 million in federal loans and grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program.U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin on Wednesday announced a… Read more »