OCEAN CITY – In the brief this week, the cops union finalizes its gracious agreement with the town, and a new advertising medium “makes nice” with the Mayor and Council.FOP Signs Off On “Partnership of Trust”Ocean City’s Fraternal Order of Police made it official this week, signing an agreement to forgo three of the biggest… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Police recorded a milestone recently, becoming the first law enforcement agency in the state to use the new automated palm print database to identify a suspect in an unsolved burglary in the resort last October.On Oct. 16, 2008, Ocean City Police responded to the Coastal Inn on 26th Street for… Read more »

NEWARK – Worcester County Board of Education members this week got a first look at several options for the western terminus of the proposed Route 50 service road including two access points on Seahawk Rd. across from Stephen Decatur High School and Middle School and a new traffic signal along the highway.The proposed service road… Read more »

SHOWELL – After 41 years of service in Worcester County Schools, Showell Elementary School (SES) Principal Paula Jones will retire from her post in June.“It was very tough to make the decision to retire because everything is going great,” said Jones. “I’d rather leave when things are going great than when things are not good.”Jones… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will not disallow certain costs from being factored into the Maintenance of Effort school funding figure.Worcester County had asked earlier this spring to have some capital costs, which staff and officials believe were improperly reported as operating costs, removed from the Maintenance of Effort figure,… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The ongoing discussion to try to establish a fair set of outdoor display guidelines for Boardwalk merchants stretched far into the second hour on Tuesday before it was revealed that the Boardwalk Development Association (BDA) and the city’s Zoning Administrator were not on the same page with the recommendation.Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith… Read more »

SNOW HILL – Local homeowners could see an increased property tax bill in the 2010 calendar year after county staff suggested increasing the homestead tax credit later this year.No changes would be made to the current tax bills due this summer. Property tax revenue will plunge $6 million in fiscal year 2010, which begins in… Read more »

ANNAPOLIS – Perhaps the most disappointing outcome of this year’s General Assembly session was the death of a bill that would have added Worcester County to the list of shore counties that permit slot machines in non-profit veterans organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations.House Bill 65, introduced by local Delegates James Mathias and Norm Conway,… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – City Council members will determine what they consider a “perk” and what is an absolute necessity in reference to city employees’ take-home vehicles, and that decision might change the way some town employees get to and from work.A $2.5 million trimming of the Ocean City budget over the past few months has… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – State Highway Administration officials told the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday that the Route 50 Bridge project is on schedule, even though repaving has just commenced, and the target date for completion is the second week of June.District Engineer Donnie Drewer of the SHA came before the council on Tuesday to… Read more »