SNOW HILL – Waiting six weeks to sell a series of bonds to fund a high school renovation project saved Worcester County over $1.3 million in interest costs over the life of the bonds.The Worcester County Commissioners sold $35 million in bonds Tuesday to UBS Financial Services to fund the county’s share of the renovations… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Federal officials last week initiated the first steps in a process to potentially lease nearly three million acres off the coast of Virginia for offshore oil and natural gas drilling, a process which, if it comes to fruition, could bring the domestic oil drilling debate within 50 miles of Ocean City and… Read more »

WEST OCEAN CITY – The local horseshoe crab population appears to be in good shape, according to the annual spawning survey conducted this summer.“Locally it seems to be doing well, particularly at Skimmer Island,” said Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) technical coordinator Carol Cain. “It was just covered this year at certain times when they… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Budget cuts handed down from Annapolis concerning the tourism advertising budget don’t appear to be a major concern for Ocean City, at least not for now.Ocean City Assistant Tourism Director Debbie Travers said that the almost $2.2 million in tourism budget cuts that the state included in its $297 million across-the-board budget… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office this week is continuing to investigate the source of a fire on St. Louis Ave. in the downtown area late last Friday night and is seeking the public’s help with information about the blaze.Shortly before midnight last Friday, Ocean City fire units were dispatched to an… Read more »

BERLIN – Berlin will receive $227,000 from Maryland’s Program Open Space (POS) initiative for improvements to the town’s Stephen Decatur Park, the Maryland Board of Public Works announced this week.Berlin will use the open space funding to pay for playground improvements and fitness and nature trails improvements at Stephen Decatur Park and a parks master… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The number of interactions between animals and humans has spiked dramatically in the resort recently, causing town officials to remind citizens of the potential dangers associated with confronting wildlife in otherwise developed areas of town.According to a report released this week, the OCPD’s animal control officers have seen a sharp increase in… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – In an ironic twist, a faulty turn by a town employee could lead to restrictions on the usage of cell phones in town vehicles.City Council President Joe Mitrecic said he was almost struck by a town vehicle while driving in his truck. The unnamed driver was apparently talking on a cell phone,… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioners discussed several items briefly at their last November meeting, held Tuesday. The following is a synopsis of some of those issues.●The Worcester County Health Department inspections fees have been increased to more closely reflect the department’s inspection costs.“These fees have not been increased since 2005,” said Debbie Goeller,… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The beach stand game in Ocean City won’t include “monopoly”, but it’s halfway there after a City Council vote on Wednesday.The council amended the City Code’s Section 39-28, which stated that no sole proprietor of beach stand rental equipment could own more than a third of the total parcels.  The new rule… Read more »