BERLIN – With the dust settled somewhat in the weeks after voters across Maryland resoundingly approved a referendum paving the way for slots at five locations across the state including Worcester County, there are still more questions than answers as state and local officials figure out what to do next.Shortly after state voters approved an… Read more »
Category: Top Stories
OC ‘Buddy Up’ Change No Problem, Police Say
OCEAN CITY – Just because the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) is about to “buddy up”, it doesn’t mean there will be a scaled down police presence in Ocean City.As part of City Manager Dennis Dare’s first round of town budget cuts totaling $1.4 million, the police department will be doing its part to save… Read more »
Private Wind Turbines Clear Planning Commission
OCEAN CITY – Small Wind Energy Systems took another step toward approval on Tuesday, despite the Planning and Zoning Commission being a bit apprehensive to throw all caution to the wind for residential districts.The Planning and Zoning Commission amended an ordinance at Tuesday’s public hearing that would allow the permitted and accessory usage of small… Read more »
Area Hospital Sets New Income Mark
OCEAN CITY – It’s obvious that Atlantic General Hospital is growing, but it’s the way that it’s growing that could be considered the most groundbreaking.President/CEO Michael Franklin outlined AGH’s plans for “full electronic integration” in its record systems within two to three years at Monday’s City Council meeting.According to Franklin, only 12 percent of the… Read more »
Delaying Bond Sales Saved Big Bucks For County
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 »
Fed Takes Formal Step Toward Offshore Oil Drilling
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 »
Horseshow Crab Numbers Solid, Survey Finds
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 »
OC Not Panicking Over Tourism Cut
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 »
Officials Seek Fire Information
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 »
Open Space Funds To Further Improve Berlin Park
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 »