BERLIN – After one of the more contentious campaigns in recent memory, Democrat Frank Kratovil claimed victory in Maryland’s First Congressional District this week after Republican challenger Andrew Harris officially conceded on Tuesday.In the months leading up to last Tuesday’s general election, Kratovil and Harris battled tooth and nail over the issues in a campaign… Read more »

BERLIN – Merchants in Berlin who want to limit parking in the Main Street vicinity to two hours at a time to promote customer turnover got Berlin Mayor and Council’s approval in principle to pursue proposed new parking restrictions Monday night.Merchant Bill Outten, owner of Town Center Antiques and A Step Above, and business owner… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The scheduled demolition of the old press box at Northside Park happened just in the nick of time on Monday, just days before Ocean City Council placed other town capital projects on the chopping block.As the City Council mulled over capital projects plans Wednesday deciding which to cut and which to proceed… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Though Question 2 has been given a definitive answer by Maryland voters, there are still many questions begging to be answered.Even though it’s estimated that the first jingle-jangle of a slot machine won’t be heard at Ocean Downs until 2011, many people in Ocean City are left wondering what “ripple effects” the… Read more »

SNOW HILL – Closing arguments in the first-degree murder trial of an Ocean City man charged with the beating death of a Berlin teen in May wrapped up late yesterday, leaving the 12-member jury with the task of deciding if the defendant maliciously struck and killed the victim with a baseball bat, or if he… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The trial of an Ocean City man charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of a Berlin teen in May began on Wednesday with an hours-long jury selection phase, providing new insight to the lengthy, but critical process for both the state and the defense.It was standing room only in the… Read more »

BERLIN – Rumors pegging developer Troy Purnell as a candidate for the vacant District One Berlin Town Council seat are almost true, with Purnell saying this week that he is thinking about a town council run but has not made up his mind yet.“I have not decided,” Purnell said. “I’m considering it carefully. I think… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – “Foodies” might be sitting pretty when they do decide to dine out, as restaurants from Coastal Highway to California are jockeying for position by offering the best deals to potential diners, despite skyrocketing food costs.The National Restaurant Association is projecting that 2009 will be the “most challenging for the industry since 1980”,… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A record number of voters turned out both locally and nationally in Tuesday’s historic Presidential election, making it the biggest percentage voter turnout in a century.With 88 percent of precincts in on Wednesday, over 136 million people cast votes in Tuesday’s Presidential election, which saw Senator Barack Obama of Illinois elected as… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Local residents looking to see where the money is coming from and just how local government is spending it now can view the 131-page annual Ocean City financial report or the eight-paged “easy-to-read” version.City Finance Administrator Martha Lucey presented the report, which has earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial… Read more »