SNOW HILL – The man accused in the stabbing death of a West Ocean City woman in April was found guilty of first-degree murder this week in Worcester County Circuit Court and likely faces life in prison.Roberto Antonio Murillo, 29, of West Ocean City, formally entered a plea of not guilty on Monday, but agreed… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Joe Hall may have had to shake off first meeting jitters after a two-year absence, but he stayed true to his promise to attempt to cut costs in his first official work session back in City Hall.Hall, who was elected last week after losing a bid for re-election in 2006, ran on… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The new City Council grinded the Ocean City machine to a temporary halt on Tuesday, suspending all capital improvement projects pending further review.A list of all capital improvement projects will be brought to the Mayor and City Council by City Manager Dennis Dare and other town officials in upcoming weeks, in order… Read more »

Young Students Show Political AwarenessOCEAN CITY – What could a kid possibly know about the complexity of issues facing voters on Tuesday? The answer might just be “more than you think.”It’s been said that kids soak up the world around them like little sponges. If that’s true, The Dispatch wondered what area kids have “soaked… Read more »

BERLIN – Berlin police this week presented the Mayor and Council with a detailed list of general orders, which includes policies and practices the department already adheres to but are not necessarily on the books.For example, the nine-page document outlines a complex list of general orders related to the ranks and responsibilities of sworn officers,… Read more »

BISHOPVILLE – Local law enforcement agencies this week are seeking the public’s help with the identification and capture of three suspects who remain at large after an armed home invasion at a residence in Bishopville last Saturday.The armed home invasion occurred last Saturday, Oct. 25, at a residence on Old Stage Rd. in Bishopville. According… Read more »

BERLIN – Just days before the presidential election on Tuesday, a team of federal prosecutors and FBI agents are coordinating with state and local elections boards, including Worcester County, to review any allegations of election fraud and voting rights abuses that might arise.The federal task force has consulted with the Maryland Elections Administrator and other… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Pointing to the uncertain economic times as his primary motivation, one resort councilman is looking to temporarily abandon the town’s subcommittees in favor of the entire council hearing all matters.The town currently utilizes a number of sub-committees including the Tourism Commission, Recreation and Parks Commission and Police Commission. Individual council members are… Read more »

BERLIN – Concerns about proposed transitional housing for mentally ill members of the community coming to an otherwise quiet neighborhood in Berlin could be unfounded as the non-profit company with a contract to purchase the home in question attempted to allay some of the fears this week.At Monday’s Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, residents… Read more »

BERLIN – Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced last week roughly $26.7 million in federal Homeland Security grants were heading to the state, of which around 85 percent would be passed through to local governments including just shy of $800,000 combined for Ocean City and Worcester County.Maryland’s share of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)… Read more »