OCEAN CITY – Some Maryland schools may be moving in the direction of performance based pay for teachers, but Worcester County will not be moving in that direction any time soon, reported officials this week. “At this time, our school system has no immediate plans to move to a pay-for-performance system,” said Superintendent of Schools… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A Worcester County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday formally dismissed the civil suit filed against the town of Berlin and the late Mayor Tom Cardinale by former Finance Director Ron Bireley, who was abruptly fired in January 2005 amid controversy and veiled hints of missing funds.On May 30, Worcester County Circuit Court… Read more »

NEWARK – Despite harsh accusations made in a letter of reproach from the Worcester County Board of Education, Commission President Virgil Shockley said this week that he would disregard the letter and look to the future.While Shockley saw an early draft of the letter, “the final draft I didn’t pay attention to,” he said.Shockley believes… Read more »

NEWARK – Decomposing trash at the Worcester County landfill will now provide electricity, instead of just taking up space, with the opening of a new methane-powered electric plant.The plant, owned and operated by Curtis Engineering of Baltimore in partnership with Worcester County, will generate three kilowatts of electricity when all three engines come on line… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A federal lawsuit filed last year against the former owner and management company of a resort motel over illegal employee hiring and dismissal practices was settled this week with the defendant paying restitution to the plaintiff and agreeing to amend their policies.The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit in U.S…. Read more »

SNOW HILL – A small development in Bishopville bordering the St. Martin River will keep two-thirds of its land as open space with the majority of lots inside the Critical Area.        The 15-lot cluster subdivision, to be developed by prominent Worcester County developer Jack Burbage, sits on 242 acres off Salt Grass Point Rd. Ten… Read more »

WILMINGTON, Del. – The Holy See announced this week that the Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, D.D. has been appointed the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. He succeeds the Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, D.D., who has served as the eighth bishop of the diocese since 1996. In keeping with canon law,… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A sewer capacity free-for-all could result from new EDUs added to the well-populated and in demand Mystic Harbor sewer service area, county planning officials fear.The Mystic Harbor Wastewater Plant has deteriorated since its construction in 1974 and must be replaced, adding 667 EDUs, Worcester County has concluded.The Worcester County Planning Commission expressed… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Emergency access and extra parking were pitted against the desires of local residents this week, as the fate of the 144th Street street end was debated before the Mayor and City Council. Several residents attended the regular session of the Mayor and City Council this week, in an effort to have their… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Resort officials are looking to change their advertising trends this summer by increasing their efforts to get the word out on Ocean City deals and informing potential vacationers well through August about the resort offerings. At a Tourism Commission meeting last week, members came together to review current advertising plans and goals… Read more »