SNOW HILL – Worcester County exercises tight control over fuel access by county vehicles and equipment, Public Works Director John Tustin reported this week in the wake of the Wicomico County fuel thefts allegedly perpetrated by staff in that county.Drivers must use an electronic card to access Worcester County fuel, Tustin said, and each time… Read more »

SNOW HILL – Two brothers arrested in August for allegedly stabbing two other men during a fight in Ocean City had their days in Circuit Court this week resulting in modest amounts of jail time and fines.Joseph Franklin Hill, 27, of Laurel, Md., appeared in Circuit Court on Tuesday to face serious charges including two… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The most cost-effective water quality improvement practices should come first, Worcester County staff recommended to the County Commissioners in a report on the Maryland Coastal Bays Nutrient Management Strategy.The new strategy came out of the most recent coastal bays policy committee meeting.“The idea is to implement the CCMP [Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan]… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Resort police last week made a significant marijuana bust after a dealer was identified during a two-month undercover investigation.The two-month investigation ended last Friday night when the Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the Quick Response Team (QRT), executed a search and seizure warrant at the Parrot Lagoon… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The route and date for the annual Ocean City Marathon has been set and runners will be crossing the Route 50 Bridge once again this year.The 2008 Ocean City Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, April 12, and runners will cross the bridge in the 13.1-trek from the Inlet parking lot… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – On a crystal clear morning with a big crowd on hand for the send-off, a rehabilitated seal found injured on the beach in Ocean City in early January was released back on the strand on Monday and quickly returned to the sea..The now-healthy harbor seal, known affectionately to Baltimore Aquarium volunteers as… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The top elected spot in Worcester County has a new face, with Commissioner Virgil Shockley taking over the presidency of the Board of Worcester County Commissioners from Commissioner Jim Purnell in a unanimous vote.Purnell spent two years and two months in the post, taking over in late 2005 from Commissioner Sonny Bloxom…. Read more »

OCEAN CITY – “Please Leave Only Your Footprints,” will continue to be the slogan around town in 2008, as the Ocean City Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation continues into year three of their five-year plan to keep the beaches clean.According to the Surfrider Foundation, 75 percent of Americans litter, and with an average weekday population… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Unexpected Convention Center repairs at a cost of $40,000 were approved this week by the City Council, despite concerns over the original work.City Engineer Terry McGean came before the Mayor and Council this week, requesting their approval of the use of funds from the Capitol Reserve Account to replace the steel frame… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The City Council approved the concept of a stormwater management retrofit cost share program transfer this week that aims to provide incentives for older properties throughout Ocean City. Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer pitched the program to the Mayor and Council this week, explaining that water quality and flooding could see improvements with… Read more »