BERLIN – Citing a flawed reliance on “speculation and conjecture” in the plaintiffs’ case, a federal judge this week threw out a multi-million dollar wrongful death suit involving the alleged spraying of a toxic pesticide over a residential area in Berlin, which the suit claims resulted in the death of one local resident in June… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Dirt run-off from construction sites can cause serious problems for local waters and a new “Get the Dirt Out” program aims to remedy that.“Get the Dirt Out” is the brainchild of Waterkeepers Chesapeake, a coalition of 14 Waterkeeper programs from around the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays region.“Sediment finding its way… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Although the summer months seem far off with high temperatures in the 30s yesterday, the Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) is already gearing up for summer as it prepares for its first offsite test Sunday.OCBP Captain Butch Arbin reported this week that the OCBP will be holding its annual strategic planning day… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The multi-party lawsuit asking a Worcester County judge to sort out who among the top three finishers in the blue marlin category of last year’s White Marlin Open (WMO) should receive the hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake got even more complicated in the last two weeks as pre-trial posturing among… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A special prosecutor was assigned this week to handle the prosecution of Wicomico County State’s Attorney Davis R. Ruark, arrested last Friday in Ocean City for drunk driving and later charged with a handgun violation.Citing a long-standing professional relationship with Ruark, Worcester County State’s Attorney Joel Todd announced on Wednesday his intention… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Resort police this week obtained an arrest warrant for a Fairfax County (Va.) Deputy Sheriff accused of raping a 22-year-old woman in an Ocean City motel room last Sunday.The warrant issued on Wednesday charges Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff Zachary Dennis Taylor, 31, of Ruther Glen, Va., with second-degree rape stemming from an… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The City Council unanimously denied a request from a first-time beach stand bidder to withdrawal his successful bid for a downtown parcel and return his 20 percent deposit, citing that the town is not responsible for bad bid decisions.City Clerk Carol Jacobs presented the request this week, citing inexperience as the reason… Read more »

BERLIN – The Berlin Mayor and Council voted Monday night to explore the costs of an additional 250,000 gallons per day (gpd) of sewer service, hoping to persuade Worcester County to approve a further sewer expansion from 750,000 gpd to a full one million gpd.Only three town council members, Paula Lynch, Elroy Brittingham and Ellen… Read more »

BERLIN – Maryland’s Critical Area laws need to be strengthened, environmental organizations say, and two bills now in front of the Maryland General Assembly are designed to improve the buffer protection law.“The laws are clearly not working as intended,” Jessi Bedell, a field organizer for Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center, said standing in front… Read more »