Articles

Clean Water Act Lawsuit Filed

BERLIN - The Waterkeeper Alliance officially filed a lawsuit against a local chicken farm this week after seeing little improvement in pollution emanating from the property over the two-month waiting period. Defendants Alan and Kristin Hudson Farm and Perdue face penalties of up to $3,500 per day, according to the lawsuit filed by the Waterkeeper Alliance and Assateague Coastal Trust Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips, under the Clean Water Act. The plaintiffs said this week they have seen little...READ MORE

House OKs Service Club Slots

BERLIN - A bill adding Worcester to the list of shore counties permitting slot machines in non-profit service clubs and fraternal organizations breezed through the House on second reading this week and could pass over to the Senate as early as this afternoon, putting the legislation far ahead of last year's schedule. House Bill 56, introduced by local Delegates Norman Conway and James Mathias, would allow limited slot machine gambling in service clubs and fraternal organizations in Worcester...READ MORE

Local Restaurants Nominated For Top State Awards

OCEAN CITY - After practically sweeping the annual Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) awards last year, the resort area will once again have a strong presence in the annual event with a handful of popular establishments nominated in some of the top categories. The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) will hold its 56th Annual Stars of the Industry awards gala in April showcasing some of the top restaurants in the state in several categories. Once again, the Ocean City area will be well...READ MORE

Schools Win Lawsuit Appeal

BERLIN - The Worcester County Board of Education is claiming victory this week after the Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled favorably on its appeal to reverse a $1.1 million judgment, which was awarded to a private contractor replaced mid-way through the construction of the new Ocean City Elementary School (OCES). Last Friday, the state's Court of Special Appeals issued an opinion essentially ruling in favor of the county's Board of Education in its ongoing battle with Beka Industries, a...READ MORE

Scoper Joins Resort Cab Industry

OCEAN CITY •€' Patrick McLaughlin might seem like the most unlikely person to have a taxi fleet in Ocean City, but if you look at his resume, he might just be the perfect fit. McLaughlin might be the newest face to the cab industry in Ocean City, but he knows perhaps more than anyone how to succeed in the niche market of town franchises, as he owns Telescope Pictures, a little less than half of the town's beach franchises with his 85 and Sunny beach stand company and has a small stake in...READ MORE

Commissioners Hear Annual Budget Requests

SNOW HILL - The Worcester County budget season has officially begun with the submission of major funding requests from the Worcester County Board of Education and the four county municipalities on Tuesday morning. A reduction in state funds, including police and highway money, and continuing reductions in tax revenue, put Worcester County's towns and Ocean Pines in a difficult position similar to the county's, all the speakers acknowledged. Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan took the podium before the...READ MORE

Commissioners Weigh In On Beach Funds, Wind Farm

SNOW HILL - Offshore wind farms should be kept well out to sea and beach replenishment money should be preserved, the Worcester County Commissioners said this week, in agreement with Ocean City's stance on those issues. On Tuesday, county elected officials voted to support Ocean City's position on proposed state laws covering offshore wind farms and the removal of money from the beach replenishment fund to balance the state budget. The town of Ocean City is concerned that the visual impact of...READ MORE

Councilman Cleared Of Ethics Charge In Closed Meeting

BERLIN - The ethics complaint against Berlin Councilman Troy Purnell fizzled out last week when complainant Marge Coyman refused to participate in the Ethics Commission hearing. While the complaint will no longer be pursued, the matter never got a full public airing. 'I certainly would have liked to have gone through the process so everyone could have had all the story, not just her allegations,' Purnell said later. Purnell said he had not been worried about the outcome of the hearing.  'I...READ MORE

County Against School Labor Relations Board

SNOW HILL - A law that would give a state board power over teacher salary negotiations would reduce local authority over the schools budget, the Worcester County Commissioners concluded this week, deciding they could not support it. The proposed legislation, called the Fairness in Negotiations Act, would establish a public school state labor relations board to handle issues between teachers unions and county school boards, taking over the function of the county agency in some case, when a...READ MORE

Hangar Tenant Claims Lease Dispute Violates Free Speech

OCEAN CITY - Less than flattering remarks about the management of the Ocean City Municipal Airport along with the creation of some T-shirts allegedly illustrating the same has apparently led to the resort not renewing the lease of a hangar at the facility, according to a local man who filed a federal suit in January, claiming his constitutional right to free speech has been violated. A series of seemingly tongue-in-cheek barbs directed at airport management has caused the town to not renew the...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, the 30th Annual St. Patty's Day Parade got the final nod of approval, the airport got the go-ahead to build a new hangar, the paperwork for a new kayak venture at Ayres Creek was presented and a new discussion on taxi licenses got tabled. Green Light For Parade In may have been simply part of the process, but the Mayor and City Council, as expected, unanimously approved the special event permit request for the Delmarva Irish-American Club to hold its...READ MORE