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Kayak Launch Project Caught in Political Tug-of-War

OCEAN CITY- What seemed like a simple yes or no question, has perhaps turned into a bit of a political stalemate. Dr. Roman Jesien of Maryland Coastal Bays says he feels like he's stuck in between two political siblings that can't play nice in the proverbial sandbox together; and all he wants to do is install a kayak launch. Jessien and his colleagues at Maryland Coastal Bays Program have been in front of the Ocean City Mayor and Council on two occasions to gain support and the blessing to use...READ MORE

Route 90 Improvements Dialogue Spirited

OCEAN CITY•€'Mayor Rick Meehan knows that the likelihood of dualizing Route 90 in the next few years is slim, but more importantly, he says that the conversation needs to become serious now for the future planning of Ocean City. After his comments to State Highway Administration District Engineer Donnie Drewer last week concerning his desire to see the dualization of Route 90 happen before the reconstruction or renovation of the Route 50 bridge, the conversation has apparently begun, at...READ MORE

Proposed Code Amendment on Farmland Debated

SNOW HILL- A proposed zoning code change to allow farm owners an extra two residential lots for family members, in addition to the five lots already allowed to be subdivided from farm land, did not see much support from elected officials during Tuesday's comprehensive rezoning work session and is slated to be considered in the future as a text amendment. Commissioner Virgil Shockley, a farmer himself and widely regarded as representing farmers throughout the county whatever the district,...READ MORE

Gang Activity Subject of Meeting

SNOW HILL- With increased gang activity making its presence felt in across the state including the Eastern Shore, Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd last week held a formal meeting with various local law enforcement agencies to discuss the proliferation of the criminal elements and improve awareness. Todd hosted the meeting at the County Courthouse in Snow Hill last Wednesday, inviting local law enforcement groups to weigh on what they are seeing and hearing about the proliferation of...READ MORE

Route 589 Proposals Outlined

SNOW HILL- A booklet sent out to local residents recently heralded the future of Route 589 as a dualized roadway, but promised little progress any time soon. Short-term fixes are due by 2015, according to the State Highway Administration (SHA), with the long-term improvements projected by 2030. Without funding for the final design, the purchase of right-of-way land, and then funding for the actual construction of the road improvements, those dates are merely conjectural at this point. The...READ MORE

Arguments Heard in School Board Appeal

BERLIN- The state's Court of Special Appeals on Wednesday heard testimony from both sides in the appeal filed by the Worcester County Board of Education last year in an effort to reverse a $1.1 million judgment awarded to a private contractor replaced mid-way through the construction of the Ocean City Elementary School over three years ago with both sides coming out confident in their arguments. Last October, the Worcester County School Board filed a notice of appeal with the state's Court of...READ MORE

Berlin Man Held in Pub Stabbing

OCEAN PINES- A Berlin man was arrested on first-degree assault and other serious charges last week after allegedly stabbing another man in an Ocean Pines restaurant and bar during a dispute about auto repairs. Last Wednesday, Worcester County Sheriff's Deputies and Maryland State Police Troopers responded to Whisker's Bar and Grill in the Ocean Pines Plaza for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies observed the suspect, later identified as Donald Lewis, 67, of Berlin, backing out of a...READ MORE

Ocean City News in Brief

OCEAN CITY- In the briefs this week, the convention center director search is coming close to an end, an alternate moves up to board member, and the budget update confirms a job well done from a financial standpoint. Budget Surplus Puts Town in 'Great Position' For Next Year It's been widely reported that the town saved $2.7 million in budget cuts last year, and that trimming of the proverbial 'low hanging fruit' as City Manager Dennis Dare so aptly put, has put the town of Ocean City in a very...READ MORE

Guilty Plea in Drugs, Gun Case

OCEAN CITY- A Denton, Md. man arrested in July for carrying a loaded handgun in downtown Ocean City after an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer observed him and another man smoking marijuana while walking down the street pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of cocaine and weapons charges and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. Around 3 p.m. on July 2, an OCPD officer on bicycle patrol observed two men walking down the street in the area of 11th Street and Baltimore Ave. with one of...READ MORE

County Rejects Open Meeting Ruling

SNOW HILL- Worcester County officials this week disagreed with the decision by a state board that the County Commissioners violated the Maryland Open Meetings Act during a late May budget meeting, a decision handed down last week. Instead of finishing the discussion of the consolidation of three departments into one in the open budget work session on May 26, the county commissioners went into closed session ostensibly to protect the identity of the workers who faced losing their jobs under the...READ MORE

Season Numbers Reason for Optimism

OCEAN CITY- Although the numbers only tell part of the story, town officials say that it was at least somewhat of a happy ending to the summer season, all things considered. When September's room and food and beverage tax statistics were released last week, no one expected to see any broken records, but what the September numbers showed, was in fact, the first time that both numbers had gone up from the previous year since October of 2008. Room tax receipts jumped $81,000 or 8-percent from last...READ MORE

West Virginia Fugitive Nabbed in Resort

OCEAN CITY- A West Virginia man wanted on child pornography and child sexual assault charges was located and arrested in Ocean City last weekend on Halloween. Last Saturday, Ocean City Police received an alert to be on the lookout for Roger Stotler, 45, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, who was believed to be in the resort area. Stotler was wanted in West Virginia for possession of child pornography and sexual assault of a minor in West Virginia and law enforcement officials there alerted Ocean...READ MORE