A WGMD People in the News Article
GOLD ALERT: Dover Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Milford Man
The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for 37-year-old Robert Burns of Milford. Burns suffers from a condition that may pose a risk to his health and safety if not properly monitored and treated. Burns is described as a white man, 6’0″, and 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Burns was…
Read MoreSea Gull Softball Stadium to be Renamed in Honor of Coach Margie Knight
Salisbury University’s softball stadium will be renamed in honor of former head coach Margie Knight, who died last July. Knight left a lasting impact on those around her – alumni, family, friends, former players and coaches – who collected sponsorship funds to put her name on the stadium where her teams saw so many years…
Read MoreFirst Dewey Beach Mayor, J. Bruce Vavala, Dies
He was elected the first mayor of Dewey Beach – on Wednesday, May 3, J. Bruce Vavala passed away at his home. He was 70. Vavala was a teacher and a realtor and the owner of “Vavala’s Beach Things” in Dewey Beach. In 1981, he was elected the first mayor of Dewey Beach. Funeral services…
Read MoreDavid Schoumacher, 1934 – 2023
WGMD is mourning the loss of David Schoumacher. David, the “D” in WGMD, passed away, on the 24th of March 2023. Originally from Chicago, David received a Master Degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. After graduating, David served as a pilot in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve as part of the…
Read MoreMaryland Governor Wes Moore Delivers State of the State Address
In his first State of the State Address, Maryland Governor Wes Moore called on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would strengthen the pipeline of qualified teachers in the state. Governor Moore says, “We can no longer separate our vision for economic prosperity from our duty to make Maryland public schools the best in…
Read MoreVIDEO: Governor Carney Presents FY24 Recommended Budget
Governor John Carney today presented his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which includes investing in the state workforce and healthcare… Regarding what they call historic pay increases, in most cases previous increases for state employees landed in the 1 to 2% range. This year, the recommendation is a 3 % pay increase for all…
Read MoreUPDATED: MSP Looking for Somerset County Man Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances
UPDATED 1/16/23 – 4pm – A $1000 reward is being offered for information leading to the location of 27 year old Dequan Javon Fields, who has been missing since Thursday, January 12. A 2004 gold Dodge Durango belonging to Fields has been located at the Deal Island Wildlife Nature Preserve in Somerset County. The vehicle’s…
Read MoreGOLD ALERT: For Missing Lewes Man
Delaware State Police have issued a Gold Alert for a missing Lewes man. Police say 22 year old Bryan Suria-Vasquez was last seen Thursday in the Bethany Beach area. Attempts to contact or locate him have been unsuccessful and there is concern for his safety and well-being. Suria-Vasquez is Hispanic, about 5′ 6” and 197…
Read MoreUPDATED: Selbyville Fire Service Member to be Honored Sunday at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
This weekend is the 41st Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. 148 fallen firefighters from around the country will be honored – including Laura Madara of Selbyville, who died in the line of duty on April 9, 2021, while serving as a volunteer fire police officer for the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company.…
Read MoreDSP Looking for Wanted Seaford Man
Your help is needed to find a Seaford man who has several active warrants for his arrest. Delaware State Police say 30 year old Kenneth Stewart is also wanted on a felony criminal warrant out of Troop 5. Stewart is whit, about 6′ 3” tall and about 250 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.…
Read MoreCamden Police Report Woman Missing Since April
Camden Police are looking for a missing woman. Police say the family of 23 year old Brenda Wanjiku reported that she left their residence in April of this year and has not been seen or heard from since. Her vehicle was found in Washington, DC but she was not found with the vehicle. The Washington,…
Read MoreFormer Del. State Sen., Finance Secretary Richard Cordrey – a Millsboro Native – Has Passed Away
Millsboro native Richard Cordrey, who served a lengthy tenure as State Senate President pro tempore as well as four years as Secretary of Finance, has died. Cordrey was 88 years old. Cordrey was first elected to the House before serving in the Senate from 1972 until 1996. His time as Secretary of Finance occurred during…
Read MoreGreater Salisbury Committee Founder Col. Bob Cook Passes Away
A pillar of the Salisbury community has passed away.Colonel Bob Cook was 96.Cook was founding Executive Director of the Greater Salisbury Committee, and gave his time with numerous other organizations including the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore and others. Cook served his country in the U.S. Army, and…
Read MoreThe 2022 Joshua M. Freeman Valor Awards Honorees
In 2008, the valor award ceremony was renamed in honor of Josh Freeman’s long-time support of not only this event, but also his appreciation and support for the first responders throughout our community. It has only increased in importance today for members of our community to gather, honor, and thank those who do so much…
Read MoreIn Memoriam: Del. Supreme Court Justice Ret. Randy Holland
Retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland – who was the youngest person to be appointed to the Supreme Court and became the longest-serving jurist on Delaware’s highest court – has died. According to the Delaware Judiciary, Holland died on Tuesday of this week. Tributes and condolences started to pour in when his passing was…
Read MoreVIDEO | 2022 Declared “The Year of Harriet Tubman” In Maryland
2022 is “The Year of Harriet Tubman” in Maryland, as proclaimed by Governor Larry Hogan. The state is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the renowned freedom fighter on the Eastern Shore. Many activities and exhibitions are being coordinated by the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitors Center, which has welcomed…
Read MoreLocal Man’s Estate Provides Lasting Educational Legacy
Three colleges and universities on the Eastern Shore are getting shares of $8.9-million in gifts from the estate of a Salisbury-area resident. The funds will go toward scholarships and financial aid. George E- Miles, who was raised in Memphis, graduated from Georgia Tech and worked at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, spent most of his adult…
Read MoreFormer State Sen. Robert Venables Has Passed Away
Former longtime Delaware State Senator Robert Venables, who represented the Laurel area, has died at age 88. Venables spent 26 years in public service, and most recently ran for reelection in 2014. During part of his tenure, he chaired the powerful bond bill committee. A Democrat but a conservative, he lost to Republican Bryant Richardson…
Read MoreVIDEO | Gov. Minner Remembered as ‘tough, but extremely warm and kind… remarkable… inspirational’
Governor Ruth Ann Minner’s lasting legacy as a two-term governor and the first woman in Delaware to be elected to that position was highlighted at her funeral service Wednesday in Milford – but plenty of remembrances were also focused on Ruth Ann Minner as a person, her story of overcoming obstacles and the trail she…
Read MoreReward Offered For Clues In Woman’s 2002 Disappearance
What happened to Patricia Dudek? It’s an open question, 20 years after the Salisbury woman went missing. Salisbury Police and the FBI have announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to a breakthrough in the search for her and why she disappeared. Dudek was last seen January 7th, 2002. She was 33 at the…
Read MoreRemembering Laurel’s Frank Calio, Former Del. Election Commissioner
A former state Election Commissioner, Laurel community servant and influential political blogger has passed away. According to members of his family, Frank Calio died Tuesday. He was 83. Calio, who was raised in Laurel, served his country with the Army. He took over a family shoe business and later served as County Economic Development Director.…
Read MoreMaj. Gen. Linda Singh Honored In Md.
The Maryland National Guard Freedom Readiness Center will get a new name, under a proposal to be introduced by Governor Larry Hogan to the Board of Public Works. Hogan said over the weekend that he will seek to name the Sykesville facility in recognition of Major General Linda Singh, the first African-American and the first…
Read MoreWorcester Co. Board of Ed Pres. Eric Cropper Sr. Passes Away
70 Years on the Job with the DSP at Troop 4
The Delaware State Police are honored to recognize Miss Constance “Connie” Dick as she recently completed 70 years with the Division. Miss Connie has been a fixture of Troop 4 in Georgetown since June 15, 1951 and has no intentions of leaving anytime soon. When she first started, there were only 25 troopers in the…
Read MoreVincent Farms in Laurel Awarded for Distinguished Service
With COVID restrictions in place earlier this year, the annual presentation of the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Delaware Agriculture looked a lot different than a ballroom full of agriculture supporters. Recently, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse took a road trip down to Sussex County to make a surprise presentation to a…
Read More