Joe Ciccanti

Education, Health Care, and Public Safety Funding–Included in Maryland’s Preliminary Budget Plan for FY 2024

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

Plans that include scholarships for low-income students, expanded access to health care services for rural and vulnerable communities, and increased support for state and local police are all a part of Governor Larry Hogan’s preliminary budget plan for Fiscal Year 2024. Under the state’s budget process, the outgoing administration has prepared a preliminary budget to…

Delaware Department of Correction Looking for Absconder

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

The Delaware Department of Correction is looking for an offender from the Sussex Community Corrections Center who walked away from a community service/work crew detail in the Georgetown area. Efforts to find Matthew Lawson are underway. Here is the information on him… Date of walk-away: 12/15/2022 Name: Matthew Lawson Date of Birth: 08/19/1983 Last known…

Dirt Bike-Related Thefts in Wicomico County

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

Troopers from the Maryland State Police Salisbury barrack are addressing a problem of dirt bike related thefts in Wicomico County. After troopers conducted an operation, they helped return three stolen dirt bikes to their owners. The investigation revealed that the individuals involved were using social media to sell stolen property. Also, troopers working with allied…

Felton Man Arrested for Violating a Court Order

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

Police arrested a Felton man this week after violating a court order coming within 100 yards of the victim’s residence on Kerry Circle. After an arraignment in the Justice of the Peace Court, 24-year-old Daniel Whitcomb is free on 1,000 unsecured bond pending a required Kent County Family Court appearance at a later date. He…

64-Year-Old Man Convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

A 64-year-old man has been convicted of sexual abuse of a minor and other related offenses. Richard Benny is in custody pending sentencing after a two-day court trial in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. While he is in custody, a Pre-Sentence investigation and mental health evaluation will take place. According to the Office of…

Delaware Ag Week Returns to In-Person Experience in Harrington

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

In January, members of the agricultural community will have a chance to explore the latest and most valuable innovations while networking with producers, industry experts, as well as vendors and exhibitors. For the past two years, participants have attended sessions virtually, but this time, they will meet in person. The event will take place at…

Nylon Capital Shopping Center to be Transformed into Community Education, Health, and Workforce Hub

By Joe Ciccanti / December 15, 2022

The Nylon Capital Shopping Center in Seaford will be turned into a multi-purpose community facility, thanks to a state, city, and nonprofit partnership. The new facility will include the following: • Public Wi-Fi availability• On-site health care services• A higher education hub focusing on workforce development trainings and courses• Job skills center• Early learning center•…

State Police Investigating Weekend Theft at Caesar Rodney High School

By Joe Ciccanti / December 14, 2022

State Police need your help in identifying someone who entered the parking lot of Caesar Rodney High School on Old North Road in Camden on Saturday, December 10th. Police say this person stole a generator and sound system worth over $1500. If you recognize the vehicle in the pictures or have information regarding this theft,…

Closure at Route 24 Intersection Beginning Next Tuesday

By Joe Ciccanti / December 14, 2022

Beginning next Tuesday, December 20th, the right turn lane from Eastbound Route 24 onto Oak Orchard Road will be closed for intersection improvements. That area will be blocked off through Friday, December 30th. Detour info: Eastbound SR 24 traffic will turn right on to Gull Point Road and continue to Oak Orchard Road. For more…

Potential Winter Storm to Hit Maryland; Alert for Icy Roads and Bridges

By Joe Ciccanti / December 14, 2022

If you live in or plan to travel through Maryland locations in the next day or so, monitor the weather forecast and road conditions for information on a statewide winter storm. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) crews are preparing for the storm that is expected to begin late tonight into…

Grant Funding Allows for Economic Development Projects in Rural Maryland Communities

By Joe Ciccanti / December 14, 2022

Rural Maryland areas will become more attractive for tourism, jobs, and economic development thanks to a grant fund. The $50 million Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund will allow key projects, including: • A comprehensive plan to enhance airline service and improve economic development through the Salisbury‐Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY). • Dredging in the…

Commercial Building Fire Under Investigation in Talbot County

By Joe Ciccanti / December 14, 2022

The Maryland State Fire Marshal is investigating a fire that occurred in a lumber yard on Park Avenue in Queen Anne early yesterday evening. Officials do not yet know the cause. It took 80 firefighters 4 hours to control the fire, which caused $300,000 in damage but no deaths or injuries. A worker at the…

Salisbury Man Sentenced for Attempted Murder

By Joe Ciccanti / December 14, 2022

24-year-old Markell Purnell faces a total active sentence of 40-years in prison for Attempted First Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence. The sentencing is connected to an altercation that occurred in the early morning hours of October 23rd, 2021. The incident happened outside of Guido’s Burritos on South Salisbury…

Salvation Army of Delaware Calls for Additional Support

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

The Salvation Army of Delaware is urging those who can help folks in need to support its annual Red Kettle Campaign. The organization reports that its donations are down nearly 33%, while requests for assistance have surged more than 40% over this time last year. Links for more information on how to donate as well…

Salisbury Man Sentenced to 20 Years for First-Degree Child Abuse

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

35-year-old Tyrique Powell faces 20-years in prison stemming from a child abuse incident that occurred in August, 2020. A 5-week-old infant suffered a skull fracture. The child is living with permanent damage as a result. The Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. diagnosed and treated the infant. The investigation revealed that Powell and the…

New Report Shows Unsafe Driving Behaviors Increase from 2020 to 2021

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

Information from the AAA Foundation just released shows that after years of improvement, the following unsafe driving behaviors rose from 2020 to 2021: speeding, drivers running red lights, drowsy driving, and impaired driving. According to AAA, drivers admitting to getting behind the wheel after drinking enough that they felt they were over the legal limit…

Suspected Deaths from Overdoses in Delaware Set New Monthly Record High.

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

New Information from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services reveals that 43 people died from suspected overdoses in Delaware in November, 2022. That number of overdoses in connection with opioid epidemic surpasses the previous monthly high total of 42 set in May of this year. The 43 deaths include 18 from Sussex County…

Roadway Shooting in Georgetown Area

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

Delaware State Police are investigating a shooting from a vehicle that led to a driver crashing his car into a ditch. Police say the 32-year-old man had been driving northbound on Cokesbury Road yesterday evening around 9 p.m. when someone began driving next to his car and then fired several shots into his vehicle. The…

Delaware State Police Issue Warning Regarding Trend of Motor Vehicle Thefts

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

Delaware State Police continue to investigate complaints regarding thefts of vehicles. Leaving vehicles unlocked lead to many of these reported incidents. The crimes not only include the loss of peoples’ cars but also money, electronics, personal identification, holiday gifts, and other items of value. To stop this trend, State Police want to advise you to…

DelDOT Traffic Alert for Roxana Area Intersection Next Week

By Joe Ciccanti / December 8, 2022

Next week, DelDOT will be converting the Two-Way Stop Control at the intersection of SR17 Roxana Road and Daisey Road to an All-Way Stop Control with new signs and pavement markings. The work will start at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14th, depending on weather conditions. Flaggers will be on-site…

Homeless Man Wanted for Making Unauthorized Purchases on Debit Card

By Joe Ciccanti / December 7, 2022

Delaware State Police are looking for a man who is accused of stealing and using someone’s debit card numerous times to make unauthorized purchases repeatedly over a two-month period. They are looking for Jorge Vasquez. He is 54-years old and is described as Hispanic, about 5’06” tall, weighing approximately 190 pounds, with black hair and…

UPDATE: Greenwood Man Dies in Bridgeville Area Crash

By Joe Ciccanti / December 7, 2022

Update: State Police have identified the person who died in a vehicle crash that occurred in the Bridgeville area on December 4th. Police say 83-year-old Richard Kalinevitch of Greenwood who was driving a Ford Focus did not stop at the posted stop sign and flashing red traffic light for northbound traffic on Wesley Church Road…

New Legislation to Improve Program Involving Mentoring and Assistance for Small Businesses

By Joe Ciccanti / December 7, 2022

U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Ben Cardin today introduced a bill that would help with the annual in-person mentoring, online training, and local training workshops SCORE provides to small businesses. The SCORE for Small Business Act would reauthorize and improve the SCORE program, which Cardin says is one of the Small Business Administration’s impactful entrepreneurial development programs, providing…

Drive-Thru Mobile Food Pantry to be Held This Coming Monday

By Joe Ciccanti / December 7, 2022

You can receive assistance at an upcoming drive-thru mobile food pantry, scheduled for monday, December 12th. The Food Bank of Delaware will hold the pantry at Crossroad Community Church in Georgetown. You must bring a photo ID and proof that you live in Delaware. To register, click the following link: December Sussex County Drive-Thru Distribution…

Road Closure In Lewes Area to Begin Friday 

By Joe Ciccanti / December 7, 2022

Wil King Road between Kendale Road and Conleys Chapel Road will be closed on Friday December 9th due to the installation of a new crossroad pipe. The road closure and detours will continue through Monday, December 12th. Local access will still be available. Here are the details… Detour: Motorists traveling northbound on Wil King Road…