Joe Ciccanti

Dover Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Dover Man

By Joe Ciccanti / July 4, 2024

The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for 41-year-old Manuel Martinez of Dover. Martinez was last seen in the unit block of Willis Road at 2:30 a.m. on July 4th. Attempts to contact or locate him have been unsuccessful, and there is a concern for his safety and well-being. Martinez is described as…

Hartly Man Arrested for DUI After Crashing into House

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

Delaware State Police arrested a 26-year-old Hartly, Delaware man for crashing into a house in Hartly yesterday while driving under the influence. According to State Police, troopers responded to a report of a Chevrolet Silverado that crashed into a home on Arthursville Road with people inside. No one was injured. The driver of the Silverado…

Pending Law to Make Offshore Wind Power a Part of Delaware’s Future Despite Concerns

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

A bill pending Governor John Carney’s signature will likely make offshore wind power a significant part of Delaware’s future despite concerns over its costs and impacts. The Delaware Energy Solutions Act of 2024 would give the State Energy Office broad new authority to negotiate 20-year contracts to purchase power produced by wind farms in Atlantic Ocean…

Dewey Beach Plans for New Town Hall, Police Station and Paramedic Facility

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

In Dewey Beach, the plans for the new Town Hall, Police Station, and Paramedic Facility have been submitted to Sussex County for review. Once the plans are approved, they will go out for bid. In this month’s Town of Dewey Beach Newsletter, Town Manager Bill Zolper thanks Senator Russ Huxtable and Representative Pete Schwartzkopf for…

Maryland Board of Public Works Approves Funding for the Pittsville Water Treatment Plant Upgrade

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved $968,000 to the Town of Pittsville for the Pittsville Water Treatment Plant Upgrade – Phase 4 project. This project is an upgrade to the existing water treatment plant for the Town of Pittsville. Over the past couple of years, Pittsville and MDE officials have been working to…

Dover Man Arrested on Drug and Firearm Charges

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

Dover Police have arrested a 32-year-old Dover man on drug and firearm charges after shots were reportedly fired early this morning. The incident occurred on South New Street. Officers were able to review downtown surveillance and observe someone in the area holding a firearm. Officers responded to the area and took a man identified as…

Ocean City Officials to Break Ground on Downtown Substation

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

The Town of Ocean City will hold a groundbreaking ceremony next week for the Ocean City Police Department Downtown Substation. Ocean City Officials will break ground on July 8th to begin construction on the Substation. This new facility will feature state-of-the-art offices, meeting spaces, interview rooms, a bicycle repair garage, storage for our bicycle unit, and a welcoming…

Arrests Pending in Salisbury Arson Case

By Joe Ciccanti / July 3, 2024

A shed fire that occurred yesterday afternoon on Nokomis Avenue in Salisbury has been ruled arson. A passerby reported the fire that caused an estimated $6,000 in structural damage to the 8′ x 12′ wood framed shed. Loss of contents is estimated at $2,500. According to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal, two…

UPDATED: Delaware DOC Arrest Offender Who Failed to Return from Approved Work Pass

By Joe Ciccanti / June 28, 2024

UPDATED – 06/28/24 – An offender from the Sussex Community Corrections Center in Georgetown who failed to return from an approved work pass has been arrested. The Sussex Escapee Recovery Team arrested 43 year old Sylvester Deshields on Thursday. He was arraigned at JP Court 2 and committed to SCI on an Escape after conviction…

UPDATED: Legislators Vote to Override Governor Carney’s Veto of House Bill 282

By Joe Ciccanti / June 28, 2024

The Delaware House of Representatives voted to override Governor John Carney’s veto of House Bill 282. Sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, the bill would revise the membership, structure, and procedures of the State Employees Benefits Committee (SEBC) to increase transparency and accountability. This measure previously passed unanimously through both the House and Senate. Governor Carney’s Statement…

Salisbury Woman Sentenced to 50 Years for Attempted First Degree Murder and Related Charges

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

Today, the Honorable Kathleen L. Beckstead, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced 39-year-old Ashlee Nicole Scott of Salisbury to fifty years in the Maryland Division of Corrections for Attempted First Degree Murder and related offenses. On April 24, 2024, following a three-day jury trial, Scott was convicted, and sentencing was postponed…

Maryland Department of Health Announces Funding Opportunity to Address the Opioid Crisis

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

The Maryland Department of Health is announcing a funding opportunity to address the opioid crisis. The department announced a request for applications (RFA) for Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund–the goal of which is to support programs that address the misuse of opioid products and to treat opioid use or related disorders. Over 2,500 fatal overdoses occurred in Maryland in…

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Coming to Dover Thanks to Grant Issued to DelDOT

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

Dover will see Bike and pedestrian safety improvements thanks to an over $12 million grant issued to the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester celebrated the 2024 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant. The $12,250,000 competitive RAISE grant was issued to…

Governor Moore Announces Launch of Cannabis Workforce Development Program

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of the Cannabis Workforce Development Program, the first workforce development initiative developed and administered by a cannabis regulatory agency in the nation. This program, which will prioritize individuals with a history of cannabis-related offenses, is launching after Governor Moore’s historic pardon of more than 175,000 cannabis charges last Monday.…

House Fire in Salisbury Leaves One Occupant Displaced

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

The occupant of a home on Coulbourne Mill Road  in Salisbury is being assisted by the American Red Cross after an accidental fire that occurred yesterday afternoon. The fire started on the side deck and was the result of discarded smoking materials. Damage to the one story, wood frame, single family home was estimated to be at $200,000…

Proposed Legislation Urges Establishment of Medical School in Delaware

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

Legislation has been introduced urging the establishment of a medical school in the State of Delaware. This House Concurrent Resolution calls for the formation of a formal Steering Group to guide the planning and implementation of a medical school. The bill also encourages the pursuit of partnerships with established medical schools and other medical education…

House Bill 417 Related to Statute of Limitations in Child Sex Abuse Cases Passes DE House

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

Legislation pertaining to statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases has passed the Delaware House. If signed into law, survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred in Delaware who have been barred from filing suit against their abusers by virtue of the expiration of the former civil statute of limitations, shall be permitted to…

DART’s Independence Day Schedule

By Joe Ciccanti / June 27, 2024

In Sussex County, DART’s Beach Bus service and Route 305 Beach Connection will operate on July 4th, with Paratransit service operating complimentary ADA-only service. Aside from the routes listed below for New Castle County, all other DART services will not operate on July 4th. Additional Information from DART First State: DART will offer bus service in New Castle County on…

DSP Investigating Two-Vehicle Fatal Crash in Camden

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

The Delaware State Police are investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred this morning in Camden that left one man dead. The crash happened around 5 a.m. According to police, a 2009 Cadillac Escalade was traveling eastbound on Walnut Shade Road, west of Barney Jenkins Road. At the same time, a 2016 Honda Accord was…

DNREC Reminds Drive-On Surf Anglers Reservations are Required for Fourth of July Holiday

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) reminds those who plan to drive-on surf fish at one of the seven Delaware State Parks multi-use beaches that reservations are required during summer weekends and holidays. Drive-on surf fishing reservations for Thursday, July 4th, open Thursday, June 27th, at 11 a.m. Drive-on reservations for each weekend…

Ramier Bender Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery and Firearm Use in a Crime of Violence

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

Ramier Bender, formerly of Salisbury, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for Armed Robbery and Firearm Use in a Crime of Violence. The Honorable S. James Sarbanes, Administrative Judge of the First Judicial Circuit issued the sentencing last week. Bender pleaded guilty on March 6th of this year. According to the Office of…

Sheriff Joe Gamble and the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office Congratulate Major R. Scott Mergenthaler on Retirement

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

Sheriff Joe Gamble and the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office would like to congratulate Major R. Scott Mergenthaler on his retirement from his over fifty-one-year career in law enforcement. They offer a sincere thank you and well wishes for his dedication and professionalism to the citizens of Talbot County for the last eighteen years of service.…

Claymont Man Arrested in Dover for Felony Gun Offenses

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

Delaware State Police have arrested a 35-year-old Claymont man at a traffic stop in Dover for felony gun offenses. The arrest happened early yesterday afternoon in Dover. Michael DiRocco faces charges that include Possession of a Firearm By a Person Prohibited for a Prior Felony and Carrying a Concealed Firearm–both of which are felonies. DiRocco…

Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 12 years for Fentanyl Charges

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

A Philadelphia man previously arrested and convicted in connection with the 2016 police action Operation Smackdown has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for dealing fentanyl-laced heroin (Tier 2) and possession of cocaine (Tier 1). Al-Ghaniyy Price was convicted at trial in January of this year for December 2022 offenses; he later pleaded guilty to June…

Manufactured Home Fire in Frederica Leaves Two Critically Injured

By Joe Ciccanti / June 26, 2024

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a manufactured home fire that left two elderly individuals with serious injuries. The fire occurred early this morning in Frederica in Kent County. The fire was reported shortly after 3:00am on Sycamore Dr. in the High Point Mobile Home Park, by a passing motorist. The Magnolia and…