Joe Ciccanti

Fire Destroys KFC/Taco Bell in Easton

By Joe Ciccanti / October 27, 2023

An investigation is underway into a fire that destroyed a KFC/Taco Bell fast food restaurant on Ocean Gateway in Easton in the overnight hours on Thursday, October 26th. Employees at the neighboring Wawa initiated a 911 call, an emergency response crews responded to the scene. Despite quick, and aggressive efforts against the fire and successful…

Warrant Apprehension Operation Covering Multiple Locations in Wicomico County Leads to Arrests of 7 Individuals

By Joe Ciccanti / October 27, 2023

During the course of a warrant apprehension operation this week in Wicomico County, 7 people were arrested for warrants–two of the seven were charged with controlled dangerous substance offenses. Among those arrested include 45-year-old Heather Jean Bounds– a warrant for false imprisonment, 45-year-old John Lewis Madden who is charged with VOP- assault, and 35-year-old Cameron…

Traffic and Pedestrian-Related Safety Concerns as Halloween Approaches

By Joe Ciccanti / October 27, 2023

Halloween is a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. Between 2016 and 2020, 129 drunk-driving fatalities occurred on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31 – 5:59 a.m. November 1), According to NHTSA. Adults between the ages of 21 and 34 had the highest percentage–68%–of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2020. During that…

Minnesota Man Arrested in Felton, DE for Domestic Violence; Head-Butting, Spitting on Police Officers

By Joe Ciccanti / October 27, 2023

A 38-year-old Minneapolis, Minnesota man has been arrested for a domestic incident that ocurred on East Sewell Street in Felton on Wednesday evening. Police say Gerome Jiggetts fled the scene before police arrived. Jiggetts reportedly punched the victim in the face, attempted to throw hot cooking grease on the person, and stole the victim’s phone–preventing…

City of Rehoboth Beach Conducting a Traffic and Parking Study Survey

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

As part of its ongoing traffic and parking study, the City of Rehoboth Beach is conducting a stakeholder survey. The 11-question survey is available via the city’s digital engagement platform, Reach Out Rehoboth. Participants must register on the Reach Out Rehoboth site in order to take the survey. The survey will close on November 26th, and results will be shared…

Greenwood Man Arrested for Stealing Light Poles

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

Delaware State Police have arrested a 55-year-old Greenwood man for stealing two 40-foot light poles from a 73-year-old homeowner’s property on Rockin Way in Ellendale last week. Richard Boyd was arrested on Monday afternoon and charged with two felonies—Theft Greater than $1500 and Victim is Older than 62 Years of Age and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. Boyd was…

Maryland Department of Transportation Pursuing Federal Grants as Part of Commitment to Community Connectivity

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

The Maryland Department of Transportation has submitted five funding requests for nearly $24 million to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant program for projects that will restore community connections and address transportation facilities that have historically divided neighborhoods. Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld say it’s incumbent upon the Maryland Department of…

Plantation Road to Close Early Next Month

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

Plantation Road in the Lewes/Rehoboth area will be closed for six months beginning, Monday, November 6th,  According to DelDOT. Plantation Road will be closed to all traffic from Shady Road to west of Salt Marsh Boulevard, including access to the Route 9 intersection until May 2024 when the new roundabout will open. This work is part of the…

Vehicle Collision Leaves Dover Woman Seriously Injured

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

Dover Police are investigating a vehicle collision, in which a 46-year-old woman from Dover was seriously injured. The crash happened on Persimmon Tree Lane yesterday evening. Officers arrived on scene and located both vehicles with heavy front-end damage. The 46-year-old woman was airlifted to a New Castle County area hospital for treatment, and she remains…

Dover Police Investigating Armed Carjacking at Sam’s Club

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

Dover Police are looking for two individuals following an armed carjacking that occurred yesterday evening at Sam’s Club. Officers arrived at Sam’s Club after 7 p.m. The victim, a 26-year-old Magnolia man, told them he was approached by two black males in the parking lot, one of which was armed with a handgun. They demanded…

Maryland State Police to Participate in National Drug Take Back Day

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

Maryland State Police are asking those who have unwanted prescription drugs to dispose of the items properly during national drug take back day. Citizens can drop off unused prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28th at all 23 Maryland State Police barracks. Maryland State Police are participating as part of the…

Record Number of Aging Vehicles, Colder Weather Put More Cars at Risk of Breakdown this Winter

By Joe Ciccanti / October 25, 2023

The record number of aging vehicles on our roadways and colder temperatures in the coming months put drivers at greater risk of a breakdown this winter. According to S&P Global, the average age of vehicles on American roadways is a record 12.5 years old, so the winter months will likely take a greater toll on tires,…

Bridgeville Man Arrested for Robbery in Seaford

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

A 31-year-old Bridgeville man has been arrested following a robbery that occurred yesterday evening in the area of N. Front St and Poplar St. The victim saw that the man later identified as 31-year-old Shawn Warren of Bridgeville appeared to have a firearm and made him give him the book bag, which contained personal property,…

Mid-Atlantic Region to Become one of Seven “Hydrogen Hubs” In U.S.

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

The Biden Administration announced last week substantial federal grants to create a series of “hydrogen hubs,” with the goal of seeing these hubs produce three million metric tons of hydrogen annually. Senator Tom Carper released a statement saying the Mid-Atlantic region was selected to become one of seven clean hydrogen hubs across our nation. Senator…

Delaware Citizens Asked to Comment on Draft Plan to Provide Universal Broadband Access

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

Delaware is expected to receive $107 million in federal money to deploy internet infrastructure in The First State. Delaware Broadband Office Executive Director Roddy Flynn says there are still a lot of hoops they need to jump through to gain access to that funding. The proposed plan has been posted for public comment. The plan…

Easton Airport Breaks Ground for Airfield Modernization Project

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

The long-anticipated groundbreaking ceremony for the Airfield Modernization Project took place earlier this month. Within the last year, Easton Airport moved into the project design phase of the program, which includes runway expansion. The Airport brings in $50 million in business revenue annually and is an important component of the economic viability for the county…

Saturday, October 21 is ‘National Move Over Day; AAA Reminds Motorists to Slow Down, Move Over

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

AAA is underscoring the need for drivers to slow down and ‘move over,’ away from first responders and disabled motorists at the roadside at all hours, but especially as the days grow shorter. The latest statistics indicate that more than 75% of all roadside deaths occur after dark. Almost 2,000 people were killed in roadside…

Unemployment Rate in Delaware–Unchanged from August, Down from Last Year According to Latest Report

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was 4%–unchanged from August, according to the latest report from the Delaware Department of Labor. The unemployment rate in the First State was 4.6% in September 2022. There were 21,000 unemployed Delawareans in September compared to 22,700 in September 2022. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8% in September…

Concerns about Distribution of Green Iguanas in Delaware

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) has been made aware that green iguanas, which are considered exotic animals in Delaware, were present at the Apple Scrapple Festival held in Bridgeville from October 13-14th, and a private vendor may have distributed them to the public as a prize. State Veterinarian Dr. Karen Lopez says they are…

Town of Ocean City to Conduct Fall Hydrant Flushing of Water System

By Joe Ciccanti / October 20, 2023

The Town of Ocean City’s Public Works Department will begin conducting the fall hydrant flushing of the water system beginning this Sunday, October 22nd. The hydrant flushing, which is done bi-annually, will progress from south to north, beginning on South 1st Street and covering several blocks per day. Currently, public works personnel are scheduled to…

UPDATED: Woodland Ferry Now to Reopen Friday, Oct 20

By Joe Ciccanti / October 19, 2023

UPDATED – 10/19/23 – Due to additional work required, the Woodland Ferry is now expected to reopen at 7am Friday, October 20. ========================================================== The Woodland Ferry will be closed from Monday, October 16th through Wednesday, October 18th in order to perform maintenance on the Ferry. According to DelDOT, the ferry is expected to resume normal…

Prosecutors Secure Convictions Against Kent County Couple Due to Child Abuse

By Joe Ciccanti / October 18, 2023

A Kent County couple been convicted of child abuse and other crimes. According to the Delaware Department of Justice, 46-year-old Mary Vinson and 37-year-old Charles Vinson are charged with abusing and torturing their children over a period of 20 months. Both children, who have since been transferred into the custody of the Division of Family…

Georgetown Area Intersection to be Converted to All-Way Stop

By Joe Ciccanti / October 12, 2023

DelDOT will be converting the Two-Way Stop Control at the intersection of Governor Stockley Road and East Piney Grove Road to an All-Way Stop Control. New signs and pavement markings will be installed. The work will take place between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 19th (weather permitting). Flaggers will be on site…

UPDATE: Concerns Related to Criminal Misconduct and Evidence of Violations of Maryland State Law Within Worcester County Public School System

By Joe Ciccanti / October 12, 2023

Updated 10/25/23: Worcester County State’s Attorney Kristin Heiser and Sheriff Matt Crisafulli are disappointed with the Board of Education’s response to law enforcement’s serious concerns about school and student safety. The concerns pertain to criminal misconduct and delinquent acts occurring within Worcester County Public Schools and the failure to notify law enforcement. The Talk of…

Adult Mosquito Spraying in Wicomico County Ends For 2023

By Joe Ciccanti / October 12, 2023

As of earlier this week, the spraying for adult mosquitoes in Wicomico County has come to an end. The county had no reports of any persons testing positive for any transmittable diseases. Two mosquito pools tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus. Those two areas received Aerial applications to reduce the number…