A WGMD Local News Article
Graduation Rates Up, Dropout Rates Down in Delaware
The 2018-2019 school year saw an increase in graduation rates and a decrease in the dropout rate in Delaware’s public high schools. The Delaware Department of Education’s annual report showed an overall graduation rate of 86.69 percent, an increase from 85.75 percent the year prior. The graduation rates for several subgroups like African Americans, American…
Read MoreSprinkler System Saves OC Restaurant in Early Morning Fire
Ocean City Fire Department officials say a sprinkler system saved a restaurant in the resort town from serious fire damage. The incident happened in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 18 after 4 a.m. at the Castle in the Sand Hotel. Officials say they received a call from a hotel employee saying the fire…
Read MoreMaryland Tests Digital License Plates
The Maryland Department of Transportation and Motor Vehicle Administration announced on Tuesday the beginning of a two-year pilot program that will test digital license plate technology. The program, one of the first of the East Coast, is set to replace traditional metal license plates on vehicles with an electronic license plate. MDOT says the plates…
Read MoreSevere Thunderstorm Watch until 10pm/Warning for Sussex till 9:30pm
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that affects the following WGMD locations until 9:30pm: Sussex County,DE Kent County,DE Caroline County,MD Talbot County,MD The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that affects the following WGMD locations until 10pm: Cape May County,NJ Cumberland County,NJ Worcester County,MD Sussex County,DE Kent County,DE…
Read MoreMosquito Spraying Downstate Tuesday Evening
A message from DNREC-MOSQUITO CONTROL Weather permitting; the Delaware Mosquito Control Section plans the following insecticide application(s) during the evening hours on Tuesday, June 18, 2019: Application of Anvil 10+10 (Sumithrin/PBO) with a truck-mounted sprayer to control adult mosquitoes in the following areas: In and near Harrington, Milford, Ellendale, and Selbyville and near Ocean View, Frankford, Millsboro, Georgetown, Lewes,…
Read MoreSussex County Council Approves BOA & P&Z Appointments & Remembers Paramedic Callaway
While the FY 2020 budget was the primary piece of business before the Sussex County Council this week, there was other business that needed attention as well. The council heard from the Director of Development for the Sussex Academy Foundation, Gina Derrickson, about a Hot Air Balloon Festival that they’re bringing to the county airport…
Read MoreMaryland Newborns to be Screened for New Conditions
The Maryland Department of Health says that newborns will now be screened for four additional conditions as part of the state’s newborn screening program. Currently newborns are screened for dozens of conditions, which officials say does not serve as a diagnosis but “plays a crucial role in identifying babies who need further testing.” It is…
Read MoreFinalists Named for Delaware’s 2020 Teacher of the Year
Twenty Delaware teachers have been named finalist for the state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year title. The finalists were selected from among the 9,000 public school teachers in the state, with the main requirements being the ability to inspire students with a love of learning, demonstration of professional traits and devotion to teaching. Below is…
Read MoreSussex County Council Approves FY 2020 Budget
The Sussex County Council has approved the $185.8-million FY 2020 budget. A public hearing was held during this morning’s Council meeting. A dozen people spoke on the budget – several of them directors of county public libraries who all thanked the council for the increase spending which includes $20,000 each of the county’s independent libraries.…
Read MoreSevere Thunderstorm WARNING Until 9:45PM
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the following WGMD locations until 9:45 p.m.: Somerset County, MD Wicomico County, MD Worcester County, MD Dorchester County, MD The National Weather Service warns of 60 mph winds, quarter sized hail, minor damage to vehicles and wind damage to trees and power lines. Stay…
Read MoreDelaware DOJ Secures Student Loan Debt Relief for ITT Tech Students
The Consumer Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice has announced over 23,000 dollars in student loan debt relief for students of ITT Tech, a failed for-profit college. Attorney General Kathy Jennings made the announcement on Monday, that would provide relief for 5 former ITT Tech Students from Delaware, as part of a 43-state…
Read MoreSevere Thunderstorm WATCH for All of Delmarva
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 11 p.m. for the following counties in the WGMD area: Sussex County, DE Kent County, DE Cape May County, NJ Cumberland County, NJ Queen Anne’s County, MD Talbot County, MD Caroline County, MD Dorchester County, MD Wicomico County, MD Worcester County, MD Somerset County,…
Read MoreDNREC Skeeter Spraying Downstate Monday Evening
Weather permitting; the Delaware Mosquito Control Section plans the following insecticide application(s) during the evening hours on Monday, June 17, 2019: Application of Anvil 10+10 (Sumithrin/PBO) with a truck-mounted sprayer to control adult mosquitoes in the following areas: Near Georgetown, Millsboro, Lewes, Bridgeville, Laurel, Seaford, and Delmar. For notification purposes, spraying will be done in the following spray zones: 135,…
Read MoreDAFB Main Gate Construction Continues until July 6th
Construction at the Main Gate at Dover Air Force Base continues and is now scheduled to be completed by July 6th. The purpose of the construction is to upgrade the gate infrastructure to sustain the safety and security of the installation. From approximately May 6th to July 6th, the Main Gate will be closed to…
Read MoreSussex County Council Public Hearing on Proposed Budget Tuesday Morning
This week the Sussex County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY 2020 budget which is scheduled to begin at 10:15 Tuesday morning. In other council action – they will hear a presentation on Balloons over Sussex by the Sussex Academy Foundation. Festival will be coming to Georgetown in September. There will…
Read MoreTraffic Help During Firefly Music Festival in Dover
The Firefly Music Festival is this coming weekend in Dover – at The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway. A reminder to drivers in the area – camping load-in will begin on Thursday – the music festival is Friday through Sunday and traffic around Dover will be heavy. Most of the camping Check-In/Processing will be in…
Read MoreWoman Injured Following Lewes Car-Bicycle Crash
The Lewes Police Department says they responded to a car versus a bicycle accident that took place on Saturday morning around 11:45 a.m. in the 300 block of East Savannah Road. The incident happened when a bicycle being ridden by a 61-year-old female from Newark was traveling west on East Savannah Road in the bike…
Read MoreDUI Charges After Wicomico County Crash Friday
A crash just before 8pm at Route 50 and Sixty Foot Road in Wicomico County is under investigation by Maryland State Police. Police say the driver of a Honda failed to slow in time to avoid colliding with the rear of a BMW which was stopped for a red light. No injuries were reported. Police…
Read MoreEllendale Woman Cited After Crash
A crash Friday evening just before 6pm on Beach Highway near Mennonite School Road left an Ellendale woman with minor injuries. Delaware State Police tell WGMD the 31 year old woman’s vehicle went off the side of the road and into a ditch where it overturned, struck a fence and came to rest on its…
Read MoreState & Federal Officials Investigating Crash at Crisfield Regional Airport
Maryland State Police are investigating a plane crash around 4 this morning at the Crisfield Regional Airport.  Police were called by the pilot’s wife about the crash – the pilot, Dennis Shaw was leaving for New York when he experienced mechanical problems and his plane went down about 600 yards off the runway. He walked…
Read More2 New Sport Fishing Specialty License Tags Now Available in DE
Two new specialty sport fishing motor vehicle license plates are now available from the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. The tags were designed by Caitlin Berchtold, who studied fisheries management at DSU in Dover. The plates’ cost is $95 – $80 of which will go towards enhancing recreational fishing in Delaware. Both plates are permitted…
Read MoreAvailability of DE State Fair Specialty Tags Expanded
A limited-edition special license plate commemorating the Delaware State Fair’s 100th Anniversary became available in April. Now they are available to any individual or business with a car, truck or trailer weighing less than 26,000 pounds. Senate Bill 42 was signed Thursday – expanding the opportunity for Delawareans to display the specialty tag. You can…
Read MoreUPDATED: Thursday Crash on Old Furnace Road Leave Rehoboth Man Dead
UPDATED – 6:30am – A 73 year old Rehoboth Beach man is dead after a head-on crash Thursday afternoon west of Georgetown. Delaware State Police continue to investigate, but say the man was driving a mini-van registered as a taxi was eastbound on Old Furnace Road with two passengers. For an unknown reason, the mini…
Read MoreEarly Morning Fire in Pot Nets Bayside
Indian River emergency personnel were called for a structure fire in Pot Nets Bayside around 1 this morning. Firefighters found smoke throughout the inside of the home on Flipper Road and upgraded the call to a working alarm. Everyone got out of the home safely, but two people were evaluated by EMS. Firefighters from Lewes…
Read MoreRehoboth Beach Introduces Solar-Powered Trash Compactors
The City of Rehoboth Beach is rolling out a new environmentally friendly trash collection system throughout the town. This week, officials installed 14 Bigbelly solar-powered compacting containers that are strategically located at Baltimore Avenue, Wilmington Avenue and First Street, which are locations heavily utilized by pedestrian traffic. Additionally, Grove Park and Stockley Street Park will…
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