A WGMD Local News Article
Sussex County Council Holds Public Hearings on 9 Ordinance Amendments before 2 Week Break
The Sussex County Council will not meet the next two Tuesdays, March 27th and April 3. During this morning’s meeting County Administrator Todd Lawson introduced the council to the new County Constable, Lester Shaffer, who is already on the job. The Council today held public hearings on nine proposed ordinance amendments. Public comment was heard…
Read More100% increase in property taxes in Ocean View
Ocean View is raising its town property taxes 100%. Coast Dispatch reporting the drastic increase comes as the Town Council is searching for alternate funding besides transfer taxes, which they feel are too unreliable. Property taxes in town could rise as much around $70 annually. Officials say the tax increases are needed to help with…
Read MoreRehoboth Commissioners approve $21 million budget
Rehoboth Beach Commissioners unanimously approved a $21 million budget for the upcoming 2018-2019 fiscal year. About $8 million will go to funding the city administration, police department and streets department. The budget is balanced as written, with rental taxes doubling and parking permits increasing parking permit fees. City Manager Sharon Lynn says the price increases…
Read MoreBill that could seize firearms from at-risk individuals moves forward in MD
Maryland’s house of delegates passing a bill that would allow the state to seize firearms of individuals as a form of extreme risk prevention. The bill would allow a physician, psychologist, social worker, law enforcement officer, or other interested person to lodge a complaint. If the courts find the person to be in danger of…
Read MoreOcean City asked to go “strawless” this summer
An environmental group is asking Ocean City businesses and visitors to sign a pledge to say no to plastic straws this summer. The Ocean City chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has launched a “Strawless Summer” campaign in an effort to cut down on plastic pollution on beaches and in waterways and oceans. The foundation reports…
Read MoreSchool shooting in Maryland hits close to home
A school shooting in Maryland hits close to home. Sometime around 8 AM this morning reports of shots fired at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County. So far reports of 3 injuries and possibly one death as a result of the shooting, although that is unconfirmed. The St Mary’s County Sheriff says the…
Read MoreWind Advisory for Eastern Shore of MD & VA Tuesday
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM EDT TUESDAY… The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from 8 AM to 8 PM EDT Tuesday. * AREAS AFFECTED: Eastern Shore from Chincoteague and Wallops Island north to Ocean City * HAZARDS: Strong gusty winds. *…
Read MoreUPDATED: Winter Storm Watch for Delmarva Tuesday Afternoon thru Wednesday Evening
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING… A dangerous storm threatens heavy accumulations of wind driven sleet and snow which may cause widespread power outages and make travel very difficult at times… .A pair of back to back nor’easter’s Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will merge into a single intense storm off the mid Atlantic…
Read MoreUPDATED: Early Morning Blaze at Malone’s Bayside Marina Leaves 1 Dead & 2 Injured
UPDATED 9:10am – A fire early this morning off Long Neck Road left a home destroyed. Inside the home firefighters from Indian River rescued a resident who was taken to Beebe Medical Center and was pronounced dead. Indian River firefighters were initially called for a vehicle fire just after 3am, but upgraded the call to…
Read MoreHarrington Man Dies after Crash Friday Night
A crash Friday night on Fox Hunters Road near the intersection of Hemping Road west of Harrington has left one man dead. Delaware State Police say just after 7pm a pickup truck driven by 58 year old Jerome Hall of Harrington went off the roadway in a sharp curve, hit a ditch and utility pole. …
Read MoreMosquito Spraying Begins Today in Southern Sussex County
Mosquito spraying begins today on wooded wetlands near populated areas in southern Sussex County to treat mosquitoes’ immature aquatic larval stages. The aerial spraying by helicopter of woodland pools has to be completed before the forest canopy fills in – which usually occurs in mid-April. The treatment will be expanded statewide during the upcoming weeks.…
Read MoreAnother DOC CEIT Class Graduates
The Delaware Department of Correction has graduated another class from its Correctional Employee Initial Training Academy. The class includes 25 Correctional Officers, 2 counselors, a paralegal and one Physical Plant Maintenance Mechanic. They have completed 10 weeks of training and now join the ranks of over 2500 employees who uphold the DOC’s mission of protecting…
Read MoreFIGG Bridge Builders Involved in Early Incarnation of Indian River Inlet Bridge
One of the companies involved in the pedestrian bridge collapse in Florida this week, was also one of the companies involved in the early plans for the new Indian River Inlet Bridge. The first incarnation of the Indian River Inlet Bridge was designed in 2003 by FIGG Bridge Engineers. The original design consisted of mounds…
Read MoreMD Rep. Andy Harris holding town hall in Berlin (3/16)
Maryland Representative Andy Harris holding a town hall meeting tonight in Berlin. The congressman will be on hand to answer questions from constituents about immigration reform and other issues before Congress. Any resident from the Eastern Shore of Maryland are welcome to attend the event and ask questions. The town hall takes place tonight starting…
Read MoreUPDATED: Memorial Service set for CAMP Rehoboth co-founder Steve Elkins
UPDATED 3-20-18 –A Memorial Service in Mr. Elkins’s Memory will be held on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Epworth UMC, 19825 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium. Flowers are welcome but, memorial contributions may also be made in Mr. Elkins’s memory…
Read MoreMD Senate increases state tax deductions
A piece of legislation to increase standard tax deductions has made it through the Maryland Senate, part of the state’s response to federal tax overhaul. The vote Wednesday was unanimous and sends the bill to the House. The measure boosts the standard tax deduction for three years. The deduction will go from $2,000 to $2,500…
Read MoreTwo crooks nabbed for Milton robbery
Delaware State police making two arrests in connection with a robbery at a Valero gas station in Milton late last year. On December 7th, a suspect armed with a handgun walked into the Valero on Deep Branch Road, approached the clerk and demanded money from the register. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of…
Read MoreSussex County has best quality of life in Delaware
File this under things we already knew: Sussex County has the best quality of life in the state of Delaware. A study from the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute ranked all counties in the United States based on length of life, health behaviors, access to clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical…
Read MoreDE Senate passes bump stock ban, sends bill back to House
Delaware State Senate passed HB 300 yesterday, a law banning bump stocks and trigger cranks. The bill passed by a vote of 18-1 with Sen. Dave Lawson the lone dissenting vote. However, the Senate added two amendments which need House approval. One amendment would make possession of a trigger crank a misdemeanor for the first…
Read MoreBethany residents should prepare road redevelopment
Bethany Beach warning homeowners they could get trapped by construction. As part of the large-scale reconstruction of South Atlantic and Cedarwood St the roadway will be demolished, prepped, and then repaired. Town Manager Cliff Graviet says the construction will occur in phases, but as they near your home, will close the street access to your…
Read More$50,000 going to help supply DE schools ‘basic needs closets’
Delaware Governor John Carney announcing a $50,000 grant yesterday to support basic needs closets in schools across the state. The funds will help high-needs schools stock up on clothing, school supplies, hygiene products and other basic needs to help struggling students. The grant is supplied by Highmark Delaware, and will be paid in two installments:…
Read MoreOcean City sets summer fireworks times
Fireworks in Ocean City will continue as usual. After an extended debate about when fireworks should be launched, the Ocean City Town Council decided to take the recommendation of the Tourism Committee. This week the Council voted 6-1 to keep the start time of the fireworks displays during the summer at 1030 PM, with Councilman…
Read MoreOcean City mulls becoming “bike-friendly”
Ocean City considering becoming a designated “bike-friendly” town. The Council heard a presentation from the town’s engineer this week on what it would take to get the official moniker. The resort would have to form a Bike and Pedestrian Committee and review any road construction to make it more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. While Ocean…
Read MoreSalisbury announces sister-city agreement with Salinas, Ecuador
Salisbury has a new sister city: Salinas, Ecuador. Mayor Jake Day announced the partnership yesterday, signing an agreement with Salinas Mayor Daniel Cisneros. The cities will focus on promoting, supporting and encouraging information exchanges and cooperation between the cities. Salisbury already has a longstanding relationship with Ecuador, earlier this year the Ecuadroain Ministry of the…
Read MoreStudents walk out of Cape Henlopen High School, but why?
If there’s a protest at Cape Henlopen High School, but the media is not allowed to cover it does it make a sound? That was the question this morning as Cape Henlopen officials and Delaware State Police went to great lengths to keep students and reporters as far apart as possible. Students walked out of…
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