UPDATED: Ocean City Reopens Downtown Beach & Boardwalk Tram Service; Remaining Fireworks Destroyed

UPDATED – 7/6/21 – 5pm – Yesterday, July 6, 2021, Ocean City Bomb Squad personnel, assisted by the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office-Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) safely destroyed the remaining fireworks on the beach after the unintended fireworks discharge on Sunday. Destruction of the remaining fireworks occurred…

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UPDATED: Young Dolphin Rescued At New Castle Dies

Photo courtesy of New Castle City Police

UPDATED – 7/6/21 – The MERR Institute responded to a stranded bottlenose dolphin calf on the 4th of July. This baby dolphin was a good distance from its typical range, stranding up in the City of New Castle along the Delaware River. The combined elements of distance and holiday traffic made a speedy response challenging…

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Green Tickets Return to Funland!

Funland will be closed this Wednesday for transition Funland is returning to its traditional open-door ticket model this week. Because of Covid, when the park opened last July, all guests were required to wear a wristband that allowed them to access the park and ride only for a specific time block. The number of guests was limited…

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Swimmer Injured in Rehoboth

Teen and man critically injured in other incidents in Bethany and Fenwick This summer has been good so far with a low number of surf injuries in Rehoboth Beach. One of the few people taken to a hospital this past holiday weekend from the beach in Rehoboth was this 26-year-old man who dislocated or broke…

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20 Candidates Nominated For Del. Teacher Of The Year

Delaware Department of Education logo

20 Delaware educators are in the running to become Teacher of the Year for 2022. Public school districts and charter schools nominated their candidates based on ability to inspire a love of learning in students, demonstration of professional traits and devotion to teaching. According to the Department of Education, Delaware has about 10,000 public school…

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Significant Boating Incidents from Past Week

Boating accidents and mishaps this time of year are common and this past week was no exception. Delaware Natural Resources Police officers are investigating this boat accident reported around 7:45 p.m. last Wednesday on Round Pole Branch Creek off the Broadkill River involving a pontoon boat and a duck boat. This is just southwest of the Coastal Highway bridge over the Broadkill River. Sgt.…

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Henlopen Facade Falls during Holiday Weekend

Luckily nobody was injured Rehoboth Beach police were called to the Henlopen Hotel around 7:20 a.m. this past Sunday after a large piece of the building’s soffit suddenly gave way and dropped to the hotel’s first-floor deck. Fortunately, nobody was injured but that entrance remained closed for the rest of the holiday weekend. Justin Mogavero, the hotel’s…

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Dewey United Against Beachfront 5G Poles

If you were searching for something that would unite the people of Dewey Beach, Monday morning’s protest against the Verizon beach antenna sites is probably the closest you will ever find. This issue has united the town’s people with members of the business community against a common foe, Verizon. The protest was led by Dan Dionisio, the Save Dewey…

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Summer Meals For Kids Available Through IRSD

Schools in the Indian River School District will take part in the U.S.D.A. Summer Food Service Program this year. Meals will be provided at no charge on a first-come first-served basis at several schools in the district. Breakfast will be served on days and times that summer school is in session. The Indian River School…

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Del. Listeria Case Linked To Multi-State Outbreak

Delaware Public Health has announced that the state has confirmed one case of Listeria in conection with an outbreak linked to recalled Tyson Foods ready-to-eat chicken products. DPH Monday said due to the small numbers of cases overall and to protect the privacy of all patients, additional information about the specific case would not be…

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Mobile Food Pantry Returns To Sussex Co. Tues.

Drive-through mobile food pantries will return this week to assist Delaware families who face food insecurity. The Food Bank of Delaware will host a mobile pantry Tuesday at Crossroad Community Church in Georgetown. Pantries will be held in each county later in the week and early next week. Guests are asked to clear space in…

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Del. Communities Get 1st Shares Of Rescue Plan Funding

Dozens of local governments in Delaware now have a share of just less than $44-million in their accounts from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. State Treasurer Colleen Davis’ office was charged by the Federal Government with developing the distribution process, and the first round has been completed. Davis said decisions on how to…

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Fins Up! Shark Week Blimp Hovers Over Delmarva

Shark Week Blimp (photo courtesy of the Discovery Channel)

Visitors to the Delaware beaches who look up may be treated to a Jaws-ome sight. The Discovery Shark Week Blimp is 128 feet long and 44 feet high. Wrapped to resemble a shark, the blimp has been flying the east coast in celebration of the 33rd anniversary of Shark Week. Information obtained by WGMD indicates…

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National Weather Service Confirms 2 EF-1 Tornadoes Touched Down along the Sussex/Kent Line

Storm Damage in Milford, Marshall Commons off Marshall St. (photo courtesy of City of Milford)

NWS Damage Survey for July 1st 2021 confirms two Tornadoes… Farmington DE to Houston DE Tornado… Rating: EF-1Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mphPath Length /statute/: 3.9 milesPath Width /maximum/: 50 yardsFatalities: 0Injuries: 0 Start Date: Jul 01 2021Start Time: 4:52 PM EDTStart Location: 1 North of Farmington DEStart Lat/Lon: 38.8892 / -75.5826 End Date: Jul 01…

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Maryland Corrections Employees to Receive Salary Increases

Governor Larry Hogan today announced $13 million in salary increases for employees who are charged with the care and custody of inmates within Maryland’s correctional facilities. This follows the administration’s announcement last week of increased salaries for new hires into these critical positions.  These salary enhancements are designed to enhance the state’s ability to compete…

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DART First State to Run Regular Sunday Schedule

DART First State services, both fixed route and paratransit, will operate on a regular Sunday schedule, along with the 305 Beach Connection and Beach Bus services. DART’s 305 Beach Connection provides a relaxing ride from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through September 6. Fares are $2 per zone; the one-way cash…

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Delaware Ag Officials Warn of Poison Hemlock in Sussex County

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is warning all residents about two deadly species of hemlock recently found in Sussex County. Environmental scientists have confirmed the presence of poison hemlock (Conicum maculatum) and spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata). All parts of the plants – leaves, stems, flowers, and roots – are poisonous to humans and animals.…

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DSU Completes Acquisition Of Wesley College

Delaware State University has officially become the first Historically Black College and University to acquire another institution of higher education with its acquisition of Wesley College in Dover. Officials announced Thursday that the Wesley campus will be known as the Downtown DSU Campus, with its own leadership team.Delaware State plans to expand nursing program facilities…

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New Seaford Park Also Honors Region’s Heritage

Photo courtesy of the City of Seaford

The new Oyster House Park in Seaford is opening up, giving more locals citizens and visitors access to the Nanticoke River, while exploring the area’s history. The ribbon was cut at the park at the site of the old J.B. Robinson Oyster House Thursday. Construction began in December 2020 and focused on enhancing access to…

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Visiting The Beach? Advice: Arrive Early, Stay Late

Motorists traveling to or through Maryland over Independence Day weekend should be prepared to share the roadways with plenty of other drivers… as well as pedestrians and cyclists. The Maryland State Highway Administration said Thursday that non-emergency lane and shoulder closures in high-volume areas will be suspended between Friday and Wednesday. MDOT SHA plans to deploy…

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Possible Tornado Strikes In Milford Area

Photo courtesy of Harrington Volunteer Fire Company

(Update Friday morning) The clean-up is underway after powerful storms and a possible tornado swept through portions of Delmarva late Thursday afternoon. Damaged structures, toppled trees and downed power lines were the result, but as of yet no injuries have been reported.One hard-hit area was Milford and Slaughter Beach. Milford officials said the city will…

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Del. Meets COVID Vax Goal

Delaware has crossed the finish line in reaching a coronavirus vaccination milestone. According to Delaware Public Health and Governor John Carney, just over 70% of adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, reaching the goal before July 4th as stated by President Biden. “Delawareans have pulled together, done their part and gotten…

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Duck Boat Crashes into Pontoon Boat near Milton

Delaware Natural Resources Police officers are investigating a boat accident reported around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday on Round Pole Branch Creek off the Broadkill River involving a pontoon boat and a duck boat. This is just southwest of the Coastal Highway bridge over the Broadkill River. Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, DNRP spokeswoman, says the duck boat ran…

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Here’s What A Fireworks Accident Can Do…

Maryland State Fire Marshal bomb squad member shows the aftermath of a rubber hand that held a quarter stick illegal firework, left, to show the danger of using illegal fireworks

Marylanders are being encouraged to leave the fireworks to the professionals at a public display and not to take fireworks into their own hands – lest they explode and caused damage to those hands. Fire Marshal Brian Geraci pointed out that fireworks are prohibited in Ocean City and several western shore counties. People who insist…

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Fire Officials: Leave Fireworks To The Pros

Fireworks are nothing to play around with… The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office reminded Delawareans and visitors this week that sparklers and ground-based novelty items can be purchased by someone 18 or older for 30 days up to and including July 4th, and can only be used on July 4th. Delaware code prohibits possession, sale…

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