A WGMD Local News Article
Former OC Councilman, 2-Term Police Chief Leroy Duggan Has Died
A former two-term Ocean City Police Chief and Council member has passed away. Leroy Duggan was 93. After a law enforcement career with Baltimore County Police, Duggan became Police Chief of Ocean City in 1970, was elected to council ten years later, then was reappointed as police chief in 1987. He was credited with transforming…
Read MoreBerlin Mayor Vetoes Council’s Amended Budget
Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall has vetoed the amended budget approved by the town council last week. Tyndall says he proposed a balanced FY22 budget – keeping the tax rate the same and including capital projects and contributions to build up the town’s depleted reserve funds. However, the council approved a seven-page amendment to the Mayor’s…
Read MoreUPDATED: South Bethany Voters Elect 3 to Town Council Saturday
UPDATED: 5/30/21 8:30am: The unofficial results of Saturday’s municipal election in South Bethany return incumbent Richard Oliver to the town Council. He was the top vote-getter with 468 votes, followed by William Tim Shaw with 442 votes and Edith Dondero with 369 votes. Mayor Tim Saxton tells WGMD that about 600 voters turned out for…
Read MorePres. Biden’s First Visit to Rehoboth Since Becoming President Could be Next Week!
Rehoboth is preparing for its first visit of President Joe Biden which could happen in just a few days. This will be his first visit since taking office. This past week, Secret Service activity has noticeably increased around his beach house and in North Shores. Last Wednesday, iDewey posted a screenshot of a Sikorsky VH-3D…
Read MoreBreaking & UPDATED: Crash near Dagsboro Leaves PA Man Dead
UPDATED – 5/29/21 8:15am – A crash Friday night just after 10 has left a Pennsylvania man dead. Delaware State Police say a pickup truck was southbound on Dagsboro Road. An SUV traveling behind the pickup struck the rear of the truck causing it to rotate and overturn on its passenger side. The SUV also…
Read MoreFort Delaware State Park Closed Until June 4
DNREC has closed Fort Delaware State Park until next Friday, June 4 so that repairs can be made to the Delafort Ferry that transports visitors to the Fort. The ferry is in need of repair due to an unforeseen mechanical issue – a back up boat brought in as a temporary replacement also had mechanical…
Read MoreMotorcyclist Killed In Ellendale Crash
A 22-year-old Greenwood man has died of injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash on Route 16, Beach Highway in Ellendale. Delaware State Police said the man was heading westbound Thursday evening and approached Webbs Road at a high rate of speed. The driver of a stopped car at the intersection pulled into the road into…
Read MoreRehoboth Rings The Bell To Celebrate Beach Patrol’s 100th Season
Rehoboth Beach will ring in the summer season with what is expected to become a new tradition: a bell-ringing ceremony Saturday morning to celebrate the 100th year of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol. A brass bell will ring Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on the beach in front of the Beach Patrol headquarters at Baltimore Avenue and…
Read MoreDel. Grant Program Opens For Businesses That Offer Vax Promotions
Delaware small businesses are invited to apply for a state program that offers up to $5,000 if they offer promotions to customers who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. The Delaware Division of Small Business will select businesses across the state that would receive one-time grants to offset the costs of vaccination incentive programs. This is…
Read MoreDel. Bill Would Mandate Recordings Of Police Interrogations
Recordings of police interrogations of adult criminal suspects or juveniles involved in a delinquent act would be required under House Bill 215 that has been introduced in the Delaware House of Representatives. The requirement is seen as a way to increase transparency and accountability when a suspect is being questioned. The measure is part of…
Read MoreMotorcyclists Collide With Taxi In Wicomico Co.
A motorcycle and a taxi collided on Business Route 50 near Booth Street in Wicomico County this week. Maryland State Police said that arriving troopers late Wednesday night discovered a single dirt bike and a minivan in the roadway. A preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the dirt bike hit the minivan as it was…
Read MoreDelaware to Restart Jury Trials in June
Delaware courts are moving into Phase 3 of their reopening plan – which will restart jury trials statewide. Over the 15 months that the courts have been closed to the public because of the pandemic, a backlog of events and cases has built up in several of the courts. Superior Court has a backlog of…
Read MoreDel. Auditor McGuiness Proposes Rescue Plan Spending Tracker
Local and county governments in Delaware as well as school districts will get guidance about how they can be transparent with their spending of American Rescue Plan funds. Delaware entities are receiving shares of $1.25-billion. State Auditor Kathy McGuiness said Wednesday that she is looking to help them track how these tax dollars will be…
Read MoreMemorial Day Weekend Traffic Rush Anticipated
DelDOT and MDTA provided the following information and resources for motorists and Memorial Day weekend travelers: Dover: The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is suspending construction-related lane closures at 12:01 AM on Thursday, May 27, 2021 until 12:01 AM on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. On-going sustained lane shifts and/or lane closures may still be in effect…
Read MorePlastic Straws Targeted In Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach officials are encouraging local restaurants to stop giving plastic straws to their customers. Commissioners adopted a resolution to support the elimination of single-use plastic straws effective January 1st, and to encourage residents to start using paper straws. Plastic straws could also be retained for use in certain circumstances such as medical. “Rehoboth Beach…
Read MoreDel. Courts Ready To Restart Jury Trials Tuesday
Delaware Courts are taking steps toward reopening more proceedings and services. Phase Three of Courts Reopening is scheduled to take effect next Tuesday, June 1st. This will allow many in-person proceedings, including jury trials, to resume. More visitors and staff will also be allowed into courthouses. Face masks will still be required in accordance with…
Read MoreBethany Beach Sets Fireworks For Mon. July 5th
Bethany Beach will join the celebration of Independence Day with the return of fireworks. Town officials say the 2021 fireworks display will take place Monday July 5th at 9:15 p.m. Bethany Beach has been given the go-ahead to move forward with a fireworks show, although the town’s Independence Day parade has been canceled. Musical entertainment…
Read MoreRehoboth Announces Deadlines For Voters To Register, Candidates To File
The annual Rehoboth Beach elections will be held Saturday, August 14th. Deadlines have been announced for candidates to file and for voters to get registered. This year, two positions on the Board of Commissioners are up. Candidates who are interested in running must file a nominating petition by June 7th. Nominating petitions can be obtained…
Read MoreFishing Permits Are For Fishing, Not Beach Outings
A fishing permit does not mean a party permit on Delaware State Parks beaches… DNREC Natural Resources Police conducted a surf fishing enforcement event over the weekend at Cape Henlopen State Park, issuing citations for people who parked on the beach but were not actively engaged in surf fishing. Some people also received warnings for…
Read MoreDE Wins! Incentive Program Launched to Push Coronavirus Vaccinations
Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) on Tuesday announced the launch of DE Wins!, a public education and incentive program aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in Delaware. Delawareans ​12+ vaccinated from May 25-June 29, ​and any Delawarean ages 12-17 vaccinated to date, will be entered to win $5,000 in cash and additional prizes in…
Read MoreProposed FY 2022 Sussex County Budget Presented – No Increase in Taxes, but Some Fee Increases
Sussex County has a quarter of a billion reasons to be optimistic about its future finances as Delaware and the nation emerge from the greatest health and economic crisis to face the globe in the last century. Sussex County officials on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, unveiled the proposed $278 million budget for Fiscal Year 2022…
Read MoreDel. Bills Address Police Use Of Force, Disciplinary Records
With five weeks to go in Delaware’s legislative session, several police accountability-related bills have been introduced for consideration in the Delaware General Assembly. The measures were introduced on the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd as a former Minneapolis Police officer pinned him to the ground with a knee over his neck. The…
Read MoreAAA : Delawareans Ready To Travel This Summer
Pent-up travel demand, convenient getaways, even ‘revenge travel’ (elaborate trips) will make it a busy summer travel season, according to Triple-A Mid-Atlantic. The auto club survey released a travel survey which finds that more than 105,000 people in The First State are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend. The survey indicates optimism surrounding the…
Read MoreTrailer Burns In Selbyville
A fire at a single-wide trailer on Jay Patch Road in Selbyville is under investigation. The fire broke out at about 12:05 a.m. Tuesday. Fire personnel from Selbyville, Frankford, Roxana and Gumboro responded to the scene. The fire was brought under control in about 35 minutes. According to the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company, the cause…
Read MoreCape May – Lewes Ferry A Big Boost To Local Economy, Report Says
The Cape May – Lewes Ferry does more than transport travelers, vehicles and cyclists across Delaware Bay. It’s also an important economic driving force, according to a study released by its operators, the Delaware River and Bay Authority. An independent consulting group’s analysis indicates that the ferry’s operations and activities contribute to 4,130 jobs, $152-million…
Read More