Worcester Co. Adjusts COVID-19 Testing Schedule

Worcester County Health Department continues to offer COVID-19 testing on a regular basis. Appointments are strong encouraged. Testing is available at the West Ocean City Park and Ride Wednesdays from 8:30 until noon, and for Worcester County residents Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Pocomoke Health Department in Pocomoke City from nine until three, in partnership…

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#masksonmaryland Event Held In Worcester Co.

From L to R: Michael Franklin, CEO Atlantic General Hospital, Rick Meehan, Mayor of the Town of Ocean City, Rebecca Jones, Health Officer for Worcester County, Joe Mitrecic, President Worcester County Commission, Mary Beth Carozza, Maryland State Senator District 38

Worcester County, Atlantic General Hospital and the State of Maryland conduct more than 3,300 coronavirus tests at the West Ocean City Park and Ride and in Pocomoke City since the start of regular testing events. That’s more than a quarter of all tests conducted to date in Worcester County. The state has also organized regular…

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Worcester Co. Preserves More Open Space

Currently 1.5 miles of waterfront property along the Pocomoke River shoreline are being protected with a perpetual conservation easement.

Worcester County conserves an additional 1,801 acres of land through three new permanent easements this summer. The purchase price was $1.8-million. Two of the properties are in the Dividing Creek Watershed in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area. The third is in the Coastal Bays Rural Legacy Area. Worcester County Environmental Programs and the Board…

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Worcester County Burning Ban Lifted Beginning Wednesday

The outdoor burning ban in effect for Worcester County since the first week in July will be lifted beginning at 8 a.m. on August 5, 2020. All who conduct outdoor burnings, regardless of the type, are reminded that the law requires any fire to be attended from start to extinguishment. Precautions for having the proper…

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COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing Available In OC This Weekend

Maryland has scheduled several large-scale COVID-19 Testing Events, including a drive-through testing program at the Ocean City Convention Center this weekend. Appointments for a test can be made through the Worcester County Health Department by calling 410-632-1100, then pressing 8. Additional testing clinics are also being planned for select weekends in August and September. A…

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Berlin Man Gets 10 Years For Fatal Crash

A Berlin man has received a ten-year prison sentence, with all but four years suspended, for a conviction of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance. According to the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, the charges against 32-year-old Bryan Lee Wersten resulted from a December 2018 incident in which a pickup…

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Ocean Pines Police Chief David Massey To Retire

Ocean Pines Police Chief David Masey

Ocean Pines is getting a new police chief. Lieutenant Leo Ehrisman, a 34-year-veteran of policing in Ocean Pines, has been promoted to the position of police chief. Ehrisman replaces Chief David Massey, who is stepping down August 1st after 17 years of Police Chief in Ocean Pines. Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola says the…

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Flash Flood Watch CANCELED

Flash Flood Watch CANCELED for Talbot County, MD Queen Anne’s County, MD Sussex County, DE Wicomico County, MD Somerset County, MD Worcester County, MD Dorchester County, MD

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Help Wanted: Job Fair Today in Worcester County

Jobs-Ahead©ml/shutterstock_107123270

Job-seekers are welcome to come outside for an outdoor job fair today in Snow Hill. Positions in a variety of career fields will be highlighted at the job fair from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Sturgis Park. Registration is not required. According to Worcester County Tourism Director Melanie Pursel, some local establishments have been…

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Worcester Co. Announces Grants For Small Businesses, Farmers Impacted By Pandemic

Worcester County small business owners and farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic will be able to apply for grants. Applications through the Workforce Back to Business COVID-19 Assistance Grant Program will be accepted online for two weeks starting July 8th. An independent review panel will evaluate the applications. Grants will be awarded in increments of…

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KKK Literature Left At Several Homes in Worcester Co.

01-Fingerprint at crime scene © LZ Image/Shutterstock__8320090

K-K-K literature is turning up in Worcester County. As protests for racial justice sweep the nation, fliers promoting the Ku Klux Klan have been left at homes in Berlin and other communities. 47-ABC reports the propaganda was stuffed into plastic bags, weighed down with small pebbles and tossed into driveways. Authorities are investigating and are…

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Worcester County Parks Reopen

Following Governor Hogan’s Roadmap to Recovery, all Worcester County parks are now open – including fields, playgrounds, pavilions, basketball courts, tennis courts and portable toilets.   The Recreation Center in Snow Hill will reopen at 50% capacity on Monday, June 22, but open recreation – including drop-in basketball – will not be offered at this time. …

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Worcester Co. FY ’21 budget holds the line on property taxes

Worcester County will maintain its real property tax rate at 84.5 cents per $100 of assessed value under a budget approved by County Commissioners for fiscal year 2021. The spending package totals more than $204,000,000, one-and-a-half percent more than the current year’s budget. Worcester County Officials say they tried to act proactively to address the…

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Worcester County expedites process to help bars, restaurants reopen

Worcester County Commissioners have approved a free, expedited process to help bars and restaurants in unincorporated areas of the county develop temporary outdoor seating. The program, developed in accordance with Governor Larry Hogan’s transition to complete stage one of the Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery, is aimed at helping businesses reopen under the guidelines issued.…

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Worcester County Health Department Confirms First Coronavirus Death

The Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) confirmed the first death of a county resident this week from COVID-19: a woman in her 80’s who was a hospice patient at a county long-term care facility prior to the onset of COVID-19 illness. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this time.  For more…

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Worcester County School Board Waives Finals

The Worcester County Board of Education has voted to waive final exams. During Tuesday’s meeting the Board voted unanimously to waive finals for semester two courses and yearlong courses for the 2019-20 school year. Also in a video on the District’s website, Superintendent Lou Taylor told seniors that they will have a part in how…

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Worcester County Emergency Services is Collection Donations of Unopened PPE

Worcester County Emergency Services (WCES) is collecting donations of unopened personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE needs include but are not limited to N-95 masks, surgical masks, powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs), impermeable gowns, medical gloves, hand sanitizer, eye protection, flip-down grinding/splash shields, and cleaning supplies/disinfectants. “Donated PPEs are welcome at this time and will be distributed…

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Worcester County President holds State of the County Address, highlighting response to coronavirus

Worcester County Council President Joe Mitrecic held a State of the County Address on Wednesday where he discussed actions being taken by the County Commissioners in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis locally. Worcester County, like the rest of the country, faces a situation never before encountered, and the Commissioners are calling on residents and…

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Worcester County closes all non-essential, short-term rentals

Worcester County has declared that all non-essential, short-term rentals in West Ocean City, Ocean Pines, and all other unincorporated areas of Worcester County should be cancelled until the Stay-At-Home order is lifted at the direction of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. These emergency measures have been implemented to stop the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in…

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Worcester County urges visitors, residents to comply with Governor’s Stay at Home order

Worcester County Commissioners urge visitors and residents alike to comply with the Stay At Home order issued Monday by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “Protecting public health is our highest priority throughout the duration of this public health crisis,” Commission President Joe Mitrecic said. “In the weeks ahead, visitors and residents will play a key role…

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Worcester County issues local State of Emergency over coronavirus

Worcester County Commissioners issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency proclaiming the coronavirus (COVID-19) as a catastrophic health emergency. The Commissioners implemented special measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and minimize the threat to public safety and lives of all Worcester County residents and visitors. Worcester County Government officials are working closely…

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