(March 19, 2015) Worcester County’s fiscal 2016 budget book would be soaked in red ink were the county commissioners to adopt the first draft of the spending package that agrees to every request. The budget, containing the collected requests from almost every county department and municipality, is already 660 pages long without counting the Board… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) Three major winter storms struck Berlin in quick succession this winter, hammering the region in a frozen blanket of snow and ice. The town’s water resources and public works teamed up in the snow-removal effort for the first time this year, and the results were startling. More often than not the streets… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) Ocean Pines Police recently released preliminary crime statistics for 2014. Serious crime declined nearly 40 percent in 2014 compared to 2013. A review of serious crime, known as Part 1 Offenses, revealed that in 2014 there were   106 Part 1 Offenses compared to 178 in 2013. Police answered 12,402 service calls for… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) With civic engagement at a peak, Berlin officials met last week to finalize the details of a new three-year plan guiding town projects. The Town Hall gathering held last Thursday also looked to put a bow on a series of recent public meetings collecting opinions from the community. Members of the town… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) A Snow Hill woman was found guilty stealing more than $65,000 worth of jewelry and other items from her Ocean City employer, the Indian River Trading Co., following a trial last Friday in District Court in Snow Hill. Christine Davis, 46, was a trusted employee, Indian River owner Jack Alexander testified. “My… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) Property owner Mike Hamad is crying foul after the Berlin Planning Commission derailed plans for a new Dollar General store last week. The commission voted to deny final site plan approval of the store, which would have been located on Old Ocean City Boulevard near Healthway Drive in Berlin. Hamad sold the… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) Lower Shore CASA is looking for a few good pirates for the Berlin-based program’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Part of Worcester Youth and Family Services Inc., CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children. Maria Cusimano, CASA volunteer coordinator, said the programs… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) Ocean Pines Association’s 2015 search committee will host an informative public meeting on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Pines community center.   The meeting will be open to association members. Anyone interested in a position on the board is encouraged to attend. The purpose of the meeting is… Read more »

(March 19, 2015) The Berlin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month for Nurse Professionals Home Care LLC to celebrate the business’ move to West Ocean City. The company opened in February 2000 in Kent Island, then moved to Ocean City four years ago and then relocated to West Ocean City in February…. Read more »

(March 12, 2015) A bomb scare emptied parts of downtown Berlin on Friday evening after an anonymous caller told Berlin police 10 homemade explosives were set to detonate near the first block of Main Street. According to the Berlin Police Department, the call came at approximately 6 p.m., with the caller warning the bombs were… Read more »