THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008
VOL. 13 NO. 15 NEWS HEADLINES ELECTION - Candidates are lined up for the Sussex County Council race. Page 3 SURVEY - More than 600 respond to Rep. Danny Short’s survey. Wait until you hear what they would approve. Page 5 WWII VETS - With a snake coiling to strike and the enemy approaching, this veteran takes an oath. Page 8 TAXING - Homeowners have a number of ways to pay their county tax bills. Page 10 FUEL SERIES - While painfully aware that prices at the gas pumps are high, there are some hurt even more by the high costs. Page 11 AFRAM - The Eastern Shore AFRAM Festival is next weekend. Find out what you need to do now to participate. Page 12 PRETTY IN PINK - The 9 Hole Ladies Club raises money for research. Page 13 HE’S BACK - Dave Crimmins has returned as the director of the Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club. Find out what he has planned. Page 49 LIFE IN THE PROS - Seaford graduate Derrik Gibson is adjusting to life as a professional baseball player. Page 41 SERIES CHAMPS - The Diamond State Swoop 10U softball team takes home a championship after going undefeated. Page 41 REGIONALS - The Woodbridge Major League softball team begins Eastern Regional play while the District III Big League softball team prepares to start regional play. Coverage begins on page 41.
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OBITUARIES 23 ON THE RECORD 38 54 OPINION PAT MURPHY 21 PEOPLE 50 POLICE JOURNAL 40 PUZZLES 20 SPORTS 41-48 TIDES 7 TODD CROFFORD 51 TONY WINDSOR 30 VETERANS OF WWII 8
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Dukes reflects on 20 years of service By Tony E. Windsor After 20 years as a county legislator, Dale Dukes is ready to dedicate his time more fully to his family and business. “We just got back from Cancun, Mexico where my wife and I spent our anniversary with our entire family. It was great and I am looking forward to more opportunities to travel with family,” he said. The anniversary getaway Dukes refers to is he and wife, Dottie’s, 50th wedding anniversary. They went to Cancun for a week with their children’s and grandchildren’s families, all 24 members, including one greatgrandchild. “My wife and I have at least a trip a month scheduled for the next few months,” he said. Dukes said he did not take his decision to not seek re-election lightly and he has certainly had second thoughts since making the decision. “I have had fabulous years on the council and I have enjoyed everything that I have done,” he said. “I am not sorry at all that I made this decision and I truly feel it the best thing. I prayed about this and the Lord gave me direction..” Dukes is not shy about sharing some of the frustrations that have come about in recent years; one in particular. “There are people who have located to Sussex County from other places and it seems once they get here they all of a sudden want to change the way we do things,” he said. “They have more demands and want more services. I think one of the things that caused me to consider very seriously stepping down is how I find myself reacting to these people. I find myself saying, ‘if you don’t like it here, then go back where you came from,’ a little too often and more easily. I think that may be a sign that it is time to go.” Dukes said he receives e-mails and phone calls daily from those people in the county, both in and out of his council district, “begging” him to run again. “I had two Republicans from Seaford urge me to reconsider my decision to step down. One Republican lady heard me speak on the subject of private property rights and called saying she would help me raise campaign funds and actually go door-to-door to campaign for me if I would change my mind about running. She pleaded with me to reconsider, saying ‘we need somebody to stay strong on property rights and
Sussex County Councilman Dale Dukes (left) talks with former Sussex County Administrator Robert Stickles (center) and State Representative Biff Lee of Laurel. Photo by Tony Windsor
stand up for the local farmers’.” Dukes said he will put his support behind County Council candidate Eddie Justice, a local farmer who is also a member of the Laurel School Board and president of the Delaware State Farm Bureau. “He is a family man, a farmer and someone who is well respected. He is also well known by the state legislature and shares my views on the importance of protecting the rights of private property owners,” he said. Dukes graduated from Laurel High School in 1958 and after marrying, took a job with Southern States in Seaford at a rate of $1.38 an hour, good money at the time he says. He was then told he would start having to do shift work. He was disappointed to learn that he would not be paid anything additional. His father, Silas Dukes, offered him a job working for him at his Laurel construction business and said he would pay him $1.50 an hour, an offer he could not refuse. His father was a farmer, but during the winter months took on carpentry and construction work as a contractor. In order to store the needed lumber for the family carpentry and construction business, Silas Dukes built a small lumber storage building. In Continued to page four
Seaford bicyclist killed The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred Monday. Investigators responded to the area of Oak Grove Road, just north of Stein Highway at 11:08 a.m. after it was reported a vehicle struck a bicyclist. Investigators learned a 2003 Chevy pick-up, operated by Gerald C. Walter, 31, of Seaford, was northbound on Oak Grove Road approximately one-half mile north of Stein Highway. The bicyclist, identified as Carl R. Boyd, 61, of Seaford, was riding his bicycle northbound on Oak Grove Road in front of the pick-up. He was riding all the way on the right side of the lane, as there were no shoulders. As the truck approached the bicyclist, the truck’s right front bumper struck the bicyclist. As a result, Boyd was thrown forward into a ditch. He sustained lifethreatening injuries and was pronounced dead at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital. Because of the crash, Oak Grove Road was closed approximately three hours. Walter was not injured and was wearing his seatbelt and the victim, Boyd, was not wearing a helmet, police said.