OC Today-Dispatch JULY 18, 2025
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
Sign up now for our new, Monday-Friday newsletter. — Page 83
PRICELESS
Special election Tuesday Voters to decide whether short-term rentals will be allowed in singlefamily neighborhoods, as ordinance restricting that practice goes to referendum. — PAGE 16
GONDOLA GONE
BRIAN SHANE/OC TODAY-DISPATCH
A worker guides a crane basket loaded with gondola parts to the ground as the Ferris wheel known as The Big Wheel is dismantled. The amusement park ride was booked by Trimper’s for a partial run in Ocean City. Owned by Biggest Wheel LLC of Texas, the ride makes the rounds of state fairs throughout the country.
Wind farm still faces tough row to hoe County chips in $100k to anti-wind effort and EPA finds a mistake. Alleged preferential treatment by state raises local hackles. — PAGES 12, 13, 20
Schools may feel fed cuts in spending The county system has $1.6 million on the line as feds decide whether to fund programs. — PAGE 89
PAGE 2
OC Today-Dispatch
JULY 18, 2025
Enjoy Enjo oy lunch, lunc ch, dinner, din nner, Drinks D Drinks & ocean o cean breezes br reezes with h the best best view w in town! town! o
806 6 South Atlantic Atlantic Avenue Avenue v • ocean ocean city ocea Free e Parking Parking a underneath un nderneath t
JULY 18, 2025
OC Today-Dispatch
PAGE 3
Motorist sentenced for role in passenger’s fatality in ‘24 By Steve Green Executive Editor (July 18, 2025) Eighteen months after a passenger in his vehicle died in a collision, a Maryland motorist was sentenced to 10 years in jail, with all but three years suspended, for his role in the fatality. On Jan. 12, 2024, at approximately 10:35 p.m., deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to Selby Road in Bishopville for a single vehicle collision. The initial investigation revealed that a single vehicle left the roadway during inclement weather and collided with a tree. The vehicle sustained extensive damage. Nicholas Charles Schewe, 22, of North East, Md., a passenger in the vehicle, died on scene. The driver, Liam Austin Strum, 24, of Berlin, was transported due to his injuries to TidalHealth but later recovered. Charges were filed against Strum and a jury trial was scheduled for this week in Worcester County Circuit Court. On Wednesday, the plea deal was executed in court, according to Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser. Strum plead guilty to the top charge, a felony count of negligent manslaughter by vehicle-adult victim. The felony charge carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years and fines up to $5,000 came after prosecutors found he acted “in a grossly negligent manner,” according to court records. Other charges filed against Strum included another count of negligent manslaughter by vehicle -adult victim, negligent homicide by vehicle under influence, negligent homicide by vehicle while impaired, driving under influence, driving while impaired and driving under influence per se. Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Brian Shockley accepted the plea deal to the top count and sentenced
Strum Wednesday to 10 years in the Department of Corrections with all but three years suspended. According to Heiser, upon release from incarceration, Strum will be on five years of supervised probation with a number of special conditions including a fine of $2,500. Other special conditions include abstaining from all substances, including medical cannabis; an alcohol restriction on license for the period of probation; must have ignition interlock on all vehicles for three years; random urinalysis checks; and multiple treatment and therapy requirements. Schewe was from Cecil County and worked at Sunset Marina in Ocean City at the time of his death, according to his obituary. Schewe’s obituary from Crouch Funeral Home read, “Nick did many wonderful things in his short life. He helped start a food ministry in North East. He volunteered as an assistant football coach for Upwards. He was an avid sports fan and not only loved football and hockey but played both sports. He traveled out west to visit the national parks and drove down the California coast, stopping to zipline in the giant redwoods near Big Sur. Nick loved cars and hanging out with his friends at car shows. He enjoyed racing at the Cecil County Drag Strip and spent much of his free time working on his cars. He and his Poppop shared their love of cars and spent many hours discussing them. He loved the water and grew up boating and fishing on the Chesapeake Bay with his family. Nick attended the Marine Mechanics Institute in Orlando, Florida, earned his captain's license, and worked at Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland. Nick fell madly in love and got engaged to the girl of his dreams, Breann, and they planned to get married this October (2024).”
KEEP ‘EM SAFE DURING
the Dog Dog Days of o f Summer
NEVER walk pets on hot pavement or sidewalks.
NEVER leave pets in a parked car, even with open windows.
BREAKFAST
Monday-Thursday 9am-11am Friday-Sunday 8am-Noon
HLIVE ENTERTAINMENTH
SUNDAY 7/20 • 3PM UNCLE WARD WEDNESDAY 7/23 • 5PM CUP OF JOE
HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS Monday-Friday Drinks Noon-6pm Food 3-6pm
CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE DAILY ONLINE ORDERING AVAILABLE CCFBAYSIDE.COM
AVOID OR LIMIT outdoor activities during the hottest times of the day.
Come See Us For All Your Pets’ Needs
20% OFF
ALL FROZEN TREATS Locally Owned & Operated
with coupon. exp. 8/10/25
OPEN DAILY Mon - Fri 10-6 • Sat + Sun 10-4 410-213-7490 • 11934 Ocean Gateway • (Rt. 50 - East) West Ocean City, MD
37314 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD • RT. 54, SELBYVILLE, DE • 302-988-5000/302-993-6959