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AUGUST 8, 2014
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41ST WHITE MARLIN OPEN Tournament wraps up today, Friday. After three days, no qualifying white or blue marlin – Page 41
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Job suspension for candidate after pickup City unclear who makes call to release information
By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Aug. 8, 2014) The Town of Ocean City has denied an information request by Ocean City Today to view reports from a Saturday, July 26, incident that resulted in the temporary suspension of city paramedic and Worcester County Commissioners candidate, Mike Maykrantz. Again citing its non-disclosure policy on “personnel matters,” the city acknowledged the existence of, the incident reports, which center around the unauthorized pickup of two women by a city ambulance under questionable circumstances. According to City Solicitor Guy Ayres, the available materials are not active duty reports, but rather reports generated through the Ocean City Fire Department’s internal discipline policy. “I’m not aware of any EMS reports,” Ayres said. “I reviewed information about what occurred…but an investigation of an incident or incidents that may or may not lead to a disciplinary matter is something we don’t release.” However, the city is verbally confirming to the public and media that an incident occurred, and is being dealt with. “We did receive a complaint about an employee who offered two walkers who were carrying a package of unopened alcohol a ride in the ambulance,” said City Communications Manager, Jessica Waters. “We hold our employees to a very high professional standard, and take seriously any instance in which they behave below expectations. The employee will be held accountable for their actions.” The incident occurred during the malfunction of the Route 50 Bridge on Saturday, July 26, when the city’s Paramedic 3 ambulance was unable to get back into town and was awaiting See INCIDENT Page 9
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CAUGHT ON CAMERA A white marlin jumps and twists out of the water around the boat, Yellowfin, run by Capt. Chuck Woodward, Monday, Day 1 of the 41st annual White Marlin Open. The five-day tournament wraps up today, Friday. See story on page 41.
How is season’s hotel business? Most say, ‘it depends just who you ask;’ impact felt from condo mini-weeks
By Phil Jacobs Editor (Aug. 8, 2014) “It depends who you ask.” That was the answer given to Ocean City Today the most when it asked in early August, “So how’s business?” of various hotel, motel operators. There was a common agreement that the mid-week business seemed sometimes flat. There was also a concern that condominium miniweeks were impacting the lodging and restaurant businesses. Still, Ocean City showed a 5 percent increase in hotel stays for the month of June. So, with what could
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be seen so far by and large as perfect weather, three of the area’s business leaders interviewed last week agreed that if the weather stays sunny and hot, August leading into Labor Day should complete the summer on a high note. This week, we asked three hotel owners and one hotel general manager what they were seeing “out there.” Statistically at least, Ocean City saw almost 5 percent increase in occupancy rate in June compared to May, 2013. June’s gross room revenue for June was down from 2013’s $58,517,067 to $56,573,000. Here we are in early August with just a handful of weeks leading into Sept. 1 and Labor Day. Annemarie Dickerson, who with her husband Jim owns and operates the Francis Scott Key Resort in West Ocean City,
had plenty to say on the question of “How is business going this summer?” “I think that in general when we compare our summers to the summer just before, that’s a dangerous tool to use,” she said. “I have gone back 10 years to see where I was in 2005 otherwise we will miss the big picture on how our businesses are doing. I do want Ocean City to get the numbers it got 10 years ago.” Dickerson said that the condo mini-week, where condominiums are rented for a three- or four-night stay, impact not only the hotel-motel business, but also restaurants. Most of these condos come with fully equipped kitchens. Patrons can eat in, instead of patronizing a restaurant. “We are now in competition with See HOTEL Page 5
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