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SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
SPORTS
FALL TEAMS PREVIEWS The Worcester Prep Mallards get through preseason and are prepared for competition – Page 75
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Meetings law opinion goes against city Changes forthcoming in notice procedures
JOSH DAVIS/OCEAN CITY TODAY
FAREWELL Services for long-time public servant and former Ocean City Mayor Fish Powell drew a large crowd to his namesake landmark, the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Wednesday afternoon, as honor guards, a multitude of uniformed resort firefighters, city employees and a host of friends and acquaintances gathered in the Performing Arts Center to pay their last respects. Mayor Powell served in that capacity from 1985 to 1996.
Crime plummets for summer overall Holiday weekend also experiences decline in illegal behavior
By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (Sept. 7, 2018) Not only did this Labor Day weekend in Ocean City have less crime than end-of-summer holidays in past years, but the season as a whole has been much tamer as compared to previous summers. “We have experienced an exceptional summer and have
seen a remarkable decrease in crime,” said Lindsey Richard, public affairs specialist for the Ocean City Police Department. “As of Aug. 19, 2018, we have seen a 23 percent decrease in total serious crime compared to this time last year. This includes a 61 percent decrease in robberies and a 25 percent decrease in thefts. “In June alone, we experienced a 27 percent decrease in serious crime compared to June 2017,” she continued. Overall, 1,357 calls for
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service were made from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Of these, 932 were initiated by police officers and 425 were initiated by citizens. That compares to the 1,115 calls made Sept. 1-3 last year, with 795 initiated by police and 320 initiated by citizens. Calls for service do not necessarily mean a crime was committed, but also refer to traffic enforcement such as abandoned vehicles, responding to accidents and parking complaints, responses to trespassing, noise disturbances
and medical calls requiring police presence. Violent crimes and arrests have also gone down. A total of 31 arrests were made this Labor Day weekend, compared to 44 last year. There were zero drug arrests this year, while one occurred in 2017. DUIs arrests were down to three this year as compared to six last year. Finally, the only increase were two weapon arrests, one more than last year. “We’re still evaluating See CRIME Page3
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Sept. 7, 2018) Violations of the state’s open meetings law have resulted in a change of procedures for Ocean City government, which landed on the wrong side of a dispute over a Transportation Committee meeting that was closed without proper notice. An opinion issued on Aug. 22 by the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board found that government’s ad hoc groups such as the Transportation Committee are subject to the same open meeting requirements as official government bodies and commissions. Consequently, See MEETINGS Page 66
Health dept. says rabies on upswing
By Josh Davis Associate Editor (Sept. 7, 2018) Confirmed cases of rabies are up this year, a Worcester County Health Department official said on Tuesday, and pet owners are being encouraged to be vigilant in ensuring rabies vaccinations are up to date. The health department confirmed four cases of rabies last month: a raccoon in Berlin Aug. 2, a raccoon in Snow Hill Aug. 25, a fox in See CONFIRMED Page 67
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