12.07.12

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SCHOOL BUDGET: Just in time

SURFING BEACHES:

for Christmas, representatives from county schools present their ‘wish lists’ to commissioners for ’14 fiscal budget PAGE 14

Ocean City surfing community weighs in on restricted beach policy, asks for more leniency PAGE 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . 46 CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . 63 ENTERTAINMENT . . . . 53 LEGALS . . . . . . . . . . . 65

LIFESTYLE . . . . . . . . . 49 OPINION . . . . . . . . . . 20 OUT&ABOUT . . . . . . . . 61 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . 41

COMMUNITYWIDE PROGRAMS HELP NEEDY DURING HOLIDAYS…PAGE 49

Ocean City Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET

DECEMBER 7, 2012

PHOTO COURTESY CHARLOTTE LITSINGER

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HEROIN ABUSE LEADS TO26 ARRESTSINOC Five suspects still at large after six-week ‘Operation Smackdown’ investigation NANCY POWELL ■ Staff Writer

sis contained in the CAFR typically leaves only a few surprises, all of which this year, according to city Finance Administrator Martha Bennett, have been to the city’s benefit. Despite slight drops in some revenue categories, the city saw almost a mil-

(Dec. 7, 2012) Twenty-six people have been arrested and five more are being sought, following an Ocean City Police Department investigation into a local heroin distribution network. The six-week investigation, called the OCPD Operation Smackdown, resulted in approximately 72 purchases of heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs and marijuana, although most buys were for heroin. Last Tuesday, a Worcester County Grand Jury indicted 23 people on various drug distribution charges. Bonds for the suspects ranged from $100,000 to $300,000. Police initiated the investigation because of the increasing prevalence of heroin abuse this year in the resort area. On Nov. 29, Ocean City Police Department detectives served a search and seizure warrant on Louis Joseph Rychwalski III, 27, of Ocean City, although he was not one of the indicted suspects. They found that Rychwalski had 46 bags of heroin with him. He was charged with offenses relating to the distribution of heroin for incidents that occurred Oct. 26, Nov. 7 and Nov. 29. At Rychwalski’s north Ocean City residence, police confiscated additional heroin, drug paraphernalia and two replica handguns. Police also arrested Nicholas Alexander Palmisano, 18, of Ocean City, and Edward Allen Paddy, 37, of Ocean City, who allegedly were going to meet with Rychwalski to buy heroin.

See FUND on Page 12

See POLICE on Page 13

DENIED? Governor expected to appeal FEMA denial of individual aid to Eastern Shore NANCY POWELL ■ Staff Writer (Dec. 7, 2012) Gov. Martin O’Malley is expected to appeal FEMA’s decision this week to deny federal disaster relief to Maryland individuals who suffered damages from Hurricane Sandy. “This decision will make it more difficult for hard hit residents of the Eastern Shore to recover from the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy,” O’Malley stated in a press re-

lease issued Wednesday. “State agencies will continue to work with local officials to try to help local residents, but the federal programs would have provided the best assistance.” Sen. Jim Mathias, who represents Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties, also expressed his disappointment. “I cannot remember a public policy decision that more deeply aggrieved me than that of the denial of individual assistance aid to Somerset See SOMERSET on Page 10

OCEAN CITY TODAY/NANCY POWELL

Charlotte Litsinger, above, says her mobile home, located in Warren’s Trailer Park on 52nd Street in Ocean City, is no longer a “bayside retreat.” Floodwaters surrounded Litsinger's mobile home in late October during Superstorm Sandy, and for some time after it had passed. At the time the top photo was taken, at least four high tides had come and gone before she and other residents were allowed back into the park.

Financial report sees gains, losses may be on horizon ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer (Dec. 7, 2012) Ocean City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) was issued this week and although the city continues to receive accolades for its attention to detail and adherence to

accounting standards, upcoming changes in reporting requirements may put the local government in a tight spot in the future. Graylin Smith of independent auditing firm SB & Company told the City Council this week that he had “found no non-compliance with [the city’s] ad-

ministration of federal grants” and the accounting standards that accompany them. The data disclosed in the CAFR lays out the city’s record for fiscal year 2012, which ended in June. Because the city performs budget revisions throughout the year, the final analy-

Jessica Vincent

Joshua Drennan

Charles Andrews

Sheron Purnell

Michael Jones


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12.07.12 by OC Today-Dispatch - Issuu