Dagsboro News

Local and state police forces this week concluded a four-month investigation into drug sales in the Frankford, Dagsboro and Ocean View areas with the arrest of 18 alleged drug distributors. Police said the Delaware State Police Sussex Drug Unit had conducted covert operations into the sale and distribution of drugs during the investigation, targeting the Frankford area.

On Nov. 2, residents of Delaware’s 41st Representative District will vote to elect the person who will represent them in Legislative Hall for the next two years. Republican-turned-Democrat and incumbent Rep. John Atkins is again being challenged by Republican Greg Hastings.

Delaware State Police on Monday, Sept. 27, were asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in the robbery of the PNC Bank inside the Giant grocery store in Millville.

This fall, Goodfellas in Dagsboro will mark five years bringing subs, pizza and Italian cuisine to the area, but were they going to stop there? Forget about it! The restaurant’s success has paved the way for several other expansions throughout Sussex County, including their newest venture, in Selbyville, headed by owner Ralph Colone’s son, Rob.

For those who watch the television show “The Amazing Race” seated comfortably on the couch with the remote in one hand a snack in the other and think to themselves, “I could do that,” now’s the time to prove it!

The recent slump in the economy has, without a doubt, had an affect on many small, privately owned businesses throughout the community. One locally owned name that took a hit was Mike and Paul’s Auto Repair in Ocean View. Now, owner Mike Blizzard is hoping that a new location in Dagsboro, accompanied by his decades of experience and knowledge, will help his business find an upturn.

Tropical Storm Earl made landfall near Western Head Nova Scotia around 10 a.m. according to officials. Severe tropical storm conditions are affecting a large part of the province. Meanwhile, coastal Delaware is pleasant with sunny skies.

Hail Bennett is the sixth generation to farm his family’s land, which has been under the family’s ownership since 1867. Bennett’s father, Jim, planted the first peach trees on 25 acres of the family farm in 1982.

There are plenty of historic sites remaining in Sussex County, but – at 253 years old – Prince George’s Chapel in Dagsboro stands out among them. Set back from Route 26 behind the church cemetery, the church comes to life just four times a year, to preserve its place as a historic site. And the next big event set to be held there is the annual Ice Cream Festival on Sunday, Aug. 1.

Summertime is in full swing, and many have been heading to the shore for a relaxing getaway and time with family and friends. But the increased number of vacationers inevitably leads to higher volume of traffic on the roadways.

Bringing to a close discussions dating back to February, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Collin O’Mara recently announced that the agency has finalized a consent agreement with NRG Energy Inc. that will permanently shut down a third coal-fired electrical generating unit at the Indian River Power Plant in Millsboro by the end of 2013.

Whether doing cannonballs off the boat, taking off from the dock on a personal watercraft or swimming in the open bays, it’s nice to know how clean that water really is. And the Center for the Inland Bays’ second Recreational Water Quality Indicator Report can help in navigating the use of some of the local inland bays.

Sometimes you have to meet your customers where they are. A good example might be La Bamba – a Mexican restaurant in the heart of Dagsboro that has recently gotten a facelift and changed its name. When asked why she made the change, from Rincón Jarocho to La Bamba, owner and cook Lorena Mora said it was simply because La Bamba is easier for Americans to remember and pronounce.

A name like “Fishkiller’s” may sound intimidating, but to Captain Chet Townsend and his family, it’s strictly business. Now, in just their second season, Fishkiller’s Lobster Shack near Dagsboro, along Route 26, is becoming a drive-by hotspot for locals and vacationers alike, featuring area-caught seafood and on-the-go sandwiches.

Homegrown lawyer Meghan M. Kelly recently accepted a position in Ocean View, close to her home town of Dagsboro. Kelly will be assisting Steven P. Norman at the Norman Law Firm, formally known as Sussex Title and Escrow, located near Blockbuster and Papa John’s.

At 3:35 p.m., National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms moving into central and southern Delaware. Officials said the storms will be capable of producing small hail and gusty winds. In addition, very heavy rain will fall from these storms and will cause water to pond on roads and fill poor drainage areas.

DNREC officials said this week that the Assawoman Canal dredging project is “closing in on completion.” An extension has been granted for work to continue through May 28, and if dredging is not complete by that date, DNREC has requested additional time to get the project finished this season, said Ariane Nichols of DNREC’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation.

The Delaware State Police this week were investigating a single-car crash that killed a 20-year-old Dagsboro woman, Kortney Lynn Rose, on Sunday.

On Saturday, April 3, Dagsboro Church of God will hold its 4th Annual Community Egg Hunt. The event will be held on church grounds and is open to everyone in the community. Kids younger than 12 may participate in the hunt to find more than 5,000 Easter eggs.

A coastal storm, combined with astronomical high tides and a full moon, has resulted in the National Weather Service issuing a coastal flood warning and a hazardous weather outlook for the Bethany Beach area. Minor coastal flooding during Wednesday morning’s high tide may elevate to moderate flooding on during the next high tide into Thursday.

Although snowflakes are few and far between in Delaware as of 3:30 p.m., Thursday, the National Weather Service predicts that snowfall will gradually increase over the state and continue through Thursday night into Friday. However, forecasts for accumulation have been lowered since early Thursday morning.

This week saw new developments in the case of Earl Bradley, and the pain that has been felt in the community in the wake of allegations of child sexual abuse by the Lewes pediatrician has only become more far-reaching.

The State of Emergency in Delaware was lifted at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, by Gov. Jack Markell. But even as the state works to clean up and restore services following the back-to-back snow storms of this month, another snow event is threatening. With a possible arrival of Monday evening, the next storm could drop 8 inches or more of snow unless it shifts to a more northerly track, officials said.

Delaware remains under a State of Emergency on Friday morning, Feb. 12, 2010. The State of Emergency has been in effect since 12 midnight, Feb. 10. The travel bans contained in the original State of Emergency declared by Gov. Jack Markell that prohibited travel on Delaware roadways by non-essential vehicles were lifted on Thursday. The change was effective at noon on Feb.

State of Emergency remains in effect
 
Gov. Jack Markell has ordered the driving restrictions for Kent and Sussex counties to be lifted as of 6 p.m. tonight.  However, the State of Emergency will remain in effect for the entire state until further notice.  Earlier today, the governor and emergency officials lifted driving restrictions in New Castle County.