Jim Ligouri

DOVER — Two recent instances once again spotlighted potential unrest between city police officers and their chief, echoing similar claims by high ranking agency leadership in 2014.

Dover Police Department Master Cpl. Dave Gist, also Fraternal Order of Police lodge president, opted for an open disciplinary hearing against him on May 9, publicly airing concerns after a perceived snub of Chief Paul Bernat at a 2015 Christmas party, among other internal issues.

Attorney Jim Liguori, who represented Mr. Gist, followed with a letter to the Attorney General’s office on May 24 expressing his belief that “in my 41 years of practicing law in Kent County, I’ve never seen the morale or leadership of the Dover Police Department at such a low point.”

Asked for a response to the letter, Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen expressed support for all city police members.

“I have total confidence in the chief of police and staff, and all the men and women to do the very difficult job they have to do,” he said.

“I support them 100 percent and hope they’re 100 percent dedicated to addressing our citizens’ concerns.

“As far as Mr. Liguori’s letter goes, that’s just one man’s opinion,” the mayor said.

Dover City Council was briefed on the ongoing situation in which the Attorney General’s office said is under review.

“I believe, in my heart, that Dover city police officers are loyal to protecting the lives and property of the citizens in Dover and are responsive to Chief Bernat and the leadership of the police department,” councilman Scott Cole said after a request for comment.

After referencing a supposed no confidence vote against previous police chief Jim Hosfelt, Mr. Liguori claimed the “heavy handed and improper machinations of Paul Bernat in his
threatening [Internal Affairs] investigations against all those in the rank and file that agree with him …” need to be addressed.

Earlier this month when the letter was disclosed, Chief Bernat declined comment.

Two cases referenced

Mr. Liguori represented former Dover Police Cpl. Thomas W. Webster IV, found not guilty of assault in December 2015 after rendering a suspect

Dave Gist

briefly unconscious after a jaw-breaking kick to the jaw in August 2014. The officer eventually separated from Dover Police Department while receiving $230,000 in a settlement agreement.

Cpl. Gist  was cleared of any misconduct by an independent police board regarding performance standards suggestions to officers on Jan. 13.

Mr. Liguori contacted the Attorney General’s office in reference to Chief Bernat’s handling of a use of force report involving Mr. Webster in the assault case, claiming a crime might have been committed.

Continuing on, Mr. Liguori described Chief Bernat as having surrounded himself with a “small coterie of sycophants.”

“It’s not my style to complain, quite the opposite, my affinity for all police, especially the [Dover Police Department], runs deep” Mr. Liguori wrote to the Attorney General’s office.

“That’s why I’ve struggled with how to handle the above. It bothers me so much that I can no longer just let it pass.”

Considering the source

Citing his past career in the media, councilman Fred Neil said, ““As an old newsman, I look to see what is prompting Jim Liguori’s new attacks on the Dover police chief.
“Since his client, officer Webster was acquitted, Liguori was able to get him a generous settlement.”

“However, Liguori may have missed the O.J. Trial, found innocent, but not in the public’s eye. Ditto, officer Webster’s actions were captured on video cam.”

Mr. Neil said, “After the city agreed to handsome increases for the police department, it may be Liguori is seeking to create doubt between the FOP leadership and the police chief. I can’t say it’s a power grab on behalf of the FOP, but it sure looks like it.”

In conclusion, Mr. Neil said he was in full support of all Dover Police Department staff, from patrol officers to Chief Bernat.

“I have no reason to believe Dover police officers aren’t loyal to protecting the lives of the citizens on Dover and responsive to Chief Bernat and the leadership of the police department,” he said.

“I stand solidly behind the chief and I wouldn’t want any entity other than elected officials controlling the destiny of the city.”

“Everyone has a right to their opinion,” Councilman David Anderson said. “I hope over the coming months that everyone has a positive one. We as a community appreciate the job done with distinction by our police officers.

“I encourage everyone to show it.”

More controversy

As FOP president, Cpl. Gist would not previously confirm or deny any no-confidence vote taken against Mr. Hosfelt, saying his organization does not discuss such matters publicly. Also, Cpl. Gist declined comment on Mr. Liguori’s letter.

Similar officer-based concerns about the leadership of then-Chief Jim Hosfelt were raised two years ago.

The transition to Chief Bernat upon Mr. Hosfelt’s retirement in 2014 prompted several high ranking officers to air public grievances describing an allegedly unhealthy work environment due to leadership practices within the department.

“The environment at [Dover Police Department] has been a hostile one and it’s been a stressful situation for myself and the other members of the staff for several months,” then Lt. Dan McKeown stated in a grievance connected to Chief Bernat’s promotion of Maj. Marvin Mailey, an African-American, to the agency’s second in charge, with the support of then-Mayor Carleton Carey.

To settle the grievances, the city of Dover paid Lts. McKeown, Jason Pires and J. Eric Richardson $50,000 each, along with Capt. Tim Stump; Capt. Robert Scott received $100,000.
Attempts to reach Mr. Hosfelt this week for comment were unsuccessful.

When announcing the settlements on May 12, 2014, the city of Dover cited officer’s allegations that Mayor Carey’s involvement “and/or insisting that Marvin Mailey be promoted to major is unprecedented and completely contrary to the past promotional patterns established by the [Dover Police Department}.”

In their grievances, officers cited race and color as factoring into the promotion process.

After allegations against Mr. Carey were made, which he denied, the mayor resigned less than two days after being asked, according to the city of Dover in a news release.

Hostile workplace alleged

Regarding the promotions, Lt. McKeown said, “I feel there has been obvious and overwhelming emotional damage this has done to my career and emotional state.”

According to Lt. Pires at the time, transfers in Dover Police Department came “as a result of questions, statements and concerns we had with regarding the now retired Chief James Hosfelt’s ability to lead the [department].”

Continuing on in the grievance, Lt. Pires wrote, “The environment at [Dover Police Department] has been a hostile one and extremely stressful for me and the other members of the staff for over a year, to the point where I have felt the need to take time off of work to avoid the hostility …”

Mr. Richardson also cited the hostile and stressful situation in his grievance for several months and said, “I do not know how this situation can be adjusted.”

Four officers have since retired, and Capt. Stump remains as Dover PD’s administrative captain. Mr. Scott is now employed in a civilian spot as the agency’s crime analyst and accreditation staffer.

Special to the Delaware State News photos by Doug Curran

Earth, Wind & Fire perform on the Backyard Stage on the last day of Firefly 2016 in Dover on Sunday.

DOVER — In merely three days and four nights, 120 artists and 90,000 fans graced the Woodlands at Dover International Speedway for the Firefly Music Festival.

Those numbers have nearly tripled from Firefly’s inaugural year of 2012, and it is obvious that the festival has put its growth to good use.

“After every year we put a lot of money and work into just the condition of the site itself,” said Kelly North, an operations director for Red Frog Events. “It’s something that we’re always looking to improve.”

One of the main changes to the site after Firefly 2015 was the addition of a drainage system to ease the impact of heavy rains. Put into place in the areas with the main stages, the system was designed to help the grounds recover more quickly after a deluge.

“It’s been extremely helpful,” said Ms. North.

Festival goers seemed to agree.

“[The new system] was awesome,” said Connor Luff of Milford, who attended his fourth Firefly. After this past Thursday night’s rain, the structural addition was put to the test. “As far as the rain goes, the drainage system worked great. There was hardly any mud.”

Along with changes to the grounds of the festival, Red Frog Events opted to bring back single day passes, which they had omitted for the festival in 2015.

“Last year after removing them, we definitely realized that there’s a lot of local people who really do use them and exercise the option to come for a single day,” said Ms. North. “We wanted to try to bring as many people as we could to the Woodlands, and if that means for one day, we’re happy to have them.”

Even with the resurrection of single day passes, the number of people attending the festival remained relatively similar to that of 2015, once again welcoming around 90,000 guests.

“The first three years [of Firefly] were explosive growth when we were just kind of coming off the ground,” said Ms. North. “We’re definitely looking forward to staying around [the 90,000 mark] for future years. It’s a good number for the site that we have now.”

Unfortunately, with more people the lines get longer. Some fans reported standing in the sun in the entrance gate for nearly an hour at a time to enter the festival, and others noticed much larger crowds in certain areas.

To counter the exponential increase of fans of the festival, the Woodlands have expanded dramatically since the first year of Firefly. This has allowed for more stages and more activities for guests to enjoy.

Popular attractions included the silent disco The Thicket, the Hammock Hangout, the recently enlarged Dogfish brewery and the new Market.

“There’s way more open spaces, which is good and bad,” said Mr. Luff. “It’s so spread out that everything is all over the place and its a long walk to get there. But The Thicket is always awesome.”

Regardless of the activities that are at the festival for entertainment, the main attraction remained the music.

“It’s really exciting because I went to more concerts Friday and Saturday combined than I have my whole life,” said Rachel Owrutsky of Silver Spring, Maryland.

This is her first year attending the festival. “I didn’t realize how much I liked concerts until this festival. It varies who’s actually good performing, it doesn’t have to be someone you really, really like,” she said.

Now that the 2016 Firefly Music Festival has ended, Red Frog Events has immediately picked up to start working on the planning for Firefly of 2017.

“We’re definitely looking forward to 2017,” said Ms. North. “Planing starts right away, [Monday].”

To see more Firefly updates, go to www.fireflyfestival.com.

Lexi Coon is a freelance reporter living in the Camden area.

DOVER – As the last reveler is just leaving the grounds Monday, Firefly Music Festival officials have already announced dates for next year’s event. It will be held June 15-18.

A limited quantity of 2017 Firefly pre-sale passes will go on sale Wednesday at noon for $249. That is the same price pre-sale tickets, without a lineup of artists, went for last year. The price went up in 2015 for this year’s event by $50.

This year’s event drew an estimated 90,000 people and featured headliners Kings of Leon, Florence + The Machine, Deadmau5 and Mumford and Sons. Electronic music group Major Lazer officially closed the four-day event Sunday with a show that lasted until midnight.

DOVER — Monday was the first day of summer and the Division of Public Health took the day as an opportunity to remind Delawareans how to deal with excessive heat.

Public Health officials say a heat wave is when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees.

Part of the problem, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Brestel, is that bodies have less chance to recover during hot days and warm nights. That places everyone at risk for heat-related illness.

When temperatures and humidity are high, sweat ceases to evaporate and the body’s natural cooling system slows down or shuts down completely. Hot weather can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and severe respiratory conditions, which can be fatal.

Extreme heat is especially dangerous for seniors, young children, people with disabilities and people with breathing conditions and other chronic medical conditions.

Some of those conditions include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Also at risk are people without access to air conditioning, fans or cooling shelters.

State officials recommend households make a heat-wave plan in case of a power outage. Air conditioners should be serviced and electric fans should be obtained now, before the heat rises to dangerous levels.

Cases of bottled water should be kept on hand and residents should listen to local news reports for the locations of community “cooling centers.” Those centers often public libraries or churches.

Also, during days of extreme heat, Delawareans should check on vulnerable members of their families and neighbors, Ms. Brestel said.

Pet owners are advised to have a plan for caring for pets. Animals at the greatest risk of stress from the heat include pregnant or lactating animals, very young and older animals, animals with darker coats, obese pets, short-nosed dog breeds and animals with chronic health conditions. Signs of heat stress can include panting, increased salivation, restlessness, and muscle spasms.

Other signs include increased heartbeat and body temperature, weakness, lack of coordination, bright red or pale and sticky gums, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

Owners can take steps to protect their pets by providing shade, plenty of cool drinking water while also avoiding unnecessary transportation and walking pets.

Delaware 2-1-1 connects Delawareans with services and support. Eligible callers can receive referrals to summer cooling and crisis assistance.

To prevent heat illness:

• Do not leave a child or pets alone in a parked car, even for a minute. Call 911 if you see a child or pet left unattended in a vehicle.

• Carry water with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks containing sugar, alcohol, or caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Check with a doctor before increasing fluid intake if you have epilepsy, heart, kidney, or liver disease, or if you are on a fluid-restrictive diet.

Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.  Visit www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/nutrition/index.html for more information.

• Stay indoors on the lowest floor possible. When outdoors, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Wear a hat or use an umbrella. Use sunscreen. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself, and has been linked to skin cancer.

Avoid extreme temperature changes. Be careful trying to cool down too quickly; a cold shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can lead to hypothermia, particularly for the elderly and children. In these cases, cool water is better than ice cold water.

• Limit outdoor activity, especially mid-day when the sun is hottest. Work out or hold team practices early in the morning or in the early evening. A CDC course is available online.

Warning signs and suggested actions are:

• Address heat cramps by resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water.

• Heat exhaustion is more severe, occurring when a person is overheated along with reduced or unbalanced intake of fluids. Symptoms include dehydration, fatigue, weakness, clammy skin, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, rapid breathing, irritability and fainting.

Move the person indoors or into shade. Loosen or remove the person’s clothing. Encourage the person to eat and drink. Get the person to a cool shower or bath. Call a doctor for further advice.

• Heat stroke occurs when the body can no longer cool itself, and can be a life-threatening event. Prompt medical treatment is required. Symptoms include: flushed, hot and dry skin with no sweating; high body temperature (above 103 degrees F, taken orally); severe, throbbing headache; weakness, dizziness or confusion; sluggishness or fatigue; decreased responsiveness; and loss of consciousness.

If heat stroke occurs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Get the victim indoors or into shade. Get the person into a cool shower or bath or wipe them down with continuously soaked cool washcloths while awaiting emergency responders.

For more information, visit the CDC.

DOVER — Neither “Hawkeye” Pierce or “Hot Lips” Houlihan were anywhere to be seen at the Firefly Music Festival at The Woodlands at Dover International Speedway last weekend.

But when it came to how emergency workers were able to treat the 90,000 guests that temporarily invaded the city that’s how Colin T. Faulkner, the Kent County Department of Public Safety Chief, described what it looked like — a scene right out of the old TV series M*A*S*H.

“The only thing missing was the military green,” Chief Faulkner said, “but we were working in tents and things could get pretty hectic at times. Clearly a lot of issues were heat related. And heat exhaustion coupled with alcohol consumption worsens the situation for the person. When they combined the two they’d often get dizzy and pass out. Some folks were so intoxicated they couldn’t even walk.

“Anytime you have an event as big as Firefly there’s usually going to be a lot of drama and drug use. We had some drug overdoses, but probably the big thing was alcohol consumption and heat.”

Doctors and nurses on site dealt with everything from dehydration, some fainting due to heat, ankle injuries and blisters and gave out eye wash for dust, according to Danielle Pro, media center coordinator for Bayhealth Medical Center.

Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman, spokesman for the Dover Police Department, said that officers were kept plenty busy, but for the most part the festival goers were there just to enjoy a good time.

“We just had typical things such as disorderly conduct, some theft and trespassing with some people trying to sneak into the festival,” Cpl. Hoffman said. “There were some drug overdoses and some who consumed too much alcohol, but there was nothing really out of the ordinary.”

Chief Faulkner said emergency workers treated “thousands” of people in their tents at The Woodlands. He added that around 500 or so had to be placed on Gator utility vehicles and transported before they received treatment. Some were taken to Bayhealth for additional treatment and observation though no official numbers were available Monday afternoon.

“It was not just [Kent County], it was a whole host of public safety workers and agencies that worked together to make sure everybody’s complaints were met,” he said.

“Everybody got the care they needed. There’s always the potential for bad things to happen but we didn’t have anything to do that we weren’t prepared for.

“I don’t think people realize the back story and the effort that goes into this. Really, the busiest folks out there are the EMS folks. People are just dropping everywhere and our EMTs have to get to them through this massive crowd of people.”

Chief Faulkner also gave credit to the department’s 911 dispatchers who received directions to individuals in distress and were able to guide the EMTs to them.

One thing that Dover’s Linda Deaton said she has never had to fear for at Firefly has been her safety. She has attended every Firefly music festival since its inception five years ago with her husband Glenn.

“After attending Firefly for my fifth year and watching it grow yearly, it is amazing the coordinated efforts that go into ensuring the safety of festival goers and local community as well,” she said. “The efforts that go into providing a safe environment is amazing … but most of all, the fans themselves are more relaxed and truly here to enjoy the four-plus days of music.

“They are not here to cause issues and, having met several of the campers, they do a good job of policing themselves. Yes, there are always going to be incidents, especially when you have that many people in one spot, but overall, safety did not concern me.”

Cpl. Hoffman was relieved that another Firefly has come and gone without any major incidents.

“Thankfully, there were no major incidents and it didn’t appear we had any major injuries,” he said. “As far as the success of the event goes it seemed like everybody was there to have a good time and it appeared as if they did.

“All in all, it seemed to go as smooth as expected for an event of this magnitude.”

DELMAR — It has been a great year for veteran racers at U.S. 13 Dragway and on Friday night the streak continued.

Vernon Russell of Dover defeated second-generation driver Vic Gordy to win in Top ET.

The final in Top ET was a good one between Russell and Vic Gordy. Gordy left first but the pair had almost identical reaction times.

The win came on the top end with Russell edging by at the line with a 9.017/146.22 on an 8.99 dial-in. Gordy was only .015 seconds off running a 9.297/142.22 on a 9.26 dial.

Daryl Beauchamp of Princess Anne, Md., took the win in Mod ET and Harvey Powell of Felton extended his lead in the Pro Bike standings with another win.

Other winners on the night included: Kody Mariner of Salisbury, Md. in Street; Ed Tull of Willards, Md. in Hot Rod; Keith Riddle of Millsboro in Jr. Dragster 1 and Dacia Powell of Mardela Springs, Md. in Jr. Dragster 2.

Powell continued to be on top of his game as he defeated Drew Birch in the Pro Bike final. Birch had a -.002 red light and Powell was on his dial for the win running an 8.996/143.22 on an 8.99 dial.

Camp Barnes moved to Wed.

Due to the threat of bad weather tonight, the 44th annual Camp Barnes Benefit Stock Car Race has been postponed to Wednesday.

All other times and events will remain the same. Gates open at 4 p.m. and with racing action beginning at 7 p.m. at Delaware International Speedway.

This year’s event will feature drivers from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware competing for prize money of over $35,000.

Big Block Modifieds, Super Late Models, AC Delco PSC Modifieds, Crate Late Model, Modified Lites, Little Lincoln and Delmarva Chargers and Trucks will compete in over 100 laps of feature racing in their respective classes.

This year will be a 30-lap feature with Big Block and Small Block Modifieds racing for $3,000 to the first-place finisher. The top five small block finishers will receive an additional bonus.

Several activities and displays will be on hand including the Delaware State Police Aviation unit, K9 demonstration, Smart 911, and a silent auction to win a surf fishing rod and Yeti Cooler.

In addition, local band Front Page News will be playing live from 5-7 and The Metal Shop of Delmar will be putting on a monster truck show at intermission.

Tickets to the event are available at the speedway’s ticket booth the night of the event. Spectator’s tickets are $20 and pit tickets are $30. Children under 10 accompanied by parent or guardian are admitted free to spectator seating.

Bunting wins in Big Block

A good field of cars and two first-time winners provided fans with a preview of Wednesday night’s 44th Annual Camp Barnes Benefit at Delaware International Speedway Saturday.

Veteran H.J. Bunting made a late-race pass of rookie Brandon Watkins to win his second Big Block Modified feature of the year.

With six laps to go, Bunting closed in on Watkins. With four to go, he went to the outside and edged by Watkins for the lead and the victory.

Dylan Evan seized the opportunity of starting on the pole in the 20-lap Late Model feature. At the drop of the green, he shot away from the field.

The 19-year-old Evans controlled a mid-race restart that wiped out his three-second lead before cruising to his first win in the division.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said the 2015 division rookie of the year.

It took four attempts to get the first lap of the 15-lap AC Delco 602 Sportsman feature in the books. Dwayne Crockett quickly moved from fourth into second and took the lead on lap five before eventually picking up hiss first win of the season.

In the 15-lap Crate Model feature, Steven Baker took the top spot. The race’s only caution came with just one lap left but Baker made no mistakes as he drove to his first win in the division.

In the 15-lap Mod Lite feature, James Hill came flying through the field from eighth to move on top by lap three. Once out front, Hill drove away from the field to earn his fifth consecutive win of the season.

In the 12-lap Delmarva Charger feature, Brett Sellers regained the lead with three to go but once again Bud Sipple was able to mount a charge and go back out front. Sipple held on to take the win with Sellers holding off a last-lap bid by Tanner Marvel to finish in second.

RESULTS

Big Block Modified: 1. H.J. Bunting; 2. Brandon Watkins; 3. Drew Simmons; 4. Matt Hawkins; 5. Dave Dissinger; 6. Robert Dutton; 7. Scott VanGorder; 8. Clay Tatman; 9. Kyle Fuller; 10. Dale Hawkins; 11. Don Hallowell; 12. Dana Walker; 13. Richie Pratt, Jr.; 14. Howard O’Neal; 15. Michael White; 16. Dana Walker.

Late Model: 1. Dylan Evans; 2. Joe Warren; 3. Amanda Whaley; 4. Mark Pettyjohn; 5. Donald Lingo, Jr.; 6. Nick Davis; 7. Andrew Mullins; 8. Kellie Lewis; 9. Herb Tunis; 10. Michael Wilkins; 11. Rob Schirmer; 12. Ricky Elliott; 13. Kerry King.

602 Sportsmen: 1. Dwayne Crockett; 2. Devin Dodson; 3. Adam White; 4. Jordn Justice; 5. Kevin Sockriter; 6. Danny Smack; 7. Trevor Collins; 8. Ryan Mortimer; 9. Ryan Riddle; 10. Matt Smith; 11. Jason Rush; 12. Garrie Bostwick; 13. David Jenkins; 14. Nick Alberti; 15. Freddy Massey; 16. Robert Riley, III; 17. Brian Hitz.

Crate Model: 1. Steven Baker; 2. Charles Shawver; 3. Tyler Reed; 4. Zac Weller; 5. Robbie Walls, Jr.; 6. Mike Wilson; 7. Derek Magee; 8. Wes Clifton; 9. Mike Wharton; 10. Sparky White; 11. Kevin White; DNS: Matt Hill.

Mod Lite: 1. James Hill; 2. Ryan Dryden; 3. Tim White; 4. James Wood; 5. Jake Nelson; 6. Aaron VanVorst; 7. Steve White; 8. Brandon Dennis; 9. Curt Miles, Jr.; 10. Ty Short; 11. Harry Mears; 12. Alan Passwaters; DNS: Kirk Miles; Brian Short; Brock Williams.

Delmarva Charger: 1. Bud Sipple; 2. Brett Sellers; 3. Tanner Marvel; 4. Jerry Barker; 5. Ashley Merritt; 6. Jay Sipple; 7. Tippy Martinez; 8. Derek Swafford; 9. Randy Merritt; 10. Charles Hudson; 11. Brian Peelman; 12. Kyle Tubbs; 13. Geoff Carey; 14. Scott Calhoun.

Danny Dougherty, a 16-year-old from DuPont, fired a five-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the DSGA Delaware Amateur golf tournament on Monday.

The 72-hole, three-day tourney continues today at Wild Quail Country Club in Wyoming.

Six Wild Quail members are in the top 10 of the tournament, led by Nino Rosal and defending champion Jay Whitby, who are tied for second after shooting first-round 69s.

Also from Wild Quail, Dylan Chessher and Jeff Allen are tied for fourth at 71 while Pem Rosal — Nino’s father — and Sean Mercer are among four players tied for seventh at 72.

Dougherty finished second in the DIAA high school state tournament as a sophomore at Tower Hill this spring. In his round on Monday, he collected seven birdies against only two bogeys to take his two-stroke advantage.

The 29-year-old Whitby, who has won the Amateur twice, played the front nine at five-under par before bogeys on No. 12 and 15 knocked him out of the lead. Nino Rosal also dropped two strokes on the back nine after playing the front at four-under par.

The tournament is slated to conclude with two rounds on Wednesday.

Big League baseball

Felton 15, Smyrna-Clayton 11: Cole Garey hit three home runs to pace Felton-Harrington to the District I victory on Sunday evening.

Felton-Harrington led 11-0 before holding on for the win.

Dylan Snow had three hits for Smyrna-Clayton with John Barkley and Justin Jones adding two hits apiece.

Dover 12, Camden-Wyoming Gold 0: Jordan Hutchins pitched a no-hitter and Dover collected 10 hits in the victory on Sunday.

Felton-Harrington 8, Dover 7: Cole Garey had three hits, including a walk-off double in Felton-Harrington’s win last week.

Cody Cole also had three hits with a pair of doubles while Louis Whitaker pitched the final inning and a third to earn the victory.

American Legion baseball

Fox Post-2 9, Stahl Post 0: Kendall Small allowed only two hits and struck out nine in six innings for Fox Post last week.

Miquel Rivera, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and Jake Williams pitched the seventh. Adrian Hill added two hits while Kyle Mace drove in a pair of runs.

College football

Wolverines ranked No. 6 in poll: For the second straight season, The Sporting News has ranked the Wesley College football team sixth in its Division III preseason Top 25.

The Wolverines have also received a preseason All-American nod for the second straight season, with wide receiver Bryce Shade earning the recognition.

Wesley finished last season as New Jersey Athletic Conference co-champions in its first year of membership in the league. The Wolverines went 11-2 overall, qualifying for their 11th consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.

They also reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the seventh straight season before being eliminated by eventual national champion Mount Union.

Wesley graduated Gagliardi Trophy winning-quarterback Joe Callahan along with four other offensive starters, but return Shade and running back Jamar Baynard. Shade was named a preseason All-American by the Sporting News after pulling in a program single-season record 83 catches for 1,427 yards receiving and 17 receiving touchdowns. The shifty slot receiver also ran for 215 yards and averaged 15.1 yards per punt return.

His 2,013 all-purpose yards last season rank second-most in Wesley single-season history.

The Wolverines will begin their season on Sept. 2 when they host Delaware Valley College in the team’s only non-conference contest of the year.

Pair of Wesley players honored: The Wesley College football team placed a pair of former players on the 2016 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society.

The honor is earned by college football players from all divisions who maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.

Recent Wolverine grads Joe Callahan and Leroy Cheatham earned the honor, earning spots among 876 players from 278 different schools from all levels of collegiate play.

New Delaware men’s basketball coach Martin Ingelsby was an assistant coach for former Delaware basketball coach Mike Brey for 13 years at Notre Dame. (Notre Dame sports information)

NEWARK — Martin Ingelsby had been involved in countless recruiting visits.

But never as a head coach.

The new Delaware men’s basketball coach admits it felt a little strange last week when he had his first recruit in with the Blue Hens.

“I used to get the video ready for Coach (Mike) Brey and let him do his spiel,” said Ingelsby, referring to his former boss at Notre Dame. “I’m like, ‘This is my turn now. I’ve got to put our best foot forward, sell our program, who we are, and really connect with this kid and his parents.’

“I’ve been excited about it but I was like, ‘It’s here now. You’re in the thick of this — in with two feet.’”

Indeed, with Delaware not hiring the 37-year-old Ingelsby until May 25, the first-time head coach has had no choice but to hit the ground running.

He’s got his work cut out for him.

This is a program that’s gone a mere 17-43 since going to the NCAA Tournament two seasons ago — including 7-23 last winter.

Ingelsby, though, has started the process that he hopes will get the Blue Hens back on their feet.

He’s already landed two recruits — three if you count sophomore Chivarsky Corbett, who Ingelsby convinced not to transfer to Texas-San Antonio.

The two high school recruits who have verbally committed are Ryan Daly, a 6-foot-4 guard from Archbishop Carroll, and Jacob Cushing, a 6-foot-8 swingman from Illinois who was originally headed for Cal Poly.

In trying to mold Delaware in Notre Dame’s basketball image, Ingelsby is going to have to drastically change the way the Hens play.

A year ago, Delaware’s shooting percentage of 40.2 percent ranked the Hens No. 322 out of the 346 teams in Division I last season. They scored just 66.2 points per game, which put them at No. 307 nationally.

And UD lost its two best offensive threats in senior Marvin King-Davis and Kory Holden, who transferred to South Carolina.

Ingelsby said he’s looking for “guys that are highly competitive, that are tough. They come from winning programs and guys that play the program the right way — guys that are unselfish, that can make open shots; team guys, winning guys that will do anything they can to help their team win.

“I think you can never have enough shooters in your program — guys that can really make shots,” he added, “I think that’s something that we will really have to go out and identify and find those great fits for us as we build this.”

With Delaware taking over two months to hire a new coach, there was no telling how many players might be left by the time Ingelsby came on board.

Holden and Corbett (apparently) had already transferred and several other players were granted releases from their scholarships just in case. But those releases were misconstrued in some media reports, saying that those players had already left.

“At one point, as I was following this, you thought they’d only have four guys on the team,” said Ingelsby. “It was dire for a little while.”

In the end, Ingelsby only had three open scholarships to give out when he was hired. That means he’ll have to coach the returning players to play his style of basketball.
But he said he’s looking forward to the process.

“I kind of love the nucleus of guys that we have returning,” said Ingelsby. “I’m excited to really watch them play. I told some of these guys as I met with them before they got out of here, ‘When we practice, I just want to split up the teams and watch you guys play, and get up and down, to give us a feel for who we are.’”

Of course, all of the coaching won’t be on Ingelsby’s shoulders. Last week Delaware announced the hiring of three of his assistants: Former James Madison assistant Bill Phillips, Corey McCrae, who was an assistant at nationally-ranked DeMatha High and Pat Rogers, who was the videographer at Notre Dame.

Having also played a year at William & Mary, Phillips already knows the Colonial Athletic Association. But he also knows Ingelsby — the two were teammates at Philadelphia’s Cardinal O’Hara,

They’ve have been friends for over 20 years.

“He’s one of my great buddies,” said Ingelsby. “He was the first call I made. And, as I was going through the interview process, it was like, ‘Hey man, if I get this, I need you on board right away.’”

“Coach Ingelsby has a great vision for this program and I’m ready to get to work and help him realize it,” Phillips said in a UD press release.

“Coach Ingelsby is one of the brightest young coaches in the country and I look forward to helping him take the UD program to new heights,” echoed McCrae.

Of course, only time will tell when or if Ingelsby can turn the Hens back into a contender to make the NCAA Tournament.

It doesn’t always happen overnight.

In former coach Monte’ Ross’ first season, Delaware went just 5-26 with a depleted roster.

Ingelsby said he’s not looking to cut any corners on the road back to respectability. But the competitive side of him would love to prove everybody wrong.

“I said (to the players), ‘What a great story would it be if we keep getting better throughout the season and we’re playing our best basketball in February and March,’” said Ingelsby. “I said, ‘Nobody’s going to expect anything out of us. We’ve just got to come in every day and work.’

“We’re probably going to be picked ninth or 10th in the CAA. I said, ‘What a great position to be in.’ They ate that up a little bit. We can go out and prove people wrong.”

DOVER — As thousands of Firefly attendees inched out of their campsites Monday morning a caravan of volunteers in purple T-shirts moved in.

The group of 150 were on site in support of Code Purple, an initiative to keep the homeless out of the cold by providing shelter and warm meals overnight throughout the winter months.

“Last year, a few people came out here after hearing there was a little of everything left behind after the festival,” said John Rundle, a co-organizer of Monday’s collection. “So this year we decided to put together a formal effort.”

Mr. Rundle and the other organizers contacted Firefly’s parent company, Red Frog, soon after last year’s festival to ask for permission to proceed with the volunteer effort.

“Red Frog has been really supportive of what we’re doing and they also helped us get some of these volunteers together,” Mr. Rundle said.

The volunteers responded to the invite through Red Frog, church, friends and co-workers.

“I heard about it from one of my superiors and thought it’s a great way to help the community and the homeless,” said Airman Alaina Marti.

The volunteers broke into small groups of five or six around 9 a.m. to sort through almost everything campers left behind that could be of use to homeless individuals.

The top priority was sleeping bags which can be used either in the shelters or given out to the homeless.

Mr. Rundle said last year about 80 sleeping bags were collected by the small group that scavenged the campgrounds but he expected with the manpower they had on site Monday, at least three times that would be collected.

Capitol Cleaners will clean all the sleeping bags free of charge along with other salvageable materials like towels and blankets.

Next on the list was tents so the homeless could have the opportunity to maintain a temporary shelter of their own during warmer months.

Also collected were leftover clothes and shoes in good enough condition to be cleaned and distributed.

Things that probably won’t be used by homeless individuals — packs of batteries, plastic furniture or small appliances — were also collected and will be sold in a fall yard sale from which all proceeds will benefit Code Purple.

“All the miscellaneous camping supplies are being moved to storage space that’s been donated to us where it will stay until the sale which will probably be held in September,” Mr. Rundle said.

Everything collected by the volunteers was transported to either storage or the cleaners by the Two Men and a Truck moving company which chose to support the effort.

An inventory of all the miscellaneous goods will be taken before being placed in storage so Code Purple will be able to track the materials they have to work with since aside from the yard sale, some of the goods like tables and furniture can be used at the shelters.

“Last year, the people who came out filled up a truck within two hours so we knew we had to think bigger this year,” Mr. Rundle said. “Not only the moving trucks, but the number of volunteers and storage space … the inventory process, too.”

The volunteers collected from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and members of local churches donated food and water to keep them going until the end.

After the Code Purple volunteers finished up, crews of workers were brought on site to start removing trash left behind by the campers which was strewn throughout the campsite.

For more information about Code Purple, visit the group’s Facebook page by searching Code Purple Kent County.

WYOMING — Halfway through the Delaware Amateur, defending champion Jay Whitby is back atop the leaderboard.

But the 29-year-old Wild Quail golfer still has his work cut out for him if he wants to claim his third title in the DSGA tournament.

Whitby owns a three-shot lead over Hartfeld National’s Liam Murphy going into today’s final day of the 72-hole event being played at Wild Quail Country Club.

Two rounds will be played today with the leaders slated to tee off their third rounds at 9:46 a.m.

Whitby, the defending champion, shot a 70 on Tuesday to sit at five-under par 139 for the event on his home course.

He started the round by birdying two of the the first three holes. Then, after his only bogey of the round on No. 13, the former Caesar Rodney High standout came right back with a birdie on No. 14.

Whitby, Murphy and third-place Ryan Rucinski of Fieldstone all shot 70 on Tuesday to tie for the low round of the day. Rucinski is four shots behind Whitby at 143.

Fourteen players are within eight shots of the lead going into the last two rounds.

Danny Dougherty, a 16-year-old from DuPont who shot a 67 on Monday to take the first-round lead, slipped to 80 on Tuesday. He’s one of six players tied for 10th place.

Tuesday’s round was delayed by a thunderstorm with three players eventually unable to complete their second rounds. Those players will finish their second rounds at 7 a.m. with the third round then slated to start at 7:30 a.m.

Thirty-six players are projected to make the cut at 11-over par for the tournament.

High school soccer

CR ranked ninth in region: Caesar Rodney High’s girls’ soccer team ended up ranked ninth in Region 1 in the final USA Today/NSCAA rankings of the year on Tuesday.

The Riders finished 17-2 after losing to Padua in the DIAA Division I state championship game. CR’s only two losses came against the Pandas, who were not only ranked No. 1 in the region but were rated as the No. 2 squad in the country.

Lacrosse

Youth camp on tap: JRL Lacrosse still is taking registrations for its goalie workshop on June 27 at Wesley College.

The coed workshop is for children between 10 and 18 years old and will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $80. Contact Jillian Lontz at JRL.Lacrosse@gmail.com or (717) 314-5785.

Those interested in attending can email to register and pay on site.

DOVER — The Delaware Public Service Commission announced Tuesday the federal agency that had approved a controversial transmission line will rehear the case.

At issue is a transmission line stretching from the Delmarva Peninsula to the Artificial Island nuclear complex in New Jersey that is expected to place much of the cost burden on Delawareans.

The cost is estimated at $411 million, and Delawareans would see their energy bills increase by about $4.10 per month, according to the Public Service Commission.

Gov. Jack Markell, members of the congressional delegation and state lawmakers have objected to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approving the plan, arguing the state would not benefit from it.

The Delaware House of Representatives passed legislation last week urging the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to deny permits for the plan.

“We are pleased to find out that our joint request for rehearing has been granted for further consideration,” Public Service Commissioner Executive Director Bob Howatt said in a statement. “We strongly feel that we have addressed the criteria set by the FERC as to why this project should be treated differently than other transmission projects. We will continue to fight for Delaware in an effort to reduce the cost allocation for this project.”

GEORGETOWN — Sussex County Council, following a public hearing Tuesday, unanimously approved the proposed $119 million budget for the 2017 fiscal year that begins July 1.

The approval keeps the county’s property tax rate at 44.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, with no increase in fees, including for sewer service. The average County tax bill for a single-family home will remain around $110 annually, not including independent school district taxes.

The budget is supported by a mix of income streams, including property taxes, realty transfer taxes, sewer service fees, building permit fees and document recording fees. That revenue, in turn, pays for paramedics and 911 dispatchers, public wastewater, building inspection and libraries.

By law, Sussex County must adopt a balanced budget by June 30 each year.

“This budget continues the county’s track record of providing essential services at an affordable price,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “Our focus each year is to put together a plan that balances customers’ needs with the fiscal realities in the year ahead.”

For FY2017, the general fund portion of the budget is up 2.8 percent, which is below the 3 percent growth rate in the county’s taxable assessments. However, the overall plan is down $3.8 million, or 3.1 percent, from the current year’s $122.8 million in County expenses, largely due to some reduced sewer construction in the year ahead.

Among some of the major highlights in the adopted budget, the fiscal plan includes the completion of a multi-year effort to phase in a unified, one-time sewer connection fee for new public wastewater users. Meantime, quarterly sewer service charges for existing and new customers — the county currently serves nearly 61,000 customers — will remain the same as they are in the current fiscal year, the first time rates have remain unchanged in seven years.

Additionally, local volunteer fire and ambulance companies will see a boost in county funding in the next year, with the budget earmarking $3.5 million — a $100,000 increase. The county will add two new paramedics, as well as two new dispatchers, to meet growing call demand.

County Council President Michael H. Vincent said the adopted budget continues to reflect the county’s conservative fiscal management, while providing the critical services, particularly public safety, residents and visitors deserve and expect.

“We are proud to serve the people of this great county, and to do it in a way that provides outstanding service without digging deep into the taxpayers’ pockets,” President Vincent said. “That should be the goal of any business or government, to meet customers’ needs and keep them satisfied. Without happy customers, you don’t have much of a business. I believe our budget this year will keep our customers very happy.”

Here we go again. I am going to do something that none of the Republican leadership in Legislative Hall are willing to do (with a few exceptions), and that is to call [state] Senator Peterson out on her rhetoric [“Senate tables equal rights bill – Sen. Peterson blames ‘religious right’ for legislation’s failure,” article, June 15], that is, in and of itself, devoid of fact:

Regarding SB 190, the protections called for, indeed, as [state] Sen. Lopez put it, are already enshrined in Delaware law. It is an exercise in redundancy.

In hoping to promote her bill, Sen. Peterson referenced the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub over the weekend. “Violence against women has reached epidemic proportions, and hatred and intolerance of gays and transgenders is still very much with us, as Sunday’s events have shown,” she said.

Sen. Peterson, the attack in Orlando, some 45 minutes from where I sit at this present moment, was a thread of terrorism against life and liberty for all of us, just like the attack on the state employees in San Bernardino, the soldiers at Fort Hood, the recruiters in Chattanooga or the concertgoers in Paris or the travelers in Brussels. There is absolutely no need to drape any ideological flag around the issue.

You use the word “epidemic” in regard to violence against women, gays and transgenders. That is the myth you perpetuate from your bully pulpit, but the facts are:

According to a 2010 national survey by the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Department of Justice, in the last 12 months, more men than women were victims of intimate partner physical violence and over 40 percent of severe physical violence was directed at men. Men were also more often the victim of psychological aggression and control over sexual or reproductive health. But, yet, there are still very few resources available to male victims of intimate partner violence.

Increased domestic violence education directed at women and services to men should lead to a reduction of DV against women as well as men.

Dr. Ed Rhymes, in Mint Press Publications, states: “More than 830,000 men fall victim to domestic violence every year. A man is the victim of domestic abuse every 37.8 seconds in America. These numbers are not inconsequential and the frequency is far from insignificant.”

Here is another fact: According to the FBI Crime Statistics — In regard to hate crimes directed toward gay or trans-genders, there were only three reported. This is sad and to be condemned, but hardly the “epidemic” you referenced.

If you really want to expand your legislative horizons, come sit in on a Family Law Commission meeting. For two decades, constituents have come before the commission, attempting to bring awareness to issues of fraud, lack of due process and their perceived acts of bias in Family Court, but only to get lost in others’ vested interests within the legislative process. If I were a betting man, I would bet you a 24-ounce Wawa coffee that in the middle of the legislative night before the session comes to an end, SB 190 in all of its (in)significant glory will slide through.

The perpetuation of myth over fact is definitely “epidemic” in Legislative Hall.

Gordon Smith
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Formerly of Felton

MILFORD — An armed robbery suspect unsuccessfully attempted to escape custody through a jail cell’s ventilation system Monday, Milford Police Department said.

Jose R. Garcia

Jose R. Garcia, 33, of Milford, also tried to make weapons out of items in the cell, according to spokesman Sgt. Dwight Young, but they were taken from him before he could attempt to use them.

Mr. Garcia was apprehended while trying to hide in a shed after an alleged knife-point robbery at the Market International Store on South Walnut Street, authorities said.

He was also wanted on active warrants in Milford for failure to verify as a registered sex offender and in Georgetown, Sgt. Young said.

Detectives said investigation found that Mr. Garcia allegedly entered the business, pulled a knife and threatened to kill an employee if she didn’t hand over all the money in the store.

After money was turned over, police said, Mr. Garcia grabbed the employee by the neck and started to drag her to the back of the store, saying he was going to sexually assault her.

The employee broke free in the back of the store and headed toward the front door to flee, police said. Mr. Garcia fled on foot and was later apprehended at a residence in the area of SE 2nd Street.

Charges included first-degree robbery (two counts), possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, second-degree kidnapping, aggravated menacing, possession of a deadly weapon by person prohibited, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree attempted escape, terroristic threatening, third-degree assault and criminal mischief under $1,000.

Mr. Garcia was arraigned and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown in lieu of $104,250 cash bond.

DOVER – The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards for Excellence Dinner Tuesday night at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino’s Rollins Center.

Volunteers were recognized and the current Leadership Central Delaware class was graduated.

Small Business of the Year was Jen-Mor Florist and Large Employer of the Year was Delaware Electric Cooperative. Best Class for Leadership Central Delaware was the Class of 2014.

Small Business of the Year nominees were Shure Line Electric and Lessard Builders. Large Employer of the Year nominees were Teal Construction and Kent-Sussex Industries.

Delaware State News photos by Marc Clery

An ambulance waits by the visitor parking at Morris Corrections Center on Monroe Terrace and Water Street in Dover on Tuesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

DOVER – A problem with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Morris Community Corrections Center on Tuesday morning caused 68 offenders and one Department of Correction employee to be taken to area hospitals with symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure.

Two offenders and one correctional officer were admitted for further observation and treatment. Many offenders have already been cleared by medical staff and retured to the Morris Community Corrections Center.

Dover Fire Department received an emergency call at 9:13 a.m. Tuesday after receiving reports of individuals experiencing breathing difficulties at the Morris facility.

Jayme Gravell, spokeswoman for the state Department of Correction, confirmed that a boiler malfunction led to a carbon monoxide leak at the facility, located at 300 Water Street in Dover.

“It was something to do with the boiler,” Dover Fire Chief Carleton “Buck” Carey Jr. said. “We just know there was a problem with the ventilation system. Chesapeake [Utilities] found two particular leaks on one particular boiler.”

The boilers in question have been shut down and a mechanical contractor was on site Tuesday making repairs and assessing the boilers, which passed an inspection by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control on Aug. 11, 2015, and were not due for re-inspection until May 2017.

Chief Colin T. Faulkner, director of the Kent County Department of Public Safety, said the majority of offenders were taken to Bayhealth’s Kent General Hospital in Dover and several others went to Bayhealth’s Milford Memorial Hospital.

Ambulances and emergency workers with the Leipsic and Magnolia Fire Departments and Prime Care transported many of those exposed to the carbon monoxide to the hospitals while a prison van took the remaining individuals for diagnosis and care.

“I think there was a mechanical issue with the HVAC system,” Chief Faulkner said. “It is such a commonplace thing, especially in the wintertime, that field paramedics carry a CO2 [carbon dioxide] detector hooked on their drug bag `and were able to pick it up.

“In this case they were called for a person ill of some sort and were called back after the CO2 was found. Eventually things were put together and they realized there was a situation in the facility.”

Chelsea D. Hicks, spokeswoman for the state Department of Correction, said that medical staff at the Morris Community Corrections Center identified several offenders displaying symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning at around 9 a.m.

The MCCC is a 150-bed Level IV probation facility in Dover that specializes in housing substance abuse treatment patients and work release offenders.

DOC maintenance staff will monitor the carbon monoxide levels for the next 48 hours. An engineering firm is scheduled to be on-site at MCCC at 8:30 this morning to make a complete assessment of the boiler room mechanical area.

Chief Faulkner praised the emergency workers and staff at the Morris Community Corrections Center and hospitals who all dealt with the situation.

“They made sure each individual affected got the appropriate medical care before they were sent back [to the corrections center],” he said. “It’s a real challenge for a correctional facility with these kinds of circumstances.

“[Those affected] had to be evaluated, basic tests run and returned to facility. When you have 55 patients show up on the doorstep of a hospital, it doesn’t happen right away.”

A sample driving privilege card presented by the Division of Motor Vehicles. (Delaware State News/Matt Bittle)

DOVER — About six months after the state launched a program allowing undocumented immigrants to sign up for license-like badges, 1,601 people are now driving with the designated cards.

Legislation passed last year authorized the state to establish driving privilege cards for people living in Delaware illegally. The cards, different from licenses and not valid as a form of identification, allow immigrants who otherwise would not have been able to gain insurance to do so.

Several states, including Maryland and California, have approved similar legislation.

Main sponsor Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, said he saw the issue as a public-safety one and wanted to allow the state to better promulgate the rules of the road.

In Delaware, any undocumented immigrant who does not have a serious criminal history and can present identification and state tax returns is eligible to receive a card.

After public meetings to hash out details, the system was set up, with the state Bureau of Identification hiring three full-time and three seasonal employees to handle the initial workload.

According to Delaware State Police, 4,014 people have formally sought the cards since Dec. 28. Of those requests, 45 were initially denied, although 17 were cleared after later investigations.

The exact number of immigrants who entered Delaware illegally is unknown.

Applicants must take written and driving tests. About two-thirds of the approximately 2,600 people who took the written test failed on the first try, according to the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Of the state’s four DMV locations, the Georgetown facility has seen the most privilege card appointments. Dover has seen the fewest by far.

The DMV offers services for the cards in four languages: Spanish, Creole, Chinese and Korean.

Sen. Brian Bushweller, D-Dover, listens to arguments during debate on a gun bill Tuesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

DOVER — The Delaware Senate passed by a 12-9 vote a bill extending the length of time for background checks before someone can purchase a gun Tuesday.

Less than an hour later, the House passed the amended version, sending the measure to Gov. Jack Markell, who is expected to sign it.

House Bill 325 expands the current waiting period after which, if no response is given from the FBI, a dealer can turn over a firearm to a buyer. Currently set at three business days and referred to as a “loophole” by supporters of the legislation, that waiting period would be expanded to 25 calendar days.

Sen. Bryan Townsend (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

The bill was originally intended to change the time span to 30 days but an amendment approved by the Senate to gain the necessary support lowered it.

In the Senate, 11 Democrats voted for the legislation, with Sen. Catherine Cloutier, R-Arden, also voting in support. Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, joined the other eight Republicans opposing the proposal.

It passed the House 21-18 Tuesday, after being approved by a 22-17 tally two months ago. No Republicans there voted for it the second go-around.

Supporters say the bill will help prevent criminals from buying a firearm, but opponents counter it infringes on the Second Amendment.

Several gun-control and gun-rights activists were in the Senate chamber for the bill, which was originally slated to be voted on last week before being pushed back twice.

Tuesday, after about an hour of discussion, including the defeat of five amendments that would have weakened the bill in some fashion, lawmakers passed the measure that one senator called “a no-brainer.”

“As long as they remain unknown, we can’t take care of the crazy people,” Sen. Karen Peterson, D-Stanton, said. “A lot of crazy people get guns. Like the case in Orlando. Nobody knew the guy was crazy, but he got the guns. We have to end this insanity. We have to end the insanity.”

Sen. Gerald Hocker, R-Georgetown, asks for a witness Tuesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, objected to the bill, saying many people who share names with someone prohibited from having a gun would have to wait longer under the purview of the proposal and could face difficulty protecting themselves and their family as a result.

“I think we’re going to put people in danger of harm, of being harmed by somebody else. I just am not comfortable with that,” he said. “I think in every area of our criminal justice system you are innocent until proven guilty — unless you’re trying to buy a firearm. Then you have to prove that you’re worthy of exercising this right.”

Individuals barred from buying guns include those who have been convicted of a serious crime, committed to a mental institution and dishonorably discharged from the U.S. military.

According to the FBI, 92 percent of background checks are completed within minutes. The checks consist of running the prospective buyer’s name, as well as other identifying information like his or her address, through databases.

About 182 million checks have been handled since the system went into effect Nov. 30, 1998. Approximately 1 million of those were denied.

Sen. F. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, argued that the bill, while a “well-intentioned” measure, would hurt “vulnerable women,” protesting many people would no longer be able to obtain a firearm quickly.

“Those women want a gun today,” he said. “My wife has a gun at home for when I’m away for protection. I imagine

Senate Minority Whip Gregory Lavelle, R-Sharpley

most of you do as well. Most of the women probably around the room are protected by a weapon at home.”

That charge was rejected by Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark.

“The idea that supporting this legislation somehow puts women in harm’s way, when in fact we know that having a very short default time has led to the transfer of firearms to people who have been convicted for domestic violence offenses and the fact that we know conviction of domestic violence offenses associated with higher rates of likelihood of the use of firearms in the home, in fact this legislation reduces the chance that someone is going to obtain a firearm who otherwise should not have one and perhaps use that to commit a crime against the women that Sen. Simpson spoke of,” he said.

Because of the amendment added in the Senate, the House had to approve the proposal a second time, and the chamber did so with little debate.

Gov. Markell, a Democrat, may sign the bill today.

NEW CASTLE — Mirroring national trends, Delaware is seeing a surge in overdose deaths related to fentanyl — a synthetic painkiller that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin.

Through mid-May, toxicology analysis by the Division of Forensic Science confirmed 44 people have died from overdoses that involved fentanyl. In all of 2015, there were 42 overdose deaths in Delaware involving fentanyl.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the increase in overdoses in Delaware involving fentanyl follows a trend nationwide, with an 80 percent increase in deaths from synthetic opioids from 2013 to 2014.

Last year, a total of 228 people died from overdoses in Delaware, with 222 overdose deaths reported in 2014. Nationwide, the CDC reported 47,055 people died from drug overdoses in 2014, or 1.5 times greater than the number killed in car crashes.

When a user ingests fentanyl or a drug laced with fentanyl, it affects the central nervous system and brain. Because it is a powerful opiate, users often have trouble breathing or can stop breathing as the drug sedates them.

Drug dealers are selling packets with pure fentanyl in white powder form to people who assume they are buying heroin, lacing fentanyl with cocaine or heroin, and pressing fentanyl into pills and passing them off as OxyContin, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The DEA’s Philadelphia office also warned of a new dangerous synthetic opioid, W-18, which is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, and is being laced into heroin and cocaine available in Philadelphia. It is difficult for forensic toxicology labs to detect the presence of W-18 in bodily fluid or seized drug samples.

“The surging number of deaths in our state related to the ingestion of fentanyl is heartbreaking,” Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary James Mosley said. “The fentanyl is so toxic that it greatly decreases the chance of survival. In only seven of the 44 cases did the Division of Forensic Science also confirm the presence of heroin. This year we are seeing an increase in cocaine, with the drug’s presence confirmed in 19 of the fentanyl-related overdose cases.”

Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Division of Public Health, said many opiod users and those overdosing become addicted after using prescription painkillers then search for a greater and greater high through illegal substances.

If a user or addict is too drowsy to answer questions, is having difficulty breathing, or appears to be so asleep they cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately. Under Delaware’s 911/Good Samaritan Law, people who call 911 to report an overdose cannot be prosecuted for low-level drug crimes.

Naloxone, the overdose-reversing medication carried in Delaware by community members, paramedics and some police officers, can save the lives of those overdosing from fentanyl.

Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf urged users to call DHSS’ 24/7 Crisis Services Helpline to be connected to addiction treatment options. In New Castle County, the number is (800) 652-2929. In Kent and Sussex counties, the number is (800) 345-6785.

DHSS is updating and expanding a campaign in support of its www.HelpIsHereDE.com website, including seeking additional federal funding and maximizing state funding. The updates for HelpIsHereDE.com, to be announced this summer, will include new resources, information and materials specifically aimed at medical providers and parents.

Individuals and families can visit DHSS’ website, HelpIsHereDE.com, for addiction treatment and recovery services in Delaware and nearby states.