DOVER — Barry T. Cooper, of Georgetown, was arrested in the McDonald’s parking lot at 1700 East Lebanon Road on Tuesday by the Delaware State Police Child Predator Unit and is now facing 16 counts of sexual solicitation of a child.

Mr. Cooper allegedly was expecting to meet a man’s 14-year-old daughter for sex after exchanging emails with what turned out to be an undercover police officer on several different occasions beginning May 17.

It turned out that Mr. Cooper, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound white male, was instead communicating with a Troop 3 uniform patrol officer he had encountered on a website designed for casual sexual meetings.

The officer was conducting undercover investigations on the site and noted that from prior experience he knew people with an interest in sexual taboos, including sex with underage children, used the site for possible meetings in person.

On Tuesday at around 8 a.m. Mr. Cooper sent the officer an email saying he would be at the McDonald’s in a white van. He told the officer he and his “daughter” could have sex in the van.

Upon arrival, Mr. Cooper was taken into custody without incident. A search of his van turned up a bag containing ropes, condoms, lubrication and Viagra.

The communication between Mr. Cooper and the “father” of the “teenage girl” began more than a month ago.

On May 17, the officer responded to an advertisement that had been placed by Mr. Cooper in the casual encounters section that claimed he was looking for men with “all kinds of internal fantasies they would like to act upon” and keeping a “secret life” hidden.

The officer replied to Mr. Cooper that he had taboo thoughts and a teenage daughter to whom he was sexually attracted. He then asked Mr. Cooper what his “taboo” was and if he had any limits.

According to court documents, Mr. Cooper responded he was sexually attracted to young girls and boys. He stated he was 60-years-old — though the Criminal Justice Information System has his birth date listed as April 17, 1941 — and previously had sex with a 16-year-old boy.

Mr. Cooper allegedly went on to say he was always looking for young boys and girls to seduce. He said his age limit would be around 11 or 12 years old but could change depending on the situation.

Mr. Cooper then told the officer he had an interest in meeting his 14-year-old daughter for sex if he “shared her,” according to the court documents. He said he watches young girl pornography and it really “turns him on.”

On May 17, Mr. Cooper emailed that if the man was willing to “share” his 14-year-old daughter that he was available weekdays during the day until 3 p.m.

Over the course of the next month, Mr. Cooper’s interest escalated as he sent nude photos of himself to what he believed to be a man’s teen daughter and began emailing to an undercover account that he was led to believe belonged to a young girl.

The emails eventually led to Mr. Cooper setting up a meeting with the man’s “daughter” and he was subsequently arrested.

In addition to the 16 counts of soliciting sex with a child, he also was charged with one count of child pornography and two counts of obstruction

I’ve met too many people who want to work but aren’t given a shot. Often, that’s because licensing and certification requirements create obstacles to joining skilled professions where no or lower barriers should exist.

A couple of years ago, my office identified a clear example in Delaware’s barber and cosmetology industries, which used to require either paying for 1,500 hours of instruction or spending 3,000 hours as an apprentice to earn a license — the equivalent of about a year of schooling or two years as an apprentice. That wasn’t necessary to succeed in these fields, and the rules kept some good people out of these professions because it was either too expensive or took too long to become qualified. To address those issues, we came up with a third option that allows people to combine on-the-job experience with a shorter school program.

Meanwhile, research across the country has suggested that there is a lack of access to work in certain legal and health services that don’t require a law or medical degree, such as providing defense in eviction cases and basic primary-care services, because of overly burdensome licensing laws.

Gov. Jack Markell

With the massive proliferation of licensing boards created by state governments — for everything from florists and manicurists to construction and maintenance workers — it’s time that public officials across the country take a close look at how we can remove impediments to jobs.

In an era of increasing partisanship, this issue presents a clear opportunity for elected officials to help their constituents go as far as their potential will take them. That’s something that respected policy leaders on the left and right agree on.

Still, governors and legislators face real obstacles. Those who work in every affected industry have an enormous incentive to keep barriers in place. Removing professional licensing requirements means more competition for incumbents. Many of them point to the public safety interest in having some licensing system, even though a closer examination would show safety does not explain the need for all of their requirements, as in the case of barbers and cosmetologists.

To overcome those hurdles, political leaders must build coalitions to represent the diverse beneficiaries of licensing reform. That includes groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and other criminal justice advocates concerned about ex-offenders who are forced to wait too long after release before joining certain professions and earning the type of living that would help them avoid recidivism.

Pushing back against the power of licensing boards also fits with concerns from the right about government overreach. One conservative state senator in Delaware has bemoaned the number of licenses he needed in his business career, and conservative lawmakers have made complaints about licensure requirements part of their message about excessive government involvement in the economy.

By bringing groups such as these together, we can enact broad reforms necessary to reverse the overregulation of many professions and address the fact that Delaware’s Division of Professional Regulation averages more than 85,000 active licenses in a given year in a state with a population of only 930,000.

A recent Supreme Court ruling has helped shift the political winds in favor of reform, with the justices deciding that when a controlling number of the decision makers on a state licensing board are active participants in the occupation the board regulates — as is often the case — board members may be subject to liability under federal antitrust laws if there isn’t sufficient supervision of the board by the state. We should use that ruling as an opportunity to be more judicious about the number of licensing requirements created and who creates them.

To build support and make the case for change in Delaware, I recently signed an executive order creating a committee to review existing licensing regulations and recommend ways to eliminate unnecessary barriers to entry. Through that process, we will root out onerous requirements, recognizing that not all of our regulations can be right. We will ask whether those licensed in states with less imposing requirements are in fact less qualified, and we will challenge ourselves to defend the reasons for additional burdens on licensees.

Our final product will also confirm our commitment to the benefits of thoughtful professional licensing. We all appreciate the requirements that doctors must earn the MD or DO after their names to practice medicine, and that lawyers must acquire JDs to show they can be trusted to provide expert legal advice. The important role of our licensing system is most clearly seen when we eliminate the excess.

For far too long, we haven’t been sufficiently thoughtful when industries create high barriers to entry. The government has a moral obligation to protect its citizens from dangerous professional conduct, but we also have an obligation to ensure that hard-working Americans have every opportunity to improve their lives. States must lead the way.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jack A. Markell is governor of Delaware.

One of the Budweiser Clydesdale horses made a stop in Dover Wednesday, arriving in the parking lot of The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille on U.S. 13 in Dover.

People got a chance to line up and have their pictures taken with Nomo.

Delaware State News photos by Marc Clery

From left, Mashoor Awad, franchise owner of six IHOPs and one Pie Five donated $5,000 to the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund Wednesday. Friends of Delaware Veterans President Dave Skocik and Vice President Paul Davis accepted the check on the fund’s behalf. (Delaware State News/Ashton Brown)

DOVER — Local entrepreneur Mashoor Awad donated $5,000 to the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund Wednesday to support Delaware’s veterans who find themselves in dire straits.

The nonprofit trust fund was signed into law on Sept. 17, 2013, by Gov. Jack Markell and is fully volunteer-operated under the auspices of the Commission of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Awad, a Jordanian-American Muslim said he wanted to not only use his donation to support area veterans in need but to shine a light on the contributions Muslim Americans make to society.

“Muslims are part of the fabric of America,” Mr. Awad said at his Dover IHOP mid-way through his 16-hour Ramadan fast. “I don’t think Muslims are often portrayed as people who can and do make a positive impact on our nation.”

Mr. Awad moved from Jordan to North Carolina in 1986 at the age of 17 to attend a technical college.

“It’s every kid’s dream — to go to school in America,” he said. “So I came here, knowing the basic English I had learned in school to pursue an education.”

But he soon found interest outside the tech field while working at Subway and attending school.

“I realized I liked being in customer service and dealing with people,” Mr. Awad said. “I can talk to anyone about anything.”

In the early 1990s, Mr. Awad went into business with a partner to buy a Subway franchise of their own outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Subways were cheap back then, I only had to put down $7,000 to get started,” he said.

But in 1995 an opportunity opened in Dover to start his own Subway franchise so Mr. Awad moved his wife and infant son north to open his first location at the intersection of Del. 8 and Saulsbury Road.

“I borrowed money from just about every family member I have to get started and things were tight at first,” he said. “We were living in an apartment, I was at the restaurant from open until close and we only had one car so my wife drove me to and from work, stopping by between lunch and dinner so I could have some time with my son.”

In the years since, Mr. Awad has expanded his business ventures, now operating six IHOPs and one Pie Five. He now has more than 350 employees and became a board member of the Delaware Restaurant Association three years ago.

“I know what it’s like to be in the position of some of these veterans — doing everything you can just to make ends meet,” Mr. Awad said.

He first learned about veterans issues soon after his move from North Carolina because his landlord of the Del. 8 property was Paul Davis, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 850 and vice president of the Friends of Delaware Veterans — the primary fundraising organization for the Trust Fund.

“When Paul told me about the fund I wanted to help. In my opinion, our veterans don’t get the treatment they deserve,” Mr. Awad said. “You always hear on the news the lack of services available to them, troubles with the (Veterans Affairs) and we really don’t show enough appreciation for these people who risk their lives for us.”

“I was happy he decided to make this donation,” Mr. Davis said. “Mr. Awad is the perfect example of someone coming to America and working hard to become successful. It’s always good to see anyone, especially immigrants, show their support for our veterans.”

The Veterans Trust Fund is available to help vets in emergency situations where it’s impossible to make ends meet.

“We are able to help people who are in a bind and about to be evicted, have their utilities shut off or have their car repossessed,” said Dave Skocik, president of the Friends of Delaware Veterans. “It’s a one-time deal and it has to be a true emergency.”

The veteran in need is required to bring in copy of his or her bank statement, the bills owed and proper documentation to prove military service.

Mr. Skocik said that although the fund is available, many veterans feel alone in their circumstances and are ashamed to ask for help so the Friends of Delaware Veterans are working on public awareness, especially through local veterans organizations.

“Every donation we get is a godsend. And we operate with zero overhead so those who donate can be assured that 100 percent of what they donate goes into the fund, not toward paying employees or anything like that,” Mr. Skocik said. “All donations are tax deductible and go straight to the veterans.”

The Veterans Trust Fund is looking for more individuals or businesses to donate not only to the fund but to allow it to host a fundraiser this fall. The third annual fundraiser is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

To donate or learn more about the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund, call (302) 739-2792 or visit delawareveteranstrustfund.com.

DOVER — The Downtown Dover Partnership is scrambling to find a new executive director in lieu of what appears to be the imminent end of the city’s Economic Development Office.

Council will vote on the final adoption of its proposed 2017 fiscal year budget at City Hall Monday night.

That budget includes the elimination of the Economic Development Office and three full-time positions held by William Neaton, Ed Perez and Beverly Jackson.

The decision will also affect the partnership since the city’s development office had worked hand-in-hand with it in the past.

Scott Koenig

“As we went through the budget discussions there were a number of issues that the council addressed,” said City Manager Scott Koenig. “The discussion related to economic development led to a series of motions that directly affect both the partnership and the economic development staff.

“The first reading (of the proposed budget) occurred (June 13) and the final reading occurs on the 27th of June and the new budget will go into effect on July 1. That’s where the city budget stands. I expect it will go through.”

Partnership President Gregory Moore said it has to be prepared for anything at its board of directors meeting at the Dover Public Library on Wednesday morning.

“Most of this has happened within the last two weeks so there has not been much time,” Mr. Moore said. “In reaction to that, I ended up appointing Diane (Laird), Todd (Stonesifer), Anne Marie (Townshend) and myself to a committee to begin a search for a new executive director in case the city does go ahead and votes this on Monday.”

Mr. Neaton, who said he isn’t interested in applying for the new executive director position, had served as the Downtown Dover Partnership’s executive director since October 2008. Mr. Perez and Ms. Jackson also served on the partnership’s staff.

The partnership was formed in July 2008 when the Downtown Dover Development Corp., Main Street Dover and the Dover Parking Authority merged. The partnership has a board of directors and five committees (design, promotion, organization, parking and safety and economic restructuring) composed of volunteers from the community.

Board member Diane Laird said the partnership is currently advertising for the executive director role and has a deadline of July 9 to accept applications. The board anticipates interviewing candidates from mid- to late-July.

Last month, council voted 8-1 in a budget hearing on a proposal to eliminate the Economic Development Office and to defer funds to the Downtown Dover Partnership.

Councilman David Anderson cast the lone dissenting vote. He’s still not pleased with the decision.

“I’m very concerned,” he said at Wednesday’s meeting. “I didn’t think this was the way you do anything — with no plan, no transition. It’s just not the way it should be done in my opinion, but my opinion happens to be a minority one.”

From there, council voted 6-2 to form a new Economic Development Advisory Committee that would be appointed to take the Economic Development Offices’ place, which would be chaired by Mayor Robin Christiansen.

Council also voted to increase the appropriation to the partnership from a proposed $70,000 to $150,000 with specific instructions that it is responsible for paying staffing costs from those funds.

Mr. Moore said he is not sure if the partnership will hire just an executive director or if there could also be other positions.

“Our strategy is we may hire an administrative person after we hire the executive director,” he said. “We want the executive director to be a part of that second selection. We’re unsure of what qualifications our executive director will have.

“It’s possible that we can do this on one staff, but it’s also possible that we don’t. If that person can do lots of different things as well as manage, then it’s possible that we can get away with one. If that person can’t, then we’ll need an administrative person. So we’re going to put that decision off.”

Mr. Neaton and Ms. Jackson could be utilized by the partnership in the interim of its hiring an executive director.

Mr. Moore said he was pleased with how Mr. Neaton, Ms. Jackson and Mr. Perez have performed despite the uncertainty over the past several weeks.

“If you’ve never been through this you can’t understand how hard it is,” he said. “They’re putting the business of DDP and downtown ahead of their own personal issues. I just want to thank [them] for maintaining that consummate professionalism and just working with downtown and having a good demeanor.”

As for now, Mr. Moore said for the partnership needs to be prepared for anything.

“I made the decision that we had [post an advertisement for an executive director] in advance of an actual action by the city because of timing,” he said. “We’re probably going to have a period of time where we don’t have an executive director or a staff if the decision goes ahead on Monday and we’ll just try to minimize that by proceeding to do an advertisement now.”

DOVER — Dover Police Department arrested five men in four separate incidents for allegedly dealing drugs at the Firefly Music Festival held this past weekend at the Woodlands of Dover International Speedway.

Dover Police announced the arrests Wednesday.

Two Philadelphia men were arrested Friday as the department’s Drugs, Vice and Organized Crime Unit conducted undercover operations on the property of Dover International Speedway, the site of the four-day music festival that ran Thursday through Sunday. It was the fifth year for the popular festival which organizers expected to draw 90,000.

After observing the two — later identified as Michael Parker, 42, and Kevin Christmas, 55 — allegedly conduct hand-to-hand transactions in a camping lot, an undercover officer was able to purchase one capsule of what was determined to be methylenedioxypyrovalerone, commonly known as Molly, from the suspects. They were taken into custody without incident.

According to Dover Police, the two were in possession of 87 capsules of Molly; 33 pills containing LSD; 114.9 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms; 40.7 grams of cocaine; 4.9 grams of marijuana and 1,472 doses of LSD (23 sheets/64 doses per sheet)

Kevin Chrisitmas

Kevin Christmas was charged with possession of cocaine (Tier 5 quantity); possession with intent to deliver LSD (Tier 4 quantity); possession of LSD (Tier 5 quantity); possession with intent to deliver controlled substance (bath salts); possession of bath salts (Tier 5 quantity); possession with intent to deliver cocaine (Tier 4 quantity); possession with intent to deliver “magic mushrooms” (Psilocybin); two counts of conspiracy in the second degree; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of delivery of controlled substance.

He was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional in Smyrna on $93,000 bond

Michael Parker

Michael Parker, also committed to Vaughn on $70,500 bond, was charged with possession of cocaine (Tier 5 quantity); possession with intent to deliver LSD (Tier 4 quantity); possession of LSD (Tier 5 quantity); possession with intent to deliver controlled substance (bath salts); possession of bath salts (Tier 5 quantity); possession with intent to deliver cocaine (Tier 4 quantity); possession with intent to deliver “magic mushrooms” (Psilocybin); two counts of conspiracy in the second degree and possession of marijuana.

Dover Police made additional arrests at the festival on Saturday, according to Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman.

Javier Tapia

Javier Tapia, 23, of Johnson City, Tennessee, was arrested after allegedly selling Ecstasy to an undercover Dover Police officer. Officers discovered once he was in custody that Mr.Tapia allegedly was in possession of marijuana, Xanax pill, LSD and four doses of Ecstasy.

Mr. Tapia was released on $11,500 unsecured bond after he was charged with delivery of controlled substance; possession with intent to deliver MDMA/Ecstasy; possession of marijuana; possession of controlled substance without a prescription; possession of LSD and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Percell Gray

Dover Police also arrested 29-year-old Percell Gray, of the 300 block of College Road, Dover, after he allegedly sold drugs to an undercover officer. Mr. Gray was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (oxycodone) after selling three pills to the undercover officer, police said.

He was arrested without incident but also had a capias from Kent County Court of Common Pleas. He was committed to Vaughn on a $1,230 cash bond.

Also on Saturday, Dover Police arrested Robert Stanard, of Philadelphia, on drug-related charges.

At about 8:27 p.m. officers working extra security detail at the Firefly contacted Mr. Stanard, 52, due to what they considered suspicious behavior.

Officers observed a clear plastic bag coming out of his pocket, according to police.

Robert Stanard

Officers determined Mr. Stanard allegedly was in possession of 91 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms and 32 grams of cocaine.

He was charged with possession with intent to deliver Psilocybin mushrooms (Tier 4 quantity); possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was committed to Vaughn on $20,000 bond .

The Colonial Athletic Association announced its 2016 CAA Football television schedule on Wednesday and Delaware will be featured at least three times during the upcoming fall season.

Delaware’s three appearances are part of the CAA’s 30-game television package, which includes 18 conference matchups in conjunction with the league’s broadcast partners, NBC Sports Regional Networks and the American Sports Network.

The Blue Hens’ three appearances will include a Sept. 17 matchup at Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest on ESPN3 at 6:30 p.m.; a CAA home game vs. Towson on Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet; and a Nov. 12 league road game at Richmond at 3:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet.

Delaware could also appear a fourth time on Nov. 19 at home vs. Villanova — the 50th meeting all-time between the two rivals. The regular season concludes on Nov. 19 with CSN and ASN each picking a “wildcard game,” which will showcase the best matchups based on the conference standings.

The networks will choose the games no later than two weeks in advance.

CAA Football’s television lineup includes at least one conference game on every Saturday between Sept. 17 and Nov. 19.

Softball

Del. South falls in Carpenter Cup: Delaware-South dropped a 2-1 decision to Tri-Cape (N.J.) on Tuesday in the Carpenter Cup softball tournament in Philadelphia.

Tri-Cape broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the sixth inning and Delaware-South could only answer with a run in the bottom of the inning.

Reagan Jackson singled home Jenna Tate with Delaware-South’s lone run. Jenna Callaway added a pair of singles while starting pitcher Brooke Ward allowed only one hit and struck out five in four shutout innings.

Football

Wesley hosting youth camp: Wesley College will offer a week of football camps catering to students entering first through ninth grade in July.

Wesley will host its overnight/day football and leadership camp for students entering fifth through ninth grade July 17-20. On July 21-22, there will be a day camp for students entering first to fourth grade.

More information can be found at http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/camps/camp or contact coach Steve Azzanesi at 302-736-2386 or Steve.Azzanesi@wesley.edu.

Lacrosse

Wesley camp on tap: JRL Lacrosse is taking registrations for its Girls Lacrosse 101 course to be held July 11 at Wesley College.

The beginner instruction class is for girls age 7 to 15 and will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $50. Registration and payment deadline is July 1. Contact Jillian Lontz at JRL.Lacrosse@gmail.com or (717) 314-5785  for more information.

Delaware State News photos/Marc Clery

WYOMING — Pressure all depends on your perspective.

A lot of golfers might think going into the last round of a tournament with an eight-shot lead is a good thing.

Jay Whitby, though, saw the potential for disaster in the situation on Wednesday.

“When you’ve got this big of a lead, everybody expects you to win,” said the 29-year-old from Wild Quail. “And, if you don’t, you look like a fool.”

But Whitby didn’t have any trouble sealing the deal on his home course, firing a final-round 72 to win the Delaware Amateur by six strokes on Wednesday at Wild Quail Country Club.

It was the second title in a row and third in 10 years for Whitby in the 64-year-old tourney. Whitby also won it in 2006, the last time the Amateur was played at Wild Quail.

With two rounds being played on Wednesday, Whitby opened up his eight-shot lead by carding a four-under-par 68 — his low score of the week — in the morning round. He coasted home from there with his 72 in the afternoon.

Whitby, who posted a nine-under par 279 for the tournament, and second-place finisher Ryan Rucinski of Fieldstone, who had a 285, were the only players to finish under par for the event.

The Caesar Rodney High grad likes moving up the list of players who have won the Delaware Amateur multiple times.

“The list gets shorter the more you add to it,” said Whitby, a salesman at his family’s Kent County Mo-tors. “It’s a little more validation.

“But, at this point, I’m just out here to have a good time and compete. I work a lot. If I win, great. May-be there’s a little lower expectations in my mind … and therefore maybe I’m getting a little more of the de-sired results.”

Rucinski came into Wednesday trailing Whitby by only four shots with 36 holes to catch him. But Whitby added two strokes to his lead on the front nine of the third round and Rucinski was never really able to mount a serious challenge.

“I knew I had a lot of golf to play to make those shots back,” said the 19-year-old Rucinski, who plays at Wilmington University. “You just knew he (Whitby) wasn’t going to shoot high on this course, being his home course and Jay being a good player.

“He’s just consistent. He stays in play and never gets in trouble. It’s hard to catch up to someone who’s not going to get in trouble. He’s a solid putter on the greens and he knows them well.”

For the week, Whitby carded 15 birdies against only six bogeys in the 72-hole event. He led after all but the first round.

He said he just tried to just stay aggressive no matter where he stood on the leaderboard.

“I’ve tried it both ways — aggressive and cautious,” said Whitby. “I think aggressive works better.

“Luckily I’m very familiar and comfortable with the course. That made a big difference. I mean I’ve probably played more golf here than anyone. I was trying to stretch the lead to 10 shots — that’s the number I had in mind.”

But Whitby wasn’t going to complain about only having an eight-stroke advantage to work with. A year ago, he had just a three-shot lead on the final hole.

“It was a little more comfortable this year,” said Whitby. “No less fun, though. It was still an enjoyable experience.”

Chip shots

Bob Bechtold took third place with a 291 while another Fieldstone golfer, Joe Tigani, finished in a three-way tie for fourth at 294. … Lucas Farmer, a 21-year-old from Rehoboth, was also in the tie for fourth. … Wild Quail’s Rosal family finished close together with Pem Rosal carding a 303, one stroke better than oldest son Nino, whose 304 was two shots better than younger brother, Matthew, at 306. … This was only the second time that the Delaware Amateur held two rounds on the final day. … That same format will be used for the 51st annual Delaware Open, which will be played on Aug. 1-2 at Deerfield Country Club.

DOVER — For the third time in seven days, the Delaware Senate delayed a vote on a gun-control bill. After deferring twice last week on legislation relating to background checks before passing it Tuesday, senators debated a proposal Wednesday that would bar anyone on a federal terrorist watchlist from buying a gun.

After an hour of discussion, the main sponsor agreed to postpone further discussion due to a time crunch. While a vote could come today, lawmakers may also keep the bill tabled if supporters lack the necessary 11 votes.

Robert D. Marshall

The bill discussed Wednesday was introduced just the day before. Sponsored by Sen. Robert Marshall, D-Wilmington, it would use the Terrorist Screening Database to keep suspected dangerous individuals from purchasing firearms. The attempt came in the wake of a failed vote in Congress Monday, which Sen. Marshall pointed to in arguing lawmakers needed to do something.

Although the bill has 10 senators signed on as co-sponsors, meaning it needs just one more backer to pass, there were plenty of skeptics and opponents among senators Wednesday, and much of the hourlong discussion was spent with Sen. Marshall fending off critics.

“It is a list that includes absolutely no due process,” Shannon Alford, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, said of the database. “There’s no due process involved in getting on the list, and there’s no due process involved in getting off the list. There’s no process in getting off the list.”

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, raised concerns that if the law is passed, someone on the watchlist could try to buy a gun and be charged with a felony for it.

Under state law, a person prohibited from having a firearm who “knowingly possesses, purchases, owns or controls a deadly weapon” faces up to eight years in prison.

Sen. Marshall afterward called that argument an “exaggeration.”

“When I hear a response like it, I hear a gun manufacturer or an NRA disciple just parroting what is that side of the issue,” he said.

Citing the shooting at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub that killed 49 people, he attempted to appeal to other senators during the floor debate, arguing the bill is needed now.

“We have an obligation to protect the people of this state,” he said.

Sen. Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, noted Orlando terrorist Omar Mateen was not on any federal watchlists, meaning no law like the one debated Wednesday could have stopped him from buying a gun. The Los Angeles Times reported Mateen was investigated by the federal government but then removed from the list.

Although many Democrats, including President Obama, support barring people on the no-fly list from buying a gun, the American Civil Liberties Union, which typically takes liberal stances, is opposed to the idea.

Because the list is a classified one compiled by the federal government, Washington would be under no obligation to provide information to Delaware or to remove anyone improperly included in the inventory, Ms. Alford said.

Wednesday’s debate, which came shortly after Gov. Jack Markell signed a bill expanding the length of time gun background checks can take, was interrupted at one point so senators could honor a retiring lobbyist.

The bill could be voted on as soon as today, but there is no guarantee it will be revisited before the session ends June 30.

DOVER – Delaware’s 30^th Annual Amish Country Bike Tour, presented by WSFS Bank, will take place on Saturday Sept. 10 in Dover. The Amish Country Bike Tour is Delaware’s longest running and largest cycling event. Those wishing to take part in the Early Bird discount have until July 1 to register at www.AmishCountryBikeTour.com.

By taking advantage of the Early Bird discount, bikers can save $20 off the registration price.  Until July 1, registration price is $40 for adults and $20 for attendees ages 5-16. From July 1 to July 31, registration is $50 for adults and $25 for ages 5-16.  After Aug. 1, registration costs $60 for adults and $30 for ages 5 to 16. Participants under age 5 participate for free.

The event includes a bike tour map, giveaways, and up to four food and rest stops including the famous “pie stop” at the Amish Schoolhouse and the after-tour catered picnic.

The Amish Bike Tour in 2015 included 2,300 cyclists from 19 states and England. Kent County Tourism hopes that 2016 will bring an even larger variety of visitors from across the nation to one of Delaware’s biggest events of the year.

A strong turnout of 118 racers and a great crowd were on hand to watch invaders take home the lion’s share of the healthy purse at the 44th annual Camp Barnes Benefit Wednesday night at Delaware International Speedway.

In the 30-lap Modified feature, Bridgeport regular and former track champion, Jordan Watson, started on the pole with last year’s winner and former track champ, Matt Jester starting in second.

From the drop of the green, Watson went to the top groove and set the pace. After the race’s three cautions, Watson was still out front, driving to the $3,000 win.

A strong contingent of Super Late Models was on hand. Dale Hollidge of Mechanicsville, Md. making his first appearance at the track, was the quickest right from hot laps and jumped out to the lead in the 25-lap main.

Hollidge’s first victory at the track was worth $3,000. The win made Hollidge 2-for-2 in Delaware this sea-son after he won the big late model event at the Georgetown Speedway earlier in the year.

Hollidge assured the fans that he would be back for the Fulton 50 for the World of Outlaw Late Models on Aug. 11.

“I saw that the modified guys were faster on the top,” said Hollidge. “I went up top at the start but could see (Donald) Lingo coming on the bottom so I moved down.”

From halfway on it was all green in the AC Delco 602 Sportman. Tim Trimble opened a comfortable lead and remained smooth and flawless, taking his first career Camp Barnes win.

Three-time Crate Model champion, Matt Hill was back and in top form on Wednesday night, winning his heat and starting on the pole in the 15-lap main.

Robbie Walls, Jr. pulled to the back bumper of Hill with two to go but could not mount a challenge as Hill went on to the win.

In the 15-lap Mod Lite feature it looked as if James Hill’s winning streak was in jeopardy. But, after a caution on lap 11, Hill shot to the outside and made the winning pass for his sixth straight win of the season.

In the 10-lap Little Lincoln Vintage feature, Mel Joseph, Jr. held off Landy Adams in the second half of the race to add to his Camp Barnes’ win total.

Jerry Barker started fifth but took the lead from Bud Sipple on lap three of the Delmarva Chargers’ race. He drove to his second win of the season and his first Camp Barnes victory in the caution-free 10-lap event.

A strong 21 truck field of Super Trucks were on hand. A hard crash in turn four on the first lap left the trucks of Matt Long and Bobby Reed heavily damaged but there were no injuries.

Billy Cropper lost the lead once but regained in for good midway through the race.

High school track & field

Middletown’s Lampkin honored: Middletown High’s Daija Lampkin has been named the Gatorade Delaware Girls’ Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

The 5-foot-2 junior won three individual championships at the Division I state meet this spring. The William A. Thomson Award winner as the state’s most valuable track athlete as named by the New Castle County Coaches Cross Country and Track Association, Lampkin swept the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.94 seconds, the 200-meter dash in 24.38 and the 400-meter dash in 55.45.

Lampkin also anchored the winning 800-meter relay squad that broke the tape in 1:41.75. Her 200-meter dash clocking of 23.80 seconds at the New Castle County Track & Field Championships set a state record.

Lampkin has maintained a 4.15 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society and a sports medicine assistant to the school’s athletic trainer, she has also volunteered locally on be-half of her church and at a food bank.

“I have watched Daija Lampkin win 100-, 200- and 400-meter races by incredible margins all season,” said Mike Mooney, head coach at Newark High. “I will say that she seemed happiest when anchoring a relay and celebrating with her teammates. We all know what a lift it can give to a team to have a competitor like Daija on your side. She elevated her teammates and the sport in Delaware.”

Local running

‘Dorm to Gourm’ being held today: The fourth annual CrossFit Dover, Dorm to Gourm 5K Run/Walk & 1.5 Fitness Challenge event will be held today at 6 p.m., starting and ending at CrossFit Dover (155 Commerce Way, Suite L, Dover).

The event benefits Project Dorm to Gourm, which teaches Dover Air Force Base airmen how to cook healthy, budget-conscious meals.

Race day registration will open at 5 p.m. Contact Ray@trisportsevents.com  for more information.

Delaware State News photos/Marc Clery

Local band Country By Night will play the Little Barrel Country Music Festival Saturday in New Castle. (Submitted photo)

Got a hole in your schedule this weekend that was supposed to be filled by the Big Barrel Country Music Festival, which was canceled earlier this year?

Fear not, the Little Barrel Country Music Festival, up the road in New Castle, has you covered.

While it may not have the star power of previously announced Big Barrel acts such as Brad Paisley and Eric Church, Little Barrel boasts popular local artists such as headliner Sam Grow from Southern Maryland along with Country By Night and Southern Drawl Delaware, both from the Smyrna area.

It was originally was set to play Sam Kalb’s Picnic Park in Smyrna but is now at Blue Diamond Park on Hamburg Road, just off U.S. 13.

Blue Diamond Park, which up until last year hosted motorsports events, provides a 25-acre venue with a natural amphitheater.

“It’s a fun little venue. Sam’s place is awesome but the interest started to blow us away and we knew we’d have to find somewhere bigger. Originally

Sam Grow will headline Little Barrel.

we were talking to Frightland (in Middletown) who turned us on to Blue Diamond,” said organizer Dennis Carradin in an interview last month.

Mr. Carradin is president of The Trauma Survivors Fund, one of two charities that will benefit from the event, along with the 2/6 Marines Memorial March.

Mr. Grow, always a big draw at Dover’s Cowboy Up nightspot, recently gave a free concert prior to last month’s XFINITY NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway.

Living in Nashville now, Mr. Grow does about 250 dates a year.

Other acts on the bill are Wesley Spangler, The Hung Jury Band, A Different Breed, Forsaken, Eleanor and the Roosevelts and Country Crossing.

Disc jockey Chris Arena will spin records in between acts.

Based in Wilmington, The Trauma Survivors Fund provides services at a national level to anyone affected by trauma and crisis.

A board-certified expert in traumatic stress, Mr. Carradin has responded to national disasters including the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York City, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, the Boston Marathon bombings and the Navy Yard shootings.

“We cover 39 states and we want to cover all 50 by 2018. But our first love is Delaware,” Mr. Carradin said.

The 2/6 Marines Memorial March will take place Oct. 27 from Arlington National Cemetery to New Castle County Police Headquarters.

The 160-mile walk will be in honor of those in the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, an infantry battalion based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who have been either killed in action or have died from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

General admission tickets to Little Barrel are $35; VIP tickets are $45, which includes a festival shirt, a food voucher and one beverage of choice.

Gates open at noon with the music kicking off at 1 p.m.

For tickets and more information, visit LittleBarrelFestival.com.

Ross, Mooncat Comedy

If you’re looking for laughs, comedian Dennis Ross brings his observations about everyday life to the Milton Theatre at 8 tonight.

Last seen in the area at Wild Quail Country Club last year, Mr. Ross considers himself a “spectator to everyday insanity.”

Also appearing is Mooncat Comedy, which started as an open mic in a Milton garage and have since expanded and become the longest running open mic on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Tickets are available at MiltonTheatre.com or by calling (302) 684-3038. The Milton Theatre is at 110 Union St.

Tiempo Libre at Freeman

Three-time Grammy-nominated Cuban music group Tiempo Libre will heat up Selbyville’s Freeman Stage in a free show Saturday night at 7 with a concert featuring a mix of jazz harmonies and contemporary Latin rhythms.

Tempo Libre will perform at the Freeman Stage in a free concert Saturday night. (Submitted photo)

Classically trained at Havana’s top music conservatories, Tiempo Libre is made up of seven young Cuban musicians who individually fled Cuba for freedom, and upon reuniting in the Miami area got together during their “free time” (tiempo libre in Spanish) from recording with other artists to perform the Cuban music that they loved.

Since their formation 14 years ago Tiempo Libre’s members have been on a mission to serve as ambassadors to their Cuban culture. The seven childhood friends have made a name for themselves through standalone concerts across the U.S. and worldwide, as well as collaborations with leading orchestras across the U.S.

The band has appeared on “The Tonight Show” as well as “Live from Lincoln Center,” “Dancing with the Stars” and many programs on Univision and Telemundo.

Tiempo Libre’s 2015-16 season finds the band playing in places as far afield as Beijing, on tour in Spain, as well as with shows in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

For more event information, visit the Freeman Stage at Bayside website at www.freemanstage.org.

Sea Glass, Arts Festival set

The Lewes Historical Society will hold the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival Saturday, and Sunday at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive in Lewes.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the festival is $5 each day; children younger than 12 are admitted free.

Last year, the festival attracted more than 4,000 visitors.

The seventh annual event will feature nearly 70 sea glass artists, joined by other coastal artists, including decoy carvers and waterfowl artists.

A children’s educational area will be inside at the Ferry Terminal upstairs gallery. The pirate crew will once again join the festivities this year, to provide activities, story time, and photos.

Jimmy G will be playing steel drums from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Bring your glass shards and bottles, as specialists Richard LaMotte and Keith Fleming will be available to identify your treasurers.

Participants can learn the history of sea glass and how it gets its unique texture, view glow in the dark sea glass, and view a dress made entirely out of sea glass by Stu Jacobs.

For more details about the Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival or for more information on The Lewes Historical Society, contact 302-645-7670.

Museum improvements

The Johnson Victrola Museum, at 375 S. New St. in Dover, has temporarily closed for construction but will reopen July 1.

Improvements include demolition and replacement of the museum’s existing disabled-access sidewalk and ramp, landscape grading and seeding, new underground stormwater piping and new aluminum downspouts and railings.

Beginning July 1, the museum will return to its regular operating schedule of Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The museum is also open on several state and federal holidays including Independence Day when it will offer “Stars and Stripes,” guided tours that explore some of Victor Records’ many recordings of patriotic music accompanied by 78 rpm records played on authentic Victor Talking Machines.

The program will also be offered on July 2.

Admission to the museum is free. For additional information, call (302) 739-3262.

‘Pickers’ coming to Delaware

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz from the History Channel show “American Pickers” are looking for places to visit in Delaware. (Submitted photo)

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and the gang from “American Pickers” are coming to Delaware to film episodes of the hit History Channel series this summer.

“American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the world of antique “picking.” The show follows Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Fritz as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizable, unique collections and learn the stories behind them.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, they are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics and meet some characters along the way.

The show is looking for leads in the area. Old movie posters, early furniture, toys, radios, lamps, clocks and pinball machines are just some of the items they are after.

If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that they can spend the better part of the day looking through, send them your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST.

Now showing

New in theaters this weekend is the sequel “Independence Day: Resurgence 3D,” the Civil War drama starring Matthew McConaughey “Free State of Jones,” the Blake Lively thriller “The Shallows” and the Keanu Reeves suspense film “The Neon Demon.”

On DVD and download starting Tuesday is the Hank Williams biopic “I Saw the Light” and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in “By the Sea.”

The phrase or slogan “Black Power” turns 50 this year. Whether credited to Adam Clayton Powell in a May 1966 address at Howard University or to Stokely Carmichael at a June 1966 Mississippi rally following the shooting of James Meredith, the slogan’s immediate impact on the civil rights movement is unquestioned, though its long-term legacy is more complicated.

By way of meaning, Black Power advocates a number of related goals, from self-sufficiency for African Americans, to promoting black collective interests, to defending against racial oppression. For some, its use coincided with the end of the civil rights movement. However, it would be a mistake to regard it as such. Rather, the slogan ushered in a new, updated, period of the movement which replaced nonviolence with direct action and allied with other causes.

The phrase’s initial employment followed the divisive and contradictory events of 1965, which included the triumph of the Voting Rights Act and Great Society programs on one hand and the expansion of the Vietnam War, assassination of Malcolm X, and race riots on the other hand.

Dr. Samuel B. Hoff

Following its initial utilization, the slogan acted as a catalyst for subsequent political developments. For instance, the slogan contributed to the founding and views of the Black Panthers, established in fall 1966.

It spread to movements in Jamaica and Britain in the late 1960s. Clearly, the 1972 National Black Political Convention was a consequence of the movement. Because it forced facing issues of democracy and equality, the Black Power movement affected later social justice movements, including feminism, environmentalism, affirmative action, and Native American activism, among others.

Too, there were social and cultural consequences of the Black Power era. Among these was the controversy which ensued at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics when two American athletes gave the Black Power salute while receiving their medals. The Black Power slogan led to artistic creations which embodied liberation, empowerment, and pride. The Black Arts Movement was an outgrowth of the Black Power movement. Other phrases, such as “Black is Beautiful,” were likewise employed in conjunction with the movement.

While standout African American athletes such as Muhammad Ali may not have used the phrase extensively, they understood its meaning and agreed with its aspirations.

Just as the seminal employment of the Black Power phrase created controversy within the black community and between people of different races, so its legacy is seen as similarly split.

In 2015, members of the Black Lives Matter movement displayed Black Power symbols in highlighting police abuse. In 2016, the U.S. Military Academy launched an inquiry after 16 black female cadets were photographed with their fists raised. Rather than engaging in a forbidden political activity, the students stated that they were celebrating their forthcoming graduation as a shared accomplishment.

Whether interpreted as a movement of protest or unity, Black Power evidently still means diverse things to different people. But for its supporters, the times have changed more than the consistent message behind it.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Samuel B. Hoff is George Washington Distinguished Professor of History and Political Science and Law Studies Director at Delaware State University. He chaired the Dover Human Relations Commission from 2005-2010 and is a life member of the Central Delaware branch of the NAACP.

Dover Inner City Cultural League founder Reuben Salters leads the ceremonial processional around Legislative Mall during last year’s African American Festival in Dover. This year’s event starts at 10 a.m. Saturday with the processional set for 11. (Delaware State News file photo)

DOVER — It all started with a conversation between former Dover City Councilman Reuben Salters and former State Rep. Donald Blakey about having an event to celebrate African-American culture in Dover.

Twenty-six years later, the “Positively Dover” African-American Festival, held every year on the fourth Saturday in June on Legislative Mall, has become one of the signature events in the capital city and the state of Delaware.

“I never thought it would be what it’s become,” said Mr. Salters this week while thinking back to those early days.

“And it’s the same with the Sankofa Dancers and Drummers. We started them about the same time. We have a new building (the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center). It’s amazing that all of this stuff has come to fruition.

“There has just been fantastic growth in the inner city culturally.”

The Sankofa Dance Company will help lead the processional Saturday. (Delaware State News file photo)

Founder of the Inner City Cultural League in 1971, Mr. Salters opened the facility as a place for the inner city youth of Dover to play sports, but quickly expanded to include the visual and performing arts.

Twenty-four years later, the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, a 4,000-square-foot building at 39 S. West St. in Dover, was dedicated in November 2015.

It houses the Inner City Cultural League offices, its youth programs and activities, serves as a performance venue for the Sankofa African Dancers and Drummers, the Sankofa String Orchestra and theater programs by DonDel Productions.

“It really wasn’t me who did all of this. It was the people of Dover,” Mr Salters said.

“I just kept at it and folks just kept giving me money and eventually good things happened. It’s due to the generosity of people like Don Blakey, who held my tail to the fire. He always says ‘if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.’ ”

The festival, set for Saturday, has been done right all these years. It is one of the largest one-day ethnic festivals in the state, bringing the arts, food, culture, fashion and fun to the downtown area.

This year’s event starts at 10 a.m. with the annual procession of local officials and organizers, led by the Sankofa African Dance Company at 11 a.m.

U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons are expected to be on hand along with Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen.

“That will start the official activities as we go around the perimeter of Legislative Hall,” Mr. Salters said.

More than 100 vendors from around the East Coast will be on site, selling African artifacts and fabrics, providing information on topics such as cancer, veterans issues and voter registration, and of course cooking up good eats.

“We have food representing cuisine from all over the world,” Mr. Salters said.

“Mexican, Caribbean, Greek — you name it. We’ll have about 30 food vendors. The most popular always seems to be the fried fish from Bethel AME Church in Chestertown, Maryland.”

Greg Hill and The Delfonics Revue will pay tribute to the legendary soul group as the headlining musical act at this year’s African American Festival. (Submitted photo)

Activities for the kids, including crafts, will be available as well.

“It’s a real family affair. There is no alcohol allowed,” Mr. Salters said.

Entertainment is a big part of the day. This year’s lineup is headlined by Greg Hill and The Delfonics Revue.

Mr. Hill was a member of William Hart’s original Delfonics for more than 15 years. After touring with the original soul group, Mr. Hill began his own tribute show.

The group’s songs include the hits “La La Means I Love You,” “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind” and “Ready or Not.”

Entertainment also includes Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark, a blues musician from Maryland, who won the Central Delaware Blues Society’s Battle of the Blues Competition last year, earning him a trip to the International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tennessee, in February.

Other artists on the bill this year are the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band, Philadelphia Freedom Gospel Choir, Trinidad and Tobago Steel Band and child prodigy Eldre Gladney, who will show off his musical talent on seven different instruments. Eldre is a member of the recently created Sankofa String Orchestra.

“It’s packed all day,” said Denise Hicks-Barnes, executive director of the Inner City Cultural League, of the festival.

“People come and put their chairs out for the whole day. Some come for certain groups and watch them perform and then leave or they will come for their favorite food and then take off and come back. It’s just good camaraderie and good fellowship.”

Mr. Salters said the festival brings together the whole community — not just the African-American population.

“It’s not just for black folks. It’s for everyone,” he said.

“We think it’s good public relations. It’s good human relations. It gets people talking to each other and just enjoying each other’s company and enjoying the day.”

For more information, visit www.icclarts.org.

DOVER — A former Felton resident is seeking what he believes is justice regarding 2012 interactions with law enforcement officers investigating a terroristic threatening allegation against him raised by his former wife.

On April 22, Gordon G. Smith, 50, now living in Florida, filed a federal lawsuit against the Delaware State Police and Department of Correction, alleging harsh and unwarranted treatment ensued as authorities investigated claims that eventually brought false report charges against his accuser.

Gordon Smith

Earlier, Mr. Smith’s lawsuit against law enforcement regarding a series of false arrests allegedly involving his former wife and protection-from-abuse orders in 2010 was dismissed in state Superior Court. Mr. Smith said several cases against him were not prosecuted and his record connected to the incidents was expunged.

The current suit covers actions taken from July 28 to Sept. 6, 2012, when Mr. Smith claims he was arrested and illegally fitted with a GPS ankle monitor when further accused by his former wife.

The federal lawsuit references five defendants, including then-Department of Correction Commissioner Carl Danberg, and current commissioner Robert Coupe, who was a Delaware State Police trooper during the sequence in 2012 and allegedly participated in Mr. Smith’s arrest. Two other troopers and a probation officer are also included.

According to Mr. Smith, he was arrested and then charged with terroristic threatening after his former wife told police he threatened to kill her during a phone call on July 28, 2012.

Mr. Smith maintained the arrest was made “without corroborating evidence,” and Justice of the Peace Court ordered him “to be put on probation, as part of his bond, prior to his standing trial or being convicted of any criminal offense.” He was required to report weekly to the Department of Probation in Dover, Mr. Smith alleged.

On Aug. 21, 2012, Mr. Smith claimed, the Court of Common Pleas approved a request by the DOC for monitoring via GPS and through an ankle monitor.

Mr. Smith alleged in the lawsuit that he had not “stood trial, faced his accuser, or been convicted of a criminal offense.

“Additionally [Mr. Smith] was required to wear an ankle monitor that he had to charge twice a day. Fully charging the ankle monitor took three hours each time, which meant [Smith] was attached to a wall outlet for no less than six hours a day.”

Mr. Smith claimed “he was not allowed to travel out of the Delaware and Maryland areas” and thus denied the right to freely practice his religion due to services he attended on Sundays in Washington, D.C.

An arrest detailed

On Aug. 28, 2012, in Camden, Mr. Smith said he was arrested at gunpoint by three state police troopers in the Texas Roadhouse parking lot.

Mr. Smith alleged he was violently handcuffed and the troopers “refused to tell him why he was under arrest when he asked and continued to verbally assault him.

“They dragged him to the official department vehicle and threw him in the back…”

During the apprehension, according to Mr. Smith, he was referenced by a trooper as a “scumbag” and “retard.”

According to Mr. Smith’s lawsuit, the troopers “had access to the GPS history to determine that [Smith’s] ex-wife’s accusation were meritless. Defendant police officers knew or should have known that [Smith’s] ex-wife was the subject of an ongoing investigation regarding her false reports regarding [Mr. Smith.} Defendant police officers knew or should have known that there was no probable cause to arrest Smith.”

At Troop 3, Mr. Smith alleged he was assaulted and battered and left in a “cold” jail cell for approximately two and a half hours; he said he suffered bruises and lacerations, according to Mr. Smith.

“[Mr. Smith] feared for his life and safety and was terrified by the experience,” the suit read.

Half-clothed and barefoot, Mr. Smith alleged a trooper eventually walked him through the building and was not charged with any crimes, according to the suit.

“He was allowed to put his clothes back on and given a ride back to his car,” Mr. Smith claimed.

Former wife arrested

The lawsuit alleged Mr. Smith’s former wife was arrested three days later by the Dover Police Department and “charged with making three false reports to police and a felony misstatement to police during an investigation.”

After Dover Police Department’s request, Mr. Smith said, the state Attorney General’s Office dropped all pending charges against him. The DOC removed the ankle monitor on Sept. 4, according to the suit.

After the incident, Mr. Smith claimed, he “has been unable to work for various periods of time and denied employment at other times based on the false arrests despite the fact that he had no convictions aside from a minor harassment misdemeanor.”

Mr. Smith claims his First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated.

Since Jan. 14, 2010, Mr. Smith alleges he’s suffered panic attacks and post traumatic stress disorder and “lived in terror anytime he was in the State of Delaware.”

The lawsuit was filed by Cooch and Taylor attorney Anthony Delcollo on Mr. Smith’s behalf.

Mr. Smith said he currently works for a private security firm in Orlando, Florida.

The Milford Skating Center as it looks today along Park Avenue. (Rendering from the Rivertown Rebirth presentation)

MILFORD — After a phone call last week, the owner of the Milford Skating Center said she fears for the future of the business she has helped to run for nearly three decades.

Carmen Kemper started working at the rink 28 years ago, just two years after it opened. She now runs the business with her brother, Charles Gray, and other family members.

“Our landlord called last Friday to say our lease runs out on June 30 and he has to make a decision. That decision is not in writing yet,” she said, adding that she sent a request in November 2015 stating the family’s desire to remain in the facility at 1 Park Ave. for another five years.

During that same phone call last week, Ms. Kemper said, Dennis Silicato of Silicato Development and the landlord of the downtown building, told her he had participated in conversations involving Milford City Manager Eric Norenberg, Milford Mayor Bryan Shupe, Downtown Milford Inc. Executive Director Lee Nelson, Randy Marvel of Marvel Agency, Davis, Bowen & Friedel and the Delaware Music School.

After Mr. Silicato’s telephone call, Ms. Kemper and Mr. Gray created a blog to rally community support for keeping the skating rink downtown in its current location. [The blog can be found at https://skatingmatters.wordpress.com/]

In response to the blog, the city of Milford released a statement, which reads in part:

“The city of Milford, including the mayor, city council, the city manager and other staff, do not intervene in or participate in matters involving landlords and tenants unless there are code violations or criminal activity.”

Mayor Shupe said the city was contacted by Davis, Bowen & Friedel who expressed concern that the business needed more space.

The city’s statement also offered to help the rink owners to find and identify potential partnerships and assistance should relocation be necessary.

“The Milford Skating Center has a long history in our community of providing family-friendly entertainment and recreation for all ages. Accordingly, we hope both parties find a positive resolution to this situation,” the statement reads.

Mr. Marvel, a local real estate agent, offered similar sentiments.

“We consider both of them [Davis, Bowen & Friedel and the Milford Skating Rink] good neighbors, but we had zero involvement in this,” he said.

The Milford branch of the Music School of Delaware, which is looking to move to a new location by 2017 while remaining in the downtown Milford area, also claimed no involvement in “meetings gathering the parties listed in the blog,” according to the Music School of Delaware President and CEO Kate Ransom.

“We are conducting our due diligence to look at any available property space that might meet the needs of the school. The school is not presently in negotiations to that effect. We are still in an exploratory stage,” Ms. Ransom said. “We certainly have had no role in transactions or actions involving any lease-tenant relationships between other parties. Our own relationship with our current landlord has been very positive.”

Community support

After hearing the news of arising problems for the Milford Skating Center on social media, Milford resident and former skating center employee Ivy Hinson started a petition online, hoping to “keep the Milford Skating Center open.”

So far, nearly 1,000 people have signed that petition.

“My hope is that the rink can stay where it is and that the rent Carmen pays remains affordable,” she said. “The rink is a staple of the community. It’s one of the few affordable things the city has left. It’s all about old money and everyone knows that.”

The community has also been invited to the Milford Skating Center from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday to add signatures to a wall of support. No skating or admission fees will be charged to participate.

The Milford Skating Center reaches more than 100 students each week during the school year through its after-school skating sessions, according to Mr. Gray. And that, he says, is just one of many programs and events offered weekly at the rink.

“If the rink closes, we’re limiting choices available for children in the community. We’re taking another aspect away from the destination part of Milford,” he said. “Davis, Bowen & Friedel matters as a business, no doubt. And the Milford Skating Center matters as a business.

“The next closest centers are in Dover and Laurel. Parents and children will have to take their money outside of Milford for recreational purposes. Our community needs positive options. Not negative options. You don’t see people knocking down the city door with other recreational facility ideas.”

Should the rink be asked to move, Mr. Gray said, they would have to close their doors for good.

“You’re making a business move at the expense of that business,” he added. “If it’s not a big deal to lose the skating center, then what’s next?”

Neither Davis, Bowen & Friedel, nor Mr. Silicato have returned calls or other attempts to reach them for comment.

DOVER — State Sen. Colin Bonini on Thursday became the first gubernatorial candidate this year to come out in favor of legalizing marijuana.

Sen. Bonini, a Dover Republican, made the statement on the Senate floor during a discussion on probation before judgment for misdemeanor marijuana offenses. Citing recent legislation that created medical marijuana and decriminalized possession of small amounts in Delaware, Sen. Bonini said he believes the state should make cannabis legal. Asked by Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington, if he would co-sponsor legalization to that end, Sen. Bonini replied he would.

Colin Bonini

Elaborating afterward, the Republican said he does not object to adults using cannabis in their own homes.

“My point is, we have already legalized marijuana,” he said. “Let’s be adult enough to realize it and let’s regulate it, let’s tax it, let’s create a structure where we can at least have some control over access to it.”

Teenagers in Delaware increasingly believe pot is not dangerous and its use or possession is not punished, he argued.

National attitudes on marijuana have been steadily shifting for years: An October 2015 Gallup poll found 58 percent of respondents support legalization, and a survey that month by the University of Delaware reported 56 percent of Delawareans back the idea.

Nationally, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana.

Sen. Bonini said he would actively push for legalized cannabis if he is elected governor and may do so even if he is not, although he said he would prefer to roll back the recent marijuana-related laws passed by the General Assembly if given a choice.

Asked whether he believes the drug will be legal in Delaware in five years, he said that “it’s going to be legal all over the country.”

According to a spokesman, U.S. Rep. John Carney, a Democrat who is running for governor, supported the decriminalization effort but is waiting to see the effects of it before contemplating backing full-scale legalization.

On Twitter, fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Lacey Lafferty called legalized marijuana the “end of civilization” and Sen. Bonini a “buffoon.”

Bond Committee meets

With only three legislative days remaining this year, the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement remains uncertain how much money it has to spend.

The panel also known as the Bond Committee met Thursday for the third time this week to work on drawing up the annual capital budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

In light of two recent revenue decreases, the committee may not be able to meet the $486.9 million recommended by Gov. Jack Markell. That total includes $31.3 in General Fund money.

“I can just tell you that we don’t have hardly any money to even deal with just barely the recommended, let alone all the other additional millions,” co-chair Rep. S. Quinton Johnson, D-Middletown, told committee members.

He noted $6 million has been set aside for for Wilmington school redistricting, meaning it theoretically could be moved to the bond bill if the effort to redraw district lines fails.

Legislators did briefly discuss raising the amount of money given to lawmakers for transportation projects within their districts from $260,000 to $275,000.

A few members also raised questions over prevailing wage, which governs what laborers on state-funded construction projects are paid.

The General Assembly agreed last year work fully paid for by Community Transportation Funds and Municipal Street Aid would not be subject to prevailing wage, saving money. Thursday, the committee contemplated removing projects that are covered at all by those two funding sources from prevailing wage requirements.

After some members raised concerns, the group agreed to set it aside for now.

The committee will meet again next week.

The Delaware Legislature will end its session Thursday with no help for Delaware’s three casinos who say competition and excessive tax rates are making it difficult to stay profitable. (Delaware State News file photo)

DOVER — For the second year in a row, relief has not been in the cards for Delaware’s three casinos.

Although this legislative session does not end until Thursday, there will be no measures from the General Assembly to provide financial assistance to the casinos.

“We’re disappointed. Our problems are not going away,” said Dover Downs Hotel & Casino President and CEO Ed Sutor. “It’s only going to get tougher when MGM opens their facility (in National Harbor, Maryland) later this year.

Ed Sutor

“We have no choice but to continue to hold down expenses as much as we can and hopefully the new administration and the new legislature will take on our situation earlier rather than at the end of the session like they’ve done for the past several years.”

This issue stems from competition in neighboring states and tax rates industry executives say are too high.

With the casinos struggling, the Lottery and Gaming Study Commission approved legislation in 2015 that would have made major changes to the revenue-sharing model. The proposal carried an annual cost to the state of $45.8 million, however, and so it failed to find footing.

This year, supporters brought back a modified version, but that too went nowhere.

Sen. Brian Bushweller, D-Dover, has been the strongest advocate for legislative relief, and he retained hope up until Monday, when the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council lowered the state’s revenue forecast by $21.6 million for the current fiscal year.

Brian
Bushweller

“We had hoped that the DEFAC report would produce some reasonable amount of revenue increase to the state so that we’d have a reasonably good shot at making meaningful progress, and that’s the phrase I always use … meaningful progress on the casino issue. One of the things I’ve never been interested in was another Band-Aid,” he said, referencing legislation passed two years that shifted some slot costs to the state.

The downturn, however, made getting any substantial proposal through the legislature “politically unfeasible,” Sen. Bushweller said.

He had an unfiled amendment that would have been introduced if the state’s revenue projection saw an uptick, but in the absence of positive news, it has been shelved. That proposal would have brought in smaller-scale change, altering the table game tax. Under the purview of the amendment, the state would lose about $5 million in revenue annually, well below previously proposed amounts.

Although the issue is not divided strictly on partisan grounds, the majority of supporters in the legislature are Republicans. Most of them also hail from Kent and Sussex counties as well.

Delaware Park plays a smaller role in New Castle County’s economy than Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway and Casino do in Kent, given the latter has a smaller population and fewer big companies.

As an argument in favor of casino relief, Sen. Bushweller has repeatedly cited legislation passed earlier this year, with very little objection, aimed at helping the state land the spinoff companies resulting from the merger of chemical giants DuPont and Dow.

“Casino jobs are just as good as Port (of Wilmington) jobs. But look what else we did,” he said Thursday. “We did the Chemours bill. We did the other Dow/DuPont companies. We gave tons of money to JPMorgan Chase. All to protect jobs. That’s what it was all about up there.

“Well, we have job needs here in Kent County too. And they’re already there.”

He pointed to Dover Downs’ $239,000 loss in the first quarter of 2016 as evidence lawmakers need to step in or face the possibility the casinos will go out of business.

For his part, Mr. Sutor declined to assess the possibility of bankruptcy, although he said it is more likely the bank to which the company owes millions will bring in representatives of its own to “slash and burn.”

Dover Downs was $31 million in debt as of March 31, with that sum due to be paid back by Sept. 30. The deadline has already been extended several years, and Mr. Sutor said the casino is looking to push it back again.

Among the gubernatorial candidates, both Republicans have supported helping the casinos. Sen. Colin Bonini, of Dover, is a co-sponsor of one relief bill, and Lacey Lafferty said she believes the tax rates need to be lowered to allow the casinos to compete.

Cerron Cade, the campaign manager for U.S. Rep. John Carney, a Democrat, said in an email Rep. Carney is weighing the issue.

“Our gaming industry is something that sets our state apart and the congressman has long understood the importance of it,” he wrote. “Finding ways to help our casinos compete in an increasingly competitive environment, given our state’s budget difficulties, is one of the bigger challenges our next governor will face. Congressman Carney is studying these issues in depth in order to find a solution, and looks forward to talking more about them as we move closer to the election.”

Unrelated to Sen. Bushweller’s efforts, a bill from Rep. John Viola, D-Newark, would require charitable gaming organizations to pay 35 percent, rather than 40 percent, to the state. It would also strike from the Delaware Code language mandating 40 percent of the proceeds be contributed to a charity.

DOVER — A new one-of-a-kind partnership between the state of Delaware and Direct Energy could save customers more than $100 a year, officials said Wednesday.

Delaware Secretary of State Jeff Bullock announces Direct Energy is the officially endorsed energy supplier of Delaware on Wednesday outside Legislative Hall in Dover. (Delaware State News/Matt Bittle)

The state formally designated the company as its exclusively contracted supplier after a search conducted by a committee made up of representatives from several state agencies.

The panel considered six suppliers and chose Direct Energy to be Delaware’s sole state-endorsed energy supplier based on potential cost savings of $15 per month on average, according to officials who spoke at a brief news conference at Legislative Hall.

“This a big deal. This is a really big deal,” said Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover, who has advocated for greater electric choice. “Direct Energy’s going to save Delaware consumers a tremendous amount of money. They are going to finally fulfill the promise that deregulation made 15 years ago. When we deregulated electricity 15 years ago this is what we had in mind.”

The state allowed citizens to begin shopping for energy in 1999, but many people do not compare prices and shop for an electricity supplier, something Sen. Bonini, among others, has pushed to change through greater public outreach.

Energy deregulations allows people to actively examine prices for different energy suppliers and select their preferred option. Although Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative remain the electricity deliverers, dozens of suppliers are available for Delawareans to choose from.

According to Direct Energy, about 10 percent to 12 percent of Delawareans search for a supplier, compared to 30 percent to 40 percent of residents of neighboring states.

Those who do not explore their options receive power from Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative based on the suppliers they have contracted with.

The exact price varies per person depending on electricity usage, but supporters of choice emphasize savings can be found.

Residential customers and small-business owners are eligible to switch to Direct Energy starting July 1, while municipal and industrial consumers are not.

Individuals living in Clayton, Dover, Lewes, Middletown, Milford, Newark, Seaford, Smyrna and New Castle receive electricity through their municipality and so cannot choose their own supplier, according to the Delaware Public Service Commission.

Utility costs are one of the biggest hurdles to businesses considering moving to or expanding in Del-aware, Sen. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, claimed Wednesday. He believes greater public awareness of choice could create jobs.

“We need to do all we can to promote economic growth in this state,” he said. “You save consumers 18 percent, they spend money. They spend money, businesses hire help. We need jobs in this state more than any other thing, and hopefully this will be the first step in bringing some of those jobs to Del-aware.”

Anyone seeking more information can visit depsc.delaware.gov/electric.shtml or directenergy.com.