After over two months in rehabilitation, “Phil” the harbor seal was released at Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey where he hopped across the beach and back into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday morning. The site was chosen because ordinarily by this time of year, seals seek the cooler waters north of the Delaware bay.

The seal became a local celebrity when residents noticed him last December in the spillway at Coursey Pond near Felton. He took a step further in January, when he hopped across Canterbury Road and into the pond proper — getting further from his natural environment in bay.

Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) took the lead in the eventual rescue of Phil back in April when he got stuck in a mud bog near the pond.

They brought him to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, where he was treated for eye irritation and nursed back to health.

Before releasing him, the National Aquarium placed a tracker on Phil’s back to ensure he doesn’t find his way back any inland streams. The tracker was designed to eventually fall off on its own. MERR director Suzanne Thurman said that the rescue and release was one of the longest drawn out and involved rescues the organization had ever been a part of, but she was very pleased with the outcome.

(Submitted photos)

CAMDEN-WYOMING — A need to reach deeper into the community to make sure students are fed while not attending school is never more evident to Caesar Rodney School District dietitian Jennifer Montano than when she asks students about their vacation time during the year.

“One example was back over Easter I was in the cafeteria talking to kids and I asked them if they were excited about the upcoming holiday,” she said. “Just seeing the look come over their faces — they don’t know what they are going to do that week for food. So many of these kids wonder where their next meals are going to come from when they’re not in school and it’s no different over the summer.”

Last year, Caesar Rodney hosted free breakfast and lunch programs at their schools throughout the summer. Ms. Montano said that turnout was low — about 11,000 meals served. The estimated demand is much higher. This year, with the maiden voyage of their new Mobile Meals bus at Brecknock County Park in Camden on Wednesday afternoon, the district is tracking down those in need.

“We have five different sites each day, five days per week,” said Paul Rodgers, supervisor of child nutrition for the district. “This is in addition to the cites we have at our schools and other locations serving free lunches throughout the summer as well.”

Parents stand with their children waiting to get on the Lunch Bus during Caesar Rodney’s Summer Mobile Meals kickoff at Brecknock Park in Camden on Wednesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

The locations the bus stops at throughout the summer were dictated by how undeserved each area of the district seemed to be, said Ms. Montano.

“They are low income areas that we couldn’t get participation from last summer,” she added. “Several are close to Brown Elementary School. We also picked out several apartment complexes where there was a need. The crime rate is some areas kept us at a distance, but we’re getting as close as we can to areas that need the most help.”

The food bus stays at each location for about 30 minutes and serves a free lunch (or breakfast depending on the hour) to anyone under the age of 18. However, no identification is required.

Maiah Sherd, 15, gives Yazmin Henry-Hill, 1, some pizza in the Meal Bus during Caesar Rodney’s Summer Mobile Meals kickoff at Brecknock Park in Camden on Wednesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

“People feel more comfortable if they don’t have to identify themselves, and it’s really just about getting kids fed,” said Ms. Montano.

The used bus making the stops was recently acquired by the district from Hilton Bus Service for $4,900, said Mr. Rodgers.

“The wrap cost $9,600 and the tables and chairs inside cost another $5,000,” he added. “In my opinion, this is the most economical way to reach out to our district’s families. Many schools buy food trucks, and these can cost up to $150,000. With this bus, we’re out and running in the community for around $20,000. You’re getting a better return for your investment.”

Lilly Borrows, 5, gets a hug from Caesar Rodney High School’s mascot, Spirit during Caesar Rodney’s Summer Mobile Meals kickoff at Brecknock Park in Camden on Wednesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Capital School district’s recently launched food truck that operates in a similar fashion cost an estimated $147,000 and was purchased with federal school lunch program grants.

The old seats in the bus were ripped out and the interior was redesigned to be similar to the cafeterias the students are used to at their schools — with seating and tables along the side, and food storage in the back. The food is prepared back at Caesar Rodney High School and reloaded throughout the day as needed to removing the need for food prep in the bus is eliminated.

“Today we have pizza or peanut butter and jelly, and each meal comes with a vegetable, fruit and a milk,” said Ms. Montano on Wednesday.

The program is funded by the USDA and Department of Education, Ms. Montano noted.

“We keep track of how many meals we distribute at our sites and with the bus and everything comes out of pocket at first,” she said. “Then we report monthly to the USDA and they reimburse our costs.”

Ms. Montano hopes to reach numbers this summer that more accurately reflect the percieved need — she is hoping for around 500 meals per day.

“This is our official launch, but we actually started last Tuesday,” she said. “We’re not at 500 meals per day yet, but we’re inching up every day as more people hear about it.”

Tramon Hawkins, a 10-year-old from Camden, came across the mobile meals bus for the first time on Wednesday at Brecknock Park.

“It’s cool, it’s like eating at our school cafeteria, but it’s on wheels,” he said.

Derek, Tramon’s father, noted that he sees plenty of kids throughout the summer who look like they’re left to “fend for themselves when it comes to food.”

“This is a great program,” he said. “It really makes me sad that it’s as needed as it is, but it’s not these kids’ faults that there is nothing in the fridge for them at home. They still have to eat.”

A full list of Caesar Rodney School District locations and mobile meals stops and times, visit crk12.org/Page/2810. Access to other free summer meals provided by districts throughout the state can be found by calling 1-866-348-6479, texting “FOOD” to 877-877 or visiting fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks.

DOVER — New Delaware hunting and trapping license fees take effect July 1, according to Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife.

New hunting and trapping license and related fees include:

•Resident Hunting License (Age 16-64) — $39.50;

•Resident Guide/Hunting License (Age 16-64) — $159.50;

•Resident Hunters Choice/Quality Buck Tag Combo — $20;

•Resident Trapping License — $10;

•Non-Resident Hunting License (Age 16 and over) — $199.50;

•Non-Resident 3-Day Hunting License (Small game only) (Age 16 and over) — $75;

•Non Resident Guide/Hunting License (Age 16 and over) — $475;

•Non-Resident Quality Buck Tag — $50;

•Non-Resident Antlered Deer Tag — $50;

•Non-Resident Trapping License — $75;

•Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (Delaware residents and non-residents, age 16 and over) — $15;

•Additional Antlerless Tag (Delaware residents and non-residents) — $20.

Resident and non-resident junior hunting license fees and Wildlife Area Waterfowl Blind and Deer Stand Lottery Permit fees remain the same. Please visit Delaware Hunting, Trapping and Guide License Costs for a current list of licenses and permit fees.

Delaware’s last hunting license fee increase occurred in 2007. Most DNREC wildlife programs are primarily funded through federal grants that match $3 for every dollar of state funds from hunting and trapping license fee revenue.

Delaware hunting and trapping licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. For additional information on Delaware hunting and trapping licenses and related fees, call (302) 739-9918. For more information about Delaware’s wildlife programs, contact the Wildlife Section at (302) 739-9912.

Loving the weather recently. The cooler temperatures at night and even during the day has been a great relief.

I’d like to see these temperatures all the time. The scorching heat is no fun. Getting ready for winter cutting firewood has been much nicer in the woods. Just watch the ticks, they have been bad this year.

The water temperatures are holding nicely in the low 70s. Not the best swimming temperatures, but great for the fishing.

The third annual Kids Catch All tournament at the Indian River Inlet Marina was a great time. Despite the rough weather and water the first day, a lot of fish came to the scales Sunday. Triggerfish, flounder, skates, weakfish, sea bass, bluefish, black drum, sheepshead, and yellow fin tuna were all entered by 71 kids and their families.

More than $7,100 was raised by the tournament for the Lymes Disease Association of Delmarva. At the end of the day an anonymous donor added to the pot to round the total out to $10,000.

The “Prime Hook” crew shows off their yellowfin tuna at the Kids Catch All tournament at Indian River Inlet. (Submitted photo)

Pier action

The Cape Henlopen fishing pier is seeing more flounder action, not huge numbers but the catching has picked up. There has been some decent croaker and spot actin, but they have been smaller fish. The end of the pier has seen the best action.

The Oceanic Fishing pier in Ocean City is producing shad, striped bass, tautog, bluefish and some redfish. The Bowers beach pier is also seeing some action with decent flounder catches. Lewes canal is still producing decent numbers for some anglers.

The offshore bite has picked up a little and the Delaware Bay around structure.

Offshore the yellowfin bite has been hot for some anglers and not so much for others. When they get on the fish the action is fast and furious. Some decent shark action out there as well.

Tautog doesn’t open until July 17,but you can get in on the action at the Ocean City Inlet. The ASMFC is looking to change tautog management to a regional instead of coastwide. Probably a good idea for better management, so the fishery doesn’t get too overfished, it already has a great deal of pressure.

Kingfish in surf

The surf fishing has been great for kingfish when you get into them.

Finding them is the trick.

Look in the surf line on the sand for torn up sand flea shells. Also fish where there are rocks on the bottom, those areas where you see rocks in large piles on the beach is a good place to start. Hard to find good spots to fish some days int he surf, but when you do the catching is good. Otherwise there are a lot of sand perch, skates,dogfish, sharks, and rays being caught.

Short striped bass action for schooling bass is picking up around the bridges and structure in tidal rivers and creeks. You can use bucktails, bass assassins, and bright colored small plugs or swim shads. The inland bay anglers are seeing their fair share of schooling bass.

Despite the reports that the Chesapeake crab numbers are down, the Inland bays and Delaware bay have been producing very well.

The C&D Canal is seeing a decent amount of white perch and catfish. Some striped bass around structure as well.

Rich King’s outdoors column appears Thursdays in the Delaware State News.

Robin Christiansen

DOVER — Homelessness on the streets of Dover is something that is not just going to magically go away.

Mayor Robin Christiansen knows that and that’s why he put together a 13-member Blue Ribbon Panel on Homelessness to study the epidemic near the end of last year.

He said creating the panel of experts was a good start towards trying to find those elusive answers to a difficult problem.

Four months’ worth of meeting and studying by the panel led to the compilation of a document “A Housing Pathway for the Homeless Executive Summary,” a 21-page report prepared for Mayor Christiansen regarding homelessness in the city. It was unveiled at a quarterly open town meeting at City Hall on Wednesday night.

The mayor was pleased with the depth of information that he received and is ready to put the first steps of the plan into action.

“Members of the Blue Ribbon Commission did an exemplary job,” Mr. Christiansen said. “They covered all aspects that I asked them to do and then some.

“They were very meticulous and deliberate in their work and I think it’s a great working document for the next phase of addressing the issues of some of the less fortunate in our community and some of the others whose issues were brought up.”

The mayor said that he will be naming a Task Force regarding homelessness within the next seven to 14 days that will include decision makers in such areas as planning and zoning, law, human services and current shelter managers.

“It is not going to be an easy task,” he said. “This was the first step on a long journey, but it’s going to be worthwhile.”

The panel’s report was an extensive one that delves deep into trying to find a solution to the homeless problem that includes an estimated population of between 300 and 400 in Dover.

Dr. Jerome Abrams, of Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, served as chairman of the Panel on Homelessness and said the issue has many different layers and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

“I must admit that given the enormity of the task of adequately addressing the needs of the homeless population in our community, we are not able to claim that we have discovered a ‘magic solution’ to our problems,” Dr, Abrams said.

“Instead, what we have to offer is a road map; a plan, which we feel will point us in the direction to which we should go.”

The panel was scheduled to report back to Mayor Christiansen after 60 days, but needed twice that much time to complete its study, which the mayor approved.

In the report’s conclusion, it stated, “The panel is confident that solutions will be found that will lead to permanent housing for those in our community who are experiencing homelessness. And this will improve the quality of life of all community members.

“We urge the mayor and local leadership to begin today by forming the Task Force which will be charged with amending codes, deciding governance, enabling free flow of information and resources, finding funding, and implementing the phases as outlined here.”

The No. 1 core value identified by the Panel on Homelessness in Dover is “Housing comes first!”

“Once the person has a roof over his or her head then he or she should have access to all the services which they require,” Dr. Abrams said. “Access should be unconditional and non-discriminatory.”

“Recognize that homelessness is a situation, mostly not of a person’s choosing, and it does not define who they are. These are people who at a particular place and time lack housing. They deserve the same amount of human dignity as anyone else.”

The three phases are expected to be started immediately with Phase 1, which includes finding storage space for personal belongings for the homeless.

The opening phase also includes finding a daytime site other than the Dover Public Library for homeless people to gather and for trained individuals to provide them with information, food and guidance.

Another goal is to expand the physical space for a daytime resource center, such as the one that operates adjacent to the Interfaith Mission. Its current operating hours are only from 9 a.m. to noon from Mondays through Fridays.

Phase 2 will include a Whole Health Approach towards finding shelter for the homeless while Phase 3 will try to enable a homeless person to transition into a self-supporting, productive homed situation through a variety of support services.

The panel also “acknowledges this is a long-term prospect which will be challenging on many fronts not the least of which is funding.

“Any discussion of funding cannot take place without the acknowledging and tabulating the actual costs to a community caused by homelessness itself.”

Mayor Christiansen’s Blue Ribbon panel was a diverse one that included: Chairman Abrams, Carla Benson-Green (Delaware Family Services Division), Brian Lewis (Dover City Council), Dr. Dan Shelton (Capital School District) and Rebecca Martin (Code Purple Kent County).

Joining them on the panel were: Chris Cooper (Habitat for Humanity), the Rev. Elmer Davis Jr. (What-coat United Methodist Church), Margie Cyr (Dover library),
Maj. William Farley (Delaware Veterans Commission), Allan Angel (Kent County Levy Court), Greg Bunkley (Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance), Cathi Kopera (Tiny Homes) and Jeanine Kleimo (Interfaith Mission).

Pastor Aaron Appling of Victory Church has been a staunch advocate for the homeless. He has brought members of the homeless community out to speak before city council meetings for almost a year in order to gain awareness of the problem.

He was pleased with the steps that Mayor Christiansen and his Panel on Homelessness have taken.

“I think it’s really a good step forward in just talking about this issue and I’m excited, I think just the discussion is really good,” Pastor Appling said. “The biggest problem is affordable housing and I think we know that – there’s just nothing affordable.

“I think the last thing I read was you’ve got to make $18 an hour to afford to live. That’s a real issue.”

It’s one of many that confront Dover’s homeless population, an estimated 70 percent of which is gainfully employed, every day.

DOVER — The Joint Finance Committee balanced the state government’s budget by making an $88 million cut Wednesday, two days ahead of the final day of the fiscal year.

Included in the budget are a $37 million decrease in education funding and the elimination of the entire grants-in-aid bill, which funds various nonprofits throughout the state.

Despite the JFC’s work, the budget process might be far from over: Lawmakers of both parties have expressed displeasure over the cuts, raising the possibility the General Assembly might bring the budget to the floor only to vote it down.

JFC may still return and undo the cuts if legislators can reach a compromise on revenue. But that depends on one party caving — something lawmakers of both parties have publicly pledged not to do.

For now, the spending plan totals $4.08 billion, almost the exact same amount as in the current fiscal year. A gap of about $364 million will be erased with — unless things change — an increase in the franchise tax, which is projected to raise $114 million in revenue, and $250 million in cuts.

Joint Finance Committee Chair Rep. Melanie George Smith talks to Rep. William Carson before the JFC meeting at Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Gov. John Carney had proposed a 50-50 mix.

JFC’s votes provide a path forward, but the finished budget left members of both parties frustrated and fuming.

According to lawmakers, the legislature has never exited on July 1 without a budget, a streak that appears to be at risk.

“We are making history in the wrong kind of way,” House Speaker Peter Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, said.

Both sides are hung up on the prevailing wage. Republicans have refused to give the Democratic majority votes on increased taxes on personal income, cigarettes and alcohol without changing the wage which governs what laborers on state-funded constructions projects get.

Democrats, meanwhile, have not budged on prevailing wage, which the claim helps middle-class workers and is unrelated to the budget.

Wednesday’s cuts came one day after budget talks between the two parties, according to Democrats, took a step back.

Reaction

Democrats and Republicans hammered each other Wednesday afternoon and evening, casting blame for the cuts in services and indicating a growing gap between the two sides.

“We’re moving backward in time with the services that we’re providing for our people and how we take care of our people,” Rep. Schwartzkopf said.

Republicans countered by blasting Democrats’ refusal to change prevailing wage.

“Today, the Democrats demonstrated where their values lie. They have declared that they value union campaign checks and unsustainable spending over the most needy in Delaware,” Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, R-Milford, and Senate Minority Whip Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, said in a statement.

“The idea that they would use our nonprofits as a tool in budget negotiations is mean-spirited and pathetic.

“The state government spends over $8 billion every year. Are we to believe that there wasn’t $37 million to be found anywhere else? Are we to believe that every government program works? Of course not. But not one of the JFC cuts from today reduces the size of any state government program. Not one.

“We continue to be committed to real, permanent changes to our state government that makes Delaware better, not just more expensive. We look forward to further conversations that will lead to a sustainable, successful state government.”

House Minority Leader Daniel Short, R-Seaford, took a similar view, saying Democrats refused to commit to real reform and blaming the majority for refusing to consider alterations to prevailing wage.

Senate President Pro Tempore David McBride, D-Wilmington Manor, blasted Republicans in a statement, hinting at a possible line of attack for Democrats in the 2018 election.

“This is the bed our Republican colleagues have made for our state,” Sen. McBride said. “After weeks of moving the goalposts in our budget negotiations and skipping meetings entirely in favor of press releases and press conferences, they now seem giddy that they’ve forced the Joint Finance Committee to make painful cuts to programs on which Delawareans rely.

“Three weeks ago, the Republicans issued a manifesto of demands to the press, and we have already agreed to the vast majority of them. But now our Republican colleagues have shifted from negotiating to dictating that we inflict further pain on our most vulnerable residents — our seniors, our school children, our veterans and those who count on the essential services provided by non-profits.

“Unlike my Republican colleagues, who want to put off difficult political decisions with a continuing resolution, I intend to do everything possible to ensure we have a balanced budget, as is constitutionally required, by the end of session on June 30. I then intend to help hold Republicans accountable for the pain inflicted on the Delawareans who elected us to do a job their party has abandoned.”

Cuts detailed

Grants-in-aid, which total $45.9 million in the current fiscal year, goes to senior centers, fire companies and veterans’ organizations, among other groups. All of the organizations, some of which depend greatly on state funding, are now set to receive nothing.

Rep. William Carson, D-Smyrna, was the only one of the 12-member committee to vote against the grant-in-aid cut, protesting the elimination of $300,000 for veteran-related causes.

“It’s like we’re throwing heroes away,” he said. “It’s an extremely sad day when that happens for our great state.”

Fire companies were allocated $5.9 million in the current budget, while just under $16.5 million was earmarked for community agencies, and senior centers were given $23.2 million. The funding includes $1.6 million for arts and tourism organizations, $3.8 million for health programs, $1.4 million for Kent County senior centers and $662,00 for fire companies in Kent.

Nonprofits and their supporters have argued grants-in-aid help save the state money by allowing organizations to provide some services for Delawareans.

“We received $15,000 in grant-in-aid each of the past few years. EVERY DOLLAR is really essential, as we cannot pay for all of the operating costs of the shelter without these funds,” Jeanine Kleimo, chair of the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, said in an email. “The demand for our services only increases. Our budget is already tight, another grant ends this month and we will seriously struggle to keep operating without grant-in-aid funds.”

Part of the education cut could be made up by allowing school districts to raise property taxes without referendums.

In Kent, the cost per month for a homeowner would vary from $2.40 to $8.36 depending on the district, while it would be between $2.08 and $10.14 in Sussex.

Under the budget proposal, the state would shift the cost of Delaware State Police patrols to Sussex County, something lawmakers proposed two years ago before walking it back.

The decision means the county will have to come up with $2.1 million if it opts to continue the patrol.

JFC previously reduced a property tax break for senior citizens by 20 percent, cutting it from the greater of $500 or 50 percent on property taxes to $400 or 40 percent.

While the budget includes some cuts proposed by Gov. Carney, others — such as changes to state employee health care — do not go as far as what the goveror recommended.

A spokesman for Gov. Carney on Wednesday decried the failure to find an agreement on tax hikes, saying “The people of Delaware now expect Republicans to do their job and help responsibly balance our budget.”

Gov. Carney had previously said he may veto the budget if it does not provide long-term structural change.

According to Rep. Schwartzkopf, the budget will be voted on Friday.

Jay Whitby

MILFORD — Each time Jay Whitby wins the DSGA Delaware Amateur golf title, he manages to make more and more history.

On Wednesday, Whitby achieved a pair of milestones when he won the tournament in spectacular fashion.

Whitby won the Delaware Amateur Championship thanks to a furious rally on the back-nine at The Rookery North Golf Club in Milford for his third championship in as many years. It is the fourth title all-time for the 30-year-old Wyoming native.

It is the first time a golfer won three-straight Amateur Championships since former Dover High standout Chris Wisler, who won three in a row from 1999-2001.

Whitby (Wild Quail Golf & Country Club) also become just the third player to win four career Amateur Championships since the tournament started in 1952. He tied Ellis Taylor, who won four titles between 1953 and 1963, for second all-time trailing just Blaise Giroso, who has 10 titles.

Giroso, Wisler and now Whitby, a Caesar Rodney High product, are the only golfers to achieve the three-peat.

But with nine holes to go, Whitby looked destined for second-place on Wednesday.

He trailed leader Jeff Whiteside (White Clay Creek County Club) by five strokes. Whitby was able to turn that deficit into a three-stroke margin of victory by the 18th hole.

He began the back-nine with a bogey on the 10th hole, but still gained a stroke when Whiteside double-bogeyed. Whitby then pulled within two of Whiteside when he parred back-to-back holes before birdieing No. 13 while Whiteside had two pars and a bogey on those three holes.

Whitby took the lead for good after he parred the 14th hole and Whiteside shot a triple-bogey.

Whitby extended the advantage with a pair of birdies and two pars over the final four holes. He ended the tournament at 2-under par for the tournament, the only player to be under par.

Whitby shot even-par in the final round, rebounding from a tough opening nine holes where he was 2-over par after he double-bogeyed the eighth hole.

Whitby, who played collegiate golf at University of Arkansas-Little Rock, also won this event in 2006 to go along with his titles from 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Reed Winkler, a sophomore at St. Joseph’s University, and Greg Wolfe finished tied for third while Chris Smedley, Bob Bechtold and Peter Barron, who narrowly defeated Whitby in last year’s Delaware Open, were all tied for fifth.

Another player Wild Quail golfer, Tim Freeh finished 10th, his final round was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the ninth hole.

This year’s Delaware Open is scheduled for Aug. 7-8 at Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club in Ocean View. Whitby won the Delaware Open back in 2013.

Nanticoke Post-6 scored four runs in the sixth inning to win a back-and-forth American Legion baseball contest over Fox Post-2 9-5 on Wednesday night at Seaford High.

Nanticoke Post-6 took the lead for good when Gabe Wescott scored off Braydan Graham’s sacrifice. Jordan Haddaway then put the game out of reach with a three-RBI double for the Sussex County squad.

Fox Post-2 had tied the game the previous inning when Miguel Rivera singled home Sean Quirk and Tommy Pomatto. Rivera led the Dover-area squad with three RBI.

Graham paced Nanticoke Post-6 with a game-high four RBI.

Canal Post-25 Middletown 7, Milford Post-6 4: Ethan Hurd led Milford Post-6 with a 2-for-3 performance, a walk and a double but it fell to the Middletown-area team on Wednesday night.

Smyrna Post-14 6, Milford Post-6 1: Brandt Penuel led the Smyrna-area American Legion squad to a victory in a game played on Tuesday night by going 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored.

Jared Gillis provided a double which plated a pair of runs while Brendan Davis had two hits and also scored twice.

Jeremy Carrow recorded the win by pitching four innings with seven strikeouts. Carrow at one point retired 11-straight batters as he helped Smyrna Post-14 combine on a one-hitter.

Gillis came on to pitch the seventh inning and struck out the side.

Will Geppert had the lone hit for Milford.

Senior League

Dover 7, Smyrna-Clayton 5: Dover opened the Senior League baseball District I tournament with a victory

Daevon Stratton had two RBI including the game-winning single while Keon Malone also knocked in a pair of runs. Avery Dabney recorded the win and struck out four.

College field hockey

UD’s Peet nominated for Woman of the Year: The University of Delaware’s Esmee Peet, a four-time All-American field hockey player who led the Blue Hens to the NCAA national title this past fall, is one of a record 543 female college athletes who have been nominated for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Established in 1991 and now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

A native of Zeewolde, The Netherlands, Peet became one of the all-time great student-athletes in UD history as she earned All-American, All-Region, and All-CAA honors each of her four seasons while leading the squad to a combined record of 69-22 and four straight league titles and NCAA Tournament appearances.

As a four-time All-American and two-year captain, an honor student in the classroom, a community service volunteer, and as a member of the 2016 national champion Delaware field hockey team, In May, she received UD’s prestigious Mary Ann Hitchens, which is awarded to a senior female letterwinner who exhibits outstanding qualities of hard work, dedication, leadership, fairness, and striving for excellence.

DOVER — Over the past month, Gov. John Carney has announced several measures in his plan to reform the Department of Correction in the wake of the Feb. 1 inmate uprising that left Lt. Steven Floyd dead. Gov. Carney received the 54-page initial independent report developed by former Judge William Chapman and ex-Justice Henry DuPont Ridgely he called for earlier in the month, and has since taken action on several of its suggestions.

On June 20 he announced an increase starting salaries for correctional officers to $40,000 in Fiscal Year 2018, and to $43,000 in FY 2019 — a 22 percent increase over current salary levels. As part of that reform, a new Labor-Management committee to study ways to help recruit and retain officers was established. On Wednesday, he appointed Claire DeMatteis, former senior counsel to U.S. Senator Joe Biden, to act as a special assistant to the Department of Correction.

The governor’s office notes that he’s also invested $2 million in new cameras, authorized 50 additional correctional officer positions at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, invested $1.3 million in new equipment and training for correctional officers, directed the Delaware State Police and the Department of Correction to jointly conduct an after-action review of the Feb. 1 incident and directed the to-be-created Department of Human Resources to implement a comprehensive staffing plan that eliminates the shortage of correctional officers.

Labor-Management committee

The new six-person committee will be designed to study ways to help recruit and retain officers, and decrease the use of mandatory overtime in Delaware’s prisons. According to the governor’s office, both the DOC and Correctional Officer’s Association of Delaware will each have three appointees to the committee. The DOC has yet to comment on who they’re considering for their appointees, but Geoff Klopp, president of the COAD, knows who his organization is going to choose and will likely announce them soon.

“Our appointees will be coming from the COAD’s executive board,” he said.

Specifically, Gov. Carney wants the committee to advice him in several key areas:

•The establishment of a 12-hour shift

•The establishment of physical fitness testing

•The establishment of a career ladder

•The establishment of a freeze policy (when an employee is held on overtime after their shift because relief has not arrived)

Mr. Klopp agrees with the priorities, and says his appointees will likely focus first on employee retention.

“This is a two headed monster — recruitment and retention,” he said. “We’ve addressed part of the recruitment end with the starting salary increase, but now we have to do something to retain people. As of July 1, a brand new correctional officer will be making $40,000 per year. I just clicked off 29 years myself but I’m going to make $48,000 this year — so there’s a problem there. Working on a better freeze policy is also really important.”

Special assistant

The governor assigned Ms. DeMatteis to help reform management practices and training, cultural turnaround and implementation of Gov. Carney’s plan following the independent review into the causes of the inmate uprising.

She will work alongside Correction Commissioner Perry Phelps, and report to Gov. Carney. Ms. DeMatteis, a Delaware attorney, also will issue publicly-available reports — at six months and one year after her appointment — that detail the state’s progress on DOC reform, noted the governor’s office. “We’re serious about getting this right,” said Gov. Carney in a statement. “Claire is tough, she is independent-minded, and she has the judgment and credibility necessary to work alongside Commissioner Phelps and help us make real change. Her experience inside and outside of government will serve our state well. She is a skilled lawyer who knows how to execute on a plan, and hold people accountable. I’m confident that Claire is the right person for the job.”

During her decade working as senior counsel for then-Sen. Biden from 1994-2004, Ms. DeMatteis served as a member of a senior team on issues involving law enforcement, foreign policy and constitutional matters. She helped guide campaign strategy, managed constituent communications and drafted legislation. Most recently, she served in a senior role at the Delaware Department of Labor.

“We owe it to the correctional officers, inmates and citizens of Delaware to get this right and resolve past deficiencies,” said Ms. DeMatteis in a statement. “We have a clear road map and mandate to make the needed changes.”

She will begin working in July.

“I look forward to working closely with Claire to directly confront many of the issues facing our correctional system,” said Mr. Phelps. “Her experience in government, and in the private sector, will help us put management practices into place that will make a real difference over the long-term.”

Mr. Phelps also announced on Thursday that he’d selected Jim Elder — the director of Clinical Services for Re-entry Programming at the Wilmington HOPE Commission — to server as the new to Bureau Chief of Community Corrections. The position is responsible for leading the DOC’s efforts to help offenders successfully re-enter their communities, and reduce Delaware’s rate of recidivism.

As the new bureau chief, Mr. Elder also will oversee mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for individuals under community supervision and in Level 4 correctional facilities.

“We have a responsibility to rehabilitate and treat the offenders who enter our custody,” said Commissioner Phelps. “I trust Jim’s experience and education will improve our current programs while also reducing recidivism in the long term. I look forward to working with him to return the men and women in our custody to the community better prepared to find success.”

Mr. Elder will begin work July 3.

Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf speaks during a nonprofit rally at Legislative Hall on Thursday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

DOVER — Teen mothers arrived cradling their babies who were months, if not weeks or days old.

Some senior citizens needed assistance walking to the rally point, others moved slowly on their own.

Approximately 200 Delawareans of all generations gathered at Legislative Hall to voice concerns about the looming elimination of nearly $46 million in nonprofit funding provided through the state budget.

Loud chants of “Save Our Services” punctuated the 25-minute show of support on Thursday for a grant-in-aid bill imperiled by legislative cuts aimed at balancing Delaware’s budget one day ahead of a new fiscal year.

While temperatures outside continued to rise on the early-summer day, attendees planned to turn up the heat on legislators inside as well.

Dozens of nonprofit supporters entered Legislative Hall after the noon rally ready to express their concerns to state senators and representatives before they began debating three bills aimed at generating revenue and staving off cuts at 4:30 p.m. or so.

As United States Army veteran Tom Jones — on disability and supported by the CHEER program that provides services and programs for citizens 50 and older in Sussex County — said, “We all need to tell the politicians to do the right thing, which is to preserve services for those who need it to survive.”

Supporters of nonprofits rally at Legislative Hall on Thursday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Speaking to the crowd, Democrat leaders pushed the importance of three revenue producing bills still in play — personal income tax, alcohol and tobacco and cigarettes to restoring grant-in-aid.

Seemingly no less committed to grant-in-aid’s impact, Republicans expressed the value of cost efficiency for running state government and the lack of Delaware-sponsored programs affected so far.

The state of flux commenced Wednesday when the Joint Finance Committee announced $88 million in cuts that hit nonprofits and educational funding.

State Sen. Dave Lawson, R-Marydel, described the situation as “Not one of our prouder moments,” but expressed hope for grant-in-aid restoration “if we do it right.”

Hailed as “champion” for the “underdog” by his Democratic cohorts, Rep. John Kowalko of Newark described the cuts as “more than meanness. It’s unconscionable.

“It’s sinful to do that for people.”

Alluding to a purported agenda by President Donald Trump, Rep. Kowalko said the missing funding will “crush the middle class, crush the poor, crush the disabled.”

As the gathering dispersed, Sen. Lawson took the microphone one last time and asked “Why can’t we hold government responsible for the dollars they have, not the dollars they want.” The legislator described the cuts as a “bullying tactic” and promised “I will not buckle to this.”

‘Do the right thing’

If grant-in-aid wasn’t returned to the upcoming budget, and Mr. Jones feared legislators wouldn’t “do the right thing”, lower and fixed income, military veterans and elderly citizens were projected to suffer the most.

“Without CHEER I wouldn’t be alive today,” said the Georgetown resident, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and various physical ailments that he can’t manage without assistance.

“There are a lot of people like me who need these services.”

Kittie Carver found a spot near the front of the gathering at the back entrance to Legislative Hall and listened to nonprofit administrators plead their general case before supporters and several Democrat and Republican legislators.

Joined by several Dover-based Modern Maturity Center volunteers, Ms. Carver shuddered at the possibility of not being able to deliver nutritious support to shut-in senior citizens through daily Meals on Wheels visits to their homes.

“For many of them, we are the first person they see every day and may bring them the only meal they will eat,” Ms. Carver said.

Describing the scene as “surreal” Community in Schools of Delaware President Tim Foxx seemed perplexed by the lack of middle ground between two political parties acknowledge the importance of supporting nonprofits, but are so drastically separated on how to properly do so.

“They both seem to have put pillars deep into the ground and have established hard lines they do not want to cross,” he said.

Thus, Mr. Foxx was prepared to spend the afternoon talking with legislators on collectively finding a solution.

“I’m going to ask a lot of questions to learn whether they are truly invested in finding a solution,” he said.

Rethinking services

A complete severance of state funding would be “too much for us” according to Cate Lyons of the Modern Maturity Center. Many volunteers living on fixed incomes would be drastically challenged by a lack of mileage reimbursement for meal deliveries, among other concerns.

“We were prepared for cuts but not total elimination,” she said. “We were braced for maybe a drop of 17 percent, but this would be a tremendous setback for those we serve.”

Beverly Lawson of People’s Place said “we like what we heard” about the emphasis of saving grant-in-aid and acknowledged the limitations legislators have in addressing the budget.

If the situation remained unchanged, Ms. Lawson said, ”We’ll definitely have to rethink how we are providing services and won’t be able to provide as many. People can get along day to day, but need long-term services to survive.”

In a news release Thursday morning, the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association President Theodore Walius described the organization as “alarmed” by current cuts. He noted the threat to public safety through eliminated programs and services and the first responders who “have provided lifesaving services to the citizens of Delaware for a long time.

“It is a shame that the lack of agreement between the parties have caused us to be where we are today. Is this the General Assembly that goes down as the one who cut public safety? We sure hope not. …”

The following is a letter sent to Delaware House of Representatives Revenue and Finance committee members:

Committee members,

My name is Bruce Plummer and I am the 2017 president of the Delaware Association of Realtors, a trade Association that represents over 3,800 realtors from across the state.

The Delaware Association of Realtors stands opposed to HB 240 as it is written. This bill would gut the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) and the property tax deduction for all Delawareans.

Removing these important homeownerships benefits would damage the financial well-being of thousands of hardworking, middle-class families in Delaware and could severely impact their ability to remain in their homes, fund their retirements, and send their children to college.

According to the Delaware Department of Finance, approximately 120,000 Delaware tax returns used the Mortgage Interest Deduction alone, making Delaware one of the leading states for people who depend on this deduction.

Delaware is a leader in the United States in another area, we have the second highest foreclosure rate in the country as of May 2017, with 1 in every 753 homes in foreclosure. We ask that you keep this in mind as you consider adding additional burdens to homeowners in the state.

As the President of the Delaware Association of Realtors and supporter of the rights of property owners throughout the state, I call your attention to the impact that passage of House Bill 240 (HB 240) would have on thousands of Delaware’s residents. It is on their behalf that I urge you to carve the Mortgage Interest Deduction and the property tax deduction out of HB 240.

The discussion over limiting deductions is important, but the MID and the property tax deductions should not be part of this discussion.

The Delaware Association of Realtor® respectfully asks that you consider removing these two elements, critical to the well-being of our state, from House Bill 240.

Bruce Plummer, ABR, ABRM, CRB, CRS, GRI
2017 President Delaware Association of Realtors

When I read Ricky Shehorn’s recent letter [“The Republican pot calling the kettle black,” June 23], I had to chuckle. Back during the George W. Bush era, a political cartoon of a scrawny rooster crowing “Clinton didittoooooo” was a Democratic retort to how Republicans acted when called to task about issues.

I understand that many people don’t like Donald Trump and that for their own reasons, they are in lockstep with the platform of the liberal Democratic Party platform. Certainly, I wouldn’t deny anyone that option, even if I didn’t agree or understand it, but I am truly getting tired of the misinformation being spread about a range of issues. Mr. Shehorn uses his entire letter to rationalize results and justify uncivil, even illegal, activities in the name of politics.

Not that I don’t agree that both sides need to tone down rhetoric, but it is extremely myopic to imply that Republicans acted anywhere close to the radical leftists during the Obama years. Sure, there was an occasional redneck or malcontent saying stupid things, but the hue and cry of the Republicans quickly distanced themselves from the rhetoric.

The examples he uses are just plain fake news. He asks where the GOP was when Democratic Headquarters was firebombed. Actually, Mr. Shehorn, it was the REPUBLICAN Headquarters in North Carolina that was firebombed. At the same time, the Democratic headquarters was vandalized, and both actions were attributed to groups seeking anarchy. As for congressmen’s homes being set afire, an outside grill propane line was cut at the home of a Democrat’s family member after the GOP had aired comments to visit the congressmen and to express their views.

The comparison of Sarah Palin showing congressional seats that should be TARGETED would have to stretch the imagination to imply she was seeking physical harm to those individuals.

I won’t try to excuse Ted Nugent. He likes the title of “Motor City Madman,” and sometimes, the things that come out of his mouth are off the chart.

If you notice, however, he was observant enough to see that he was alienating his own party and has agreed to tone it down.

The rest of the comments were pure folderol. There was never a mention about the implications of Senator Tim Kane implying people should reject the president and take to the streets.

Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch has tried to back away from her comments about blood in the streets. You can take those comments for what they’re worth, but I defy you to rationalize “The Resistance” or the roaming group of thugs going by “Antifa.” Not one single Hillary Clinton rally was ever interrupted by a Donald Trump fan.

Not a single Trump fan ever tried to storm the stage, either. No GOP comedian ever held up an effigy of a severed head or an actor who wondered when the last time [was that] an actor had killed a president. No state member of the GOP ever openly stated that he wished a congressman had been killed.

I don’t recall any GOP voter even hinting of moving to Canada if Obama was elected.

More than anything, however, it always irks me to no end when a member of the party who insisted that God be removed from all public places, taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance, removed from all government monuments, or named in any public addresses to schoolchildren would stoop to quote Scripture to me.

Perhaps it might have been easier to find had Mr. Shehorn looked at the most hallowed of Jewish and Christian tenets this nation was founded on: The Ten Commandments. Number Five says that thou shalt not murder, number eight says that thou shalt not bear false witness, and the final one is that thou shalt not covet anything that is they neighbor’s.

The beauty of the Bible is that if you look for truth, it’s readily seen. If you look for excuses, you may have to read awhile and manipulate the meanings.

George Roof
Magnolia

DOVER — As of 10:30 Thursday, the second-to-last day of the fiscal year, representatives were still waiting to take the floor to vote on bills raising taxes. Democrats and Republicans did not have a deal for balancing the budget, increasing the possibility of the General Assembly exiting the state capitol in the early morning of July 1 without a finished budget.

Republicans were anticipating Democrats introducing legislation that would hike taxes on income, with the vote expected to fall along party lines.

As lawmakers return today, many questions persist, and distrust between the two parties remains strong.

Lawmakers attempted to negotiate a deal earlier in the day but could not come to an agreement. Republicans unveiled a compromise proposal Thursday that would raise taxes on income, alcohol and tobacco, make cuts to state employee health care and fund grant-in-aid, one day after the Joint Finance Committee balanced the budget by zeroing out grant-in-aid.

Democrats, however, were unwilling to support the plan, with House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, saying in a statement it “simply kicks the can down the road once again,” and Senate President Pro Tempore David McBride, D-Wilmington Manor, calling it “the epitome of political theater and 11th-hour gamesmanship.”

The budget created by JFC is set to be voted on today, but its fate remains in limbo: Although lawmakers of both parties approved most of the cuts, opposition is coming from both sides of the aisle.

Democrats may be willing to bite the bullet and vote for a budget they dislike in order to keep state services running for another year, but it would only take one Democratic senator or five Democratic representatives to derail the bill if no Republicans back it.

The spending plan was finalized after the Democratic-led budget-writing committee cut $88 million Wednesday, closing a shortfall. Among the votes was the elimination of all funding for grant-in-aid, which provides funding for nonprofits and totals $45.9 million in the current year.

The vote triggered mass complaints from nonprofits, volunteers and supporters of whom rallied outside Legislative Hall Thursday.

Republicans have been pushing for changes to prevailing wage, which governs the pay given to workers on state-funded construction projects, but following months of negotiations, the party appeared to compromise Thursday.

Their proposal would raise taxes on alcohol, tobacco and personal income, which Democrats have pushed for. Unlike Gov. John Carney’s recommendations, the Republican plan would not eliminate itemized deductions, which means it would bring in much less money. It also includes a provision that the income tax hike would expire in one year, although Senate Minority Whip Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, said Republicans would be willing to vote to extend the increase if Democrats commit to stemming the growth of government.

Under the plan, the surveys filled out by government contractors, which set prevailing wage, would be accepted by the Department of Labor only when the construction company that pays wages returns the form, and companies would not be allowed to submit more than one survey per job. Republicans say union shops complete a survey for every step of the job, skewing the wage rates.

Rates for certain jobs, such as bricklayers, painters and sprinkler fitters, have been locked in since the passage of a 2015 bill. The Republican strategy would allow the rates to change every year based on the survey results.

The GOP proposal would adopt Gov. Carney’s recommendations for employee health care cuts, part of what the governor has called necessary structural reform but was approved in a watered-down form by JFC.

A $15 million cut in funding to school districts, first presented by Gov. Carney and included in the budget Wednesday, would be undone under the plan. A $22 million decrease in funding would be kept, however.

Republicans are pushing a bill, which Democrats have signed onto, to study costs and look for ways to save money in state government. Because of distrust of the Democratic majority, members of the GOP are insistent on including promises that recommendations from the reports will be followed, not ignored.

Although not included in the final plan, Republicans also suggested using money from the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility to balance the budget.

Democrats appeared caught off-guard by but hostile to the budget proposal, taking exception to the proposed tax sunset.

“I told them here that’s unacceptable. I’ve said from day one and I mentioned it to them, they know, that I’ve told thousands of people that I was looking for a sustainable solution, a responsible solution,” Gov. Carney said. “They all know what’s responsible. Some of those folks have expertise in finance, have their own organizations and you don’t have a one-year tax deal.

“When I was in Washington, if I had a nickel for every time a Republican said to me they want consistency in the long term around tax policy and regulatory policy, I’d be a millionaire, and that’s exactly what my budget provides. So, to say we support you as long as you do something we know you can’t do is not support.”

Republicans fired shots at Democrats earlier in the day, decrying what a GOP news release called “deplorable actions” by the Democratic majority.

“Democrats control the entire process,” House Minority Leader Danny Short, R-Seaford, said in a statement. “They hold an 8 to 4 majority on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee and have crafted a spending plan especially designed to create maximum pain in an obvious attempt to bludgeon the minority into submission. If they want to pass this disgraceful sham of a budget, they will do so without a Republican vote and they will be solely responsible for the consequences.”

Democratic lawmakers have refused to change prevailing wage, which Republicans say drives the cost of projects up by 24 percent. Members of the GOP have introduced three bills that would suspend prevailing wage on different projects, but the measures have languished because of opposition from the Democratic majority.

Under the wage, an electrician on a state-funded construction job in Delaware earns $66.85 an hour. The average hourly wage for an electrician nationwide is $27.24.

Republicans have alleged the process that sets the rates is rigged, calling it “an incestuous relationship between ruling Democrats and their political allies in the state’s labor unions.”

The minority has also dropped the word “corruption,” seeking to paint Democrats as the villains.

Democrats, for their part, blame Republicans for the elimination of grant-in-aid.

“The Democrats are ready and willing to vote for revenue that would offset these cuts,” Rep. Schwartzkopf said.

Despite his displeasure with the budget, he said he will vote for it because it is his “job.”

Asked if he would sign the budget, Gov. Carney said he does not support the spending plan, but he did not say if he would exercise his veto power for the first time. The governor canceled a scheduled meeting with lawmakers Thursday afternoon, saying in a statement Democrats are “serious about moving forward when” Republicans are.

As the night dragged on, legislators continued to wait, unsure of when they would exit the building — and of what the path forward looks like.

BJ Barham, lead singer and guitarist for the alt-country band American Aquarium, will play Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats Saturday night in Rehoboth Beach. (Submitted photo/Jillian Clark)

BJ Barham yawns frequently throughout a 15-minute phone interview.

It’s not that he’s bored. The guy’s just tired. And who can blame him?

Mr. Barham, the front man for the alt-country band American Aquarium, is on the tail end of a grueling solo concert tour dubbed “The Great 48.”

Performing 53 shows in 59 days, Mr. Barham, his wife Rachel and their dog are hitting all 48 continental United States. Delaware will be state No. 46 when he plays Dogfish Brewings & Eats in Rehoboth Beach Saturday night.

The tour started on May 7 in Charleston, West Virginia and wraps up July 7 in Burlington, Vermont.

“It’s been tiresome. It’s been exhilarating. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life,” he said of the whirlwind grind that has him featuring songs from his debut solo album “Rockingham,” which was released last fall.

He said chiefly among the lessons he’s learned throughout his odyssey is “always take the detour.”

“It’s amazing the things you see by just going a few miles out of your way. We’ve seen things that have been life-changing,” he said.

During the tour, he and his wife have been to 24 national parks. So how did he get her to go along with this idea?

“I told her I would feed her the finest foods and we would stay in the best hotels. She was hooked after that,” Mr. Barham said Tuesday afternoon, shortly after checking into a hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. After he hung up the phone, they planned to go out and do some sightseeing prior to his show that night.

Helping to make things fresh each concert is the fact that it’s just him and the guitar. He doesn’t have to follow a setlist that a whole band would require.

“If I see that the crowd is a little rowdy, I can do some more rowdier stuff. If they seem to be willing to sit and listen, I can do some of the more introspective, singer-songwriter tunes,” said the 33-year-old Mr. Barham.

“The nice thing about being the only songwriter for American Aquarium is that I have all of these songs stored up. If someone comes up to me and says they have seen us 20 times and never heard a certain song, I have the opportunity to make their night. Every night I get into the driver’s seat and go along for the ride.”

Some of the more intimate songs that he’s been performing lately have been off of “Rockingham.”

The impetus of the album occurred on Nov. 13, 2015, when he and the band were in the middle of their fourth European tour.

They were in Belgium, less than two hours from Paris, when a series of terrorist attacks, including one in a rock club, had left more than 100 dead.

Scores of emails, texts and phone calls came pouring in to make sure he was all right.

For the next two days, he reflected on the people and places that had impacted his life growing up in the Piedmont town of Reidsville, N.C., scribbling notes and singing lyrics into his cellphone.

Fictional narrative songs such as “American Tobacco Company,” about a disillusioned blue collar laborer, and “Madeline,” where he gives life advice to a child who he doesn’t have yet, came flowing as a result.

“I never had any inclination to do a solo album in the 12 years the group has been together,” he said.

“But no one grew up where I grew up and no one grew up with the people I grew up with except for me. Thematically it just all came together,” he said.

The album was made at breakneck speed.

“On Monday, we all met. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we rehearsed. On Thursday and Friday, we recorded it. It was mixed over the weekend and then by the following Sunday, I had the master in my hand,” he said of the eight-song album that contains acoustic versions of three previously recorded American Aquarium songs.

“Everything you hear on the album was recorded live. No overdubs. It’s a real testament to the musicians (which includes two members of American Aquarium) that we put together.”

A hard partier in his younger days, Mr. Barham has not had a sip of alcohol since Aug. 31, 2014. He said that “Rockingham” was an album that could only have come with the clarity of sobriety.

“I would never have had the foresight to write something like this back in my 20s when it was all about getting on stage, chasing girls and getting drunk,” he said.

“As I’ve grown up, I think my audience has grown up with me and they are more interested in the sober me, the married me, the grown-up me, which allowed me to write something like this. Thankfully, the majority of American Aquarium fans have been on board with it.”

After getting off the road, Mr. Barham said he’ll take the rest of July and August off until going back on tour with American Aquarium and then recording a new album with them the first of next year.

Those seven weeks off are about the longest vacation he cares to take. He’s relentless about making music, both live and recorded.

“My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me and always said that what’s worth having is worth working for.”

“Plus I’ve always felt that since I’ve worked this hard to get where I am today, if I stop working, it might all go away tomorrow.”

When he does get back with American Aquarium, a group that has played Dogfish Head twice before, he’ll have a different band of guys to work with. This past February, his partners decided to go their own ways.

“All were tired of the road and just were looking to do something else. I can’t fault them for that. When you feel that way, I think it is time to stop and figure out what else you want to do. I couldn’t be happier for them,” he said.

“We’ve never gone two albums with the same lineup anyway. That’s the nature of the business and the way this group has been.”

Mr. Barham doesn’t foresee himself getting tired of the road or music in the near future.

“I just feel so fortunate to be able to do what do for a living and hope to be able to do it for a long time to come,” he said.

Saturday’s show starts at 10 p.m. with Charlie Crockett opening. Dogfish Head is at 320 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

Art studio closing

Rosemary Connelly, of Live Cheap and Make Art Studios, in downtown Milford, has decided to close the studio she shared with her late husband, photographer Bob Connelly, by the beginning of September at the latest.

She said this week that since the death of her husband in 2015, her heart has just not been in it and she has spent very little time there, choosing to focus instead on her watercolor journaling/sketchbook practice, teaching and travel.

She says it will be a challenge moving everything from the studio to her home but she plans to take her time and purge as much as possible. The help of friends and family will lighten the load.

If anyone is interested in purchasing work before the studio closes, Ms. Connelly is available by appointment at 302-359-5534 or rosemary@connelly.net. She said she may be willing to negotiate on prices to see her work go to a good home.

Milford parade

Staying in Milford, the 2017 Milford Community Parade has set its sight on outer space with this year’s theme, “To The Stars And Beyond.”

“This is going to be an exciting year with this dynamic theme choice,” Chairman Charles Gray said.

“After much discussion, the committee decided NASA’s 50th anniversary would play a part in this year’s parade theme. We are looking for civic groups, children’s groups, school classes, floats, and marching units that build their entry around outer space themes. Sci-fi movies, cartoons, NASA-related milestones, “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “The Jetsons” and “Aliens” are just a few examples.”

The parade is scheduled for Wednesday evening Oct. 18 through the city of Milford along Walnut Street.

Milford Community Parade Committee invites families, businesses, civic groups, fire companies, school groups and Scouts to plan their entry as a decorated vehicle, float, marching unit, or unique entry to enter on their website at www.milfordparade.com. A quick-link to sign up is available, plus a downloadable entry form for one’s convenience. Both have a listing of entry types accepted.

Entering does not cost but business entries are asked to contribute $25. The website also includes parade route information, detour information for the night of the parade, sponsor listing, rules to abide by, and vendor information as well.

Now Showing

New this weekend in theaters is the animated “Despicable Me 3D,” the Will Ferrell comedy “The House” and the action-adventure comedy “Baby Driver.”

On DVD and download starting Tuesday is “The Zookeeper’s Wife.”

The Citizens Hose Fire Company, led by the band, marches in last year’s Smyrna-Clayton Fourth of July parade. (Delaware State News file photo)

Other area events to celebrate the Fourth of July:

SATURDAY
Millsboro

Community celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. at Cupola Park.

Food vendors will be on hand and DJ Sky Brady will be entertaining. Fireworks show at 9 p.m.

SUNDAY
Rehoboth Beach

A fireworks display by Zambelli Fireworks at approximately 9:15 p.m., launched from the beach south of Rehoboth Avenue and visible up and down the boardwalk and beach.

Depending on the weather, the fireworks may be launched any time after 8 p.m.

The Funsters will perform from 8 to 9:15 p.m. before the fireworks and then again until 11 p.m. following the fireworks.

TUESDAY
Bethany Beach

Parade begins at noon at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Garfield Parkway.

“Art Thou Smarter than a Fifth Grader in Ben Franklin Trivia” at 2:30 on the bandstand.

Love Seed Mama Jump concert on the bandstand at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks at dusk.

Dewey Beach

Fireworks at Northbeach Restaurant, McKinley Street on the Bay, 9 p.m.

Laurel

Prayer Breakfast at Abbott’s on Broadcreek at 8 p.m.

Chain Break will performs on Market Square Park Bandstand at 5 p.m.; Little Miss Independence Pageant at 6 p.m.; “Let Freedom Ring” Parade at 7 p.m.; Chain Break continues to perform at 8 p.m.

Fireworks around 9:25 p.m.

Lewes

Old-fashioned games for children on Second Street beginning at 9 am.

Following the games, the Lewes Independence Day Boat Parade will wind its way down the Lewes-Rehoboth canal from the Roosevelt Inlet to Fisherman’s Wharf .

The parade entrants will leave from Roosevelt Inlet across from the Coast Guard Station at 1:30 p.m. and reach the judges’ reviewing stand at Fisherman’s Wharf at approximately 2. At the conclusion of the parade, all boat entrants are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony on the deck of the Lightship Overfalls at 3:30 pm.

Later in the afternoon, the Doo-Dah Parade will begin around 5 on its regular route toward town on Kings Highway, Savannah Road and then onto Second Street.

Milton

A family-friendly patriotic celebration in Milton Memorial Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

A highlight of the festivities is the bike decorating contest and bike parade at 11 a.m. Grand prizes of two bikes will be awarded to the winners – one each to the best boy and girl entries.

Other festivities include a dunk tank, a cake walk and free games and activities for children. Children will enjoy train rides, relay and sack races and a variety of competitions including the popular “Chess Tent” where children can develop their chess skills and play matches.

The “Milton’s Best” Pie Baking Contest has three competitive categories – professional, amateur, and children 12 and under.

Musical entertainment at the gazebo will feature Walt Hetfield known for his Buddy Holly Tribute. His group will perform “Oh Boy!” A Tribute to America.

Food vendors will also be on hand.

Smyrna

Parade will start at 9:30 a.m., at St. Polycarp Church on South Street.

Fireworks will be held at dusk on Duck Creek Parkway, Smyrna, with parking available at Smyrna High and Smyrna Middle schools.

Mike Carrow drove in three runs as Smyrna Post-14 defeated Canal Post-25 Middletown 19-9 in an American Legion baseball contest on Thursday.

Brendan Davis, Brandt Penuel and Ryan Seymour all scored three runs each for Smyrna who snapped Middletown’s seven-game winning streak.

Nanticoke Post-6 3, Milford Post-3 2: The Sussex County squad won on Noah Waldridge’s walkoff single over the Milford-area team on Thursday.

K-Ci Widdowson scored a pair of runs for Nanticoke while Milford was led by Ethan Watkinson who doubled.

Senior League

Camden-Wyoming 15, M.O.T. 0: Nate Donigan pitched a shutout as Camden-Wyoming won its opening round game of the Senior League baseball District I tournament.

Jehlon Patten had two hits to lead the Camden-Wyoming offense.

MOT Blue’s Carter Boyd low fives Anfrew Pierce after Pierce hit a home run against MOT Red during Major League Pat Knight Baseball Tournament at Camden-Wyoming Little League field on Thursday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Softball

7-9 tournament

Smyrna-Clayton Red wins tournament: The Smyrna-Clayton Red 7-9-year-old softball squad won three games this week to capture the District I tournament.

Lacie Donovan led Smyrna-Clayton Red in hitting by going 8-for-9 in the tournament. Two players had seven hits in the tournament, Ryann Durnall who went 7-for-9 and Kaitlyn Champlin who went 7-for-9. Cimone Edge and Lindsey Roscoe each had six hits throughout the three games.

MOT Blue’s Andrew Pierce is congratulated by his coach Steven Dukin after hitting a home run against MOT Red during Major League Pat Knight Baseball Tournament at Camden-Wyoming Little League field on Thursday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

College track and field

All CAA teams announced: The Colonial Athletic Association announced its post-season women’s track & field honors this week and 10 University of Delaware standouts were recognized for their accomplishments during the spring season and the list includes two local products.

Earning All-CAA honors based on their top three finishes at the CAA Championships back on May 5-6 at Delaware were CAA discus champion Sarah Hillman from Polytech High, Ashley Bailey (pole vault), Liz McGroarty (800 meters, 1,500 meters), Caesar Rodney High’s Jeanette Bendolph (800 meters), Leslie Ope (100 meter hurdles), London Freeland (400 meter hurdles; 4 x 400 meter relay), Carolyn Darr (4 x 100 meter hurdles; 4 x 400 meter hurdles), Isis Pinkney (4 x 100 meter relay), Haley Berkeley (4 x 100 meter relay), Tyler Jackson (4 x 100 meter relay), Nadia Khoury (4 x 400 meter relay), and Carly Pettipaw (4 x 400 meter relay).

Pettipaw was also honored as part of the CAA All-Academic Team, which honors one student-athlete from each conference team based on outstanding achievements in the classroom.

Pettipaw is a biomedical engineering major who is a three-time member of the CAA Academic Honor Roll, a CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee, and a dean’s list student.

MOT Red’s Matthew Lewis slides safe into third base as MOT Blue’s Andrew Pierce reaches for the tag during Major League Pat Knight Baseball Tournament at Camden-Wyoming Little League field on Thursday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

She placed second in the 4 x 400 meter relay and fifth in the 400 meter hurdles at the CAA Championships and went on to earn All-East honors by placing seventh in the 4 x 400 meter relay and eighth in the 400 meter hurdles at the ECAC Championships in May.

MOT Blue’s Nathan Whitney takes a swing against MOT Red during Major League Pat Knight Baseball Tournament at Camden-Wyoming Little League field on Thursday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

College athletics

UD stadiums replacing turf: University of Delaware Athletics is upgrading two of its most recognizable athletic fields and has chosen AstroTurf® for the makeover.

Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium, home of the UD football and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, and Fred P. Rullo Stadium, home of the 2016 NCAA champion Blue Hen field hockey squad, are both having state-of-the-art AstroTurf surfaces installed this summer, and each venue is getting a premium turf designed for optimum performance in the sport of record.

Delaware Stadium will soon receive a playing surface made of RootZone 3D3 Blend, AstroTurf’s signature football product. This artificial turf system utilizes multiple specialized fibers including AstroTurf’s patented RootZone, a sub-layer that stabilizes infill while improving safety, playability, and durability.

Installation is already underway at Rullo Stadium, where the AstroTurf System 90 playing surface is being laid down. This premium field hockey product combines the traditional knitted nylon top cloth with a 3/8th inch Armacell pad.

Fireworks, music and a whole lot of history are in store for those who visit Dover over Fourth of July. (Delaware State News file photo/Marc Clery)

DOVER — When the wind blows through The Green and around Legislative Mall in downtown Dover, it’s almost as if one is able to breathe in some of the nation’s history.

It is that history that should attract visitors to Dover on the Fourth of July to celebrate Independence Day, according

DOVER FOURTH
Activities scheduled for The Green and Legislative Mall
12:30, 4:30 p.m. — Dover’s Heroes of the Revolution Walking Tour
Meet at the John Bell House on The Green
2 and 4 p.m. — National Bell-Ringing Ceremony
The Old State House on The Green
2:30 p.m. — Tales of Slavery and Freedom Walking Tour
Meet at the John Bell House on The Green
4 p.m. until 10 p.m. — Food and Craft vendors
Peruse and purchase from a variety of food and craft vendors on Martin Luther King Blvd.North.
5 p.m. until 9 p.m. — Free children’s activities
Moonbounces, pony rides and petting zoo on the west end of Legislative Mall, near the Liberty Bell replica and in front of the Biggs Museum.
6 p.m. — Old Fashioned Fourth of July Parade
Sponsored by the American Legion Fox Post No. 2, the route is along State Street, starting at Hazel Road and ending just past The Green.
6:30 p.m. — Smooth Sounds Dance Band
Jazz and big band standards by this offshoot of the Milford Community Band. Performing in front of Legislative Hall.
7:30 p.m. — Opening Ceremony
Featuring C-17 flyover, Pledge of Allegiance, and National Anthem, led by Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen in front of Legislative Hall.
7:45 p.m. — 287th Army Band of the Delaware National Guard
A concert of patriotic, pop and band classics in front of Legislative Hall, leading up to the fireworks show.
9:20 p.m. — Fireworks
The 2017 Dover Fourth of July fireworks show by Serpico Fireworks, set to music from the Broadway hip-hop phenomenon “Hamilton.”

to Mayor Robin Christiansen.

“This is where America started,” Mayor Christiansen said. “They wrote the paperwork in Philadelphia certainly and they signed it, but if it weren’t for Caesar Rodney riding to Philadelphia and breaking the tie, we would have never sent the Declaration of Independence to King George.”

Dover has a full day of activities on tap and something in store for everyone when it celebrates on Tuesday.

It also has something that could be very important after last year’s fireworks display was washed out by storms and postponed until Labor Day weekend – a rain date of Saturday, July 8.

And everybody knows who the biggest star is every year on Independence Day and what draws the “Oohs” and “Ahhs” from the crowd — the colorful, bursting and booming fireworks.

Dover has put on a Fourth of July fireworks show in the state’s capital since the United States’ bicentennial year of 1976.

Tuesday’s fireworks display by Serpico Fireworks is set to take place at dusk — around 9:20 p.m. The show will be set to music from the Broadway hip-hop musical “Hamilton.”

Historical happenings

There will also be plenty of other things to see and do leading up to the fireworks.

“It is one of our busiest days of the year,” said Sarah Zimmerman, superintendent for First State Heritage Park. “Everyone comes downtown and sets up camp for the parade and fireworks. While they are here, we love to be able to share with them some of the coolest pieces of our history.

“What makes it extra special this year is that The Green is celebrating its 300th birthday, so people who come and join us will be able to stand in a place that has witnessed 300 years of history.”

First State Heritage Park will have programs running on The Green and around Legislative Mall continuously from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., including a historic Dover scavenger hunt.

Visitors are encouraged to begin their day at the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center inside the Delaware Public Archives building adjacent to Legislative Hall by getting a scavenger hunt game.

They can then uncover secrets of Delaware history at different locations throughout the day and win a prize.

Tours will take place throughout the day at the Biggs Museum of American Art, The Old State House and the John Bell House.

From 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., visitors can tour Legislative Hall (photo ID is required for all adults), hear patriotic music on the original Victrola talking machines at the Johnson Victrola Museum at 375 S. New Street or watch “Thunder and Rain,” a feature film about Caesar Rodney’s historic ride for independence at the Old State House.

One of the highlights for Ms. Zimmerman is the National Bell-Ringing Ceremony that will take place at the Old State House on The Green at 2 and 4 p.m.

Every Independence Day, bells ring across America’s 13 original colonies to jointly celebrate the birth of the nation. The Declaration of Independence will be read during the bell ceremony.

“It is an awesome feeling to be able to watch the people of Dover hear those words in the exact same spot today,” Ms. Zimmerman said. “Our interpreters are always excited to share our history, but July 4 is always a special time because it has such significance in our nation’s history.

“Whether they have lived here their whole lives or are just visiting, we look forward to sharing our passion, and making history fun for all our visitors.”

Reading the Declaration of Independence in front of the Old State House on The Green last Fourth of July are, from left, Chris Hall, Dennis Fisher, Tom Welsh and Tom Pullmano. It will be read again Tuesday during ceremonies at 2 and 4 p.m. (Delaware State News file photo/Marc Clery)

Parades, concerts heat up

FIRST SATURDAY
9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
• Simple Pleasures: 18th Century Games and Amusements
John Bell House on The Green
• Biggs Kids — Star Spangled Baton
Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal St.
• Guided Tours of Legislative Hall-Delaware’s Capitol
411 Legislative Ave.
Photo ID is required for all adults entering the building
• Guided Tours of The Old State House
25 The Green
• Stars and Stripes
Johnson Victrola Museum – 375 S. New St.
Original patriotic music recorded by the Victor Record Company played on authentic talking machines.
10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (Last tour leaves at 3 p.m.)
• Dover’s Heroes of the Revolution Walking Tour
Meet at the John Bell House on The Green
10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
10:30 a.m. — Pickett’s Charge
Delaware Public Archives, 121 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
This program explores the climax of the Battle of Gettysburg, which prevented a Confederate victory.
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. — “Thunder and Rain”
The Old State House on The Green
Feature film presentation about Caesar Rodney’s historic ride for independence.
1:30 until 4 p.m. (Last tour leaves at 4 p.m.)
Tours of Courtroom No. 1 in the Historic Kent County Courthouse
Meet at the front steps of the old courthouse at 38 The Green

Things really start to heat up downtown when a patriotic parade sponsored by the American Legion Fox Post 2 takes to the streets at 6 p.m. The parade route is along State Street, starting at Hazel Road and ending just past The Green.

The opening ceremony for Independence Day will take place at 7:30 p.m. in front of Legislative Hall, featuring a C-17 flyover, Pledge of Allegiance and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” led by Mayor Christiansen.

The 287th Army Band of the Delaware National Guard will perform a concert of patriotic, pop and band classics at 7:45 p.m. on Legislative Mall, leading into the fireworks show.

Independence Day is one of the more special days of the year to Mayor Christiansen. It is a day that hammers home the dramatic reality of Dover’s place in the nation’s history.

“In 1787, they wrote the Constitution, but it was 30 guys in Dover in a tavern, and that might not be such a good thing, but they were in a tavern because they didn’t have any place else to meet,” said Mayor Christiansen of the former Golden Fleece on The Green, which is now the site of Parke Green Galleries.

“America started here. They ratified the Constitution. Two blocks from (City Hall), that’s where America started.

“They wrote the papers in Philadelphia, then they signed them and we became the First State, but this is the place where we want to celebrate the Fourth of July.”

Beat the crowds

Every First Saturday of the month, First State Heritage Park presents special thematic programs at all of its’ sites, called First Saturdays in the First State.

This will enable many people the chance to get a sneak peek of the Fourth of July activities on Saturday, with the promise of smaller crowds.

“For this First Saturday, we will have all kinds of programming celebrating our American heritage,” said Ms. Zimmerman.

“Children of all ages will be able to play games just like they did when the Declaration of Independence was being written.

“They will also be able to participate in a bucket brigade and put out pretend fires (water is always a fun way to cool off in July’s heat). The only difference between Saturday and July 4 will be the fireworks, parade and vendors.”

DOVER — In an unprecedented move, House Democrats introduced legislation a few minutes shy of 11 p.m. Thursday that would raise income taxes and restore nonprofit funding, leading to every Republican representative leaving the chamber.

Republicans returned a few minutes later, but the measure, which requires a supermajority to pass, failed, and the possibility of lawmakers leaving the state capitol in the early morning of July 1, the first day of the new fiscal year, without a budget grew.

Pete Schwartzkopf

Thursday’s vote, Republicans fumed, was an “outrage,” and “b——t.”

“This is the epitome of everything we should not be doing,” Minority Leader Danny Short, R-Seaford, said on the floor.

The bill was defeated, with House Majority leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, voting no for procedural reasons. Every Republican left the chamber before the vote.

House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, said afterward he wanted to get the vote on the record.

“We have talked about these issues for five months. We have been in private meetings … for five months. This is not new to them,” he said of Republicans. “The only thing that’s new to them is what’s put into the grant-in-aid bill because we need to show the people out there that this money’s directly tied into restoring the cuts for grant-in-aid.”

Asked if House Democrats, Senate Democrats or the governor’s office came up with the plan to combine the two proposals, Rep. Schwartzkopf said he did not recall and noted he had been in several budget meetings throughout the day.

He said the vote would have taken place about three hours earlier but Legislative Hall’s computer system was down, preventing lawmakers from printing the bill.

Democrats are still hopeful a budget can be passed today or in the early hours of July 1, but their move could backfire: Republicans appeared more resolved than ever as they left the building around 11:30.

Democratic lawmakers suspended rules, introducing the bill on the floor, conducting a 10-minute committee hearing and then voting directly on the proposal.

Danny Short

The process left Republicans outraged. Members of the GOP protested they did not have time to read and comment on the bill, and they accused Democrats of playing politics by tying grant-on-aid to income tax increases.

“This bill has not been through the Joint Finance Committee process and is being railroaded through this chamber,” Rep. Short said. “This is a sham of the committee to hold a public meeting without any public comment. I’m really ashamed that we’re doing (this).”

The Democratic grant-in-aid bill would provide $36.4 million for nonprofits, a 20-percent cut from the current year’s total of $45.9 million. All nonprofits, including fire companies, senior centers and veterans’ organizations would absorb the decrease evenly.

The Joint Finance Committee on Wednesday zeroed-out grant-in-aid to balance the budget, triggering protests by nonprofits.

The tax hike proposed by Democrats late Thursday would create a new top bracket of all income above $150,000. Income between $60,001 and $150,000 would be taxed at 6.8 percent, up from 6.6 percent currently, and a 7.1 percent tax would be levied on income exceeding $150,000.

Itemized deductions would be halved under the measure, a compromise based off Gov. John Carney’s proposal to completely eliminate them.

The bill would also increase the eligibility age for some tax credits from 60 to 65 in one-year increments. It would generate about $55 million next fiscal year.

Legislative Hall

“By linking it to the grant-in-aid package, there’s several of them over there that do want to vote for it, because they want to vote for grant-in-aid,” Rep. Schwartzkopf said, referring to his hope some Republicans would have voted for the bill.

Rep. Melanie George Smith, D-Bear, the co-chair of the budget-writing committee, laid out the stakes before the tally: “The money we vote tonight will save lives,” she said.

But furious Republicans, who have spent months working toward a budget compromise with Democrats, refused to take the bait.

The GOP unveiled a proposal earlier in the day that would have raised some taxes, made cuts to state employee health care and changed prevailing wage. Democrats, however, rejected the plan, protesting the prevailing wage alterations and the planned sunset on the income tax hike.

Senate Republicans plan to file their own version of the grant-in-aid bill today.

The two parties spent part of Thursday taking aim at one another through press releases, seeking to cast blame for the elimination of grant-in-aid and potential failure to pass a budget.

Republicans called Democrats “self-serving” and accused them of “buying votes,” while Democrats argued Republicans are more focused on winning elections “than helping our state overcome its economic challenges” and their plan “kicks the can down the road once again.”

Gov. Carney, a Democrat, was not exempt from GOP criticism, with House Minority Whip Deborah Hudson, R-Hockessin, saying she was “still trying to get the tire marks off (her) dress from being tossed under the bus by the governor’s office” in budget talks.

If lawmakers cannot agree on a budget, they would need to pass a resolution to temporarily fund the government. Such a step is unprecedented, however, and questions remain about the exact procedure.

Brett Scott

Gregory Sellers

DOVER – Three suspects were arrested and a fourth sought after the Tuesday night shooting death of a 21-year-old Dover man at an apartment complex, authorities said.

Brett Scott, 25, of Felton, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with an alleged incident at Pine Grove Apartments that involved the supposedly planned robbery of Dequan Dukes at approximately 8:48 p.m., Dover Police said Friday.

Mr. Scott and alleged co-conspirator Gregory Sellers, 23, of Dover, were arrested without incident Thursday night, authorities said. Lisa Wagaman, 30, of Dover, was taken into custody on Wednesday. All were charged with first-degree robbery and conspiracy counts. Mr. Scott was also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

On Friday, police said Raymond Ward, 28, whose last known address was in the 100 block of Downey Oak Circle in Wyoming, was wanted on charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree conspiracy.

According to police, officers arrived to the complex at 255 Webbs Lane after a shots fired report and found a wounded Mr. Dukes in a vehicle between the D and E buildings. Authorities did not disclose whether he was in the driver’s seat or was a passenger, or whether the late man and defendants had any prior relationship.

Lisa Wagaman

Raymond Ward

Investigators determined that the late Mr. Dukes and Mr. Scott reportedly exchanged gunfire during the alleged incident. On Friday, Dover PD spokesman Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman said no details were available on any possible firearms used “at this time.”

Mr. Dukes was wounded at least once in the upper body and pronounced dead after being transported to Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in Dover, police said.

Police said Mr. Sellers allegedly drove Mr. Scott to the hospital after he was shot multiple times. On Friday, police provided no update on his medical condition after initially describing him as seriously wounded when announcing the alleged incident.

Mr. Scott was sent to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna in lieu of a $302,500 cash bond. Mr. Sellers and Ms. Wagman were each held by the Delaware Department of Correction on $26,000 cash bond.

Investigation continues, police said, and authorities asked anyone with information on Mr. Ward’s location to call 736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or online at www.tipsubmit.com or through the Dover PD MyPD Mobile App.

Other city shootings

Eight other shootings involving 12 victims (two fatals) within the city have been reported during the past four months, including:

• Darren Weiford, 21, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony after a 20-year-old Dover area woman was found dead at the First State Inn on June 1.

• Two 28-year-old men were shot in the Capitol Green neighborhood at 2:09 p.m. on May 24. One victim declined medical treatment on a hand wound and the other was transported to the hospital with an injury to his lower left leg. Both were initially described by police as being “minimally cooperative” as an investigation began.

• A 23-year-old man was shot in the foot during a drive-by shooting on May 19 in the 1400 block of S. Farmview Drive. He was driven to the hospital by a friend for medical treatment.

• Three men were injured during a reported home invasion on April 18 at the Towne Point Apartment Complex at 820 Carvel Drive. An exchanged of gunfire between a victim and multiple suspects was involved, police said.

• A 22-year-old man was shot in an alley between Sussex Avenue and Collins Drive on April 18. He was wounded in the arm, abdomen, and leg and later charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of firearm by person prohibited. Police said 65.1 grams of marijuana and a .22 caliber revolver were located in a vehicle during a K-9 search.

• On April 12, a 24-year-old man suffered minor injuries to his hands and face after a drive-by shooting incident in the Simon Circle Community Building area. The victim told police a passenger fired at him with a shotgun, and he returned fire with a legally owned handgun he was openly carrying.

• Two teenagers were hit by gunfire in Manchester Square on March 29. The victims – ages 16 and 17 – were standing in a parking lot when a passenger fired multiple rounds in their direction. The younger teen was grazed in the leg and refused treatment with parental approval and the other victim was admitted to the hospital with a non-life threatening wound to the knee.

• On February 28, a 25-year-old Dover man was shot to death at Towne Point Apartments at 820 Carvel Drive. The victim was located inside a parked vehicle in the back of the complex at approximately 7:40 p.m.