Bethany Hooper

Maryland

Reporter at Maryland Coast Dispatch

Freelance Writer at Dayton Business Journal

Reporter for The Dispatch | Freelance writer for the Dayton Business Journal

Articles

OCPD chief exploring new license plate reader on 142nd St.

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

Officials are looking to install a new license plate reader on 142nd Street. During a recent meeting of the Caine Woods Community Association, Ocean City Police Department’s new police chief, Raymond Austin, told community members he wants to revisit the installation of a license plate reader (LPR) on 142nd Street. As the road is a main entry and exit point, law enforcement officials believe it could be beneficial to the city.
Appealed cases scheduled for October session

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

Maryland’s appellate court will hear oral arguments in two cases involving Ocean City’s mayor and council. Bruce Bright, litigator for the city, confirmed Monday that two cases – one involving The Washington Post, and another involving the site plan for an oceanfront hotel – have been scheduled for oral arguments this fall in the Appellate Court of Maryland. “Barring some rescheduling, which may happen, it’s pretty firmly set sometime in October,” he said.
OC skate park’s admin building behind schedule

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

Officials say construction of the skate park’s administration building is a month behind schedule. Taylor Hershey, project manager with Ocean City’s engineering department, said a new administration building at the Ocean Bowl Skate Park will now be completed by mid-July. He said freezing temperatures this winter, coupled with wet weather this spring, caused construction delays that could not be avoided. “The reason for the delay is mainly due to weather,” he explained.
New natural gas storage facility being built in Bishopville

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

Barges hauling 100,000-gallon gas tanks are making their way to Bishopville this month in preparation for a new natural gas storage facility. Nicholas Bishop, capital projects manager for Chesapeake Utilities, said the tanks are part of an Worcester Resiliency Upgrade project recently approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil and electricity.
National Aquarium releases sea turtles in Ocean City

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

Staff with the National Aquarium traveled to Ocean City last week to release two Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Surrounded by onlookers, “Icky” and “Mothman” were released back into the ocean last Thursday from the 40th Street beach. The two Kemp’s ridley sea turtles recently completed a months-long rehabilitation at the National Aquarium.
New helipad at Northside Park first of its kind in Maryland

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

A new landing zone at Northside Park will go live in August. On June 21, representatives for the Town of Ocean City, various city departments and Maryland State Police Aviation Command gathered at Northside Park to cut the ribbon on a new Instrument Flight Reading (IFR) landing zone, which will allow medical helicopters to land in Ocean City during periods of poor weather and low visibility.
City departments operating under new heat stress rules

1 day ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

City officials say they are following new state guidelines to protect employees from the ongoing heat wave. With temperatures reaching 90 degrees and above this week, and feel-like temperatures in the triple digits, officials in Ocean City say they are taking extra precautions to ensure employees are staying safe. In the city’s public works department, Deputy Director Scott Wagner said employees are following new heat-stress standards from Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH).
Family files civil suit in Knupp hit-and-run death

2 days ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

The family of Gavin Knupp, a 14-year-old killed in a hit-and-run accident in 2022, has filed a civil suit against several named co-defendants, including Tyler Mailloux, two of his family members, and his former employer.
Multi-year Air Show contract up for renewal

1 week ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

With a three-year contract fulfilled, Ocean City Manager Terry McGean said the city will pursue an extension with the promoter of the OC Air Show. In June of 2022, the Ocean City Council signed a three-year contract with the promoter of the OC Air Show to hold events in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Now that this year’s air show has concluded, officials will look to extend the agreement.
Cloudy skies nix Blue Angels at OC Air Show

1 week ago | octodaydispatch.com | Bethany Hooper

Wet weather and low cloud cover marred last weekend’s air show, as the event’s management team was forced to conclude Saturday’s performance early and ground demonstration teams altogether on Sunday. As a result, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels did not perform on any of the two show days, disappointing many visitors who had come to see the headliner’s first performance in Ocean City since 2019.