Matt Pencek

Salisbury

Broadcast Journalist at WRDE-TV (Lewes, DE)

Featured in: Favicon

wrde.com

wboc.com

pennlive.com

Articles

Rehoboth Beach attempting to strengthen enforcement of basement regulations

Oct 18, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del -City officials will continue their efforts in changing requirements for basements in homes that could be converted into illegal living spaces. Current zoning code has allowed basements that are not included in a house's floor area if the basement has a ceiling height of six feet six inches. What is being considered is increasing that height for non-habitable to six feet eight inches. For basements under seven feet, flooring and finished walls will not be allowed.
Lewes police gets significant salary increase

Oct 18, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

LEWES, Del. - New police officer starting salaries in Lewes have been increased to $75,000. According to Chief Thomas Spell, this went into effect on Oct. 14. In addition to the new officer increase, salaries of all current staff have been upgraded. In a press release, Spell said the money for these changes came from unspent budgeted funds in the current fiscal year.
Maryland man arrested after police chase in Rehoboth Beach

Oct 17, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del - A 39-year-old man from Fort Washington, Maryland is facing two felony charges following a chase by Delaware State Police Sunday night. According to police, Kevin Graves was pulled over by a trooper at 6:37 p.m. for speeding with no headlights on while driving in the southbound lane of Coastal Highway near Sylvan Acres Road. When the trooper went to his patrol car for a moment, Graves took off in a white Ford Flex.
Barking dog ban becomes law in Delaware

Oct 15, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

DOVER, Del. - On Monday, Delaware Gov. John Carney signed into law an amendment that bans dog barking for an extensive period of time. An extensive period is defined as either 15 minutes continuously or intermittently for 30 minutes or more. The legislation was first introduced in the General Assembly on April 20, 2023, and eventually passed in June of this year. Bethany Beach area State Sen. Gerald Hocker sponsored the bill in that chamber.
Georgetown crash has closed a section part of Route 9

Oct 9, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

GEORGETOWN, Del -A Wednesday morning crash has closed a part of the Lewes / Georgetown Highway (U.S. 9). According to the run log of the Milton Fire Department, the call came in at 7:50 am. The crash occurred where the highway intersects with Gravel Hill Rd. Also on the scene are the Georgetown Fire Company, and Georgetown EMS. The Milton Fire Department confirmed one person had to be rescued from an entrapment.
Two council members re-elected in Delmar

Oct 8, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

DELMAR -The two incumbents running for town council seats in Delmar won re-election on Monday. According to social media posts by the Town of Delmar, the breakdown of votes went like this:Odell Jones Jr. received 60 votesTodd Lanier received 38 votesBrian Morris received 19 votesLanier was appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2023 and was successful in his first attempt at re-election. Along with Jones and Lanier, Mayor Thomas Bauer will be sworn in at Tuesday's Town Council meeting.
UPDATE: Community mourns the loss of former Lewes mayor Ted Becker

Oct 7, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

LEWES, Del.- A man who served nearly 20 years in Lewes government, Ted Becker, 74, died Sunday afternoon at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. Becker was the city's mayor from 2014 to 2022. Prior to becoming mayor, he was a city council member beginning in 2004. After losing in the 2022 mayor election, Becker became the Commissioner of the Delaware River and Bay Authority. He was a long-time resident of Lewes, moving to the city in 1981.
Dead body found in the Wicomico River has been identified by police

Oct 4, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

SALISBURY, Md - A dead body discovered in the north prong of the Wicomico River has been identified as 42-year-old Joseph Alexis of Salisbury. He was reported missing on Sept. 30 which led to an investigation by the Salisbury Police Department. On Oct. 2, police responded to a report of a dead body found in the river near the 200 block of Mill Street. According to police, investigators are still working to determine how Alexis ended up in the river and the cause of death.
Worcester County to review parking requirements for marijuana businesses

Oct 3, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

SNOW HILL, Md -Worcester County is reviewing a plan that would classify cannabis dispensaries as a special exception to its General and Highway Commercial districts. These businesses are currently viewed the same as a retail pharmacy. The Planning Commission is looking at this change which also would set requirements for parking at dispensaries.
Polls open for Berlin Municipal election on Tuesday

Oct 1, 2024 | coasttv.com | Matt Pencek

BERLIN, Md - Three seats, including two on the town council, are on the ballot in Berlin's Municipal Election on Tuesday. The only contested race is between incumbent Shaneka Nichols and Daniel Packey in District 3. Mayor Zack Tyndall is running unopposed for re-election. According to Berlin officials, Tyndall will be declared the winner barring the emergence of any additional write-in candidates who filed by the Tuesday deadline.