The Daily Times from Salisbury, Maryland • 11

www.DelmarvaNow.com B3 Wednesday, February 7, 2007 THE DAILY TIMES Our Towns Sports complex seels $3M from Sussex Councilman worries about sinking funds into 'money pit' to keep it open By Jon Shecket Staff Writer Worcester New grape growers workshop slated SNOW HILL The Maryland Cooperative Extension will be holding an educational workshop at Deaf Independent Living Associates Inc. in Salisbury on Thursday, Feb. 15., from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is normally $135, but has been reduced to $20 for Maryland residents thanks to subsidies from the Maryland Wineries Association and Maryland Grape Growers Association.

Call Laura Hunsberger at 410-632-1972. Wicomico Author of Snow Hill book to hold signing SALISBURY Local author Mindie Burgoyne will be doing a book signing Saturday at Barnes and Noble on 2618 N. Salisbury Blvd. tially draw revenue away from Sports at the Beach. Council President Dale Dukes was more receptive to the idea of investing county funds to save the facility, but he offered a different approach in which the county would purchase the facility and lease it to the foundation.

"There are a lot of -uses down the road if Sports at the Beach does not continue in operation," the Laurel councilman said. "It is contiguous to the airport. If we did grants and it went belly up, then we wouldn't have anything but grants." An overflow crowd of citizens attended the meeting, with the vast majority showing support for county intervention. Among those in favor of the aid was Delaware Storm U-13 and Nanticoke Little League pitcher Shane Marvel, who read a letter written by his mother. "Most teams travel for hours to compete at Sports at the Beach," he said.

"Our field of dreams is right here in Sussex County" The council may revisit the matter at their next meeting slated for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. jshecketdmg.ganriett.com 302-537-1881 and the park will be closed unless a new operator is found. The loss would affect Sussex County's children and area businesses, according to Baker. She cited figures from the Delaware tourism office that estimated the facility's economic impact at between $8 million and $9 million per year.

The foundation's plan calls for Sports at the Beach to become a multiuse facility with walking and jogging trails added and public access to the existing swimming pool. This was one of several points of contention for Ocean View Councilman George Cole. "Very few people are going to drive up from Ocean View to go jogging and walking," he said. Cole was most concerned about whether this would be a sound investment for the $3 million of taxpayers' funds, particularly in one facility in Georgetown. "We have talked about recre- ation before and very little has been done because this is a money pit," he said.

Cole went on to express concerns that the facilities operated by the foundation in Seaford, Lewes and Laurel would poten the debt service, the park would be operating in the black. On Tuesday, Sussex County Sports Foundation delivered a presentation to the County Council to request a grant of $300,000 per year for 10 years to aid them in purchasing and operating the park. Sussex County Sports Foundation board member Wendy Baker said negotiations have been under way since June of last year to purchase the facility from majority shareholder Richard Derickson for $7.5 million or roughly $8,000 per acre. "This proposal is not about bailing out Richard Derickson and his partners," Baker said. "It is not about supporting one sport versus the next.

It is about land acquisition of a facility with an existing tournament following and destination." With the first softball tournament scheduled for March 17, time is running out. Baker said that Derickson has informed the foundation that he has no interest in overseeing the park this year GEORGETOWN Like a hanging pop fly to center field, the future of Sports at the Beach is up in the air. Unless it gets a reprieve from Sussex County Council, the nonprofit Sussex County Sports Foundation, Sports at the Beach, may soon shut its doors. Foundation officials are asking for grants totaling $3 million over 10 years to keep the park open. Despite hosting as many as 81,000 participants at its baseball and softball tournaments and camps, the 93 acre, 13-field facility east of Georgetown that was opened in 2001, has fallen into the red.

The park was constructed at a cost of $8 million, twice its original budget, and as much as $700,000 has been paid each year in interest, said Pete Townsend, facility manager. "The original plan called for more partners and no borrowed money," he said. Townsend said that without Burgoyne will be signing her new book, "Snow Hill Images of America," a historical book Police Report Sussex Cold weather driving safety tips offered GEORGETOWN Troopers are offering the following tips in reference to the extended forecast of extremely cold weather in coastal Sussex County Travel with a spare set of clothes in your vehicle, bring along a warm blanket, keep your cell phone charged and be sure to leave enough battery life to make an emergency call, police say Travel along main roadways that are well-lit and where help is easily accessible. Keep your vehicle fueled, not allowing the fuel tank to run excessively low. Write the words "CALL POLICE" on a piece of paper and carry it with you while driving so you can display the message in your window should your vehicle become disabled.

Motorists are encouraged to stay with their vehicle should it become disabled; call 911 immediately and activate the vehicle's hazard lights. With the cold weather, disabled vehicles are being classified as a "Priority Response" and police will be dispatched accordingly. McDonald's groundbreaking set LONG NECK An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the new Long Neck McDonald's on Route 24 near Long Neck Road on Thursday. Several Long Neck Business Association along with Mike Meoli, owner of all six McDonald's franchises in Sussex County will be on hand for the ceremony. Call the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce at 302-934-6777.

Two win Lewes board seats won by default LEWES Lewes Board of Public Works has canceled its annual election. Only Board President Gary Stabley and newcomer Jim Gayhardt filed as candidates for the two available board seats before the deadline. Stabley and Gayhardt will begin two-year terms in April. Gayhardt will replace Jon Woodyard, who decided to step down after serving for four years. The board runs Lewes' sewer, water and electricity systems.

Delaware DNREC Advisory Council to meet SMYRNA The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Controls Community Involvement Advisory Council will at the Smyrna Rest Stop Coiference Room from 9:30 to 11:30 today. Contjit James Brunswick, county dnbudsman, at 302-739-9040 or lielanie Rapp, public affairs, )2-739-9902. Fire Calls Sussex County Friday 6:04 p.m. Accident. Stein Highway.

Seaford Fire Department. 7:38 p.m. Accident. 36090 block of Zion Church Road. Roxanna Fire Department.

8:44 p.m. Accident. 16220 to 16260 blocks of Coastal Highway. Lewes Fire Department. 9:15 p.m.

Fire. Cannon Road and Seashore Highway. Seaford Fire Department. Saturday 12:11 a.m. Automatic alarm.

700 block of Pilottown Road. Lewes Fire Department. 12:04 p.m. Accident. John J.

Williams Highway. Millsboro Fire Department. 1:43 p.m. Automatic alarm. Pelican Square Shopping Center.

Lewes Fire Department. 2:36 p.m. Outside fire. 11440 block of Trussum Pond Road. Laurel Fire Company.

3:28 p.m. Electrical hazard. 810 block of Douglas Street. Delmar Fire Company. 5:26 p.m.

Structure fire. 2200 block of Daniels Street. Laurel Fire Company. 7:35 p.m. Ambulance call.

20020 block of Harbeson Road. Milton Fire Company. Sunday 7:53 p.m. Ambulance call. Bay Avenue.

Milton Fire Company. containing stories, history and photographs about the over 300-year-old town. The signing will begin at 1 p.m. and attendees can purchase a book on site or bring their own copy to be signed by the author. Contact Mindie Burgoyne at 410-623-2193 or mindie lowershore.net.

Maryland Education department receives $34,150 grant BALTIMORE The Maryland State Department of Education Division of Library Development and Services has received $34,150 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation toward two outreach projects: Rural Library Sustainability and Language Outreach. The Rural Library Sustainability project serves rural libraries that are challenged to maintain services. The Spanish Language Outreach project will train staff to assist Spanish-speaking residents to use public libraries. Visit the Maryland State Department of Education's Web site at www.Maryland PublicSchools.org and click on "Division, Library Services." Md. man killed in Bridgeville crash BRIDGE VILLE The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash Tuesday that killed an Owings Mills, Md man on Route 404 west of Adamsville Road in the area of the Delaware-Maryland line.

State police said at about 2:10 a.m., a 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer, driven by John W. Bailey, 67, of Millsboro, was traveling east on Route 404 hauling live chickens. A 2006 Chevy Tahoe, driven by Calvin F. Bracey, 55, of Owings Mills, was traveling west on Route 404. For an unknown reason, the Tahoe traveled over the centerline into the path of the tractor-trailer.

Both vehicles then collided head-on. After impact, the Tahoe traveled off the east edge of the road and came to rest in a field. The tractor-trailer came to rest across both traffic lanes. Bracey was pronounced dead at the scene. Bailey was treated and released from Milford Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

Both were wearing a seat belt. A small portion of the chickens spilled onto the roadway and have since been cleaned up. The roadway was closed for approximately five hours after the crash. suspect entered the store and told the clerk, "(this is) a robbery" and walked behind the counter and opened the cash register. The clerk approached and was shoved back by the suspect, police said.

The suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the store on foot. No weapon was displayed, Jones said. The suspect is described as white or Hispanic with an olive complexion, 18 to 25 years of age, about 5 foot 6 inches tall, weighing between 150 to 165 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes and wearing a brown, plaid jacket and torn blue jeans. Man faces public intoxication charges LAUREL A 42-year-old Laurel man faces public intoxication and loitering charges after he was allegedly bothering customers at a West Street store Sunday. Terrence Hitchens was allegedly drunk and began begging customers for money at about 8:02 p.m.

He was released on a criminal summons. Less than two hours later, Hitchens was again charged by Laurel police for public intoxication and being drunk on a highway after reportedly walking down Belles Avenue with a beer. Hitchens was released on a criminal summons on those charges. Fire Three people rescued at Schumaker Pond SALISBURY Crews from two fire houses were called to rescue three people who were stuck in Schumaker Pond late Tuesday afternoon. According to Assistant Fire' Chief Bryan Records, an autistic teen described as between the ages of 16 to 18, left the sight of his caretaker and proceeded to run down a hill into an area near the former swimming area of the drained pond.

The teen became stuck in the mud and could not move. Two bystanders heard the teen's screams and proceeded into the area to attempt to rescue him. The two bystanders a man and a teen around the age of 15 also got stuck. The man, a former firefighter, was able to pull himself from the mud while the seven fire vehicles that responded tried to rescue the other two. The other two victims were pulled to safety with the help of a 14-foot ladder and a nylon rope tied to a life preserver.

The two teens were sent to PRMC to be treated for hypothermia, while the man refused treatment. Police Convenience store robbed in Rehoboth REHOBOTH BEACH Police officers responded to a robbery which occurred at the High's convenience store on Rehoboth Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach just before 7 p.m. Sunday According to Detective Kevin Jones, a male BQSMAN'S VP Personalized Gifts Timeless Elegant SALISBURY PEWTER Hebron Savings Bank "Your Hometown Bank" Rt. 13 2611 N. Salisbury Blvd.

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