For months, Indian River School District officials have plodded through the divisive topic of how to teach Human Sexuality to 600 ninth-graders each year. This week, the Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a new sex-ed curriculum for high school. (The middle school curriculum process has yet to begin.)

The people speak

The Frankford Board of Elections (BOE) will hold a hearing this week to review two citizens’ complaints regarding the Town’s upcoming municipal election.

On Friday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at the Frankford Public Library, a special hearing will take place before board members Pam Hoban, Elma Gray and Peggy Schaffer.

By adding a new police officer position, South Bethany could get the true 24-hour police coverage many believe they already have. Residents broke into applause Monday afternoon after the town council narrowly voted to create a new full-time police position.

The Frankford Police Department’s single remaining police officer, Nate Hudson, submitted his letter of resignation to the Town earlier this week.

“He has put his letter of resignation in, yes,” confirmed Councilwoman Cheryl Workman.

Hudson, who joined the department in April of 2011, had remained the only active officer following the December 2014 retirement of Chief William Dudley.

Fenwick Island officials will hold a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. at town hall, to get input from the public on the proposed Chapter 88 flood-damage reduction ordinance that council members have been wrestling with for months.

The Ocean View Town Council reviewed its first draft of the Town’s budget for the 2016 fiscal year this week.

“This is our first draft… It’s going to change,” emphasized Finance Director Lee Brubaker.

Sussex County Finance Director Gina Jennings presented the county council with a comprehensive annual financial report for the 2014 fiscal year at this week’s council meeting.

The 100-page report was broken down into four sections — introductory, finance, statistical and single-audit supplement.

There are many bars and restaurants in the area, but it’s a little harder for a local resident find a place where “everybody knows your name,” especially along the Route 54 corridor east of Selbyville. However, there’s a new spot for the locals to gather now that Yellowfin’s Bar & Grill has opened its doors in the Williamsville Shopping Center.

When Frankford Police Chief William Dudley formally announced his retirement recently, many in the community became somewhat concerned.

Waking up Tuesday morning to a car that was not covered in a blanket of snow was more than just a little bit of a relief. For one thing, I was worried the night before about some of our employees who have to travel a pretty significant distance to get to work. For another, I was concerned that I was going to have to dig my way out of a coccoon of snow.

Party with a Purpose will be throwing a charity bash on Thursday, Feb. 5, inviting locals to an evening of celebrating “Foundations of Friendships” at Sedona in Bethany Beach.

Every year, public school students take a comprehensive state test. And, as the Indian River School District prepares to use the newest version of that test, parents and guardians can learn more, at a pair of public forums set for this week.

Holts Landing is getting some long overdue love. The new Friends of Holts Landing State Park group is ready to provide maintenance and manpower to clean up the Millville-area park, one Saturday at a time.

Heavy snowflakes fell outside the gymnasium while, indoors, students talked about the icy Yukon Territory and Scandinavia. The National Geographic Bee had returned to Lord Baltimore Elementary School.

The biographies of several high-ranking Delaware army and naval officers who served during the Civil War are generally well known. These include Brig. Gen. Henry H. Lockwood, Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Smyth, Maj. Gen. George Sykes, Maj. Gen. Alfred T.A. Torbert, Adm. Samuel F. DuPont and Commodore John P. Gillis.

Whether the students earned stellar grades or just gave their best in the classroom, Indian River High School wants to celebrate its Students of the Month.

Doing the right thing has its perks.

Blooming Boutique is hosting a food drive to benefit Food Bank of Delaware. All shoppers who donate will receive a discount coupon, from now until Feb. 17.

Discounts are applied to that day’s, purchase, or a future one, at all four locations in Bethany Beach, Rehoboth, Lewes and Milford.

One of my first summer jobs ever was selling hotdogs on the beach in Fenwick. It was great. I got to take skim breaks, eat free hotdogs, and even call out when the waves were good, because the owners were pretty cool. Plus, I was really good at it. I only wish I could be half as good of a writer as I was a hotdog salesman.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: Senior guard Davon Justice puts up a shot during the Indians 65-57 win against Stephen Decatur last Saturday.Indian River High School’s basketball team saw a new scorer emerge in their 65-57 non-conference win against Stephen Decatur last Saturday, as junior guard KiAnté Sturgis racked up 20 points in the matchup — outscoring his older brother, senior point guard Kei Juan Major and his total of 18, for the first time this season.

“We had a mid-season meeting. I brought in every player individually and I talked about roles,” explained head coach Mike Fabber. “Tay’s our engine. Kei Juan — team’s are gonna focus on he’s the man, but Tay’s our engine. Basketball’s a big enough game where you can have three stars. You can have three guys that are ‘go-to guys’ that can lead teams. I think he’s embraced his role and, obviously, you can see tonight it worked.”

“I gotta give it to him. He showed up,” said Major of his younger brother’s performance. “When I was down first quarter and I wasn’t making nothing, he took a big step up, took my position in the game.”

After junior center DeAndre Cooper drained a first-quarter three-pointer to put the Indians up 9-8, they never trailed in the game again, putting together several lopsided runs, and at one point leading 50-27.

“The second half was a real slow-pace game. Decatur had a really good game plan in the second half to slow us down,” explained Fabber of how the Seahawks got back in the game late. “We’re a fast-paced team. The more you slow us down, the more likely the other team’s gonna have an advantage. Luckily enough, we had enough comfort zone. Decatur played real hard. Give a lot of credit to them.”

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: Freshman forward Tashara Houston is one of the players stepping up for the Lady Indians late in the season.The Indian River High School girls’ basketball team had struggled to find a new identity after losing the senior leadership of forwards Maggie Allison and Faythe Wise, who suffered season-ending yet minor injuries against Delmarva Christian on Jan. 17. However, after a 74-25 loss against Stephen Decatur last Saturday, the Lady Indians bounced back in a big way with a 51-42 division win against Laurel on Tuesday night.

“We’re just trying to push forward,” said senior point guard Taylor Billinger. “Definitely from Faythe we’re missing really great rebounding, and then Maggie is just great with handling the ball and she can play post, too.”

After leading 11-4 after the first quarter and 25-14 at the half, the girls jumped out to a nearly 20-point lead in the third quarter before Laurel began to mount a late comeback.

“We had a great advantage in playing a full-court man,” explained head coach Matt Mayette. “We went to a half-court man. If we’re not being aggressive and trying to get steals, sometimes we don’t do a good job of closing up the middle. We need to work on getting off our man. We’re getting better at it, though.”

Special to the Coastal Point • Britney Fitzpatrick: The Indian River competitive cheer team goes through their routine at preliminaries held at St. Mark's last Sunday, where they took second place. On March 8, the squad will compete at the state competition in Smyrna.There was a little more pep on the sidelines of Indian River High School football games last fall, thanks to head cheerleading coach Caitlyn Donofrio. And now she’s bringing that energy, and her squad, to the competitive level.

It had been two years since the school participated at cheer preliminaries, but despite their lack of experience as a squad, they not only placed second at the competition at Lake Forest High School on Jan. 18, but did it again last Sunday, Jan. 25, at St. Mark’s in Wilmington, qualifying for states in March.

“They are so proud of themselves, and I’m very proud of them, as well,” said Donofrio of the achievement. “It just shows that our hard work pays off.”

While they may have placed in the same position at both of the recent competitions, Donofrio said that her squad appeared more confident the second time around, which allowed them to try some different stunts and a more advanced routine.

Break out those regulation beanbags, because the Indian River High School football and baseball boosters are hosting their first annual cornhole tournament next Saturday, Feb. 7.