South Bethany has eight candidates for four seats
Four seats will be contested in the 2019 South Bethany Town Council election.
The election is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Candidates include a mix of men and women, incumbents and challengers, residents and...
Thursday, April 25, 2019 - 10:54am
South Bethany adopts budget with stable taxes, borrowed police
After months of discussion, the South Bethany Town Council on April 12 quickly passed their 2020-fiscal-year budget. Treasurer Don Boteler said he was proud to announce the $2.463 million balanced budget, which begins on May 1.
This year,...
Thursday, April 18, 2019 - 1:45pm
SB taps retired police chief for temporary police admin
Ocean View agrees to paid police service
South Bethany officials are moving forward to rebuild the town’s police department after nearly the entire department resigned in the last year.
At a special meeting on April 9, the South Bethany Town Council voted to hire a temporary...
Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 1:56pm
OV enters into MOU with South Bethany for police coverage
The Ocean View Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Town of South Bethany to offer Ocean View officers to help supplement police coverage in the neighboring town.
“At the request...
Thursday, April 11, 2019 - 1:51pm
Candidates can enter South Bethany race
The South Bethany Town Council has four of seven seats up for re-election this year. Candidates can now toss their hats into the ring for the 2019 race.
The deadline to file paperwork at Town Hall is Wednesday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m. The...
Thursday, April 4, 2019 - 11:09am
BREAKING NEWS: Police chief departs South Bethany
Police Chief Troy Crowson has officially departed from his position at the South Bethany Police Department.
The announcement was posted midday on April 1 on the Town website:
“This morning, Chief Troy Crowson tendered his retirement...
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - 1:41pm
Candidates can enter South Bethany race
The South Bethany Town Council has four of seven seats up for re-election this year. Candidates can now toss their hats into the ring for the 2019 race.
The deadline to file paperwork at Town Hall is Wednesday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m. The...
Friday, March 22, 2019 - 7:49am
South Bethany seeks multi-pronged security plan while rebuilding PD
South Bethany will try a little of everything to keep the town secure this year, including, frankly, a little outsourcing.
After March 16, the police department will have one chief, one officer and four vacancies, after two more police...
Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 1:14pm
More officers leave SBPD as council reacts to FOIA complaint
Two more officers will soon part ways with the South Bethany Police Department. As of Friday, March 1, both Sgt. Alfred “Lee” Davis and Officer (Ptlm.) Nate Hudson had given their two weeks’ notice.
At this point, the SBPD will start...
Thursday, March 7, 2019 - 4:45pm
South Bethany approves new police ranks and hires
South Bethany is paving a solid path forward for its police department, as the town council has unanimously approved a new rank and salary scale, plus several candidates for two vacant positions.
After the probationary period, there are...
Thursday, February 14, 2019 - 2:52pm
South Bethany council reveals some of its intent for police
With rumors flying during the month-long winter council recess, the South Bethany Town Council finally tipped its hand, a little, regarding plans for the town’s police department.
In a townwide email sent on Jan. 21, the mayor and council...
Thursday, January 24, 2019 - 11:33am
South Bethany follows in Fenwick’s footsteps on cell service
In order to improve cell phone coverage, major wireless companies want to add new, but smaller antennas in local towns. Leading the way in coastal Delaware, Verizon Wireless just finished helping Fenwick Island develop a permitting process for...
Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 2:49pm
Citizens doubt council’s commitment to policing
Tempers flared in South Bethany Town Hall this week as some members of the public worried over the future of the South Bethany Police Department. Although the town council emphasized last month that they’re working on a new plan, some property...
Thursday, December 20, 2018 - 2:22pm
South Bethany promises police effort is under way
Tired of the public asking about police-department challenges, the South Bethany Town Council finally made an announcement: They’re working on it.
“Activity has been going on since July of this year, but it’s not ready to bring out,” said...
Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 3:51pm
South Bethany looking to improve beach crossings
South Bethany officials want to make the town’s sand dunes easier for people to access. Senior citizens, children and people with balance issues are having trouble crossing.
“In certain places, the grade is too high, and they really could...
Thursday, November 15, 2018 - 2:45pm
South Bethany considering requiring parking permits town-wide
Now that summer is over, the South Bethany Town Council will heave the topic of parking permits back onto the table.
Besides increasing parking fees last spring, the Town hasn’t yet moved forward with plans to purchase an outdoor permit...
Thursday, November 8, 2018 - 1:24pm
Let’s let the process play out in South Bethany
One year ago, there were six officers in the South Bethany Police Department. It’s been widely suggested that the Department requires five active officers to provide 24-hour coverage to its citizens, and that number does not seem to be in dispute...
Thursday, November 8, 2018 - 1:03pm
South Bethany passes on police candidate, still needs two
It’s taken months to choose a candidate to fill one of two vacancies in South Bethany Police Department. On Oct. 25, South Bethany Town Council unanimously voted to reject the proposed candidate.
Because personnel is discussed in executive...
Friday, November 2, 2018 - 5:12pm
South Bethany police concerns loom, but new hires are in works
Troy Crowson pointed to the headline story in this month’s The Police Chief magazine: an article on retaining employees with non-paycheck items, such as take-home vehicles, and opportunities for advancement and education.
“We had all this...
Thursday, October 25, 2018 - 3:37pm
Masiello brings law-enforcement experience to South Bethany council
Gerald “Jerry” Masiello has joined the ranks of South Bethany Town Council.
He was appointed Oct. 12 to fill a seat that Wayne Schrader vacated, for personal reasons, several months into his two-year term. Masiello will serve until the...
Thursday, October 25, 2018 - 2:49pm
Verizon, South Bethany discuss best path to service improvements
As Verizon Wireless continues its quest to improve mobile coverage across coastal Delaware, they have begun discussions at the Town of South Bethany.
In the past year, Verizon’s Bonnie Metz also helped the Town of Fenwick Island write a...
Thursday, October 18, 2018 - 12:34pm
South Bethany town council, police force both short on members
The Town of South Bethany currently has one vacancy on its town council and two in its police department.
“Wayne Schrader has stepped down from the town council due to family issues he needs to deal with on a personal level. We have...
Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 3:14pm
South Bethany bids farewell to Chrobot, welcomes Stiffler
After 13 years of managing all physical aspects of the Town South Bethany, Don Chrobot has retired as public works supervisor.
Both the town council and his coworkers applauded Chrobot as he recently accepted a resolution in honor of his...
Thursday, September 13, 2018 - 1:00pm
South Bethany considering farming out canal maintenance
South Bethany’s canals are a public resource, just like the roads or the parks, and Town Council Member Frank Weisgerber suggested recently that the town council consider a maintenance plan (and probably a budget) to actually take care of those 5...
Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 6:39pm
South Bethany canals enjoy a peaceful pop of color in beautification contest
Who says gardening has to be on one’s own property? Each year, South Bethany invites people to help beautify the town in the annual Adopt-A-Canal/Road-End Beauty Contest.
What might otherwise be a lump of grass or scraggly trees has become...
Thursday, August 23, 2018 - 3:11pm
Replenishment complete — some dune work continues
Pack away the ear plugs and walk a little farther. Beach replenishment is just about done on the southern Delaware coast. By widening the beach and raising the sand dunes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Philadelphia District hopes to...
Thursday, August 16, 2018 - 5:49pm
Movie on the Beach in South Bethany to feature ‘Coco’
Editor's Note: Due to inclement weather, this event was rescheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 15, at South 2nd Street, South Bethany.
South Bethany residents and visitors are being invited to a Movie on the Beach hosted by the Town of...
Thursday, August 9, 2018 - 5:20pm
South Bethany considers stricter property maintenance code
A broken staircase was the final straw.
In South Bethany, Joe Hinks is responsible for building inspections, permits and penalties. Then he discovered that a faulty outdoor staircase in an oceanfront home had been repaired with no more...
Friday, July 20, 2018 - 12:04pm
Juggling the unwanted discovery of eco-friendly species
What’s worse than a weed that nobody wants? For South Bethany, it’s a weed that everyone wants.
“We have a presence in our canals in the southern end… It’s the first time we’ve seen it,” Frank Weisgerber told his fellow South Bethany Town...
Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 4:14pm
South Bethany woman, 102, meets great-great-granddaughter
Vinnette Fowler’s family describes her as a social butterfly. She loves having company, and her South Bethany home has been her family’s go-to destination for decades.
This month, the 102-year-old enjoyed the best type of family visit:...
Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 3:32pm
Carper visits Bethany Beach to see replenishment project
South Bethany next on the list
Bulldozers headed to South Bethany this week, with that town set as the next stop in this summer’s major beach replenishment project.
After several weeks of pumping sand from offshore borrow sites, the Great Lake Dock & Dredge Company...
Monday, July 16, 2018 - 6:33pm
Loggerhead sea turtle makes history with South Bethany nest
Michael Hess was walking along the Fenwick Island beach at James Street on Sunday, July 8, before sunrise, searching for hidden treasure with his metal detector. His normal routine was interrupted by an unusual sight ahead of him.
Upon...
Monday, July 16, 2018 - 6:19pm
South Bethany opens outdoor fitness area
South Bethany visitors can now feel the burn in the shade. Outdoor exercise equipment was recently installed next to South Bethany Town Hall, open for public use.
The adult fitness area includes spots for push-ups, sit-ups, balance beam...
Monday, July 16, 2018 - 2:32pm
Get the picture? South Bethany photography show returns
When she photographs, Kira Kaplinski wants to show people the beauty of coastal Delaware.
“The whole area is inspiration. It’s so beautiful. I just love this town,” said Kaplinski, an IT consultant who bought a South Bethany house about...
Thursday, June 28, 2018 - 2:19pm
Public reminded to stay vigilant on roads after tragedies
On Saturday, May 26, a little after 10 a.m., 76-year-old Alfred Yergey III of Ocean View was riding his bicycle eastbound in the bike lane on Atlantic Avenue (Route 26), approaching Central Avenue in Ocean View.
At the same time, 65-year-...
Friday, June 1, 2018 - 3:31pm
South Bethany voters pick Saxton for mayor
Callaway, Boteler, Schrader win council seats
Although they’re all familiar faces, South Bethany’s town council got a shake-up in the 2018 elections held on Saturday, May 26.
Councilman Tim Saxton defeated incumbent Mayor Patricia “Pat” Voveris, 388-238, to claim the mayor’s seat....
Friday, June 1, 2018 - 3:29pm
S. Bethany candidates address the voters before election
South Bethany voters will get to choose their leadership in the town council and mayoral elections set for Saturday, May 26. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as the people choose their mayor and fill three council seats.
All six...
Friday, May 25, 2018 - 3:41pm
South Bethany council to release portions of police policy reports
The South Bethany Town Council addressed two long-standing issues with its police department at its Friday, May 11, meeting.
Following an executive session that lasted more than an hour, the council voted to release the results of two...
Friday, May 18, 2018 - 1:40pm
Parking permit season has officially arrived
Much like Julius Caesar would dread the Ides of March, local drivers start grumbling at the Ides of May.
Parking permits and meter requirements went into effect on May 15 in local beach towns, in a seasonal event that runs until Sept. 15...
Friday, May 18, 2018 - 1:38pm
South Bethany candidates make their cases to voters
Two candidates for mayor and four candidates for three town council seats gave residents at the Friday, May 11, South Bethany Town Council meeting a snapshot of their hopes for the Town during a candidates’ forum.
The mayoral candidates...
Friday, May 18, 2018 - 1:33pm
South Bethany to consider releasing police reports
In 2017, the Town of South Bethany paid thousands of dollars to have its police department and employment policies evaluated. The reports prompted the town council to change policies, police rankings and even the town charter.
Now, in 2018...
Friday, May 4, 2018 - 4:12pm
South Bethany to have election contests for mayor and council
South Bethany’s 2018 election could be a kind of musical chairs, as six candidates have filed for four seats, but everyone running is a familiar face.
Tim Saxton could cut his current town council term in half, having entered the mayoral...
Friday, April 20, 2018 - 3:12pm
South Bethany looks to increase parking fees, reduce free parking
Paid parking can cause consternation for motorists. But for municipalities, it’s a tool to manage crowding and earn some income.
South Bethany still has roads that do not require parking permits in the summer. With Route 1 splitting the...
Thursday, March 22, 2018 - 11:14am
Council considering SBPD issues with budget plans
The South Bethany Police Department is the subject of staffing and building discussions as the town prepares its 2019-fiscal-year budget.
Looking to trim a roughly $2.5 million budget, the town council likely will not fill a vacancy left...
Thursday, March 22, 2018 - 10:22am
Council, mayoral candidates sought in South Bethany for May election
Four town council seats are up for election in South Bethany this year, and candidates may now register to run for the three council seats and the mayor’s seat, which has a separate election in the town. The candidate registration deadline is...
Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 8:50am
Town officials looking at the bright side of summer replenishment
It was good news and bad news for local beach towns last week, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. met with local officials for an update on the planned beach replenishment projects in Bethany...
Thursday, March 8, 2018 - 9:21am
Town of South Bethany, police share paperwork in dispute
After the Town of South Bethany rejected claims from some its police officers of unfair pay and promotion practices, both sides have now released legal paperwork in the matter.
Of the SBPD’s 10 employees, the six fulltime officers sent a...
Friday, September 15, 2017 - 9:34am
Green thumbs give a boost to South Bethany canals
Coastal Point photos • Tyler Valliant: Participants in South Bethany’s Annual Adopt-A-Canal End Contest pose for a photo at one of the canal ends.South Bethany is rewarding green behavior. For seven years now, the Annual Adopt-A-Canal End Contest...
Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 8:23am
South Bethany council rejects police claims
The South Bethany Town Council has found “no merit” to police officers’ claims of improper promotion, pay and benefits.
In a June 30 letter, the town’s six fulltime police officers alleged that they have not been paid or promoted as they...
Thursday, August 17, 2017 - 10:57am
South Bethany police demand proper pay from town
South Bethany’s six fulltime police officers are alleging they have not been paid or promoted as they should be. A June 30 demand letter from the officers centers around promotion issues for some officers and holiday pay for all officers.
...Thursday, July 20, 2017 - 10:35am
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