State of Delaware

After nine days of testimony and nine hours of deliberations, on Feb. 8 the jury in the trial of Derrick Powell – the man accused of shooting and killing Georgetown Police Officer Chad Spicer on Sept. 1, 2009 – found Powell guilty on 10 of 12 remaining charges, including first-degree murder.

The same week state officials filed a $19 million lawsuit against a consultant on the Indian River Inlet Bridge replacement project over the prior design’s roadway approaches, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced that Dover-based contractor George & Lynch Inc. had been awarded contract to construct re-engineered roadway approaches and to demolish the existing bridge.

After nine days of testimony and nine hours of deliberations, on Feb. 8 the jury in the trial of Derrick Powell – the man accused of shooting and killing Georgetown Police Officer Chad Spicer on Sept. 1, 2009 – found Powell guilty on 10 of 12 charges, including first-degree murder.

“You got to be a straight cold-blooded killer, or crazy,” said Darshon Adkins, 23, who testified on Tuesday that he had been shot at by Derrick Powell at the Georgetown McDonald’s on Sept. 1, 2009.

As construction continues on the new Indian River Inlet Bridge, with its long-anticipated completion expected sometime this fall, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) on Jan. 28 filed suit in the Superior Court for Sussex County against bridge design firm Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. and its geotechnical subconsultant MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc., seeking $19.6 million for geotechnical errors related to the original approach embankments for the prior bridge design.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) on Jan. 28 filed suit in the Superior Court for Sussex County against bridge design firm Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. and its geotechnical subconsultant MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc. for geotechnical errors, in connection with the Indian River Inlet Bridge replacement project.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) on Jan. 28 filed suit in the Superior Court for Sussex County against bridge design firm Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. and its geotechnical subconsultant MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc. for geotechnical errors, in connection with the Indian River Inlet Bridge replacement project.

The Selbyville Police Department is requesting assistance in locating 42-year-old John L. Price Jr. Police said Price was last seen about 9 p.m. Friday night, Jan. 21, leaving the Food Lion grocery store on Route 113 (DuPont Blvd.), on foot, after being stranded due to mechanical problems with his vehicle.

Due to inclement weather, Indian River School District schools will open two hours late, with no morning kindergarten. All 12-month employees should report on time.

Sussex County government offices will be opening 90 minutes late, at 10 a.m., on Thursday, Jan. 27.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM THURSDAY...

* PRECIPITATION TYPE: RAIN AND SLEET IS EXPECTED TODAY...BEFORE THE MIXED PRECIPITATION CHANGES TO SNOW THIS EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 INCHES.

* TIMING: RAIN AND SLEET WILL FALL DURING THE DAY...BEFORE CHANGING TO SNOW THIS EVENING. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END BEFORE DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

In a letter addressed to DelDOT employees that was subsequently forwarded to the Coastal Point, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Carolann Wicks this week laid out ways she said the agency will be “moving on a variety of fronts to enact necessary changes in the way we serve the citizens of our state,” in the wake of the recent review and report issued by the governor’s office on DelDOT’s management of the Route 113 North/South project.

Beneath the seemingly unending beat of news about the troubled economy, high unemployment and the recession, there lies hope. And, in Sussex County, things are happening that could bring jobs and economic growth to the area – including companies investing hundreds of millions of dollars in new equipment and buildings.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS CANCELED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE: SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS: TWO TO THREE INCHES. HIGHEST NEAR METROPOLITAN PHILADELPHIA AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.

* TIMING: BEGINNING AFTER 7 PM AND LASTING FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS.

Delaware State Police on Jan. 18 were seeking a 46-year-old Ocean View man in connection with their investigation into a series of incidents of unlawful use of a credit card occurring at several locations in Millville and Clarksville last fall.

UPDATE: Delaware State Police on Sunday, Jan. 16, received information on the whereabouts of Georgetown teen Wendy Juarez-Sanchez. Delaware State Police responded to a Seashore Highway, Georgetown, address and recovered Juarez-Sanchez. The girl is not facing any criminal charges.

Gov. Jack Markell’s chief-of-staff, Thomas P. McGonigle, released to the public on Tuesday his report to Markell regarding the U.S. Route 113 North-South Project and related property reservation agreements entered into by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).

Delaware State Police have canceled a Gold Alert for a missing person, Corrina Williams, 23, who lives on Wilson Lane near Frankford. Williams was located in Maryland by Maryland State Police, according to the DSP.
 

New Castle and Kent counties on Tuesday afternoon remained under a Winter Storm Warning until 10 a.m., Wednesday morning. Lower predicted snow totals, however, dropped the designation to a Winter Storm Advisory in Sussex County; also in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Chief of Staff Thomas P. McGonigle's report to Gov. Jack Markell regarding the U.S. 113 North-South Project and related property reservation agreements entered into by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) was released on Tuesday.

As the forecast becomes more focused, crews from the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) were standing ready for the snowstorm predicted to begin Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday morning. Officials said DelDOT maintenance forces are spending the pre-storm hours preparing the trucks and pre-treating additional roads.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY...  A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM EST WEDNESDAY.  SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 5 TO 8 INCHES. 

A Winter Storm Warning in now effect from 2 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a warning for snow, sleet and freezing rain, with accumulations of 2 to 6 inches possible. Precipitation is expected to start Tuesday afternoon and turn to all snow Tuesday evening, when it will become steadier and heavier.

A Winter Storm Watch in effect from Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 11, about 1 p.m., through Wednesday morning, Jan. 12, about 7 a.m. The National Weather Service is predicting 4 to 6 inches of snow, with low visibility of possibly less than a half-mile and possible dangerous driving conditions on both primary and secondary roads.

The National Weather Service has canceled the Winter Storm Warning for the area. The snow has stopped and roadway conditions have improved. Due to winter weather, the Greenwood, Milton and South Coastal libraries are closed on Saturday, Jan. 8.

The National Weather Service has issued an updated weather report that includes a Winter Storm Warning for Delaware until 8 p.m. Saturday. Up to 4 inches of snow is now forecast, with visibility potentially under a mile, and numerous accidents have already been reported. Between 7:30 and 10 a.m., more than a dozen motor vehicle accidents had been reported in Sussex County due to snow.

The National Weather Service has issued an updated weather report that includes a Winter Weather Advisory for Delaware until 8 p.m. Saturday. Although this snow event is not expected to cause great disruption to the state, state officials are advising residents and visitors to monitor local conditions and exercise caution if travel is necessary.
 
Key points from the NWS update:
 

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Department of Natural Resources Secretary Collin O’Mara were on hand in Sussex County this week to applaud Cape Henlopen School District’s use of Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funds to retrofit old diesel engines on district-owned school buses. Also on hand were representatives from the Clean Air Task Force, Clean Water Action, National School Transportation Association and the American Lung Association.

With the start of a new year come many adjustments. Not only do people have to get used to writing a new year – 2011 this time out – on their correspondence, they’ve also usually got a bevy of new laws and regulations to get used to. And, this year, there’s a major change for all drivers in Delaware.

While the limited state of emergency and driving warning was lifted Monday night in all parts of the state, some roads in rural areas remained unplowed or have been covered again by snow, so state officials said that motorists should drive only with caution and might be wise not to drive at all, especially in Sussex County.