News Briefs 03/06/18

Lewes Ice House public hearing March 6
Lewes Mayor and City Council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, at city hall, regarding the rezoning request for the Lewes Ice House property at 110 New Road. The 2.11-acre parcel owned by Lewes Ice Plant Rentals LLC is zoned industrial. The request is to change the zoning to R-4, medium-density residential. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Flu cases drop as season continues
The Division of Public Health says the number of flu cases reported in a single week has declined. For the week ending Feb. 24, there were 893 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, a sharp decline from the record-setting 1,521 cases reported the previous week, said Andrea Wojcik, spokeswoman for the Division of Public Health.

The 893 new cases bring the season total to 6,674 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases for the 2017-18 season, she said, the highest number of confirmed cases since record-keeping began in the 2004-05 season. Wojcik said there were five more flu-related deaths, bringing this season's total to 28, which ties the highest death total on record in 2014-15. The deceased individuals ranged in age from 53 to 92; all five were from New Castle County and they all had multiple underlying health conditions.

Another strong storm expected this week
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook, March 5, with the poor weather beginning the afternoon of Tuesday, March 6, and lasting until the evening of Wednesday, March 7. The NWS said a wintry mix of precipitation is expected with the potential for accumulating snow, especially in far upper Delmarva, the Philadelphia metropolitan area, central New Jersey and points to the northwest. The NWS said a northeast wind around 15 to 20 mph is forecast to become northwest. Wind gusts in excess of 30 mph are possible. The wind along with accumulating wet snow may bring down tree limbs and utility wires, resulting in power outages.

GOP reintroduces school safety measures
According to a March 1 press release, House Republicans will reintroduce two measures aimed at improving the security of Delaware's public schools and the safety of students and teachers. The first bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Miro, R-Pike Creek Valley, would require that every Delaware public school be equipped with at least one "panic button" capable of summoning law enforcement personnel in the event of an emergency.

Miro initially sponsored the measure as House Bill 33 in 2013. After failing to get consideration, it was reintroduced in the following General Assembly as House Bill 96 in 2015. Previously, the Office of the Controller General indicated the bill would have a one-time maximum expense of $316,500 to equip more than 210 public schools with the potentially life-saving feature.

he second bill, sponsored by Rep. Danny Short, R-Seaford, establishes the Delaware School Safety and Security Fund – a competitive grant program that would issue awards of up to $50,000 per school to address current, unresolved safety or security issues. Initially introduced in 2013 as House Bill 34, the new version of this legislation will propose a one-time $5 million appropriation. According to the release, both of the bills are expected to be reintroduced shortly after lawmakers return to session on Tuesday, March 6. The measures will first be circulated for bipartisan support.

Dewey audit committee meeting March 9
The Dewey Beach Audit Committee has scheduled an executive session and meeting for 9:30 a.m., Friday, March 9, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. The agenda calls for the meeting to begin with the executive session, followed by a possible vote to accept the agreed-upon procedures report from TGM Group concerning procurement practices of the departments of police, beach patrol, building official, administration, billing and finance, parking/code enforcement.

Cape Henlopen school board meets March 8
The Cape Henlopen school board will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 8, in Love Creek Elementary. The board will hear a presentation on Cape High's textiles program and also a presentation on a high school trip to Paris in 2019.

Lewes budget meeting set March 7
Lewes Mayor and City Council will continue discussing the fiscal year 2019 budget at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, at city hall. As part of the discussion, council will review capital projects and consider potential action of Department of Transportation projects in the city. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.