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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
December 6, 2013
Regional Digest
Flu Vaccines Urged
BERLIN – In celebration of National Influenza Vaccination Week, which begins on Sunday, the Worcester County Health Department is encouraging all residents ages six months and older to get vaccinated for the 2013-2014 seasonal flu. The flu vaccine is available to all Worcester County residents ages six months and older at the health department locations in Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins may be accommodated. The hours of operation for the health department offices in Berlin and Snow Hill are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., while the Pocomoke office is open from Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. People age 65 and older can choose to receive either a standard flu vaccine or the high dose flu vaccine, which may result in a stronger immune response against the flu in this age group. FluMist is available free of charge to any Worcester County school-age child in pre-K to 12th grade. However, the vaccine is in limited supply and was provided through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene school influenza vaccination program. The health department will bill Medicare or Medicaid for the flu vaccine. For all others, the suggested donation for the injectable flu vaccine is $15. No one will be denied service due to inability to pay.
. . ‘There Is No Indication Of Motivation And We May Never Know His True Intent’
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Rector/Priest Michael Moyer of Berlin is pictured participating in Tuesday’s services for David Dingwall at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Photos by Chris Parypa
Wicomico Scores Refund
SALISBURY – Wicomico County officials this week announced a $14 million bond refunding transaction completed last week saved county taxpayers an estimated $850,000 in future debt interest expense. The refunding was provided by a direct bank loan with PNC Bank at an interest rate of 2.94 percent. The debt being refunded was originally issued in 2008 primarily for major education construction projects. “As county executive, I am committed to grasping opportunities to do better with our taxpayers’ money,” said Wicomico County Executive Richard Pollitt. “It’s further justification of Wall Street’s high confidence in our stewardship of the public trust as evidenced by our recent historic bond ratings upgrades.”
County Earns WIP Grant
SALISBURY – Wicomico officials this week announced the county has been awarded over $49,000 from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for the first phase of its Watershed Implementation Projects (WIP). The grant funds will be used to pay a significant portion of the engineering services associated SEE NEXT PAGE
FROM PAGE 4 es and collecting surveillance video that clearly showed Sterner purchasing gasoline in a container at the Shell station at the foot of the Route 50 bridge a few blocks away from the church just about 20 minutes before the blaze. “He purchased gasoline from the Shell station and transported it to an area near the church where he doused himself and ignited the fire in front of the Shepherd’s Crook,” said Hartley on Tuesday. “He then walked into the Shepherd’s Crook, fully engulfed in fire, and came into contact with the adult female victim. Three others safely made it out. We conducted numerous interviews and collected evidence indicating Sterner, using the gasoline as an accelerant, ignited the fire and entered the building with a significant amount of fire on and about his person.” OCPD Captain Michael Colbert said at Tuesday’s press conference the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the manner of Dingwall’s death a homicide caused by smoke inhalation. The medical examiner’s office has also ruled Sterner’s manner of death as suicide by way of thermal burns and smoke inhalation. Colbert said the investigation remains open and new details would be provided as they become available. “We’re still going through the process, and we’ve exhausted most of our witness interviews, but there is still one more victim we need to interview and the investigation remains open until such as time as we can interview the other victim,” he said. Colbert said the investigation did not include any evidence of Sterner’s intention in the incident, only that it appears he attempted, and succeeded, at killing himself.
“There is no indication he was trying to single anybody out, nor is there any evidence he acted with malice toward the church,” he said. “There is no indication of motivation and we may never know his true intent. We are fairly certain he intended to take his own life, but there is no evidence of intent as far as the church or any individual.” Colbert said the investigation is being treated as a homicide. “The investigation remains open and we’re treating it as a homicide,” he said. “Once we’ve concluded our investigation, we will forward all of the information to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review.” Hartley addressed the issue of the possible relationship between Sterner and the female victim. “At some point after he ignited himself, he did come into contact with the female victim, but to what extent we do not know,” said Hartley. “There has been no indication thus far of any relationships between Sterner and the victims. There is no indication, positive or negative, of a relationship between Sterner and the victims.”
Hartley and Colbert said their agencies were not formally prepared to release any information on the female victim. “She is the victim of a serious crime,” said Colbert. “We’re not going to reference her name or any details on her condition, just as we wouldn’t do in any criminal investigation.” Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan spoke at Tuesday’s press conference and referenced the grief experienced by the St. Paul’s parish and the entire Ocean City community. “I’m no stranger to press conferences, but this is certainly a rare one involving an incident so shocking that it has devastated our entire community,” he said. “On behalf of the town of Ocean City, I want to express sympathy for the female volunteer and our sincere condolences and prayers for the Dingwall family. Our community as a whole mourns the loss of Father David and all of our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this very sad time. He will be forever remembered for making Ocean City a better place.”
Ocean City Fire Marshal David Hartley and OCPD Captain Michael Colbert address the media during a press conference this week.
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