Sports
Fun
Magic
Illian on the move
‘Mez’ gets his shot on the big stage
Community unites for Morgan
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JUNE 14, 2024
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Bridge project delayed a year
Volume 21, Issue 24
FREE
‘It’s just a beautiful thing’
By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter The reconstruction of the bridge over “the ditch” on Route 54 west of Fenwick Island has been delayed by a year, representatives of the state Department of Transportation and the engineering firm AECOM announced this week. Construction on the bridge is now scheduled to begin in October 2026 — a year later than the original projected start date. Preliminary work at the site is set to begin in May 2025. Project officials said Monday that the delay is the result of issues with both underground and overhead power lines, as well as the recent construction See BRIDGE page 2
DNREC replacing dune line By Mike Smith Staff Reporter
Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert
The Sussex Shores Homeowners Association operates and maintains a private beach in North Bethany. Over the past two weeks, through someone’s action and in violation of state law, a dune line there was excavated, sand was removed, and the sand was levelled to improve the view and beach area access for the property owners, according to a homeowner and DNREC officials. Now, Sussex Shores may face $200 in fines for breaking through the coastal sand dune (per incident) up to a maximum of $5,000 for the level of damage and cost to rebuild it, according to DNREC natural resources police. DNREC workers spent two days last week, including labor and equipment, repairing the dunes at taxpayer expense, and the dunes have now been restored. However, the dune-grass plantings and root system that holds a dune line toSee DUNE page 3
Above, Audrey Herr is taken aback as she realizes she is receiving a car outside of her place of business, Carolina Street. Right, Herr takes control of her new vehicle.
Local woman receives car from employer’s efforts By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Almost 24 hours later, Audrey Herr was still so surprised by the 2015 Buick Encore SUV the community jointly bought for her, after her employer started a fundraiser, that she was “still in shock.” “It’s just a beautiful thing. I had no clue this was happening. I told everybody who was there they deserved Oscars for not letting on,” Herr said, referring to how Paul and DeeDee Phillips, owners of Carolina Street Garden & Home in Fenwick Island, carefully planned the moment Herr would be presented with the car, even hiding 20 or so guests at a home across the street and hurriedly getting a tractor-trailer that had arrived to make a delivery to the store to move out of the way. As soon as it was gone, Mrs. Phillips was outside behind
the store, where Herr — whom she praised for being a hard worker and dedicated employee, and who has been with her 20 years — was taking a quick smoking break. “I said, ‘I have a mess out front here, and I need you to come right away.’ She said, ‘OK. Can I finish my cigarette first?’ And I said, ‘No. I’m sorry. I need you right now,’” Phillips told Coastal Point the morning after the Monday, June 10, bestowal. When Herr saw the bright blue four-door car with a litSee CAR page 3