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NOVEMBER 29, 2024
Fungal disease has strawberry farmers concerned, cautious
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 21, Issue 48
FREE
’Tis the season
By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter Concerns about a disease striking strawberry crops have led one local grower to make the hard decision to not grow strawberries this year. Another grower has decided to go forward with his crop, but with caution. Danny Magee of Magee Farms in Selbyville and Lewes said he and his family have decided not to grow strawberries this year because of reports of a fungal disease that has hit strawberry starter plants or “plugs” coming from Canada. Meanwhile, Paul Parsons of Parson’s Farm in Dagsboro has planted his 2025 strawberry crop and is preparing to cover the plants for the winter. The disease, called neopestalotiopsis, causes fruit to rot and leaves to spot. It can cause strawberry plants to die. While the disease does not seem to have affected plants from western states, such as California, those grown in the Coastal Point • Kerin Magill
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Wright has optimism in District, new board By Mike Smith Staff Reporter Leolga T. Wright — who has been a member of the Indian River School District Board of Education, representing District 3, since 2012 — rose to vice president of the board in 2020 and took the helm as president last year after the “no confidence” departure of Rodney WRight Layfield. Last year, she was the school board president who presided when Layfield’s brother, Sussex Central High School Principal Bradley See WRIGHT page A3
Above, members of the Indian River High School Tri-M Music Honor Society roast marshmallows at Santa’s Letters annual mailbox delivery on Sunday, Nov. 24. The group helped organizers during the night’s activities. Below left, Santa’s Letters cofounder Sean Malone greets Santa. Below right, Cody Harford of Ocean View has a serious chat with Santa.