Fall Festival time in Pocomoke City!

      10/4/25

      

                                                                             

 Photos courtesy Waulfhause Productions. See more:

https://www.facebook.com/WulfhauseProductions/

Time claims historic tree-

 (Shore Daily News)

The nation’s largest willow oak tree began its removal process Friday in Eastville.

If only this tree could talk. It likely witnessed the Shore’s men of military age mobilize for the American War for Independence.

(View news story:)
National Champion Willow Oak removed - Shore Daily News

A page from 1916's Maryland's Coloial Eastern Shore-

(Princess Anne)

(Continues with another page next Saturday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.)

Still accessible, BUT...

(Shore Daily news)

 

(View news story:)

Access to Chincoteague Refuge, Assateague Island to remain open during government shutdown - Shore Daily News

Parole denied-

 

(WMDT)

BERLIN, Md. – The man convicted of killing Gavin Knupp in a 2022 hit and run had a parole hearing in Worcester County (Thursday morning).

Tyler Mailloux pleaded guilty to the hit and run; his sentence was 10 years, but only 18 months were active.

He was eligible for parole after serving for half a year. He was denied parole at the hearing, and may now serve the remaining 12 months in jail.

On release, he’ll get 3 years of supervised probation and take a driver improvement program. Plus, complete 400 hours of community service.

Non-stop: Salisbury to Orlando!

(WBOC)

 

SALISBURY, Md. — Breeze Airways officially took to the skies from the Salisbury Regional Airport on Wednesday, marking the start of the airport’s first-ever nonstop service to Orlando, Florida.

(View news story:)

Breeze Airways takes flight from the Salisbury Regional Airport | Latest News | wboc.com

Remembering DFC Heller-

 

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

 10/1/25

Today, we remember DFC. Brian Keith Heller on what would have been his 61st birthday.

Brian gave the ultimate sacrifice on June 14th 2000, when he was tragically killed in the line of duty during a crash while serving our residents of Worcester County. His service, dedication, and love for our community will never be forgotten.

Though the years have passed, his memory continues to inspire us to serve with honor, courage, and compassion. We honor his life, his service, and his family, friends, and colleagues who still carry his memory in their hearts.

Please take a moment today to remember DFC Heller, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the betterment of Worcester County.

Gone but never forgotten. 💙🖤

Will Jessup closing affect ECI?

 
(Compiled from media sources)

In an economy move, Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced that the MCI correctional facility in Jessup will be closed.  Prisoners will be moved in phases to other facilities in the state, including those in Hagerstown and Cumberland. There's been no word so far if ECI in Westover will be assigned to take some of the inmates.  Jessup is a medium-security prison. ECI is the state's largest prison housing both medium and minimum-security prisoners.  Plans are for Jessup to be closed by the end of June, 2026. 

Outten in Salisbury closing-

 
Outten Brothers Furniture in Salisbury is closing.

View WMDT news story:

Outten Brothers to Close After 78 Years - 47abc

PPE Note: Outten Brothers in Salisbury and Pocomoke City originally were under the same ownership but later had separate owners. The Pocomoke City store opened in 1953 and closed in 2020.

Heavyweight contender!

 

This Shore-grown pumpkin is sure big, weighing in at over 800 pounds.

(View Shore Daily News story:)

Brown wins 4th at Virginia State Fair Pumpkin Contest - Shore Daily News

Model Train Club Open House-

 

  The Pocomoke Area Model Train Club invites you to join them for their Open House on Saturday, October 11th, from 10 to 3 at Pocomoke's Historic Train Station at the tracks at the end of Fourth Street.

  If you haven't been before, you'll be amazed at their exhibit.  And if you've been before, you'll be amazed again!

We asked... (Wallops Island history)

 
Tell me about Wallops Island prior to the U.S. Army establishing a base there. 

Before the U.S. Navy established a base in 1941, Wallops Island was used for grazing livestock and as a hunting and fishing resort. Its history dates back to the 17th century when it was first granted to English surveyor John Wallop. 

Colonial era and early American history

• Grant to John Wallop: The Crown of England granted the island to John Wallop in 1672 (or 1692). The island was then sold and resold several times over the centuries.
• Revolutionary War fort: A small coastal earthwork battery was built on the island during the Revolutionary War, likely to restrict enemy boat traffic. While it did not play a significant role in the conflict, the site remains a rare example of military construction from that period. 

19th and early 20th centuries

• Hunting and fishing club: The Wallops Island Association, Inc., a private club, acquired the island in 1933, though its members had owned the land since at least 1889. The club built a large clubhouse and hotel for its members and their families, who used the island for fishing, swimming, and hunting.
• Livestock grazing: The island's remote location also made it a suitable place for grazing livestock.
• U.S. Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard:
  • In 1883, the U.S. Life-Saving Service constructed its first station on the island, but it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1933.
  • The Coast Guard later constructed a new lifeboat station and observation tower in 1936, which it operated until 1947. The station's mission was to rescue sailors and salvage cargo from damaged ships. 

Transition to government control

• Navy expansion during WWII: The U.S. Navy commissioned the 
  Chincoteague Naval Air Station
   in 1941 on the nearby mainland and established the Naval Aviation Ordnance Test Station on Wallops Island itself.
• NACA acquires land: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor to NASA, leased part of the island from the Wallops Island Association in 1945 to establish a rocket launch site.
• Eminent domain: Following World War II, the federal government took permanent ownership of Wallops Island via eminent domain. By 1950, the resort clubhouse had been claimed by shoreline erosion, and the federal government had relocated the island's wild ponies to nearby Chincoteague. 
• 

My father's first job after high school was as a dump truck driver on Wallops Island. At that time, the only vehicle assess was the ferry which docked at the end of Pierce Taylor Road near Mappsville. The current bridge wasn't constructed until at least 1960.

Your friend,
Slim

Time Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke's newspaper; 2004 feature article.

 

(excerpt)

Pocomoke Public Eye note: In later years Alice R. Young was a longtime editor of The Worcester Democrat.

(See enlarged text below ad)

*October, 2004

(The Pocomoke Public Eye: Newspaper typo- 4th line below should read, "It was sold in the 1990's. Bottom of paragraph should read, "which used to be WDVM."  Note, Pocomoke City's Klein Leister was a financial partner in getting the Ocean City station on the air. The Pocomoke station's name change to WGOP occurred when the corporation owning the station switched call letters sending the WDMV letters to a station it operated on the western shore.  Choppy told a friend, "It broke my heart." Choppy likely felt the same way when fire destroyed the Pocomoke station in August, 2022,)

Salisbury Daily Times

tkforppe@yahoo.com