THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2007
VOL. 12 NO. 9 NEWS HEADLINES HERITAGE - The Heritage Shores golf course and development in Bridgeville got under way four years ago. Now there is more exciting news for club members and non-members. Page 2
50 cents
Soldier leaving for 2nd tour in Iraq By Daniel Richardson
INCREASE - In an emergency workshop last week, the Greenwood Town Council approved a boost in wastewater rates to cover penalties being imposed on the town by neighboring Bridgeville. Page 3 REALIGNMENT - The Delaware Department of Transportation recently announced start of the $19.5 million intersection realignment. Page 5 CHUNKIN - Punkin Chunkin, which raises thousands each year for local charities and for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, will be featured Friday on the Montel show. Page 11 OPEN HOUSES - Looking for your first house or a step up? See open houses on pages 10-11. CRIME WATCH - Blades Mayor David Ruff sets the date for a Community Crime Watch group meeting. Page 12 CHILD CARE - Rita Hovermale presents the school board with a strategic plan for the Woodbridge Child Care Center. Page 13 SPECIAL GIFT - Find out the connection Seaford Volunteer Fire Dept. has with Abaco Island at the north edge of the Bahamas. Page 14 SUSSEX WEST - The Post 6 Sussex West Patriots split a doubleheader after topping cross county rival Sussex East in American Legion baseball last week. Page 41 LITTLE LEAGUE - Nanticoke and Woodbridge Little League results and photos are on page 43.
INSIDE THE STAR BUSINESS 6 BULLETIN BOARD 20 CHURCH 24 CLASSIFIEDS 32-36 EDUCATION 18-19 ENTERTAINMENT 28 GENE BLEILE 44 GOURMET 16 GROWING HEALTHY 51 HEALTH 49-51 LETTERS 31 LYNN PARKS 17
MOVIES OBITUARIES ON THE RECORD OPINION PAT MURPHY PEOPLE POLICE JOURNAL SNAPSHOTS SPORTS TIDES/WEATHER TODD CROFFORD TONY WINDSOR
7 26 39 54 38 48 37 52 41-47 55 25 31
Sergeant Scott Smoot, 153rd Military Police Company of the Delaware National Guard, stands with his wife, Heather, who is expecting in July, before he leaves for his second Middle East tour. Photo by Daniel Richardson
By the time this is printed, Sergeant Scott Smoot of Seaford will be in Fort Dix, N.J., training for his second tour in the Middle East. In September of 2002, Smoot was stationed in Saudi Arabia when the first bombs were dropped on the city of Baghdad at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Smoot remained in Saudi Arabia until May of 2003, when he returned to the United States. A graduate of Seaford Christian Academy, Smoot has lived in Seaford since he was nine years old. Smoot’s father, Scott, and his stepmother, Suzannah, live in Seaford. Smoot joined the National Guard in 2000 at the age of 19. “I took a year and went to college,” Smoot said, “...then the recruiter called up...the first reason I joined was for college money, 100% free college tuition...I’ve never used it.” Smoot is on military leave from his current position as a corrections officer at Smyrna Correctional Facility. “It’s a good job,” Smoot said of Smyrna Correctional Facility. “Not everyone can do it. I have a duck’s back, so nothing bothers me.” Continued on page 4
Burkets volunteer decades of service to SCCA By Lynn R. Parks When Jim and Barbara Burket were in high school together in Portsmouth, Va., they were both in the marching band. Jim played the saxophone and Barbara, a few months older, was a majorette. “You could say that I have been following her all my life,” joked Jim. That band experience helped form a love of music for both that lives to this day. Soon after moving to Seaford in 1963, the Burkets became involved with the Seaford Community Concert Association, a non-profit organization, formed in 1949, that brings up
to five concerts to the area every year. “I’ve always felt that it’s important for a community to have something to offer in the way of entertainment,” Barbara said. In 1965, the Burkets volunteered to help drum up memberships in the organization. And within a few years, both were officers for Seaford Community Concert Association. Jim was named president in 1971 and Barbara became secretary shortly thereafter. Both have served in those capacities until now. Effective with the conclusion of the association’s 2006-2007 conContinued on page 4
Jim and Barbara Burket became involved with the Seaford Community Concert Association after moving to Seaford in 1963. Photo by Lynn Parks
Visit our website to subscribe: seafordstar.com