WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Sunday issued the following statement on weather conditions and encouraged Delawareans to follow the latest forecasts and emergency preparedness resources online:

“The Delaware Emergency Management Agency is closely monitoring the approach of Hurricane Florence, as well as Hurricane Isaac farther out in the Atlantic. We are communicating and coordinating with Delaware state agencies, local partners, FEMA officials, and authorities in surrounding states. Emergency management officials will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on any protective actions that should be taken in response to Hurricane Florence. Delawareans and visitors should be prepared in the event that Delaware feels an impact from the storm. It is still too early to tell what impact Delaware will experience, but it is never too early to plan and ensure you are prepared. Delawareans should visit preparede.org for tips and monitor your local forecasts.”

For the latest weather forecasts and emergency preparedness tips, visit preparede.org and de.gov/weather, and follow updates on social media:

Prepare Delaware
Delaware Emergency Management Agency
National Weather Service – Mount Holly, N.J.
Delaware Department of Transportation

Reminder for the week: Hunters should observe surroundings, take safety precautions.

DOVER – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Aug. 27-Sept. 2 made 3,126 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 151 citations. Officers responded to 90 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. An increased Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

• On Sept. 2, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers provided security patrols using marine patrol vessels Uniform and Alpha during the Pot Nets Bayside Labor Day fireworks.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Incident of note:

• On Aug. 31, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers arrested a Frederica couple for theft and multiple commercial crabbing violations near Frederica.  A DNREC press release was issued regarding the incident.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife area map violation (1).

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: No F.I.N. (4), unlicensed fishing (6), trespass to fish (2), possession of undersized white perch (1), possession of undersized striped bass (1), possession of undersized flounder (1), possession of over-the-limit hard clams (1), possession of undersized blue crabs (11), crab pot tampering (8), and unlawful method of take of conchs (6).
Commercial: Lifting a crab pot belonging to another commercial fisherman (22) and unlawful take of shellfish (44).

Boating and Boating Safety: Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol (1), operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1), negligent operation of a motor vessel (1), operating an unregistered vessel (2), no navigation lights (1), no boating safety certificate (2), no life jacket on a child age 12 or younger as required by law (4), allowing use of a non-compliant vessel (1), operating a jet ski without a life jacket (2), and failure to observe slow no wake (1).

Public Safety: Illegal operation of an off highway vehicle (1) and possession of marijuana – civil (2).

Other: Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (20)*, theft under $1,500 (2), and conspiracy in the third degree (2).

*Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at http://de.gov/ogt.

Are you AWARE?
Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police advise hunters to become familiar with state, county, and local regulations before choosing their hunting spots and to always be observant of their surroundings and take appropriate safety precautions.

Only the owner or occupant or a person with specific permission from the owner or occupant can legally discharge a firearm in the firearms safety zone located within 100 yards of an occupied dwelling, house, or residence, or any related barn, stable, or other outbuilding. The statewide safety zone for in-season archery deer hunting is 50 yards. Within these safety zones, it is illegal for anyone other than the owner or occupant to hunt, trap, pursue, disturb, or otherwise chase any wild animal or bird without advance permission of the owner or occupant.

Upstate hunters should also note that New Castle County has its own ordinances, including a 200-yard firearm safety zone from homes, structures, and camps north of I-295 and I-95 and a 100-yard firearm safety zone south of I-295 and I-95 in which firearms may not be discharged. A 50-yard safety zone for in-season archery deer hunting is in effect for all of New Castle County. For more information, please check New Castle County laws and code.

To report hunting violations or accidents please call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24-hour dispatch line at: 302-739-4580 or 1-800-523-3336. 

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DEFWNRPolice/.

Follow Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police on Twitter, https://twitter.com/DE_FW_NRPolice.

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The Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) of the Delaware Department of Justice is pursuing criminal charges against a Sussex County-based contractor accused of defrauding multiple Delaware homeowners.

Charges currently pending against Sergio Izzo, Jr., 32, of Lewes, include 4 counts of Theft, 2 counts of Issuing a Bad Check, 2 counts of Home Improvement Fraud, 2 counts of Unlawful Use of a Payment Card, 2 counts of Forgery Second Degree, 2 counts of Criminal Impersonation, and 1 count of Providing False Statements to Hinder an Investigation. Izzo conducted business as Izzo & Son Turf Company, LLC, based in Long Neck.

Allegations in the cases are the Izzo accepted payment from several different victims for home improvement work that he then did not substantially complete, and did not provide refunds. The charges also related to allegations that unauthorized charges were made to customer credit cards, and that he accepted delivery of materials from a building supply company and failed to pay for them.

DOJ Consumer Protection urges other homeowners who believe they may have a similar complaint about Izzo or Izzo & Son Turf Company, LLC, or have information to share with authorities, to contact DOJ Special Investigator Dan Daly at (302)752-3215.

Generally, DOJ Consumer Protection advises Delawareans hiring a contractor for home improvement work to be alert for scams, and help avoid them by doing homework before hiring a contractor:

• Contractors should always be bonded and maintain all required licenses for mechanical work
• Get references and follow up on them
• Talk to friends and neighbors about a contractor’s reputation
• Never pay for the work in cash or in full up front

If consumers suspect they are a victim of home improvement fraud, they should contact their local law enforcement agency to make a police report.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

DOVER – The fourth meeting of the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held from 9 a.m. – noon, Wednesday, Sept. 12, at DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office at 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.

More information about the Sept. 12 RAC meeting (including the agenda) can be found on the state public meeting calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60440.

The four CZCPA work groups – Economic Effect, Environmental Impact, Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, and Offsets – also each meet bi-weekly for the purpose of providing the CZCPA RAC with support on technical subject areas. Work group meetings scheduled in September are:

• Offsets, Tuesday, Sept. 11, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office (Pat Ellis Conference Room), 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, 9 a.m.
• Economic Effect, Tuesday, Sept. 11, Grass Dale Conference Center, 108 Reedy Point Road, Delaware City, DE 19706, 9 a.m.
  • Environmental Impact, Wednesday, Sept. 12, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office (Conference Room B), 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, 1 p.m.
• Risk Evaluation and Financial Assurance, Wednesday, Sept. 19, location and time to be determined (TBD)
• Offsets, Tuesday, Sept. 25, TBD
• Economic Effect, Tuesday, Sept. 25, New Castle County Government Center (Executive Office Conference Room), 87 Read’s Way, New Castle, DE 19720, 9 a.m.
• Environmental Impact: Wednesday, Sept. 26, DNREC’s Lukens Drive Office (Conference Room B), 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720, 1 p.m.

Upcoming monthly CZCPA RAC meetings, each starting at 9 a.m., are scheduled for the following dates and locations, locations and times:

• Tuesday, Oct. 9, Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 South DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
• Wednesday, Nov. 7, DNREC Lukens Drive Office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle DE 19720
• Tuesday, Dec. 11, Bellevue Community Center, 510 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809

All RAC meetings and related CZCPA Work Group meetings are open to the public. Information about future meetings also can be found on the Coastal Zone Conversion Permits webpage. For more information, the public can sign up for the Coastal Zone Conservation Permit Act listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.us.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 240

DOVER – The Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) Subcommittee of the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 21, in the Training Room of Tidewater Utilities located at 1100 South Little Creek Road, Dover, DE 19901. The SWAP Subcommittee’s meeting agenda can be found on the Delaware Public Meeting Calendar at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/60369.

For more information about the Source Water Assessment and Protection Program, please visit http://delawaresourcewater.org, or contact Source Water Program Hydrologist Douglas Rambo at 302-739-9945.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 241