DOVER – Two Delaware racing officials have been named chairman and secretary of the Organization of Racing Investigators, which represents racetracks, regulatory agencies and law enforcement involved in upholding the integrity of horse racing.

Serving as chairman for the 2015-2016 term will be John F. Wayne, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, while DTRC Inspector Francis J. Swift will serve as ORI secretary. Delaware Park will host the next ORI annual conference in March 2016.

“These training conferences bring together investigators from across North America to network and share information toward the goal of protecting our industry from wrongdoing,” Wayne said. “The information we learn and contacts we make at these conferences create bridges between jurisdictions that are important in trying to keep honesty in racing. A black eye in one jurisdiction can spread to others.”

Other ORI board members elected or appointed ORI’s recent annual event at the Meadowlands were Deanna Nicol, Vice Chairman (Tampa Bay Downs); Mark Ludwick, Treasurer (Iowa Department of Public Safety); Doug Murray, Sergeant At Arms (TRPB), Lance Morell, Eastern Region Representative (Parx); Antoinette Sperle, Central Region Representative (Indiana); Leasa Johnson, Western Region Representative (New Mexico); Kevin Murphy, Eastern Canada Representative (Ontario); and Rick Murchison, Western Canada Representative (British Columbia).

Lifetime achievement awards were presented to James P. Gowen, recently retired vice president at the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, and David Rogers, director of security for Delaware North at Phoenix Greyhound and other properties. “They are both outstanding individual who dedicated their careers to maintaining integrity in their respective sports,” said outgoing ORI Chairman Chris Clark.

Speakers at the 2015 conference included keynoter Ray Paulick of The Paulick Report; Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International; and Dr. Dionne Benson, executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

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Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Director of Communications and Marketing
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520

Photos are available for media use on Flickr.

DOVER – A special exhibition of Delaware’s agricultural heritage is receiving strong support from the Delaware business community. The Delaware Century Farm Portraits project is being backed by M&T Bank (Presenting Platinum Sponsor), Growmark FS (Exhibiting Silver Sponsor) and the Delaware Farm Bureau (Bronze Sponsors) as part of the initiative to fund the 10 paintings of Century Farm owners and the farms they have preserved for generations.

The art exhibition will open at the Delaware Agricultural Museum & Village in Dover from May 1 – June 30, with a special public reception on May 14, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will feature a special catalog and documentary to record the project and highlight ways that agriculture continues as a strong part of Delaware’s economy.

Artist and project coordinator Mark S. Reeve of Milford said that the sponsors were a natural fit for the project, with M&T’s financial solutions for agricultural businesses, Growmark FS’s continuing scientific innovations, and the Delaware Farm Bureau’s ongoing efforts to strengthen agriculture.

The project is a partnership between Reeve and the Delaware Department of Agriculture to create 10 paintings of Delaware Century Farms, which have been in continuous family ownership and sustained farming for more than 100 years.

“What was really exciting while speaking with many of the owners was how they and their ancestors had to innovate and dedicate themselves to preserving these family farms as agricultural properties,” says Reeve. “Seeing the ways they retooled themselves and stayed viable can perhaps provide inspiration to other farm owners struggling with with their futures.”

Participating farms include Cooch’s Bridge Farm, Newark; Woodside Farm Creamery, Hockessin; Fairview Farm in Lincoln, former home to founding Delawarean Robert Houston; and the Miller Farm in Frederica, one of the 10 original William Penn land grants.

Sponsorships are available through April 1. The May 14 reception will include exhibits from M&T Bank and Growmark FS and presentations on agricultural financing from M&T Bank and the Delaware Young Farmers Program from the Delaware Department of Agriculture.

For more information, contact Mark S. Reeve, 302-841-8379, markreeveart@gmail.com, or on Facebook at facebook.com/markreeveart.

(WILMINGTON, DE) – Attorney General Matt Denn, Representative J.J. Johnson, and Senator Margaret Rose Henry announced legislation Monday to update the list of crimes classified as violent felonies. The purpose of the statute is to ensure that crimes listed as statutory “violent felonies” are truly violent felonies as the term is commonly used.

“The classification of a felony as a ‘violent felony’ has significant consequences for a defendant under Delaware law,” said Attorney General Matt Denn. “A conviction of a violent felony can impact the terms of a defendant’s bail, a convicted defendant’s habitual offender status and accompanying sentence, the minimum mandatory sentence that may apply to a felon who is later convicted of illegal possession of a firearm, and a convicted defendant’s eligibility for a sentence modification.”

A significant change proposed by the legislation is the removal of some drug possession crimes from the list of violent felonies. Specifically, the bill would remove drug possession felonies where the quantity of drugs in question did not make the defendant a presumptive drug dealer under the statutes as they are now written.

With the legislation in place, two felonies would be added to the list of statutory violent felonies, they are Promoting Sexual Solicitation of a Child, and Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence.
“These are acts of violence, Denn said, “and should be included on the list of statutory violent felonies.”

“Delaware’s criminal statute is in need of some revisions, and this effort to revamp our violent felonies laws is a good step in that direction,” said Rep. J.J. Johnson, who chairs the House Corrections Committee. “The offenses we are removing really aren’t violent and don’t belong, while the ones we are adding deserve to be placed in the statute. I’m pleased to see the Attorney General actively looking at our criminal justice code and finding ways to improve it and make it more accurately reflect what is just and fair.”

“This bill gives greater clarity to the courts and to the public about who Delaware’s true violent offenders are and who they are not,” said Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Surely those who harm our children or our police officers should face stiffer penalties and greater scrutiny than someone who possesses drugs with no intent to sell.”

The bill was drafted in conjunction with senior felony prosecutors in the Attorney General’s office, and has been reviewed by representatives of major law enforcement organizations.

In addition to Rep. Johnson and Sen. Henry, co-sponsors of the legislation include Representatives Stephanie Bolden, Deborah Hudson, Earl Jaques, Jr., Helene Keeley, Harvey Kenton, Joseph Miro, Edward Osienski, Charles Potter, Jr., Michael Ramone, Peter Schwartzkopf, Bryon H. Short, Melanie Smith, and David Wilson, and Senators Colin Bonini, Ernesto Lopez, Robert Marshall, and Bryan Townsend.

Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell issued the following statement today in response to the announcement that Nancy Targett, dean of the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, will serve as interim president of the University of Delaware, effective July 1:

“Dean Targett is an excellent choice to lead the University during this time of transition. As a member of my transition team when I was first elected Governor, Nancy offered valuable input and advice. In the years since, the State has called upon Dean Targett for her expertise on issues impacting Delawareans, including how to combat climate change and addressing conservation efforts.

“She is recognized and respected nationally as an expert in her field, but more importantly, she has developed a reputation in Delaware as a dedicated leader, with a deep understanding of the important link between the University and the state. I look forward to working with her in her new role.”

Addressing the efforts of the search committee, Governor Markell said: 

“The members of the Presidential Search Committee, co-chaired by Terri Kelly and Don Puglisi, represent the varied, important connections between the University and the greater Delaware community. Though diverse in their association to the University, they share a unified focus in selecting a president who will build on the tremendous progress achieved during President Harker’s tenure, which helped to strengthen Delaware’s economy and grow our workforce. I am confident the committee will be successful in achieving this goal.”

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Every student, here at William Penn and across Delaware, deserves the opportunity to graduate high school ready to enter college or a career. But we can’t fulfill that responsibility if we don’t know when our students fall behind. For a long time, that’s what happened for many young people, particularly from disadvantaged populations – especially among minorities. It’s why civil rights groups like the Urban League are among the most vocal advocates for statewide assessments.

These tests are the most effective methods we have to identify all students who need extra help and ensure they get the right support. The fact that assessments play an important role in supporting our students means we must invest the time and resources in getting them right. While effective tests are vital, unnecessary tests don’t provide educators with valuable information. And they take away valuable teaching time.

So this past week, I announced an effort to identify and evaluate assessments required at the state, district, and school levels so we can eliminate repetitive or ineffective assessments. We’ll decrease the testing burden on students and teachers and increase the time available for instruction. However, we must also improve our assessments and recognize their value, not try to end them.

The push by a small, but vocal group to opt students out of state tests is unproductive for our schools, and unfair to the young people who might miss out on help they need. Educators and parents deserve a consistent way to track and compare the progress of students and ensure they are on track to getting the skills required to be ready for college or career.

By supporting our most effective assessments and eliminating others, we’ll better support our educators and students. And we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.