WEEKEND #13, 2005

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

MAN CRITICAL AFTER DIVE INTO REHOBOTH BAY

A 36-year-old man from Chestertown, Maryland dove head-first from a pier at the Northbeach Restaurant in Dewey Beach Sunday evening and nearly drowned. Capt. Tim Cooper, Sussex County EMS spokesman, says the man stopped breathing and suffered spinal trauma. The state police helicopter landed next to the Dewey Beach tot lot and flew the man to Christiana Hospital where he is in critical condition late Sunday evening.

MAN CRASHES CAR INTO SILVER LAKE BRIDGE

A man crashed his car into the Silver Lake Bridge between Dewey and Rehoboth around 1:25 a.m. Saturday. According to the paramedic's radio report, the man struck the bridge at high speed. His vehicle was badly damaged but he had only minor injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt and his airbag deployed. Note the crack in the bridge's pillar (right).

TEMPERS FLARE OVER STOCKLEY LIFEGUARD PARKING AREA

This silver Lexus almost became at least the ninth vehicle to have been towed from this reserved lifeguard parking space on Stockley Street this summer.

The occupants of the Lexus returned as the wrecker from Blue Hen arrived around 1 p.m. Saturday.

The tow truck driver (left) demanded his show-up fee. Note the chains he attached to the front of the woman's Lexus to discourage her from driving away.

The police woman (blue blouse) had already issued the Lexus a citation for parking in the reserved lifeguard space. The women who parked the Lexus in that space insisted they were parked legally. One of them points to the sign (below) which appears over the other reserved lifeguard parking space with two arrows pointing downward. She noted the lack of painted lines on the curb and street. There is a faint white line on the street to the left of the sign that has been wearing away this summer.

The woman claimed she tore up her ticket and refused to pay the towing truck driver. A standoff lasted for about 20 minutes until the woman finally paid him. She said she normally visits Rehoboth Beach two or three times each summer.

Other Stockley Street tows from this same lifeguard spot this season include: June 25, June 26, July 1, July 3, July 9, July 22, July 24 and Aug. 7.

REINOS STILL CONFUSING VISITORS

Greg Guise and his girlfriend, visiting last weekend from Maryland, e-mailed this picture of Reino meter I-108 found on the island in the second block of Rehoboth Avenue.

They said they found it confusing because the Reino's label shows "I" which they thought was for space 1. But looking at the parking space, they later noticed that they were parked in space 5, but the arrow for space 5 points to the left and not toward the Rhino at the head of the space.

The Reino problems have confused so many visitors that the city's parking division issued a "Reino Meter Instructions" sheet which is sometimes stocked at the change machines. The flyer says "Using the 'new' City of Rehoboth Beach multi-space parking meter is simple" and goes on to explain how to identify and pay for your space.

FOUND IGUANA HAS BEEN RETURNED!

When Melissa Mallet found a 3.5-foot iguana crawling across King Charles Avenue Wednesday, she contacted the police, SPCA, local pet shops and animal hospitals. You may have seen her signs still posted this weekend on utility poles in south Rehoboth.

Mallet says she took the iguana to her work, gave it fruit and put it in a cage she had handy. Luckily, the family who lost the iguana spotted her sign later in the week and contacted her. She said it belong to the family's daughter who had already tearfully returned home to York, Pennsylvania. The iguana had crawled through a hole in the porch screen and was crawling around south Rehoboth for three days before being captured by Mallet.

BRUSH FIRE NEAR PARK PLACE CONDOS

Early Saturday evening Rehoboth Beach police received several calls about a smoky brush fire at State Road and Old Bay Road. It was along the canal near the Park Place Condos which was a "poster child" during the recent election. The witness who provided these pictures says a police officer extinguished most of the fire before firefighters arrived. Notice the smoke haze in the center of the right photo.

PETUNIA IN ODD PLACE

A petunia has been growing this summer in this concrete wheel-stopper on the Maryland Avenue side of the Gerar Place Condo in Rehoboth Beach.

SUNSET OVER REHOBOTH BAY

Thanks to WUSA photographer Greg Guise for sharing this picture he took last weekend.