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AROUND DELAWARE

Delaware State News - 8/17/2017

DOVER - The Delaware Department of Finance and the Office of Unclaimed Property warned citizens Tuesday about websites that claim you must pay a fee to have your missing money returned to you.

These websites tell consumers that they will receive their missing money after paying fees that can range anywhere from $12 to $29.99, officials said.

The Office of Unclaimed Property said it does not cost citizens anything to retrieve unclaimed funds from the State of Delaware, and websites such as www.neverclaimed.com are not in any way affiliated with the State.

Unclaimed property can include forgotten bank accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and utility deposits and refunds. Accounts that are considered abandoned have been turned over to the state after years of inactivity.

The State does not charge fees for searching the unclaimed property website database, or for making a claim.

Claimants will be asked to supply personal identifying information, such as contact information, social security number, etc. to assist the state in validating ownership rights to the property -but they will never be asked for your bank account information.

"We are committed to returning the funds that are rightfully yours," State Escheator David Gregor said. "Our goal is to ensure that no Delaware citizen is taken advantage of by one of these websites."

Anyone wishing to search for unclaimed funds held in their name, can use the State of Delaware offi-cial website, delaware.findyourunclaimedproperty.com/-or call 855-505-7520 to work directly with a claims auditor within the Office of Unclaimed Property.

Emailed questions can be sent to escheat.claimquestions@state. de.us.

Pipe replacement coming in Bridgeville

BRIDGEVILLE - The Delaware Department of Transportation alerted motorists Tuesday that the upcoming removal and replacement of a crossroad pipe will impact Trinity Church Road between Whitney Swamp and Smith roads.

The replacement will take place from 7 a.m. next Monday to Friday, Aug. 25, pending weather. Detour signage will be posted for motorists.

Laurel bridge to close for replacement

LAUREL - The Delaware Department of Transportation said that its contractor, Zack Excavating will close the bridge over Thompson Branch on Whaleys Road between Wooten and Little Hill roads for an upcoming replacement.

The closure is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23 until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, pending weather.

This project involves the replacement of the existing corrugated metal pipes with precast concrete pipes.

Additional work includes minor reconstruction of the roadway approach and placement of riprap in the stream to prevent further erosion.

Detour Routes include:

From eastbound Laurel Road, turn right onto Lowes Crossing Road, turn right on Careys Camp Road and return to Whaleys Road.

From northbound on Whaleys Road, turn right on Careys Camp Road, turn left on Lowes Crossing Road, turn left on Laurel Road and turn left onto Whaleys Road.

Detour signage will be posted for motorists.

Gov. Carney signs bill to help prevent child abuse

WILMINGTON -Gov. John Carney on Tuesday signed into law Senate Bill 102, legislation supported by the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children that develops a coordinated training program for educators to detect and prevent child abuse.

The bill consolidates Delaware law to improve child sexual abuse training and detection, suicide prevention, anti-bullying programs, criminal youth gang detection, and teen dating violence and sexual assault prevention.

Senate Majority Leader Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, sponsored the bill, which passed the General Assembly with unanimous, bipartisan support. It applies to all public schools, including charter schools, and vocational school districts.

"Beau Biden had a deep and unyielding commitment to protecting children from abuse, and I am honored to continue supporting his mission by signing this legislation into law," said Governor Carney.

Said Sen.Henry, "Our schools are places of learning, but they also provide vital services to our kids. It's on all of us to recognize and intervene in bullying, youth violence, child abuse, and teen depression, but it's clear that our schools are a critical part of that fight."

The Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children, which advocated for the legislation, continues Beau's lifelong commitment to protecting children from the threat of abuse and neglect, the governor's office said.

In 2011, Beau Biden and his partners at the Delaware Department of Justice, Prevent Child Abuse Delaware and the Delaware YMCA pledged to train 5 percent of Delaware's population in the only evidence informed child sexual abuse prevention program in the country -Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children. The Beau Biden Foundation continues to deliver the program, and to date, over 27,000 Delawareans have taken the training.

"We're thrilled to see Senate Bill 102 signed in to law," said Patty Dailey Lewis, Executive Director of the Beau Biden Foundation. "Delaware leads the nation in child sexual abuse prevention training. In the next few years, we will reach our goal of educating 5% of our population on ways to recognize the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse, react responsibly when a child divulges they've been abused, and work to minimize opportunities for predators to harm children. Teachers and school staff are on the front lines of child protection - we stand ready to lead the way and assist them in fulfilling their training requirement."

Schoolchildren and educators will benefit statewide, officials said.

"By streamlining the non-academic trainings required by school district and charter school staff, Delaware is providing our state educators with additional flexibility and support," said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.

"Schools are now able to reduce the burden of having multiple, different trainings and can also mix and match their training to meet specific professional development needs. This is a win for all educators in the state."

Knowledge and training will boost efforts in thwarting child abuse.

"As we strive to bring greater awareness to issues such as child abuse and neglect, bullying, teen dating violence, youth gangs and suicide prevention, we recognize that our community partners are on the frontline, helping us protect Delaware's children every day," said Josette Manning, Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.

"Delaware has thousands of enthusiastic and dedicated educators, school nurses, and counselors, all of whom have frequent contact with our children and play key roles in keeping them safe. Senate Bill 102 will provide one more tool to help them be the voice for our children. Working together, we can provide a brighter future for Delaware's children."