Delaware
Sussex broker tapped to lead Delaware Association of Realtors
George Thomasson, a Sussex County Realtor and associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, was installed Jan. 12 as the 2024 president of the 4,400-plus-member Delaware Association of Realtors by his longtime broker, Bette Gallo. The ceremony, held at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club, included installation of the organization’s full slate of officers and directors for the year.
At the Inspire: Inaugural Luncheon, Thomasson shared his 2024 strategic initiatives to inspire future association leaders with a leadership academy, bolster the awareness of Realtors’ value to the public, and sign a memorandum of understanding with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers to create a more inclusive environment for Black real estate professionals.
As president, Thomasson will preside at all meetings of the DAR board of directors and executive committee, and will serve as an ex officio member of all DAR committees and work groups. He will also serve as the official spokesperson for the association on issues related to the real estate industry as well as local residential and commercial markets in Delaware. He also will represent DAR and its members on the National Association of Realtors board of directors and at local, state and national functions.
Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Thomasson’s journey in the industry began in 1987 when he obtained his D.C. real estate license. His career has spanned various ventures, from co-founding the Eklektikos Gallery of Art in Georgetown, D.C., with his life partner of 30 years, Michael Sprouse, to relocating to Delaware and rekindling his passion for real estate in 2003 at Gallo Realty (now BHHS PenFed Realty). Also, he serves on the Lewes Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Commission.
Thomasson boasts a distinguished track record of service within the Sussex County Association of Realtors, including his presidency in 2022. He also held the pivotal position of 2023 DAR Public Policy Committee chair and has been an esteemed DAR board member since 2018. With this extensive background, Thomasson brings a wealth of experience and unwavering leadership to his new role.
The full slate of 2024 DAR officers includes: President George Thomasson (Sussex County), President-elect Scott Farnan (New Castle County); Vice President Steve Schmidt (Kent County), Treasurer Steve Alexander (Sussex County), and Chief Executive Officer and Board Secretary Wesley T. Stefanick.
Directors installed from Sussex County are SCAOR President Adriane Gallagher, Bruce Plummer, Kevin Thawley, Allison Stine, Joe Maggio and Dr. Susan Giove. Chrissy Steele of Sussex County, immediate DAR past president, and Trina Joyner, SCAOR National Association of Realtors director, were installed as general members.
For more information, go to delawarerealtor.com.
Delaware
38-year-old motorcyclist killed in Wilmington crash, police say
A man riding motorcycle was killed in a crash in Wilmington on Saturday afternoon, Delaware State Police said.
The crash occurred at around 1 p.m. at the intersection of Limestone Road and Ocheltree Lane, police said. An investigation has found that the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on Limestone Road when he was struck by a Honda Accord that was trying to make a left turn onto Ocheltree Lane from the southbound side of Limestone Road.
The man on the motorcycle tried to avoid the crash by laying the motorcycle down on the road, but the motorcycle slid into the Honda, causing the man to be ejected from the motorcycle, police said.
The motorcyclist, who has been identified as a 38-year-old from Wilmington, was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The man’s name is being withheld at this time so next of kin can be notified, police said.
According to police, the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and had a green light at the time of the crash. The Honda Accord, which was driven by a 77-year-old woman from Edgewood, Maryland, had a red blinking arrow light.
The woman was uninjured in the crash and police said they are still investigating the exact cause. No charges have been announced.
Delaware
Massive fire destroys historic church in Wilmington, Delaware
A fire tore through a church in Wilmington, Delaware, leaving most of the historic structure in ruins.
Battalion Chief of the Wilmington Fire Department, Robert Pryor, told NBC10 that the fire broke out around 3 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Mother African Union Church along North Franklin Street.
Pryor said the fire spread throughout the entire church, shooting flames 20 to 30 feet into the air.
It took crews over an hour to get the fire under control.
Wilmington Fire Department
Wilmington Fire Department
Wilmington Fire Department
Wilmington Fire Department
While firefighters battled the flames, they also evacuated the surrounding homes due to falling embers, according to Pryor. Those residents have since returned to their homes.
Residents in the area told NBC10 that they smelled the fire before they saw it.
“I looked up the street and the flames were higher than that steeple,” said neighbor Kathleen Brawders.
Wilmington Fire Department Wilmington Fire Department 
The building is now structurally unstable, and no one is allowed inside, Pryor shared.
The cause of the fire is now under investigation.
Delaware
Delaware man charged with 2 gas station armed robberies, escaping police chase
NEW CASTLE COUNTY, Del. – A Wilmington man was arrested and charged in connection with three armed robberies in New Castle County earlier this month, police announced.
What we know:
Michael Reynolds was charged on Friday with eight felonies, including three counts each of robbery and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, according to the Delaware State Police.
The first robbery happened on May 3, at a Shore Stop on South Old Baltimore Pike in Newark. According to police, Reynolds walked into the store around 8:15 p.m., armed with a knife and wearing a mask. He demanded money from the clerk, police said, then walked off.
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The next robbery happened less than 24 hours later. Around 7:30 p.m. Reynolds is accused of doing the same thing at a Shell gas station on New Castle Avenue in New Castle. Police say he walked in with a knife and demanded money from the cash register.
After this robbery, officers were able to identify the suspect’s car, a white Ford Taurus, and appeared to find it in Wilmington. Officers tried to chase the car, but the driver got away. Police found the car abandoned.
Reynolds was arrested shortly after that. Once in custody, police said they connected Reynolds to “additional incidents” New Castle County that are currently under investigation.
What we don’t know:
Police did not say what those other incidents were.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Delaware State Police Department.
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