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DENTON — Denton’s April 2 Town Council meeting was filled with recognition for several community members, organizations, and endeavors.
The Council paid homage to the life and service of Mattis, a former Caroline County Sheriff’s Office K-9 who recently passed away. Denton Mayor Dr. Abby McNinch praised Mattis for having “faithfully served the community with exceptional skill, courage, and loyalty.” Mattis will be remembered as an asset in tracking suspects, locating missing persons, and ensuring public safety alongside his former handlers Trooper First Class Jacob Rideout and Sheriff’s Office Corporal Mark Hopkins.
Rideout was Mattis’ first partner. He explained that he named Mattis after the former Marine Corps Four-Star General, James Mattis, who was known in the service as “mad-dog Mattis.”
“I owe Mattis a lot…he’s a symbol for a lot of stuff,” Rideout said, noting that Mattis was present throughout major milestones in his life, including the birth of his children. Hopkins added that while it is still difficult to talk about Mattis’ passing, he is grateful the Town of Denton decided to honor Mattis’ contributions to the community.
The council also issued a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, welcoming representatives from CASA of Caroline. “Your continued support year after year matters greatly to us,” said CASA’s Victor Reynolds, “It helps to bring visibility to an issue that often goes unseen.” He said that more than 50 children in the county are currently waiting for a CASA advocate.
Reynolds also highlighted the upcoming “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign. “You’ll begin to see blue and silver pinwheels across the county…each of which is a visible reminder that every child deserves a safe and supported childhood,” he said. CASA Executive Director Kathleen Dormody also thanked the Town, saying she looks forward to continuing to grow the organization.
Bullock’s Deli also received recognition from the Town Council for its recent 50th anniversary. Councilmember Lester Branson recalled Bullock’s beginnings in 1976, when Rick and Betty Bullock purchased the Lockerman Shell station. Over the decades the business has expanded, now offering everything from breakfast to ice cream and gas. “It’s become the local hangout for a family-friendly atmosphere,” Branson said, “We congratulate you for your 50 years in Denton and wish you many, many years of serving the community.”
In other news, Denton was officially designated a Bird City Maryland community. Denton is the first of these in Caroline County and the fourteenth in the state. Pamela Kellett, the Bird City Maryland Coordinator, presented the town with its official sign and explained that the program, which was in 2019, encourages communities to support bird habitats and educate the public on how they can better protect birds.
Kellett highlighted several impressive aspects of Denton’s application to become a Bird City, including local native plant gardens, educational partnerships with students at the Caroline Career and Technology Center building bird boxes, and initiatives like a solar panel array at the wastewater treatment plant. She also announced that Denton has selected the Eastern Bluebird as its signature bird.
