WCTR News

The Town of Ridgely claims it acted lawfully when it disbanded its police force in 2024, according to a federal court filing made last week. The Star Democrat reports responding to a lawsuit filed by former Ridgely police officers in U.S. District Court in August, attorneys representing town commissioners and employees submitted a motion to dismiss claims made against the town by eight plaintiffs — former Police Chief Jeff Eckrich, six other officers and one civilian employee. In the motion, submitted Friday, attorneys for the town argued Ridgely acted within its charter when eliminating the police department, a decision made for “legislative and budgetary” reasons, the motion states.

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) arrested a 14-year-old on Sunday for stealing a handgun from a locked vehicle. WMDT reports on Oct. 12, deputies responded to the 13000 block of Greensboro Road following a report of a theft from a minivan. Upon arrival on the scene, located at a church parking lot, deputies contacted the vehicle owner who reported that someone had stolen a 9mm handgun form the center console of the minivan.
An initial investigation by deputies identified a 14-year-old male from Marydel as the suspect. The juvenile was located at his residence with his mother, where he was questioned and ultimately confessed to breaking into the minivan and taking the handgun

A man was arrested last week after repeatedly trespassing on a boat at the Piney Narrows Yacht Haven in Queen Anne’s County. A victim informed a responding deputy that Nathanial Williams had boarded her boat and attempted to lock her out. Deputies located Williams at the nearby abandoned outlets. He was detained and formally warned not to return to the boat, with the advisory that he would be arrested if he did.
Ten minutes after Williams was released from speaking with law enforcement officers, the victim called 911 to report that he had come back to the boat. Deputies returned to the scene and found Williams standing on the vessel. He was then placed under arrest.

The three members of the Caroline County Commission further refined legislation to restrict solar development on farmland during its Oct. 7 meeting in Denton and agreed to provide county-based law enforcement to Federalsburg for a year. The Caroline Review reports Sheriff Donald Baker and Chief Deputy Capt. Rodney Helmer discussed the details of a memorandum of understanding, approved by the Commissioners, that spells out the terms of providing deputies to the town of Federalsburg, an MOU modeled after the one established with the town of Ridgely in 2024. Federalsburg has weathered a series of personnel and fiscal challenges since the beginning of 2025, including two police chiefs leaving the town’s employment. Of paramount concern to the County Commissioners was the town’s ability to pay the county for sheriff’s deputies.

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will reopen the MD 405/US 301 median crossover in Queen Anne’s County on Oct. 13, following a series of safety improvements. WBOC reports those upgrades include new rumble strips in both directions of US 301 before the MD 405 intersection, additional channelization on MD 405 west to improve visibility, tree trimming in the median, and the installation of digital speed display signs. The State Highway Administration will also host a public meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the Price Community Center, 121 Rabbit Hill Road in Church Hill.

Three men are facing charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old at a house party in Maryland, according to Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s officials. CBS Baltimore reports Kamryn Andrews, 19, of Seaford, Delaware; James Lawson, 20, of Queenstown, Maryland; and Travis Lissau, 27, of Centreville, Maryland, are all being held without bond, charged with manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment, officials said.
The arrest comes nearly four months after Christopher Parsley, 19, was shot and killed during a house party on June 1. The shooting occurred in the 1500 block of Centreville Road in Queenstown, according to officials.

Kent County commissioners are weighing whether to build a new middle school as residents challenge the state funding formula they say unfairly treats the county as wealthy despite being one of Maryland’s poorest. Kent County News reports during a recent meeting, hestertown resident Mike Waal presented research showing Kent County ranks near the bottom in total wealth but third highest in wealth per pupil — a discrepancy he says costs taxpayers millions. The issue has taken on new urgency as commissioners decide whether to build a new Kent County Middle School. The state would cover about two-thirds of the cost, or $35.1 million.

Preservation Maryland has awarded Sumner Hall in Chestertown its 2025 Stewardship Award. This award is presented to individuals or organizations in recognition of exemplary stewardship of Maryland’s historic buildings, collections, landscapes, and archeological sites. Preservation Maryland recognized Sumner Hall for its “ongoing preservation and interpretation of African American heritage in Chestertown, including its role as one of the few surviving Grand Army of the Republic halls built by Black veterans of the Civil War.”

The Easton Police Department (EPD) and Maryland State Police (MSP) are investigating a hit and run that killed a cyclist over the weekend. WMDT reports at approximately 7:50 a.m. on Saturday, officers discovered numerous pieces of vehicle debris and the body of a 68-year-old man under a tree. Officers report they attempted life saving measures without success. A preliminary investigation, initiated by EPD and the MSP Crash Team, found that the victim was struck by either a tractor trailer or box truck earlier in the day. The suspected vehicle has front
passenger side damage, including a missing mirror.

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center (UM SMC) at Chestertown recently acquired a new state-of-the-art MRI machine at its diagnostics center located at 100 Brown Street. The new MRI replaces an older machine and represents substantial advancements in patient imaging technology. The new MRI increases access and comfort for larger patients and for those who suffer from anxiety or claustrophobia. The Chester River Health Foundation has committed $1.2 million toward the purchase and renovations.