WCTR News

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has recently announced a series of planned awards and investments in Kent County, totaling more than $2M in total funding that will benefit Kent County and its residents, businesses, and communities. Among the recipients, $100,000 to Main Street Rock Hall for site development and construction of a community multi-use area on a vacant lot
$150,000 to the Town of Betterton, to provide extensive renovations to the Betterton American Legion Building, including a new roof, windows, ceilings, floors, and a kitchen update and $500,000 to Washington College toward the construction of its Innovation Plant, to name just a few.

Kent County voters will elect three county commissioners this year, but the deadline to file as a candidate is fast approaching. According to the Kent County News, candidates seeking to run as a Republican or Democrat must file by Feb. 24 in order to appear on the ballot. Primary elections will be held in June, with the general election scheduled for November. All three seats on the Kent County Board of County Commissioners are up for election. President Ronald H. Fithian and Commissioners Albert H. Nickerson and John F. Price currently serve on the three-member governing body.

The composition of the Board of Kent County Commissioners will be the topic of what is being described as a “community conversation” hosted by the Democratic Club of Kent County on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Procolino’s Pizza. The public is invited. Currently there are three county commissioners, all elected at-large. The Feb. 19 program will explore a proposal to increase the number of commissioners to five and to elect them by district rather than at-large.

The Town of Centreville MD is launching a new market study to identify the opportunities and challenges that affect Centreville’s economic vitality and to provide a strategic vision for the future. Join them for the Main Street Market Study Kickoff on February 17, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Details can be found at qac.org.

A house explosion on Valentine’s Day in Kent County killed a 68-year-old homeowner and destroyed a Chestertown residence, while five family members escaped, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal. FOX 45 News reports the Office of the State Fire Marshal said it is continuing to investigate the explosion and fire that happened at 6904 Pentridge Court in Chestertown. Firefighters were told one occupant was still inside and that five other family members had escaped safely. Deputy state fire marshals worked throughout the night and found the homeowner, Charles William Heaps, 68, beneath multiple layers of debris.

Officials have identified the driver who died after his tractor-trailer went into the water under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel early Sunday. 13NewsNow reports Ronnie Andrews, 61, of Robersonville, N.C., died in the crash, according to a press release from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. His body was recovered Sunday evening by Crofton Diving of Portsmouth. The crash happened around 6:40 a.m., authorities said. The truck went overboard from the southbound lanes near the North Channel Bridge, just south of Fisherman’s Island. A single lane of traffic is currently open near the scene of the accident in the southbound lanes. The lane closure will remain until guardrail and curb damage can be repaired, which may take several days.

Kent County Commissioners met with departments including Economic and Tourism Development, Planning, Housing and Zoning and Public Works during their regularly scheduled meeting Feb. 3. The Kent County Unified Development Ordinance would allow cannabis processing facilities in certain commercial areas of Kent County, and had a third reading and was approved by both Commissioner Ron Fithian and John Price, (absent was Commissioner Albert Nickerson). This would allow Pneuma Solventless, Inc, a small, state-licensed cannabis processing business to operate in Rock Hall where they have a location already proposed.

On Wednesday, deputies from the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported theft in the 23000 Block of Holly Park Drive in Preston. EasternShoreUndercover.com reports upon arrival, deputies interviewed a victim regarding a transaction made on Facebook Marketplace. The victim stated they had paid $400 to an individual identified as “Mary Murray” for the purchase and delivery of a couch. The payment was facilitated through Zelle. Following the transfer of funds, all communication with the seller ceased, and the item was never delivered. The investigation is ongoing.

The Caroline County Commissioners introduced three zoning bills at their weekly meeting Tuesday. The Star Democrat reports a zoning map corrections bill introduced Tuesday would allow the planning director to administratively correct minor technical or clerical errors in zoning maps. According to Commissioners President Travis Breeding, the maps have been transferred from paper to digital over the years, causing slight variations on the locations of zoning lines. Caroline County Director of Planning and Codes Crystal Dadds said in order to fix the zoning lines, legislation is needed to correct the mistake.

A man was arrested for telephone misuse after allegedly making numerous calls to emergency services on February 2, 2026. The incident began around 10:36 p.m. when dispatch advised Sgt. Davidson that the individual, identified as Jeremy Stack, was repeatedly contacting multiple agencies. Easternshoreundercover.com reports
Stack reportedly called the 911 Center, Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack, Centreville Police Department, Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff, and the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Department.
Dispatch indicated that Stack was expressing displeasure regarding the outcome of a previous call for service.