News Staff

Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff says be aware of a Smishing Scam affecting our area. Scammers are sending fraudulent text messages posing as a road toll collection service, claiming you have an outstanding balance and are at risk of a late fee. If you click the link and complete the form, please immediately contact your financial institutions to secure your personal information and accounts, and dispute any unfamiliar charges.

In solidarity with the National People’s March being held in Washington on Saturday, Jan. 18, and in communities all over the country, a Chestertown March will be held from 1-2 p.m. on that day, beginning in Memorial Park on High Street in Chestertown. The walk will proceed to Queen Street and Wilmer Park, where short presentations will be take place. The Kent County News reports all are invited to participate in the national day of action.

The League of Women Voters of Kent County will host a public forum for the open First District council seat in Chestertown on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. in town hall. The Evening Enterprise reports candidates Shelia Austrian and Dawson Hunter will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and then answer questions from the audience. The forum will be recorded and can be viewed on the LWV website at lwvkcmd.org.

62 year old Harry Risdon Lister III of Grasonville, received a 10-year sentence with all but 27 days suspended for a second-degree assault conviction. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports a judge also ordered Lister to serve 30 months of supervised probation, undergo a mental health evaluation, complete any recommended treatment, abstain from alcohol and drugs, and avoid contact with the victim. Lister entered an Alford plea, maintaining his innocence while acknowledging prosecutors had enough evidence for a conviction.

A Chestertown man charged with multiple counts of malicious destruction of property stemming from a New Year’s Day window- and door-shattering spree on South Cross Street now has a preliminary hearing February 7th in Kent County District court. 32 year old Brandon Phillips is accused of damaging the front window at Empty Hangers consignment shop, the glass door and alarm system at Boyer’s Jewelers and the front window at Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, all in the 100-block of S. Cross Street. He also allegedly destroyed two flag poles at Sultana Education Foundation located at 200 S. Cross St.

A staff report from the Chestertown Town Manager to the Mayor and Town Council, originally proposed for the (postponed) January 2, 2025 town council meeting, will now be submitted to the town council at their January 13, 2025 meeting. According to the Chestertown Spy it defines past and current initiatives, and states that the town will provide weekly updates through its website

The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff advising residents of a recent phone scam circulating in thecommunity where individuals impersonating Sheriff’s Deputies are extorting money from citizens. These scammers call from a spoofed number, making it appear to come from the sheriff’s office and falsely claim that recipients have warrants for their arrest, often citing missed court or federal jury duty. To avoid arrest, they demand immediate payment over the phone.
In some cases, scammers may also send emails that appear legitimate, further convincing victims by using official-looking logos and language.

Health education classes are being offered this year by the Rural Health Care Transformation initiative at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown. Three classes will be offered in a series of sessions that begin this month, beginning with, “Don’t Worry, Be Healthy,” a five-session class beginning Jan. 13 that offers tips for infection prevention, fire and burn prevention, medication safety, diabetes prevention and fall prevention.

Washington College’s Academy of Lifelong Learning is offering deep dives into politics, philanthropy and literature to kick off the January term. The Evening Enterprise reports the headliner on Thursday, Jan. 16 is international affairs expert Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution who previously worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. He will lead a table talk on current events in the Middle East.

During the holiday season, Region IV encompassing Kent and all other Eastern Shore Counties in Maryland, experienced a concerning increase in influenza cases, surpassing other regions and the state in prevalence. Kent County News reports Norovirus can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. The rates for Norovirus in Region IV have spiked, reaching a high of 160 per 100,000 residents.