News Staff

Approximately 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Kent County Health Department issued a press release, announcing the closure of Betterton Beach. The Health Department advised against swimming, water skiing and other direct contact activities including fishing. The press release stated the beach was being closed due to a sewage spill.

The Queen Anne’s County Department of Health is offering Back to School Immunization Clinics again this year. They’re held at 206 N Commerce St, Centreville and you need to make an appointment. The next one happens Wednesday from 8:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-3:30pm, also on August 14th, August 21st and September 18th.

At the recent County Commissioners meeting, County Commissioners presented visitors from University of Maryland Medical Systems with a proclamation declaring Queen Anne’s County a stroke smart county. Schools will be incorporating the “Stroke Smart: Spot-a-Stroke, Stop-a-Stroke, Save-a-Life” program into their training for students, faculty, and families. All health and safety-focused entities in Queen Anne’s County, including clinics, medical practices, pharmacies, EMS, and social services, will participate in improving stroke literacy.

Area anglers are reminded that targeting striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is prohibited from July 16 through July 31. This closure is necessary to protect the species, because when water and air temperatures rise in the hottest part of summer, fish are more vulnerable to dying after being caught and released.

The public is invited to the July 18 meeting of the Democratic Club of Kent County for a presentation by former Maryland Delegate Maggie McIntosh. McIntosh represented Baltimore City in the House of Delegates from 1992 until her retirement in 2023. The meeting will take place at The Kitchen at The Imperial, 208 High St, Chestertown, on Thursday, July 18; doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

A 37-year-old Centreville man has been handed 35 years in prison for a fatal shooting in Felton last year. Steven Smith shot and killed 36-year-old Charles Kupidlowski from a pickup truck on Reeves Crossing Road in Felton on March 16th, 2023. Investigators said Smith and Kupidlowski had an ongoing feud and Smith had driven to Reeves Crossing Road to confront him. Kupidlowski died at the scene.

It’s been there for generations but come Saturday, July 20th, crews will be removing the historic elm tree from in front of the Historic Courthouse in Centreville. The move comes following signs of distress and preliminary assessments indicating potential Dutch Elm Disease. Economy Tree Service of Queenstown has been contracted for this task and anticipates completing the removal in a single day. To facilitate this process safely, Lawyers Row will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

800 low income households in Kent County have received HP Chromebooks for personal use over the past year, far higher than the 500 originally expected. The Evening Enterprise reports the Kent County Local Management Board applied for the laptops through the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband’s Connected Maryland grant. Statewide, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Office of Statewide Broadband channeled $30 million to assist in digital equity and inclusion efforts, made possible through American Rescue Plan Act, state and local fiscal recovery funds.

Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office advising residents of another scam involving phone calls supposedly being made to people from their department. The caller tells recipients that they missed jury duty and threatens arrest unless payments are made for fines. Their advice if you get such a call; hang up, guard your information and if you’re unsure, verify with the office to allay any concerns.

67 year old Herbert Rayme Ratliffe of Chestertown faces a second-degree assault charge. The Evening Enterprise reports he initially was held in the Kent County Detention Center without bond. The offense is alleged to have occurred in the 8900-block of Georgetown Road, near Chestertown. The complainant was transported to a hospital for treatment of lacerations, according to a sheriff’s office news release.