News Staff

In Queen Anne’s County, last week, Deputies responded to a home in Chester for a report of fraud. Upon arrival, Deputies made contact with the victim who advised that someone posing as a police officer contacted him and stated that he had charges against him. To fix the charges, the victim needed to go to a Bitcoin machine and transfer money. The victim is out $2500. The investigation remains open.

Kent Reserve, the area’s first cannabis dispensary, is getting closer to opening. Set in the former BB&T Bank on Cypress Street in Millington, Kent Reserve will provide high-quality, affordable cannabis in a welcoming and inclusive space to medical and recreational customers aged 21 and over. The Chestertown Spy reports
Kent Reserve is led by longtime Millington resident Rahul Dutta and will proudly operate under a social equity license awarded to minority and women-owned cannabis businesses through the Maryland Office of Social Equity.

The annual holiday parade in downtown Chestertown is set for Friday, Nov. 29, stepping off at 5:30 p.m. The Evening Enterprise reports parade participants will gather in the Chestertown Business Park on Dixon Drive, and then follow the route down High Street to Cross Street. Judges will be seated on the reviewing stand in the 300-block of High Street, just off Fountain Park. Santa will take up residency in his Fountain Park house until about 7 o’clock the night of the parade.

The “dead zones” in the Chesapeake Bay—areas with little to no oxygen in the water—remain a significant concern for aquatic life, with recent reports indicating no reduction in their size. WBOC reports Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) revealed that dead zones in the bay have slightly increased compared to last year’s record lows. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, these zones, which harm marine and plant life, were about average this year, affecting roughly 10% to 13% of the bay.

On 11/16 at approximately 8:45PM, detectives responded to Beech Lane in Stevensville for a report of an assault that had just occurred at a party and an unconscious subject. A male subject, identified as 32 year old Joshua Bathras, had refused to leave the home despite being asked multiple times and had become angry when being asked again. Bathras then punched victim one in the face inside of the residence, knocking him unconscious. While outside he then punched victim two in the mouth and threw him into the ditch in the front yard. Victim one was transported by EMS due to the serious nature of his injuries. Batharas was placed under arrest and charged.

ShoreRivers announces the receipt the largest award in the organization’s history —more than $9 million in grant funding for six high-impact restoration projects across the Eastern Shore — through the State of Maryland’s Clean Water Commerce Account Program, administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment. One of these clean water projects will restore 4,143 feet of stream and 9 acres of associated floodplain wetlands in Queen Anne’s County on an active farm that drains directly into the tidal waters of the Wye River/Eastern Bay.

Chestertown’s First Ward council seat has been vacant since the resignation of Tim O’Brien, who had 13 months remaining on a four-year term. According to a legal notice posted on the town website, there will be a special election for the First Ward council seat on Jan. 21, 2025. Residents of the First Ward must be registered with the Kent County Board of Election Supervisors on or before Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. All Chestertown residents currently registered with the county are automatically registered to vote in town elections. The Kent County Board of Election Supervisors is located at 135 Dixon Drive in Chestertown; hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays — except holidays.

Update on a story we told you about last week. The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff and Queen Anne’s County Public Schools are aware of a social media post featuring misinformation, which claims that the unknown individual who visited Matapeake Elementary School on Thursday returned to Matapeake Middle School on Friday in a different vehicle and spoke with a school administrator before leaving.
The allegation was thoroughly investigated by both QACPS and the Office of the Sheriff. Through interviews and a review of the circumstances, it was determined that this claim was a rumor only.

Health Community Alliance is moving The location inside the Rock Community Church is now closed and they will be reopening in our a location December 8th, 21920 Civic Center Road next to the tennis courts. HCA will still be handing out Thanksgiving meals on the 24th, but out of the new location. They also need volunteers to help them move and to hand out the meals on November 24th. If interested in volunteering please go to www.HCAkent.org.

Local environmentalists are expressing concern about the future of the Chesapeake Bay Program under the incoming Trump administration. In the past, President-elect Donald Trump has proposed ending funding for the program, sparking worry among advocates dedicated to restoring and protecting the Bay. WBOC reports during his first term, Trump suggested cutting funds to the Chesapeake Bay Program, along with other ‘geographic’ environmental initiatives, arguing that redirecting these resources would allow the Environmental Protection Agency to focus on national efforts.