Uncategorized

A highlight of the Caroline-Dorchester Fair this year was the official opening and dedication of a much-needed building extension last week in the 4-H Park on Detour Road outside Denton. The Caroline Review reports local dignitaries cut the ribbon to open a 1,200-foot extension on the east end of the exhibit barn sponsored by Preston Automotive Group and Tri Gas and Oil.

On August 5, a fraud incident was reported to the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office. The victim reported encountering a security warning pop-up on her computer, which caused her system to freeze. Upon further review, she discovered $650 had been withdrawn from her bank account. Following this, the victim was contacted by a suspect who instructed her to withdraw $15,000 and meet in her bank’s parking lot. While at the bank, the suspect redirected the victim to an Annapolis, Maryland location. The victim did not follow the suspect’s instructions. Deputies later contacted the suspect, but the call was ended by the individual.
The investigation into this case remains ongoing.

Kent County Health Officer William Webb has announced his intention to retire effective Oct. 1, the Kent County Health Department announced in a news release. The Evening Enterprise reports the KCHD will conduct a “comprehensive search” for Webb’s successor. If necessary, an interim health officer will be named “to fulfill the duties during the search process.” Webb has served as the health officer here since December 2018.

On Aug. 21, the Democratic Club of Kent County will host Mary Boswell-McComas, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools, for a presentation and discussion about the challenges facing Kent County schools, as well as the district’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan. The Kent County News reports a key focus of the plan is the construction of a new middle school in Chestertown, along with other priorities for academic growth and community engagement. McComas has been superintendent since July 1, 2024, and has nearly 30 years of experience in public schools. The public is invited to attend.

Police arrested two men from Denton and cited three teenagers following the discovery of a stolen vehicle in Annapolis this week. The vehicle was located unoccupied, with the keys still in the ignition and a BB gun inside. Police spotted a group in the same area matching the descriptions seen on security video. Five individuals were detained for further investigation. One of the individuals was confirmed as the person seen on video with the stolen vehicle. A 55-year-old man and a 33-year-old man, both from Denton, were arrested. Additionally, a 16-year-old male, a 17-year-old male, and a 16-year-old female were cited in connection with the incident.

The Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Sheriff Gary Hofmann recently as part of its ongoing seminar series, where he provided an in-depth look at the latest scams affecting businesses and individuals — and the steps they can take to protect themselves. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports
Hofmann outlined how small businesses, which often lack training and robust IT resources, are frequently targeted. Scammers may use stolen credit cards to place large orders, leaving businesses unaware until it is too late. To reduce risk, Hofmann recommended printing invoices and verifying identification when fulfilling pickup orders.

The Caroline County Board of Education has worked to update its strategic plan, which is a philosophical outline for the next five years of growth and guidance for CCPS. The plan is now available to view on the CCPS website and involves the following goals, along with more fine-tuned methods on how the Board plans to achieve them: Goal 1: Academic Excellence, Goal 2: Wellness, Goal 3: Equity, and Goal 4: Communication. The Board of Education’s next meeting will be held on September 2, which also happens to be the first day of school for Caroline County.

A 38-year-old woman was arrested Aug. 1, in Chestertown on charges originally filed in 2014 in connection with the disappearance of her two young children. Myeasternshoremd.com reports Catherine Hoggle was taken into custody around 8 a.m. in the Foxley Manor neighborhood, with assistance from Chestertown police. Hoggle is in custody after a grand jury indicted her on two counts of murder in the 2014 disappearance of her children, Sarah Hoggle, 3, and Jacob Hoggle, 2. The children were reported missing on Sept. 7, 2014, the last day they were seen. Their mother was the last person seen with them, the release stated.

Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) recently announced the appointment of Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jim Moran as Vice Chair of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) for Fiscal Year 2026. The BRTB serves as the federally designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Baltimore region. It plays a critical role in coordinating regional transportation planning efforts by working closely with local, state, and federal partners and oversees programs that improve transportation infrastructure, safety, freight movement, and long-term project funding across the region.

Queen Anne’s County Animal Services is once again joining shelters across Maryland for the return of the “Maryland 3,000” pet adoption challenge. Throughout the month of August, adoption fees will be waived at participating shelters across the state. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports locally, Queen Anne’s County Animal Services is encouraging residents to help find loving homes for as many animals as “paw”-sible.
The shelter currently has 246 animals available for adoption — including dogs, cats and one guinea pig — according to Adoption Manager Kayla Bateman. Although adoption fees are waived during the campaign, all regular adoption procedures still apply.