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With a number of large projects on the horizon, the county finance department provided a head-start to the budget process with an overview to the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports Jeff Rank, director of budget and finance presented data from a Capital Budget Work Session including a preview of major capital projects currently in the planning stages for the upcoming five years.
The total capital project expenditures programmed for the current year and planned for the next five years is about $285 million, according to Rank.

The State Fire Marshal has ruled that Tuesday’s structure fire in the 300-block of Union Church Road was accidental. The cause was determined to be failure of heat tape that had been applied to a water line in the crawl space. The Evening Enterprise reports the fire, which originated in the crawl space, was brought under control in five minutes, according to a news release from the fire marshal’s office. No injuries were reported.

Molly’s Mart at 12503 Augustine Herman Highway in Kennedyville, is closed until further notice due to a fire originating in the kitchen area. Kent County News reports the gas pumps will remain open, also the adjacent Molly’s Place Sporting Goods and Molly’s restaurant will remain open at their regular hours. The fire originated in the kitchen and did not extend out to other areas of the store. No injuries, no word yet on a cause.

Rock Hall residents showed up to offer support for their local liquor store, Rock Hall Liquors & Deli, an establishment serving the area for several years. Kent County News reports following two hours deliberation, the Kent County Commissioners decided unanimously to grant the requested Class A liquor license for beer and wine, but not liquor — to the Rock Hall One Stop Shop — a compromise between both establishments.

Dwight Wilmot of the Chestertown Lions Club has been named a Melvin Jones Fellow by Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) in recognition of his commitment to serving the world community. Named for the founder of Lions Clubs International, Melvin Jones, the fellowship is one of the Foundation’s highest recognitions, honoring a commitment to humanitarian service.

Queen Anne’s County announces that longtime County Attorney Patrick Thompson has transitioned from contractor to full-time employee, effective November 6, 2024. This change coincides with Thompson’s decision to close his private practice. Thompson, who has been practicing law since 1975, has served as the Queen Anne’s County Attorney since 1980. Over his distinguished career, he has also served as the attorney for the Town of Centreville and Chestertown. This new role will enable Thompson to continue his invaluable service to the County, with a renewed focus on addressing county matters exclusively.

A new proposal aims to limit police traffic stops, sparking debate over road safety and racial equity.
WBOC reports the proposed legislation seeks to curb so-called “random traffic stops” by narrowing what qualifies as a primary violation—grounds for an officer to pull over a vehicle. If passed, the bill would remove certain infractions, such as non-functioning headlights, brake lights, or tail lights, as well as illegal window tinting, driving without mirrors, driving in bus lanes, and littering, from the list of primary violations. Supporters argue the changes would address racial disparities in traffic stops, which they say disproportionately affect people of color.

If you are a landowner in Kent or Cecil County who is interested in conserving your property, there is funding available through the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s (ESLC) Land Protection Initiative. This initiative is a joint effort between ESLC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services to increase the amount of land in conservation easements on the Delmarva peninsula. The project focuses on both working land and habitat preservation to enhance the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Washington College is one step closer to finalizing a settlement after a class action lawsuit over data stolen in a ransomware attack was filed this summer. Documents filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court show more than 13,000 people — current and former students and employees of the school — were affected by the data breach. Though the final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for May, the court granted the plaintiffs’ unopposed motion for preliminary approval of the settlement. The plaintiffs say in filings that Washington College’s data was breached for about a month between February and March 2023, in what the college called “a potential ransomware incident” by an “unauthorized actor.”

The search is on for three suspects in a brazen store robbery last week. Deputies went to the Nike Outlet Store at the Queenstown Outlets in reference to a theft that had just occurred. The complainant advised that three African American women had entered the store and left with approximately $2,000 worth of merchandise that they did not pay for. They left in an unknown direction in a silver sedan. The footage could not be accessed at the time, and Deputy Smith will be following up. The investigation is on-going.