WCTR News

The Washington College Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience has received a $339,000 Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives grant to further the work of its Chesapeake Heartland project, a digital humanities initiative that uses innovative technologies to explore the history of African American life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Chesapeake Heartland collects, preserves and shares primary sources, such as oral histories, photographs and archival documents, to tell the stories of African American individuals, families and communities in the Chesapeake region.

A special election is Tuesday, Jan. 21. The polling place is the Chestertown firehouse, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This is a special election, only for voters in the First Ward. The Evening Enterprise reports the winner of Tuesday’s election, who will be sworn in at the council’s first meeting in February, will serve out the remaining 11 months of Tim O’Brien’s term. O’Brien resigned in October as litigants prepared to file a lawsuit against the mayor and council because O’Brien continued to serve after moving out of the ward from which he was elected.

Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff is warning about a Financial Sextortion Scam. Scammers are sending threatening emails, claiming to have explicit and compromising footage of victims that they will send to their friends and family unless a Bitcoin payment is made. These messages often include the victim’s names, phone numbers, and addresses to make the threat seem more credible.
This is a SCAM. This messaging has been reported in communities across the country,

In solidarity with the National People’s March being held in Washington and in communities across the country on Saturday, a Chestertown March was held in Memorial Park . The Kent County Democratic Central Committee and the Democratic Club of Kent County are sponsoring the local march, which is being held two days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. A variety of advocacy signs on different topics were made available at DCKC headquarters prior to the march.

Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff reports Andrew Wilkins is wanted for Failure to Comply on original charges of Unlawful Taking of a Motor vehicle, Theft $1,500 to under $25,000, Theft $100 to under $1,500, Stealing Another’s Credit Card, and Credit Card Charge of Another Person’s Card $100 to under $1,500.
He is 44 y/o, 5’10, 160lbs, and his last known address was on Fallen Horse Circle in Queenstown, MD.
If you have information related to his whereabouts please contact our office at Sheriff-Info@qac.org or call the Anonymous Tip Line at 410-758-6666. For time sensitive information please call 410-758-0770.

Maryland’s second case of the H5N1 bird flu has been detected at a poultry farm in Queen Anne’s County, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Officials learned of the bird flu after conducting a routine sampling of the farm. The birds on the properties are being “depopulated” to prevent the spread of the disease and will not enter the food supply, according to the AG Department. Officials have detected the bird flu at four commercial poultry farms in the Delmarva region.

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.