WCTR News

A petition has been filed requesting that Timothy O’Brien be removed from his position as Chestertown Council Member for Ward 1 was filed with the Circuit Court of Kent County this week. The Chestertown Spy reports the petition claims that O’Brien moved from Ward 1 to Ward 4 on October 23, 2023, which, according to the Chestertown Charter, should have automatically terminated his term as a council member. The petitioners argue that O’Brien’s continued service is illegal, and they seek court intervention to declare the seat vacant and to nullify any council actions taken since October 23, 2023.

Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience is hosting a bus tour and series of dialogues with experts aimed at furthering public engagement in the planning for a major artwork on the Custom House lawn along the Chester River in Chestertown. The forthcoming artwork will celebrate and honor the full arc of four centuries of African American history in the Chesapeake Bay region. The first event is November 4th at the school.

Recently, Washington College introduced a new logo during the spring semester as part of a revamp of its visual identity. Officials say a contemporary design incorporating traditional components was needed to make the College’s logo more recognizable and distinct. The new look will be fully implemented over the next academic year. The previous logo used George Washington’s original signature in his 18th-century script as its primary feature. Because cursive writing is no longer taught universally in K-12 education, the script—especially this highly stylized version—was difficult to read and not immediately recognizable for many prospective students. This was counterproductive when it came to name recognition and identity.

On October 11th, an officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of S/B Rt. 301/ John Brown Road, and made contact with the driver, identified asAdam Joseph Stingone. A VIN check was initiated on the vehicle and dispatch advised the VIN did not match the registration plate. Furthermore, they advised Stingone had an outstanding non extraditable warrant out of state and his Florida driver’s license was suspended. Stingone also advised his insurance on the vehicle was cancelled. The officer observed a glass smoking device with a bulb on the end of it, caked with both a burnt substance and an off-white substance, suspected to be a controlled dangerous substance. A clear plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine was also located between the driver’s seat and the center console. Stingone was placed under arrest and transported to the Sheriff’s Office for processing.

Fire officials say a propane leak is what caused a home near Cecilton to fall victim to an explosion Monday. The blast knocked the structure off its foundation, causing about a million dollars in damage and displacing two residents. No one was injured in the accident which happened at about 9:30am in the 400 block of Budds Landing Road. The Department of Permits and Inspections agents condemned the home after accessing the damage.

The Lions Club here will host its annual Halloween parade on Saturday, Oct. 26, stepping off at 1 p.m. The Evening Enterprise reports the Chestertown Lions Club-sponsored parade, which has been a holiday staple for more than 50 years, will travel down High Street from Kent Street to Queen Street. There will be marching bands, floats and costumed characters . Also, cash prizes and gift certificates will be awarded to the judges’ favorites in various age groups, from preschool to adult.

A Vineland man was shot and killed Friday night in his vehicle on Southeast Boulevard. The Press of Atlantic City reports officers responded to an area between Sherman and Grant avenues at 9:30 p.m. and found Mark A. Brown, 30, in the driver’s seat suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Inspira Medical Center Vineland, where he was pronounced dead. A 34-year-old Vineland man was a passenger in the vehicle and was found at an adjacent property suffering from a gunshot wound, the Prosecutor’s Office said. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was released. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

Robert Bell is the new executive director of the Kent County Public Library. Bell’s hiring was announced in a news release Friday, Oct. 18. He succeeds Arnessa Dowell, who served from January 2021 to April 2024 when she stepped down for another job opportunity. The Evening Enterprise reports Bell previously worked in academic and public libraries across the United States and abroad in China and Thailand for a total of about 20 years.

Queen Anne’s County High School has recently been awarded $70,000 to pursue the hiring of the district’s first School Security Employee (SSE), according to Joe Saboury, coordinator of school safety and security. The Star Democrat reports as of August, the district received funding from the Maryland Center for School Safety School Resource Officer (SRO) Adequate Coverage Grant under the 2018 Maryland Safe to Learn Act.
This funding allows school districts to hire an employee to serve as a supplement to the SRO already in place, he said. Resource officers already serving the school district fall under the direction and budget of the county sheriff’s office.

The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff is requesting the public’s help in identifying a shoplifting suspect caught on surveilance at the Queenstown Premium Outlets. Deputies accuse the suspect of stealing a handbag and keychain worth $558 after entering the Kate Spade outlet around 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 6.
The Sheriff’s Office alleges the suspect placed the stolen merchandise into a larger bag and exited the store without paying.