Underwood & Associates has sued the Town of Oxford in Talbot County Circuit Court, alleging the improper withholding of over $200,000 in security funds related to the contentious Strand Beach shoreline restoration project. The project, designed to address Tred Avon River flooding, has been plagued by disputes since beginning in 2021.  The contractor asserts that Phase 1 of the $2.8 million “living shoreline” project is complete and that the town is unlawfully retaining their security deposit, while the town has moved to dismiss the suit, labeling it “meritless”, contending the work failed to meet agreed-upon specifications.  As of right now, work is halted on the project. 

A local church in Caroline County has been severely damaged following a late-night fire on Wednesday.  According to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, a passerby discovered and reported the fire at Church of Nazarene in Federalsburg just before midnight.  The Federalsburg Volunteer Fire Company took just over an hour to control the fire. A fire alarm was present in the church but was not operational, according to the Fire Marshal.  Luckily, no injuries were reported. Total damage to the church, however, is estimated at $350,000.   The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal Upper Eastern Regional Office at 410-653-8980.