The Caroline County Commissioners passed Legislative Bill 2026-005, establishing clear regulations and mechanisms to prohibit open-air burning of garbage, rubbish, and certain vegetation during drought-related conditions. The measure clarifies that a permanent county-wide ban is not in effect, but provides official authority for localized or county-wide temporary burn bans. The bill grants fire agencies the legal right of entry to extinguish illegal open-air fires and establishes civil penalties and judicial enforcement.  It also distinctly separates seasonal or weather-driven emergency rules from standard property maintenance codes, though a companion rubbish control bill (Bill 2026-004) was also advanced to curb large trash accumulations that lead to illegal burning.  

A former Sudlersville town commissioner,  Jonathan Keith Griffith, was sentenced Tuesday in the Circuit Court for Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. He had already pleaded guilty to stealing funds from the Town of Sudlersville in June of this year.  Judge C. Lynn Knight gave Griffith a twenty year sentence. Fifteen years will be served in the state prison system, with five more years suspended. Once released, he will serve five years of supervised probation.  The court also ordered Griffith to pay $336,881.11 in restitution to Queen Anne’s County.  Griffith is also barred from entering the town limits of Sudlersville once he is released. The court noted that any available assets he has could be used toward the restitution, as allowed by law.  The court acknowledged that full restitution could take many years to collect. Any payments Griffith makes will go to Queen Anne’s County to help recover the public funds that were taken.  County officials say no further comment will be made on this matter.