The Maryland State Fire Marshal is investigating an early morning fire that caused an estimated $450,000 in damage to a pole barn in Queen Anne’s County.  The fire was reported just after 3 AM. on August 11th, at a property on Wrights Neck Road in Centreville. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, the property owner discovered the fire inside a 120-by-60-foot pole barn.  The Goodwill Fire Company responded with 25 firefighters.  Luckily, no injuries were reported and no one was displaced.  The State Fire Marshal says the fire began inside the barn. The cause remains under investigation.  Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Upper Eastern Regional Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal at 410-819-3500. 

Local residents across Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, and Caroline counties are adjusting to the newly updated tipping fees for waste services, which were recirculated by regional municipalities on August 10th.  The updated regional waste disposal fees managed by the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) apply to two main sites: the Midshore II Regional Landfill in Ridgely and the Midshore I Transfer Station in Easton. These facilities collectively serve Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties.  The new fee schedules introduce baseline per-ton rate increases alongside strict specific surcharges for disposing of mattresses, yard brush, and tires.  Residents can verify further operational rules directly through the Caroline County Landfill Portal or the Talbot County Solid Waste Management Division.