Government reporter, Carroll and Howard counties

Sherry Greenfield

Sherry Greenfield covers the governments for Carroll and Howard counties. Previously she reported on education in Washington County for The Herald-Mail, earning several Maryland Delaware DC Press Association awards. Sherry has more than 30 years of newspaper experience. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.

Shamrock Farm in Woodbine is one of the sites being considered for a training track that by Maryland horse racing that would complement a renovated Pimlico. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

The state wants to turn a Carroll County farm into an 800-horse training center. Neighbors are pushing back.

June 13, 2025 at 2:32 p.m.

The state plans to invest $110 million in turning Shamrock Farm in rural Carroll County into a cornerstone for Maryland's horse racing industry.

Carroll County Commissioners during an October 2023 meeting. The Carroll County commissioners have approved a grant intended to help dementia patients. (Jeffrey F. Bill/The Baltimore Sun/TNS)

Maryland Association of Counties says hardship continues from state budget cuts

June 7, 2025 at 6:03 a.m.

Maryland Association of Counties tell Carroll leaders that hardships continue from state budget cuts.

The official seal of Carroll County, Maryland, was adopted on July 1, 1977. This example is found inside the county office building on the floor of the main hallway. The official seal consists of three concentric circles, with the inscription “Carroll County Maryland” inserted between the inner and middle circles also having two stylized six-leaved blossoms located, one each, on appropriate sides of the same space between the inner and middle circle, also within the inner circle is a replica of the four-horse freight wagon with the year 1837 imposed above the wagon, this year being the time of the creation of Carroll County from parts of Frederick and Baltimore Counties. (Courtesy Tom Gordon III)

Carroll County government continues to enhance recruitment and retention efforts

June 5, 2025 at 4:52 p.m.

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners at their meeting Thursday unanimously approved a new position and grade classification system, along with an updated salary plan.

Route 32 at the Carroll County line looking north toward Sykesville. The Carroll commissioners are putting widening of 7.2 miles of Route 32, from Route 26 south to the Carroll County line, as a secondary funding priority in the state transportation plan.

What to expect when Carroll County’s 2026 budget goes into effect next month

June 4, 2025 at 4:47 p.m.

Carroll County's $581 million operating budget for 2026 budget goes into effect July 1. Included are increases to water and sewer rates for the third straight year.

Special Counsel Allen Culver announced his candidacy Tuesday for Carroll County State's Attorney in the 2026 election. (Staff File)

Allan Culver announces candidacy for Carroll County State’s Attorney

June 3, 2025 at 4:25 p.m.

Special Counsel Allen Culver announced his candidacy Tuesday for Carroll County State's Attorney in the 2026 election.

In Carroll County, communities living in the Union Bridge area and parts of Westminster have high concentrations of poverty, Ed Singer, director of the Carroll County Local Management Board, said in an interview. Areas around Kate Wagner Road in Westminster, and Bishop's Garth, an apartment complex located at 100 Charles St., are areas of focus, he said. (Brian Krista/Staff file)

Carroll residents asked to take child poverty survey as Congress proposes cuts

June 3, 2025 at 3:02 p.m.

An initiative is under way in Carroll County to target child poverty, even as Republicans propose cuts to Medicaid and low-income food programs.

Carroll County State's Attorney Haven N. Shoemaker, Jr., makes opening remarks at Carroll County's 10th Annual Drug Overdose and Prevention Vigil at St. John’s Portico May 23, 2025. Families, friends, and community members gathered in remembrance, support, and hope to honor those lost to overdose. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Longtime Carroll politician Haven Shoemaker says he won’t seek reelection

June 2, 2025 at 4:20 p.m.

Carroll County State's Attorney Haven Shoemaker said Monday he will not seek a second term in office in 2026. The Republican was first elected to the role in 2022.

Carroll County staff held the first of a series of open houses on the update to the county's 2035 Master Plan Thursday at Carroll Community College. Residents and staff were be on hand to discuss the update with interactive displays on topics like housing, transportation and infrastructure, economic development, and maintaining our rural character. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Could Carroll County’s landscape could look much different by 2035

May 30, 2025 at 3:32 p.m.

Carroll County could look much different over the next decade with swaths of new housing and commercial growth planned alongside preserved farmland. How much different it will look may be...

New shift commander lieutenants and station lieutenants for the Carroll County Department of Fire and EMS started their roles in the position at the beginning of March.

Carroll commissioners approve new Johns Hopkins contract for EMS medical director

May 29, 2025 at 4:13 p.m.

Kemp, an instructor with the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine’s Division of Special Operations Program and currently serves as Carroll’s operational medical director. She is not a county employee.

A Carroll Transit System TrailBlazer stops at the Westminster Senior and Community Center Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018.

Carroll County Transit bus service relies on federal and state grants; officials have few options if that money goes away

May 27, 2025 at 5:13 p.m.

Carroll County's Transit bus service relies on federal and state grants

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