Community

Wawa Announces Massive Data Breach, Potentially all Locations Affected, CEO Says

Wawa Announces Massive Data Breach, Potentially all Locations Affected, CEO Says

Chris Gheysens, the CEO of Wawa says they are investigating a data breach that has potentially affected all of their locations. Dear Wawa Customers, At Wawa, the people who come through our doors every day are not just customers, you are our friends and neighbors, and nothing is more important than honoring and protecting...
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Maryland State Police Investigating Crash That Killed Government Police Officer In Charles County

Maryland State Police Investigating Crash That Killed Government Police Officer In Charles County

Maryland State Police are investigating a crash that killed a Department of Defense civilian police officer early this morning in Charles County. Around 2:30 a.m., troopers from the LaPlata Barrack responded to the area of southbound Maryland Rt. 224 Chicamuxen Road and Sweden Point Road in Indian Head, on a report of a vehicle...
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The St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks Currently Seeking Community Input

The St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks Currently Seeking Community Input

The St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks is accepting input from citizens as the department develops their strategic plan. As part of that effort, the department is conducting a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. Input from the community through a short survey will aid in gathering information for strategic planning...
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Charles County Public Schools Hosts Fun Run in Support of the Southern Maryland Food Bank, Raises Over $5,000.00

Charles County Public Schools Hosts Fun Run in Support of the Southern Maryland Food Bank, Raises Over $5,000.00

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) hosted its first fun run last month to support the Southern Maryland Food Bank. More than 200 runners, walkers and families joined the Nov. 9 run around the La Plata High and Mary H. Matula Elementary school campuses as part of the first CCPS 5k Turkey Trot. Participants included...
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St. Mary’s College Athletics and Recreation Director Scott Devine to Retire in 2020

St. Mary’s College Athletics and Recreation Director Scott Devine to Retire in 2020

Scott Devine, director of athletics and recreation, will retire at the end of the 2020 school year. President of St. Mary’s College of Maryland Tuajuanda C. Jordan made the announcement. “I am incredibly grateful for the vision and hard work Scott has put into the St. Mary’s College athletics department,” said Jordan. “For 20...
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Healthcare Pinning Ceremony Recognizes 70 CSM Graduates for Completing Their Education and Workforce Development Healthcare Programs

Healthcare Pinning Ceremony Recognizes 70 CSM Graduates for Completing Their Education and Workforce Development Healthcare Programs

The College of Southern Maryland recognized 70 students for completing their Continuing Education and Workforce Development Healthcare programs Dec. 10 in a traditional pinning ceremony. “What an exciting day for our 70 completers, and those who are receiving their pins this afternoon of our Continuing Education and Workforce Development Healthcare programs in clinical medical...
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CSM Offering Classes for Homeschooled Students, Registration Now Open for Spring Semester That Begins January 24, 2020

CSM Offering Classes for Homeschooled Students, Registration Now Open for Spring Semester That Begins January 24, 2020

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is now providing special opportunities for homeschoolers during the school year. Known for its outstanding Kids’ and Teen College educational courses during the summer months, CSM is offering multiple fall and spring semester courses that are designed for kindergarten through 12th grade homeschooled students. The first classes were...
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JROTC Students Celebrate at the 11th Annual Col. Donald M. Wade Joint Services Military Ball

JROTC Students Celebrate at the 11th Annual Col. Donald M. Wade Joint Services Military Ball

High school students in the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps — better known as JROTC — gathered Friday, Dec. 13, for the 11th annual Col. Donald M. Wade Joint Services Military Ball held at North Point High School. The annual event celebrates the program that has a membership of more than 860 students attending...
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16th Annual “Shop with a Cop” was a big Success this Year in St. Mary’s County

16th Annual “Shop with a Cop” was a big Success this Year in St. Mary’s County

On December 14, 2019, the Optimist Club partnered with the St. Mary’s County Fraternal Order of Police, and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and hosted the 16th annual “Shop with a Cop” program. Children nominated by St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS), police officers, and other agencies in the community, were be picked...
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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Winter Break Calendar for 2019

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Winter Break Calendar for 2019

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will close at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 for its winter break and will reopen at 8 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The last day of full-term, 12-week and Minisession classes is Dec. 16. The winter break closure affects all facilities, including the campuses’ fitness centers and pools....
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Charles County Couple’s Dog Plays Role in $10,000 Mega Millions Win

Charles County Couple’s Dog Plays Role in $10,000 Mega Millions Win

A woman from Waldorf and her husband are regulars when it comes to Maryland Lottery jackpot games and play numbers significant to them and to their dog Chloe. When they played that combination on a $2 ticket for the Sept. 24 Mega Millions drawing, the lucky players matched four of the five white balls...
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Charles County Public Schools Holding Toddler Playgroups for Children Aged 18 Months Old to 4-Years Old in Charles County

Charles County Public Schools Holding Toddler Playgroups for Children Aged 18 Months Old to 4-Years Old in Charles County

The playgroups engage young children in hands-on play, story time and activities designed to prepare them to enter school. In the event of inclement weather or any CCPS closings or delays, the playgroups are canceled. The 24-hour CCPS weather information line is 301-934-7410 or 301-932-6656. The playgroups are held at Walter J. Mitchell, J.P....
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Letter to the Editor From Former Sergeant at St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office

Letter to the Editor From Former Sergeant at St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office

To the Editor, The following comments are addressed very specifically to St. Mary’s County Commissioners Hewitt, Guy, and Morgan. From 2006 to 2016 I was a Deputy Sheriff with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. I held assignments in Patrol, Investigations, and Special Operations as well as a number of collateral duties. I often...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint in the California/Lexington Park Area

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint in the California/Lexington Park Area

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police and the Maryland State Highway Administration, will be conducting a roadside sobriety checkpoint on Friday evening, Dec. 13, 2019, in central St. Mary’s County. The sobriety checkpoint will be conducted on Route 235 on Friday night in the California/Lexington Park...
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VIDEO: 86-Year-Old Waldorf Woman Gets Her Wish of a Lifetime

VIDEO: 86-Year-Old Waldorf Woman Gets Her Wish of a Lifetime

On Tuesday night, 86-year-old Bertha Nunn of Waldorf, made her TV acting debut with the airing of Crest’s new holiday spot. This was a special moment for all involved because Bertha Nunn was a wish recipient from a non-profit organization called Wish of a Lifetime that grants wishes for seniors across the country. This has...
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Birthday Ticket Treat Turns into $50,000 Powerball Prize for Charles County Woman

Birthday Ticket Treat Turns into $50,000 Powerball Prize for Charles County Woman

A federal government employee from La Plata bought herself a single $2 quick-pick Powerball ticket on Dec. 5 in celebration of her birthday. She didn’t give it another thought until after she and her son had dinner on Dec. 8, nearly 24 hours after the drawing. The Charles County resident checked the ticket for...
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VIDEO: Sheriff, FOP, and County Commissioner Release Statements After Sheriff’s Office Pay Raise is Voted Down in St. Mary’s County

VIDEO: Sheriff, FOP, and County Commissioner Release Statements After Sheriff’s Office Pay Raise is Voted Down in St. Mary’s County

FOP Lodge #7 President Elect, Austin Schultz provided SMNEWSNET with the following statement: Today the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County were asked to vote to give the hard-working men and women of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office pay parity with our surrounding jurisdictions. We did not ask for more, we simply asked to...
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Three Judicial Appointments Fills Vacancies in Court of Appeals, Anne Arundel, and St. Mary’s Counties

Three Judicial Appointments Fills Vacancies in Court of Appeals, Anne Arundel, and St. Mary’s Counties

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the following judicial appointments: Jonathan Biran for the Court of Appeals Richard Trunnell for Anne Arundel County Circuit Court James Lee Tanavage for St. Mary’s County District Court “The appointment of these qualified individuals to serve across our state’s justice system is paramount to upholding our responsibilities to the...
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CSM Welcomes Three New Executives to Leadership Team

CSM Welcomes Three New Executives to Leadership Team

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) announces the appointment of three new members to its leadership team. Ellen Flowers-Fields has accepted the position of associate vice president, Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CWD), effective Dec. 9. Erin Ebersole, Ed.D. has accepted the position of associate vice president, Planning, Institutional Effectiveness and Research (PIER), and...
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Former DOD Subcontractor Facing Federal Indictment for Allegedly Submitting False Claims for Hours Worked

Former DOD Subcontractor Facing Federal Indictment for Allegedly Submitting False Claims for Hours Worked

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Melissa Heyer, age 44, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, with submitting false claims to the United States, specifically for claiming to have worked hours on a government contract when she allegedly was not at work. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of...
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Maryland Deer Firearms Opening Day Harvest Up 29%

Maryland Deer Firearms Opening Day Harvest Up 29%

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters reported 8,061 deer taken on opening day of the 2019 Maryland firearm season, Nov. 30. This represents a 29% increase over last year’s Saturday opener. The overall weekend harvest of 9,201 was down 9% from 2018 due to nearly non-stop rain and wind across the state on Sunday....
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La Plata High School It’s Academic Team Wins Regional Competition

La Plata High School It’s Academic Team Wins Regional Competition

The La Plata High School It’s Academic team earned the title of Charles County competition winner in the annual regional event held Dec. 4. The three-member team of Captain Tanner Wyant, Jenna Burtch and Margaret Stine won with a score of 280 points in the championship round against teams from St. Charles and Westlake...
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Noise Advisory – Low-Level Aircraft Testing Scheduled at Webster Field from December 5 to 6, and December 9 to December 13

Noise Advisory – Low-Level Aircraft Testing Scheduled at Webster Field from December 5 to 6, and December 9 to December 13

Communities surrounding Webster Outlying Field are advised that fixed wing aircraft testing events involving low-level approaches to the airfield are scheduled to occur December 5 and 6, and December 9 through December 13, 2019 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. As with all operations, NAS Patuxent River takes precautions to lessen...
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Prince George’s County Police Department Arrests High School Teacher for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Prince George’s County Police Department Arrests High School Teacher for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

A teacher at Bowie High School in Bowie is facing charges in connection with the sexual abuse of a female student at the school. The teacher is 29-year-old K Sean Donovan Jr. of the 3200 block of Winterbourne Drive in Upper Marlboro. On December 1st, the Prince George’s County Police Department launched an investigation...
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Four Charles County Public School Students Selected to Serve as General Assembly Pages

Four Charles County Public School Students Selected to Serve as General Assembly Pages

In January, four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students will learn first-hand how bills and laws are passed by Maryland legislators. Seniors Jake Burgess, Jamarr Joshua Johnson, Kathleen Martinez, and Natalie Yeager were recently chosen to represent CCPS in the 2020 Maryland Student Page Program. The program is part of the annual legislative session...
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