Community

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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VIDEO UPDATE: State’s Attorney Releases Statement on Case Where a 7-Year-Child was Struck by a Vehicle After Exiting School Bus

VIDEO UPDATE: State’s Attorney Releases Statement on Case Where a 7-Year-Child was Struck by a Vehicle After Exiting School Bus

UPDATE 11/27/2019:  State’s Attorney for Charles County, Tony Covington released a video about the case where Skyla Shirriel, a 7-year-old, T.C. Martin Elementary School first-grader was hit by a vehicle as she exited her school bus in November of 2018. Xiomara Yan Nativi Quintanilla, 35, of Accokeek, was sentenced to Probation Before Judgement and...
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Middle School Students Take Aim at Archery Tournament in Charles County

Middle School Students Take Aim at Archery Tournament in Charles County

Students gathered earlier this month at Milton M. Somers Middle School aiming to come out on top at the Middle School Archery Tournament. “Archery kind of relates to life,” said Deshea Mack, father of Matthew Henson Middle School eighth grader, Emmanuel Mack. “You have a goal and you work toward it. Then you hit...
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Maryland State Police To Increase Patrols For Thanksgiving Holiday

Maryland State Police To Increase Patrols For Thanksgiving Holiday

Maryland State Police will have extra troopers on patrol all across the state as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. A variety of initiatives will be employed to keep traffic moving safely, to respond quickly to highway incidents, and to take appropriate enforcement action when violations occur, to keep travelers safe on Maryland roads. Beginning Wednesday,...
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Charles County Arts Alliance Awards Over $76,000 in Grants

Charles County Arts Alliance Awards Over $76,000 in Grants

On Saturday, November 16, the Charles County Arts Alliance held its Annual Gala to award $71,334 to 21 area schools and 18 nonprofit organizations to enhance their programs in the fields of visual, performance and literary arts. The funds will be used to present a myriad of cultural programs and events in Charles County,...
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St. Mary’s College of Maryland Recognizes County High School Students

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Recognizes County High School Students

On November 14, 2019, the Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at St. Mary’s College of Maryland held its 22nd annual book awards, presenting book prizes to five county high school seniors in recognition of their outstanding academic record. Shown in photo from left to right: Angie Draheim (SMCM Zeta Chapter vice president), Faith...
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Charles County Great-Great-Grandmother Claims $50,015 in Bonus Match 5 Win

Charles County Great-Great-Grandmother Claims $50,015 in Bonus Match 5 Win

A lucky Waldorf woman is feeling exceptionally grateful these days after winning a second top prize in the Bonus Match 5 game. Her $50,015 win in the Nov. 9 drawing happened with a ticket bought at Westlake Liquors located at 1182 Smallwood Drive in Waldorf. The healthcare retiree plays Lottery games about once every...
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Charles County Public Schools Secured $276,000 in Grants to Increase Police Coverage at Schools

Charles County Public Schools Secured $276,000 in Grants to Increase Police Coverage at Schools

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is increasing the presence of law enforcement at some schools. The Office of School Safety and Security secured a $276,000 grant that is allowing CCPS to enhance it security efforts through additional police coverage. Jason Stoddard, director of school safety and security, said the grant is limited to increasing...
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Noise Advisory – NAS Pax River Sets Noise Advisory for Field Carrier Landing Practice Flights November 20, 2019 to December 13, 2019

Noise Advisory – NAS Pax River Sets Noise Advisory for Field Carrier Landing Practice Flights November 20, 2019 to December 13, 2019

Communities surrounding Naval Air Station Patuxent River are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place November 20-December 13, 2019 from 7:15 a.m., to 7 p.m. Pilots at NAS PAX will be conducting Field Carrier Landing Practices (FCLPs). FCLPs are simulated carrier landings conducted to prepare the pilot to land safely on...
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Maryland Reports Early Season Deer, Turkey Hunt Results

Maryland Reports Early Season Deer, Turkey Hunt Results

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that hunters harvested 21,073 deer during the early portion of the archery and muzzleloader seasons. The harvest was a 12% increase from last year’s official harvest of 18,839 deer for the same period. More favorable hunting conditions this year contributed to the increased harvest. The two-month...
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Charles County Public Schools Announces $276,000 Grant to Provide Additional Police Coverage at Schools

Charles County Public Schools Announces $276,000 Grant to Provide Additional Police Coverage at Schools

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is increasing the presence of law enforcement at some schools. The Office of School Safety and Security secured a $276,000 grant that is allowing CCPS to enhance it security efforts through additional police coverage. Jason Stoddard, director of school safety and security, said the grant is limited to increasing...
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Dyson Building Center in Great Mills is an Official Drop off Location for Lily’s Toy Box!

Dyson Building Center in Great Mills is an Official Drop off Location for Lily’s Toy Box!

Dyson Building Center is an official drop off location for Lily’s Toy Box! Dyson’s is located at 20375 Pt Lookout Road, in Great Mills. Lily is now organizing her 3rd annual toy drive for the kids and families who are stuck at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. over the holiday season. Lily is donating...
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