On April 11, 2019, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a social media post relating to a possible school shooting that was going to happen on the next day on April 12. Officers identified the person who initiated the post as a student at La Plata High School. Contact was made...
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On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at approximately 10:40 a.m., it was brought to a La Plata High School administrator’s attention that a student had revealed he had a bullet in his possession. The administrator brought the student to the office and found him to be in possession of a handgun and bullets. A school...
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Effective March 1, 2019, the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department (“BDVFD”) Public Protection Classification (“PPC”) fire rating was upgraded from a Class 3 to a Class 2 rating. Virtually all U.S. insurers of private and commercial property use the PPC fire rating from the Insurance Services Office’s (“ISO”) to calculate premiums. Generally, the price...
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In April 1865, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the Quartermaster Corps sent the barge Black Diamond to the lower Potomac to stand on picket duty off St. Clement’s Island. Her main job was to keep John Wilkes Booth from crossing the Potomac River. During the same time, the steamer Massachusetts headed for...
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Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, Maryland will be transformed into a magical place of merriment on Sunday, April 14 from 11:00am-4:00 pm for the 9th annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival. Families are invited to enjoy a day full of natural play and imaginative fun, with games, appearances by special characters,...
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UPDATE 4/2/2019: The U.S. Coast Guard this past week used a crane barge to remove a sunken abandoned vessel that was polluting the Patuxent River, and causing a hazard to boating navigation. 9/4/2018: On August 21, 2018 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Officer David Helterbran and Sgt. Tim Kraemer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police...
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Each year, distracted driving results in more than 28,000 injuries on Maryland roads. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office is working with State and local law enforcement to encourage motorists to Park the Phone before they drive. “Distracted driving is...
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Superintendent Daniel Curry said he first learned of Calvert County’s statistics on the use of restraint and seclusion approximately one month ago. “Well, my initial thought is that, that’s not good. And we’ve obviously got some work to do.”
Curry added, “We have a wide range of responsibility here and we take it...
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The Charles County Department of Health (CCDOH) has released an inspection list that identifies which facilities that have been inspected in 2019. The list provides increased transparency into the inspection process and departmental progress in the completion of routine inspections. This inspection database will be updated on a monthly basis to better inform consumers....
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UPDATE 4/3/2019: There was an error in the spreadsheet data that was utilized to create the seclusion graphs in the article below. The article indicated that Talbot County was #1 in seclusions. There was a data entry error that lead to that finding. Talbot actually had zero reported seclusions (lowering them on the graph...
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Governor Larry Hogan today vetoed Senate Bill 280 and House Bill 166 – Labor and Employment – Payment of Wages – Minimum Wage, saying it “could cost us jobs, negatively impact our economic competitiveness, and devastate our state’s economy.” Read the governor’s veto letter, which emphasizes three key points: This measure would cost Maryland more...
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“Seclusion and restraint.” It probably isn’t a term with which most people are familiar. If the unfamiliar person were to wager a guess at just what exactly does “seclusion and restraint” mean, images of maximum security prisons or the interrogation of terrorism suspects might come to mind. Cooper Stephens is all too familiar with...
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Southern Maryland News Net would like to Congratulate Kegan Zimmerman on his two gold medals and a silver medal. Kegan returned back home to Southern Maryland from the 2019 Special Olympics World Games held in Abu Dhabi, where he represented the United States. Kegan can be seen in the photo with Troopers from the...
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As state officials and proud family members looked on, trooper candidates raised their right hands today and took an oath to serve and protect the people of Maryland as they officially became state troopers during the graduation ceremony for the Maryland State Police 148th Trooper Candidate Class. The 36 members of Trooper Candidate Class...
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The 17th century iron cross, initially erected on St. Clement’s Island by the earliest English settlers to Maryland on the first “Maryland Day,” March 25, 1634, will temporarily return to its first home in the Americas where it will be on display at St. Clement’s Island Museum during the Maryland Day Ceremony on March...
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George’s BBQ in Indian Head was recently shut down by the Charles County Department of Health after filthy conditions were seen in a YouTube video of the kitchen. The video was brought to the attention of the health department after it was posted online by Anthony Byrd. The Charles County Department of Health posted the...
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After receiving multiple calls and emails from parents, SMNEWSNET was able to obtain the following email that was sent to parents of students at Esperanza Middle School. Good evening Esperanza Middle School Community – We have been receiving inquiries in regards to rumors referencing a potential shooting at EMS. Once we were made aware...
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Five Maryland State Troopers from the La Plata Barrack conducted a seat belt enforcement initiative from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, on Route 5 south at Post Office Road. As a result, troopers conducted 53 traffic stops, issued 35 citations (27 for seat belt violations) and 24 warnings (12...
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UPDATE: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation with St. Mary’s County Public Schools, regarding threats circulating via text messages and on social media. After an extensive investigation, no sustained or credible threats were identified. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and St. Mary’s County Public Schools will continue to fully...
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Congressman Steny H. Hoyer released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County: “I join with the Great Mills High School community in remembering Jaelynn Willey, whose life was tragically and senselessly cut short one year ago. My prayers and deepest sympathies are...
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The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple incidents of property damage in which unknown suspect(s) shot out windows to cars. Charles County Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for the tip that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspect(s). Over the last two weeks, during the...
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Area Public School Jazz Band Clinic at CSM. 9 a.m., April 4-5. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Fine Arts Center (FA), 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Beginning at 9 a.m. and throughout the day, award-winning trumpeter Dr. James Moore will rehearse and critique jazz band students from area public schools as part...
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UPDATE: Maryland State Police arrested close to 100 people for driving while impaired and issued close to 1,000 speeding citations over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. From March 16 to 18, 2019, troopers arrested 89 people for driving under the influence, issued 999 speeding citations, 3,039 additional citations and 3,933 warnings and conducted 5,843...
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UPDATE: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Maryland State Police, held a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, March 16, 2019. During the course of the operation at Route 235 and Valley Drive in Lexington Park, 437 vehicles drove through the checkpoint and two motorists were subsequently arrested for impaired driving. 3/13/2019:...
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Every day more than 16,000 Maryland law enforcement officers say goodbye to their families and head out to protect and serve their communities. As a police officer, both you and your family know the risks of the job when you’re sworn in to wear the badge – impaired drivers, weapons, domestic incidents gone wrong,...
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