Community

Day Reporting Program Now Operating at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub in Lexington Park

Day Reporting Program Now Operating at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub in Lexington Park

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Mary’s County Health Department announce the launch of the Day Reporting Program at the new St. Mary’s County Health Hub, located at 21625 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. The Day Reporting Program is an evidence-based practice emphasizing health care, education, and other life needs...
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16-Year-Old Student Placed in Custody for Being in Possession of Loaded Ghost Gun at Central High School

16-Year-Old Student Placed in Custody for Being in Possession of Loaded Ghost Gun at Central High School

The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested a student this morning at Central High School for being in possession of a handgun on school property. The school is located in the 200 block of Cabin Branch Road in Capitol Heights. Shortly after 10:00 am, the School Resource Officer and Prince George’s County Public Schools...
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Charles County Police Investigating Fight at Westlake High School Where Student Produced Handgun

Charles County Police Investigating Fight at Westlake High School Where Student Produced Handgun

On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at approximately 12:20 p.m., two students at Westlake High School began fighting during dismissal. During the fight, which was captured on school security cameras, one of the students produced what appeared to be a handgun. A third student got involved, forcibly took the handgun away, and fled the school...
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St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – December 6, 2022

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – December 6, 2022

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County held their regular business meeting in the Chesapeake Building Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, with the invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The Commissioners began by accepting the report of the Independent Auditor on the Financial Statements of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County for...
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Taylor Guitars Find Your Fit Event Returns to Southern Maryland on Saturday, December 10, 2022

Taylor Guitars Find Your Fit Event Returns to Southern Maryland on Saturday, December 10, 2022

Attention acoustic guitar fans in the Mid-Atlantic!  If you’ve been dreaming of purchasing a Taylor Guitar to put under the tree this holiday season, now is the PERFECT time.  Island Music Company in La Plata, MD is bringing Taylor Guitar’s District Sales Manager, Don Rodrigues, to the shop on Saturday, December 10th from 11...
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Rocktoberfest Donates $30,000 to Charles County Board of Education’s Fine and Performing Arts!

Rocktoberfest Donates $30,000 to Charles County Board of Education’s Fine and Performing Arts!

Rocktoberfest was founded in 2013 as a non-profit annual street festival with outdoor family fun, live music and vendors held in downtown La Plata, MD the first weekend of every October. After taking a couple years off due to pandemic restrictions, Rocktoberfest committee members and fans were more than excited to bring back this...
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ATF, Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County Police Departments Investigating Multiple Gun Store Burglaries

ATF, Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County Police Departments Investigating Multiple Gun Store Burglaries

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division is working with Anne Arundel County Police Department and Montgomery County Police Department investigating recent incidents of burglaries and attempted burglaries of federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in these counties. On November 19, 2022 at approximately 3:55 a.m., Montgomery County...
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Statement from the Elected Board of Education of Charles County

Statement from the Elected Board of Education of Charles County

The elected Board of Education of Charles County has established policies that address conduct in the school system. Specifically, the Board of Education is committed to maintaining an educational and working environment for all students and employees, which is free of harassment of any kind and from any source including management, co-workers, peers or...
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CSM Celebrates 23 Graduates for Their Fortitude, Perseverance, Courage and Tenacity Upon Returning to School to Earn Their High School Diplomas

CSM Celebrates 23 Graduates for Their Fortitude, Perseverance, Courage and Tenacity Upon Returning to School to Earn Their High School Diplomas

The faculty and staff of the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) joined the families and friends of 23 Adult Education Program graduates Nov. 16 to celebrate the students for returning to school and earning their Maryland high school diploma. The CSM Adult Education Program offers fundamental education courses that cover areas such as basic...
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Charles County Board of Education November Meeting Updates

Charles County Board of Education November Meeting Updates

The Board of Education of Charles County held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15. A complete meeting agenda is posted on BoardDocs here. Board meetings are streamed live at www.ccboe.com and archived on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/c/ccpsmd. The following are important meeting updates. Superintendent update – Superintendent of Schools Maria Navarro,...
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Governor Hogan Announces Emergency Directive to Prohibit Use of TikTok, China and Russia-Based Products and Platforms in State Government

Governor Hogan Announces Emergency Directive to Prohibit Use of TikTok, China and Russia-Based Products and Platforms in State Government

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland has issued an emergency cybersecurity directive to prohibit the use of certain Chinese and Russian-influenced products and platforms for the executive branch of state government, including TikTok. These entities present an unacceptable level of cybersecurity risk to the state, and may be involved in activities such as cyber-espionage,...
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Eleven Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme with More Than $1.6 Million in Losses

Eleven Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme with More Than $1.6 Million in Losses

A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment adding two new defendants to the nine defendants previously charged in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and stealing a post office key. The superseding...
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Maryland Department of Health Launches Program to Reduce Suicides Among Maryland Service Members and Veterans

Maryland Department of Health Launches Program to Reduce Suicides Among Maryland Service Members and Veterans

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) fully launched the Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program, a new initiative to reduce suicides and increase lethal-means safety for service members and veterans. Developed by the Maryland Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and their Families, this training is free to all Maryland-based primary...
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St. Mary’s County Public Schools Increasing Security Measures for After-School Events

St. Mary’s County Public Schools Increasing Security Measures for After-School Events

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. J. Scott Smith, announces the implementation of increased security measures for after-school events. In a continuing effort to improve security and provide a safer experience for students, parents, staff, and community members, St. Mary’s County Public Schools is implementing increased security measures for after-school events. Beginning with the high school...
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Charles County Public Schools 2022 Winter Break Operating Schedule

Charles County Public Schools 2022 Winter Break Operating Schedule

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) administrative offices are closed Friday, Dec. 23, through Tuesday, Dec. 27, and Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of New Year’s Day. Schools are closed Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Jan. 2, for winter break. Schools, offices and buildings reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, as noted in the Parent...
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Prince George’s County Police Warn About Blue Pills Containing Fentanyl Which is Suspected in the Deaths of Three Students

Prince George’s County Police Warn About Blue Pills Containing Fentanyl Which is Suspected in the Deaths of Three Students

The Prince George’s County Police Department is issuing a warning to residents about fentanyl-laced pills, in particular these blue-toned pills with a distinct “M” emblem. Police have recently begun recovering these pills, several of which have now been tested and contain fentanyl. Many users believe these pills are prescription painkillers. These pills are linked...
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Maryland Attorney General Frosh Files Complaint Against MetCom Following 58 Sewage Overflows

Maryland Attorney General Frosh Files Complaint Against MetCom Following 58 Sewage Overflows

BALTIMORE, MD (December 1, 2022) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh, on behalf of the Maryland Department of the Environment, today filed a civil complaint in the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County against the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) to request civil penalties and an injunction ordering MetCom to cease sewage...
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Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Congratulates Corrections Graduates Session 68 – 11 New Graduates

Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Congratulates Corrections Graduates Session 68 – 11 New Graduates

Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans, Major Reece, and Capt. Cross are proud to announce the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy (SMCJA) celebrated the graduation of 11 new correctional officers – one of which will be assigned to the Calvert County Detention Center. The graduates received a final inspection from the Corrections Entrance Level Training...
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Some Southern Maryland Hospitals Operating with Near Full Capacity, CalvertHealth Reporting Long Wait Times

Some Southern Maryland Hospitals Operating with Near Full Capacity, CalvertHealth Reporting Long Wait Times

On Monday, December 5, 2022, CalvertHealth released the following. “CalvertHealth is experiencing longer than normal wait times at our Emergency Room. At this time, we are seeing wait times of more than six hours. We are encouraging patients with non-emergent issues to utilize Urgent Care or their primary care physician whenever possible. Of course,...
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La Plata Police Department Announce Operation Prevent Porch Piracy

La Plata Police Department Announce Operation Prevent Porch Piracy

A staggering 11 million homeowners have had a package stolen in 2020, according to August Home and a study produced by research firm Edelman Intelligence. In the same report, it was also revealed that 74% of packages are stolen from homes during the day when homeowners are at work and that the average value...
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Naval Air Station Patuxent River Holding Job Fair for Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Dispatchers and Public Safety Officers on Thursday, December 15, 2022

Naval Air Station Patuxent River Holding Job Fair for Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Dispatchers and Public Safety Officers on Thursday, December 15, 2022

PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland – Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NASPR) will host a job fair for job seekers 18-and-over interested in the field of law enforcement and public safety. NASPR is recruiting police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the recruitment team and members of the NASPR security and...
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December 2022 Events: CSM Celebrates the Season with Concerts, Reflection, and Giving Back

December 2022 Events: CSM Celebrates the Season with Concerts, Reflection, and Giving Back

Connections Literary Magazine Publication Reading. Dec. 2. 7 – 9 p.m. La Plata Campus, Community Education (CE) Building, Room 101 and Online via Zoom. Contributors to the Fall 2022 Connections Literary Magazine will read and discuss their published works. Connections Literary Magazine is a regional literary journal published twice a year that features poems, stories,...
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Prince George’s County Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies of Convenience Stores

Prince George’s County Felon Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies of Convenience Stores

U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Tiffany Renea Edmundson, age 34, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to 94 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for three armed commercial robberies and for violating her supervised release for a previous federal conviction on the same commercial robbery charge.  Judge Grimm also...
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Enjoy a “Southern Mix” of Voices at CSM’s Barbershop Concert, December 3, 2022 in La Plata

Enjoy a “Southern Mix” of Voices at CSM’s Barbershop Concert, December 3, 2022 in La Plata

If you’re finding yourself in need of some harmony in your life, let the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) barbershop chorus, Southern Mix, show you how it’s done. Southern Mix will perform a barbershop concert on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brad and Linda Gottfried Theater in the Fine Arts Center...
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Holiday Christmas Tree, Lighting, and Decoration Safety Tips

Holiday Christmas Tree, Lighting, and Decoration Safety Tips

By Ridge VFD Lieutenant Scot Best. December 1, 2022 – Nothing spreads cheer quite like holiday decorations, but care must be used to ensure your festive winter décor is fire-safe. Candles are widely used in homes throughout the holidays, which means December is the peak month for home candle fires. One-third (33%) of home...
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