Community

Charles County Youth Orchestra Presents Third Annual Concerto Competition: A Free Concert on Saturday, June 4, 2022

Charles County Youth Orchestra Presents Third Annual Concerto Competition: A Free Concert on Saturday, June 4, 2022

The competition, which will begin at 3:00 p.m. on June 4, will be held at Christ Church, 112 Charles St, La Plata, MD. This year seven contestants will perform a recital before a distinguished panel of judges. The judges this year are Jody Gatwood, prize winner in several international violin competitions and Professor Emeritus,...
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La Plata High School Celebrates 273 Graduates with Over $14 Million in Scholarships

La Plata High School Celebrates 273 Graduates with Over $14 Million in Scholarships

La Plata High School celebrated its ninety-fourth commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2022 June 2 at Regency Furniture Stadium. The class demonstrated traits they share with their school’s mascot — the Warriors. Kailyn Pratta, the class president, recalled the years she and her peers shared which culminated in graduation. After a traditional freshman...
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Thomas Stone High School Celebrates 2022 Graduation, More Than $29.5 Million in Scholarships

Thomas Stone High School Celebrates 2022 Graduation, More Than $29.5 Million in Scholarships

Members of Thomas Stone High School’s Class of 2022 had one more quick adjustment to make before graduation. In hopes of beating a storm that was forecast to sweep the area this afternoon, the school moved its ceremony up by 15 minutes, from 1 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Pivoting is the name of the...
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Henry E. Lackey High School Celebrates Big and Small Accomplishments at Graduation

Henry E. Lackey High School Celebrates Big and Small Accomplishments at Graduation

The 211 graduates of Henry E. Lackey High School celebrated their accomplishments — big and small — during their graduation ceremony June 1 at Regency Furniture Stadium. “For about 720 days, we have been getting up early, preparing ourselves and keeping it together all for this moment,” Tyne Kidd, president of the Class of...
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Westlake High School Confers 268 Diplomas at Graduation Ceremony

Westlake High School Confers 268 Diplomas at Graduation Ceremony

A flood of teal, accented with orange, washed over Regency Furniture Stadium on June 1, 2022, when Westlake High School’s Class of 2022 held graduation ceremony. The 268-member class — which racked up more than $18 million in scholarship offers — was led by valedictorian Ann Ubaka and salutatorian Casey Metzger. Both Ubaka and...
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Charles County Police Investigating Threat of Mass Violence at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center

Charles County Police Investigating Threat of Mass Violence at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center

On June 1, 2022, after students at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center were dismissed for the day, a student told a parent that they heard about another student who made a threat to commit mass violence at the Center. The parent contacted school administrators who notified a school resource officer (SRO). The SRO initiated...
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Replica Firearm Recovered from St. Charles High School Student

Replica Firearm Recovered from St. Charles High School Student

On June 1, 2022, at approximately 1:40 p.m., a student at St. Charles High School reported to a school administrator that another student was in possession of a handgun. The student was located and a replica handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun, was recovered from the student’s backpack. The Charles County...
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Maurice J. McDonough High School Celebrates a Sense of Community at Graduation

Maurice J. McDonough High School Celebrates a Sense of Community at Graduation

Orange and purple reigned May 31 when Maurice J. McDonough High School’s Class of 2022 graduated at a ceremony held at Regency Furniture Stadium. The class was the second of seven that will graduate from Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) through June 3. The 223 graduates made up one of the smallest classes in...
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Charles County Summer School Starts July 6, 2022, All Courses Free for Students

Charles County Summer School Starts July 6, 2022, All Courses Free for Students

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) 2022 summer school program starts Wednesday, July 6. The schedule includes a mix of make-up and original credit courses. All make-up credit courses will be taught in person and original credit courses will be virtual through the Apex Learning and Zoom online platforms. Costs for all summer school courses...
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Replica Firearm Recovered From Student at La Plata High School Student

Replica Firearm Recovered From Student at La Plata High School Student

On June 1, 2022, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a staff member at La Plata High School reported to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer (SRO) that a student might be in possession of a firearm. The SRO located the student in a classroom and recovered a replica handgun, which turned out to...
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UPDATE: Police Identify Two Students Responsible for Raising Confederate flag at La Plata High School

UPDATE: Police Identify Two Students Responsible for Raising Confederate flag at La Plata High School

UPDATE 6/1/2022:  Charles County Sheriff’s detectives have identified two La Plata High School students as the people responsible for raising a Confederate flag in the school’s parking lot during the overnight hours of May 18, 2022. Investigators worked closely with the Charles County Public Schools and have also consulted with the Charles County State’s...
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Suspected Marijuana Edibles Recovered from Student at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

Suspected Marijuana Edibles Recovered from Student at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

On June 1, 2022, a school administrator at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School notified a Charles County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer (SRO) of a student in possession of suspected marijuana edibles. The SRO recovered the edibles from the student and notified a parent. Parents are asked to talk with their children about the dangers...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Wanted Individual, Shawn Starcher

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Wanted Individual, Shawn Starcher

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Shawn Christopher Starcher, age 49 of Waldorf. Starcher was placed on pretrial supervision with a GPS device for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Attempting to Elude Police by Failing to Stop. On May 28, 2022, Starcher violated the conditions of his...
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Fourteen Businesses Pass Alcohol Compliance Checks, Two Do Not

Fourteen Businesses Pass Alcohol Compliance Checks, Two Do Not

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol Enforcement Unit recently conducted a series of alcohol compliance checks within St. Mary’s County at 16 businesses on Friday, May 27, 2022. Fourteen of the 16 businesses visited were found to be compliant, while two businesses failed to ask a minor for identification. The covert compliance checks...
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St. Charles High School Kicks Off 2022 Graduation Ceremonies

St. Charles High School Kicks Off 2022 Graduation Ceremonies

The 336 graduates of St. Charles High School kicked off the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) 2022 commencement season May 31 at Regency Furniture Stadium. Principal Richard Conley in his farewell address to the Spartan Class of 2022 commended the students on braving four years of school like no others in recent history. The...
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Charles County Class of 2022 Includes Over 2,000 Graduates with Over $166 Million Offered in Scholarships

Charles County Class of 2022 Includes Over 2,000 Graduates with Over $166 Million Offered in Scholarships

The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2022 will be honored during outdoor graduation ceremonies set for May 31 through June 3, 2022, at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. CCPS has partnered once again with Regency Furniture Stadium and the Charles County Government to provide nearly 2,100 seniors with graduation ceremonies. The Class...
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Calvert County Parks & Recreation Invites Citizens to Participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 23, 2022

Calvert County Parks & Recreation Invites Citizens to Participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 23, 2022

The Calvert County Department of Parks & Recreation invites citizens to join children and adults around the world for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) Thursday, June 23. The WLSL is a global event to raise awareness that swimming lessons can help prevent drowning and save lives. All ages and swim experience levels are...
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Be Alert for Increased Traffic for St. Mary’s County High School Graduations This Week

Be Alert for Increased Traffic for St. Mary’s County High School Graduations This Week

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers that high school commencement ceremonies will be held this week and to expect increased traffic around those facilities. Wednesday, June 1, 2022: Leonardtown High School graduation. Students and staff will begin to arrive starting at 7 am, with spectators arriving at 8 am. Commencement exercises start...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Visits Girl Scout Troop from La Plata Church of Christ

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Visits Girl Scout Troop from La Plata Church of Christ

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank a local Girl Scout Troop from La Plata Church of Christ for inviting them to be a part of their day this weekend! They wanted to learn more about police work and so Officers M. Neel, B. Aber, and H. Ptack responded! The scouts were...
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Raccoon Bite and Suspected Rabid Raccoon in the Mechanicsville Area

Raccoon Bite and Suspected Rabid Raccoon in the Mechanicsville Area

The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has been notified of a raccoon with behavior suspicious for rabies and a history of biting a person near the intersection of 27350 Three Notch Road and New Market Turner Road in Mechanicsville. Anyone who may have been bitten by a raccoon in this area on or...
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Registration Of Unserialized, Privately-Made Firearms In Effect As of Today, June 1, 2022

Registration Of Unserialized, Privately-Made Firearms In Effect As of Today, June 1, 2022

Effective today, (6/1/22), Title 5 of the Public Safety Article requires a personal identification number for all unserialized firearms and unfinished frames and receivers, commonly referred to as 80% lowers (ghost guns) or build kits. Beginning June 1, 2022, a person who currently possesses non-serialized firearms, including unfinished frames or receivers, will be required...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Unit Announces 2022 Youth Summer Sports Camps

Charles County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Unit Announces 2022 Youth Summer Sports Camps

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Unit has announced the dates for the 2022 youth summer sports camps: Football Camp will be held at St. Charles High School, located at 5305 Piney Church Road in Waldorf, from July 6-8 from 7:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. The program is being offered to youths currently in...
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SMECO Awards Four Scholarships to High School Seniors

SMECO Awards Four Scholarships to High School Seniors

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has awarded four scholarships for 2022 to high school seniors who live in the Cooperative’s service area. Scholarships are based on the applicants’ scholastic achievement, financial need, and school and community involvement. SMECO has awarded scholarships to 120 students in the 30 years since beginning the program in 1993....
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Prince George’s County High School Student Arrested for Bringing Ghost Gun Parts to School, Police Announce Increase Patrols at Schools

Prince George’s County High School Student Arrested for Bringing Ghost Gun Parts to School, Police Announce Increase Patrols at Schools

The Prince George’s County Police Department today arrested a Fairmont Heights High School student for bringing parts of a ghost gun (un-serialized weapon) onto school property. On Thursday, May 26, 2022, at approximately 12:00 p.m., police were called to the school in the 6500 block of Columbia Park Road in Landover for the report...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Person/Incident at Waldorf Bus Stop

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspicious Person/Incident at Waldorf Bus Stop

This morning, officers were made aware of a possible suspicious person at a school bus stop in the Millbrook neighborhood of Waldorf. Several young students from C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School who were at a bus stop said they observed a male, possibly white, in his teens, wearing black clothing and a black mask...
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