Community

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Increase Patrol Checks at Schools

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Increase Patrol Checks at Schools

For a number of years, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has provided School Resource Officers at the three public high schools and in 2019 officers were added to the four public middle schools in St. Mary’s County. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office’s Adopt-a-School program provides for deputies to “adopt” a particular elementary school...
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Update from Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Navarro

Update from Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Navarro

Press release posted on May 25, 2022. This update was sent to Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff, students and families on May 24, 2022. May 24, 2022 Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members: Earlier today, the Uvalde, Texas, community experienced a heartbreaking and senseless tragedy as an armed gunman walked into Robb Elementary School...
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St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – Tuesday, May 24, 2022

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – Tuesday, May 24, 2022

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County held their regular business meeting in the Chesapeake Building Tuesday, May 24, 2022, with the invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The Commissioners held a Public Hearing to receive comments on the Department of Land Use & Growth Management’s request to amend the Comprehensive...
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Record of Decision Signed for the Environmental Impact Statement for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex

Record of Decision Signed for the Environmental Impact Statement for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex

The Department of the Navy, after carefully weighing the strategic, operational, and environmental consequences of the Proposed Action, announces its decision to: Conduct testing and training as identified in Alternative 2, the Navy’s Preferred Alternative, of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex (PRC). Implement...
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Charles County Public School Teams Place in 2022 Maryland State Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Virtual Showcase

Charles County Public School Teams Place in 2022 Maryland State Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Virtual Showcase

Charles County Public Schools teams recently competed in the 2022 Maryland State Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Virtual Showcase on Saturday, May 7, 2022, hosted by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Teams from J.P. Ryon, Walter J. Mitchell and William A. Diggs elementary schools; Matthew Henson and Piccowaxen middle schools; and La...
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84 CSM Graduates Earn Recognition for Pursuing Health Care Careers

84 CSM Graduates Earn Recognition for Pursuing Health Care Careers

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students who have chosen to pursue careers in health care were celebrated Thursday, May 12 at the Health Career Readiness Recognition ceremony. Eighty-four students who completed programs to become Certified Nursing and Geriatric Nursing Assistants, Clinical Medical Assistants, Certified Dental Assistants, Phlebotomy Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, Nutrition Coaches, Medical Laboratory...
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St. Mary’s College Associate Professor Troy Townsend ’07 Recognized as Maryland Outstanding Young Scientist

St. Mary’s College Associate Professor Troy Townsend ’07 Recognized as Maryland Outstanding Young Scientist

Associate Professor of Chemistry Troy Townsend ’07 was named a 2022 Maryland Outstanding Young Scientist by the Maryland Academy of Sciences and the Maryland Science Center. Townsend was honored at a ceremony May 11 at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. In his acceptance speech, Townsend spoke of the inspiration and support...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Possible Overdose at Maurice J. McDonough High School

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Possible Overdose at Maurice J. McDonough High School

On May 24, 2022, at 1:15 p.m., a student at Maurice J. McDonough High School consumed several pieces of candy knowing they were possibly tainted with an unknown substance intended to cause a high. The student became ill and was taken to a hospital by ambulance and treated. Parents are urged to talk with...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Locate Lexington Park Sex Offender Who Made Multiple Threats of Mass Violence

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Locate Lexington Park Sex Offender Who Made Multiple Threats of Mass Violence

UPDATE 5/25/2022: Officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office located Earl Benjamin Washington, Jr., 46, in St. Mary’s County today. Emergency medical personnel responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Town Creek Drive in California, for the reported male suspect being unresponsive and vomiting blood. As medical personnel were responding to the...
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Two Students to be Charged in Connection with Assaulting a School Administrator:

Two Students to be Charged in Connection with Assaulting a School Administrator:

On May 23, 2022, at 11:15 a.m., a school administrator at Thomas Stone High School was assaulted by two students while attempting to separate them from fighting. Additional staff were able to intervene and stopped the assault. The administrator was subsequently treated for injuries. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office school resource officer will be...
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Charles County Youth Orchestra, Osman Kivrak, Director Celebrates Its Graduating Seniors

Charles County Youth Orchestra, Osman Kivrak, Director Celebrates Its Graduating Seniors

The graduating seniors of the Charles County Youth Orchestra, Eileen Browning, Sam Chernoff, Candace Jackson, Sidney Lewis, Blythe McCammon, and Kelsey Njembu were honored at the CCYO concert on Saturday, May 15, 2022. Blythe McCammon, violinist and a member of CCYO for six years, will attend Towson University to major in Violin Performance. She...
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Police Recover Replica Handgun from Thomas Stone High School Student

Police Recover Replica Handgun from Thomas Stone High School Student

On Friday, May 20, 2022, at 8:53 a.m., school administrators at Thomas Stone High School were made aware that a student was possibly in possession of what appeared to be a handgun. The school resource officer located the student and found a replica 9mm airsoft gun, which resembles a semi-automatic firearm. The gun was...
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Precise Systems Awarded 5-Year, $41 Million Contract to Provide Services for the Presidential Helicopters Program Office

Precise Systems Awarded 5-Year, $41 Million Contract to Provide Services for the Presidential Helicopters Program Office

Precise Systems announces the award of a 5-year, $41M contract to continue providing project management, acquisition management, and technical support services to PMA-274, the Presidential Helicopters Program Office. PMA-274 is responsible for the life-cycle management of the VH Presidential Helicopters, including the VH-3D, VH 60N, VH-92 aircraft and their support systems. Precise is partnered...
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NSWC IHD Employees Receive Top Navy Civilian Service Awards

NSWC IHD Employees Receive Top Navy Civilian Service Awards

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) employees Frank Tse and Scott Bumgarner were honored with top civilian service awards on May 12, 2022. Tse, Systems Engineering Department chief engineer, was awarded the Department of the Navy (DON) Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and Bumgarner, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt engineer, was honored...
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NSWC Indian Head Division Employees Recognized at Command Honorary Awards Ceremony

NSWC Indian Head Division Employees Recognized at Command Honorary Awards Ceremony

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) recognized individuals and teams who made significant contributions to the command’s mission at the annual Honorary Awards ceremony, May 17 at the College of Southern Maryland’s Velocity Center. “One thing my senior enlisted master chief mentors from my Navy career taught me is the importance...
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Peers Recognize CSM Professor Dr. Richard Bilsker With Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award

Peers Recognize CSM Professor Dr. Richard Bilsker With Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award

College of Southern Maryland Professor of Philosophy Dr. Richard Bilsker was recognized during the college’s 63rd Spring Commencement, and during the college’s Academic Excellence Awards program, for receiving the CSM Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. The award is bestowed upon a full-time professor by members of CSM faculty. “The faculty excellence in teaching award is...
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NAS Patuxent River MQ-25 Team Preps for First Air Vehicle, Control Station Integration Test Event

NAS Patuxent River MQ-25 Team Preps for First Air Vehicle, Control Station Integration Test Event

The Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office (PMA-268) is moving forward with integrating its two key elements—the MQ-25 air vehicle and the MD-5 Ground Control Station (GCS) at the program’s System Test and Integration Lab (STIL) at Patuxent River. PMA-268 is the lead systems integrator, working closely with its two prime industry partners, Boeing ...
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Charles County Commissioners Adopt Fiscal 2023 Budget of $494 Million

Charles County Commissioners Adopt Fiscal 2023 Budget of $494 Million

On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a balanced General Fund budget of $494,446,200, an increase of 9.8 percent over last year. The adopted budget provides historic funding for Charles County Public Schools, makes critical investments in core programs and services, record-level investments in public safety, and does not increase...
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St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees Approves Graduates and Budgets at May Meeting

St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees Approves Graduates and Budgets at May Meeting

The St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees approved on Friday, May 13, the graduates of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Class of 2022, comprised of  351 Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science degrees, and 24 Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. The Board also approved proposed budgets and greenlit a long-range tuition strategy....
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CSM Announces 2022 Spring Commencement Candidates for Graduation

CSM Announces 2022 Spring Commencement Candidates for Graduation

The following students were recognized as candidates for associate degrees, certificates or letters of recognition at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) 63rd Spring Commencement ceremony held Friday, May 13, 2022, at the La Plata Campus. The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated 432 candidates for 438 degrees and 136 certificates during its 63rd...
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CSM Commemorates 63rd Spring Commencement with 432 Candidates Receiving 438 Degrees, 136 Certificates

CSM Commemorates 63rd Spring Commencement with 432 Candidates Receiving 438 Degrees, 136 Certificates

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated 432 candidates for 438 degrees and 136 certificates during its 63rd Spring Commencement May 13 at the college’s La Plata Campus. The event marked the return of in-person festivities for the time-honored tradition since the beginning of the global pandemic in 2020. Of the students celebrated, 160 are...
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St. Mary’s County Commissioners Meeting Roundup – Tuesday, May 17, 2022

St. Mary’s County Commissioners Meeting Roundup – Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County held their regular business meeting in the Chesapeake Building Tuesday, May 17, 2022, with the invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The Commissioners presented Proclamations in recognition of National Public Works Week and National Emergency Medical Services Week. The Commissioners convened as the Board...
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Three Members of Abner Family in Chesapeake Beach Arrested on Drug and Gun Charges

Three Members of Abner Family in Chesapeake Beach Arrested on Drug and Gun Charges

On Friday, April 29, 2022, Judge Rappaport signed three search and seizure warrants for Brandon James Abner. The warrants were for Abner’s person, residence, and vehicle. Members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (CCSO DEU) conducted surveillance on Brandon, who was walking his two dogs on the boardwalk. According to court...
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Berry’s D’Ambrosio Named 2022 Principal of the Year for Charles County Public Schools

Berry’s D’Ambrosio Named 2022 Principal of the Year for Charles County Public Schools

Every time he uses chopsticks, Louis D’Ambrosio silently thanks his first-grade teacher, Rose Eckmann. During a weeklong unit studying Japan, Eckman tasked her students with practicing using chopsticks to pick up pink erasers from their desks. At the end of the week, Eckmann brought in a hot plate and made the class a meal...
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Charles County Board of Education Recognizes Accomplishments of Outstanding Students

Charles County Board of Education Recognizes Accomplishments of Outstanding Students

The Board of Education at its May 10 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students. School principals annually select one student and staff member for Board recognition. Students are honored for accomplishments in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility. Honored at the meeting were the following! Scarlett Castro...
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