Charles News

Charles County Board of Education Approves Middle School Redistricting Plan, Which Will Go In Effect Next School Year

Charles County Board of Education Approves Middle School Redistricting Plan, Which Will Go In Effect Next School Year

The Board of Education at its Nov. 9 meeting approved the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) middle school redistricting plan, which takes effect next school year. In a vote of 4 to 2, the Board approved Superintendent Maria V. Navarro’s recommendation of a modified version of Proposal A which balances state-rated capacity and includes...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating Vehicle Fire in Waldorf, No Injuries Reported

State Fire Marshal Investigating Vehicle Fire in Waldorf, No Injuries Reported

On Sunday, November 14, 2021, at 4:54 a.m., five firefighters from the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department responded to 4139 Falcon Place in Waldorf, for the reported vehicle on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The owner is identified as Susie Coleman, with the estimated loss of structure/contents valued...
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Charles County States Attorney Office Launches “Drive Sober” Initiative

Charles County States Attorney Office Launches “Drive Sober” Initiative

The State’s Attorney’s Office for Charles County (SAO) is bringing awareness to the grave dangers of driving impaired, as well as helping the public take preventative measures for its “Drive Sober” initiative. The “Drive Sober” initiative will run during the holiday season – November 18, 2021 through January 1, 2022 – which is one...
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Police in Charles County Recover Gun and Drugs During Traffic Stop

Police in Charles County Recover Gun and Drugs During Traffic Stop

On November 15, 2021, at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Teakwood Court in Waldorf for a citizen’s report of a suspicious vehicle. Officers located the vehicle, but before contact could be made, the driver fled with the headlights turned off. Officers attempted to initiate...
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Waldorf Man Charged with Armed Carjacking While on Electronic Monitoring for Previous Carjacking and Rape

Waldorf Man Charged with Armed Carjacking While on Electronic Monitoring for Previous Carjacking and Rape

On October 8, 2021, a male suspect, later identified as Erion Vann Burton, 20, of Waldorf, arranged to meet a male victim after conversing with them through a social media app. After they met at Holly Station Drive and Eden Woods Drive, Burton told the victim to drive down Abberly Place to find a...
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AUDIO: Police Say Alcohol a Factor in Motor Vehicle Crash in Indian Head That Killed 52-Year-Old Marbury Man

AUDIO: Police Say Alcohol a Factor in Motor Vehicle Crash in Indian Head That Killed 52-Year-Old Marbury Man

UPDATE: On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at approximately 1753 hours, Troopers from Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded to Maryland Route 224 (Chicamuxen Road) in the area of Maryland Route 425 for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Due to the circumstances, the Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded to assume...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Joins Charles County Public Schools in Launch of New School Bus Safety Program

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Joins Charles County Public Schools in Launch of New School Bus Safety Program

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) are launching a new school bus safety program this week, in partnership with a safety technology company, BusPatrol. The program will place 375 cameras on school buses to deter drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses. “Keeping our school children safe, especially...
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Oxon Hill Man Arrested After Setting Fire to Waldorf Home – Turned on Gas Before Fleeing

Oxon Hill Man Arrested After Setting Fire to Waldorf Home – Turned on Gas Before Fleeing

Deputy State Fire Marshals arrested a man after fleeing from a home he had set on fire while also turning on a gas stove. On Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at approximately 5:00 a.m., Deputy State Fire Marshals from the Office of the State Fire Marshal Southern Regional Office responded to the 3700 block of...
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Diggs Elementary School in Charles County School Releases Statement on Knife Brought to School and Threat Made by Student

Diggs Elementary School in Charles County School Releases Statement on Knife Brought to School and Threat Made by Student

The following letter was sent out by Debra Calvert, the Principal at Diggs Elementary School. November 16, 2021 Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff: This morning, school administrators learned that a student allegedly had a knife in his bookbag. Students reported to a teacher after the morning arrival that a classmate showed them a knife...
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Charles County States Attorney Office Launches “Drive Sober” Initiative, Partners with Mothers Against Drunk Driver for “Tie one on for safety” Campaign

Charles County States Attorney Office Launches “Drive Sober” Initiative, Partners with Mothers Against Drunk Driver for “Tie one on for safety” Campaign

The Charles County States Attorney Office launches “Drive Sober” initiative, partners with Mothers Against Drunk Driver for “Tie one on for safety” campaign. The following people will be in attendance: Anthony B. (Tony) Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County Robin Stimson, Manager of Victim Services, MADD Mid-Atlantic Region Tori Ruefly, victim/survivor of a drunk...
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MDOT ‘IncenTrip’ Mobile App Encourages Maryland Commuters to Earn Rewards by Using Transit, Ridesharing, Biking and Walking

MDOT ‘IncenTrip’ Mobile App Encourages Maryland Commuters to Earn Rewards by Using Transit, Ridesharing, Biking and Walking

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Commuter Choice Maryland is launching a program aimed at helping Maryland commuters save time and money, while also earning cash rewards when they take transit, rideshare or use other alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles in their rush hour commute. Through incenTrip, a trip planning and logging app available for...
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Charles County Board of Education to Hold Work Session on Monday, November 22, 2021

Charles County Board of Education to Hold Work Session on Monday, November 22, 2021

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a 6:00 p.m., work session on Monday, November 22, 2021, in the boardroom at the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. The Starkey Building is located at 5980 Radio Station Road in La Plata. The meeting is open to the public....
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No Injuries Reported After Early Morning House Fire in Waldorf

No Injuries Reported After Early Morning House Fire in Waldorf

On Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at approximately 1:31 a.m., firefighters from Waldorf and surrounding departments responded to the 1100 block of Bannister Circle in Waldorf, for the reported structure fire. 37 personnel responded and first arriving units found smoke showing from all sides of a 2-story single family residence. Firefighters found a fire was...
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Charles County Suffers the Loss of Former County Commissioner President Marland Deen

Charles County Suffers the Loss of Former County Commissioner President Marland Deen

Marland Deen, age 87, of Waldorf, Maryland, passed away on November 9, 2021. Marland was born on November 4, 1934 in Wright City, Oklahoma, son of the late Willie Lee Deen and the late Annie Marie (Scarborough) Deen. Marland graduated from Wright City High School. He then attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant...
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UPDATE: Police Seeking Witnesses After Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in La Plata

UPDATE: Police Seeking Witnesses After Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in La Plata

UPDATE: Witnesses Sought: The La Plata Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is seeking witnesses of a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on November 10, 2021, at approximately 6:13 p.m., on Crain Highway at Glen Albin Road. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police are assisting the La Plata Police Department’s Collision...
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Six Displaced After House Fire in Helen, No Injuries Reported

Six Displaced After House Fire in Helen, No Injuries Reported

On Saturday, November 13, 2021, at approximately 11:45 p.m., firefighters from Seventh District, Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, Hollywood, and Charles County responded to the 38300 block of Chaptico Road in Helen, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 1-story single family residence with smoke showing from the attic/roof. Upon further...
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Southern Maryland Welcomes 39 New Police Officers, 16 New Deputies in Charles, 13 in St. Mary’s, and 10 in Calvert

Southern Maryland Welcomes 39 New Police Officers, 16 New Deputies in Charles, 13 in St. Mary’s, and 10 in Calvert

Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry is proud to announce sixteen new officers will join the Charles County Sheriff’s Office after their graduation from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy (SMCJA) Police Entrance Level Training Program. The officers were among a total of 39 candidates – ten with Calvert County and thirteen with St....
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Waldorf Retailer Sells $50,000 Winning Bonus Match 5 Ticket

Waldorf Retailer Sells $50,000 Winning Bonus Match 5 Ticket

We have a winner! A lucky Bonus Match 5 player is going into the holiday season with an unexpected $50,000 prize to enjoy, thanks to a winning ticket bought in the Tuesday, Nov. 9 drawing. Lottery retailer Foods In of Waldorf sold the ticket, which matches the five winning numbers of 7, 12, 15,...
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Maryland Reports Early Deer Hunting Season 2021 Results

Maryland Reports Early Deer Hunting Season 2021 Results

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports that hunters harvested 16,281 deer during the early portion of the archery and muzzleloader seasons. The harvest was a 17% decrease from last year’s official harvest of 19,616 deer for the same period. The early season harvest decline was attributed to multiple factors, including warm weather during...
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Waldorf Man Sentenced to 70 Years in Prison for Murder at Beer 4 U in 2017

Waldorf Man Sentenced to 70 Years in Prison for Murder at Beer 4 U in 2017

UPDATE 11/10/2021: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Anthony Dangelo Wilkins, 38, of Waldorf, to 70 years in prison for the Second-Degree Murder of Miaquita Gray, Attempted Second-Degree Murder of Emmanuel Perkins, Second-Degree Assault of Steven Mason, Jr.,...
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Royce Miller Enters Agreement to Reacquire Maryland International Raceway

Royce Miller Enters Agreement to Reacquire Maryland International Raceway

The Miller family owned and operated Maryland International Raceway for 25 years, from 1990 to 2014 and then sold the facility to IRG Sports & Entertainment in 2015. Royce stayed on with IRG for the last seven years as the Chief Operating Officer with duties and guidance for all the IRG owned tracks as...
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UPDATE: Solomons Vet Reopened Following Devastating Fire Nearly 6 Months Ago

UPDATE: Solomons Vet Reopened Following Devastating Fire Nearly 6 Months Ago

UPDATE 11/10/2021: On May 24, 2021, the Solomons Vet suffered a devastating fire. They are excited to announce their reopening on Wednesday, November 10, 2021! We will be offering the same great care and customer service that you have grown to know but in limited space as construction is completed in the rest of...
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Smoke Detectors Alert Homeowner of Fire in Indian Head, No Injuries Reported and Fire Deemed Accidental

Smoke Detectors Alert Homeowner of Fire in Indian Head, No Injuries Reported and Fire Deemed Accidental

On Saturday, November 6, 2021, at approximately 4:00 a.m., firefighters were alerted to 86 Circle Avenue in Indian Head, for the reported house on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a one story townhouse fully engulfed in flames threatening other structures. 64 firefighters from Charles responded and controlled the fire in 30...
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UPDATE: Police Investigating Incident After Eight Charles County Elementary School Students Ingested Edibles

UPDATE: Police Investigating Incident After Eight Charles County Elementary School Students Ingested Edibles

UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: Firefighters reported they’ve obtained 8 care refusal forms with all 8 patients being released to parents. No EMS transports made. UPDATE at 1:49 p.m.: Incident command advising 8 juvenile students ingested edibles, all 8 are in the back of ambulances awaiting the arrival of parents/guardians to advise whether or not to...
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Police Investigating One Shot in Waldorf, Victim Flown to Area Trauma Center

Police Investigating One Shot in Waldorf, Victim Flown to Area Trauma Center

UPDATE – Sheriff’s Office Press Release: On November 7, 2021, at 9:24 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a business in the 2000 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a male with a gunshot wound. The man was flown to...
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