Charles News

Students Tackle Global Warming at VelocityX: Climate Innovation Hackathon, Earn $12,000 in Prizes

Students Tackle Global Warming at VelocityX: Climate Innovation Hackathon, Earn $12,000 in Prizes

As climate change impacts our lives and environment, how will we share the information that people will need to make decisions? This was the question that 25 participants from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), local high schools and other colleges recently grappled with as they competed for prizes from a $12,000 pool at...
Read More »

Charles County Sheriff’s Officer Vernon Karopchinsky Honored with Excellence in Patrol Award

Charles County Sheriff’s Officer Vernon Karopchinsky Honored with Excellence in Patrol Award

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s most visible component, the Patrol Division, responds to every call that comes in. These officers see the best and the worst of humanity on a daily basis. In an effort to recognize the extraordinary work of our Patrol Officers, CCSO Command Staff have implemented a bi-annual Excellence in Patrol...
Read More »

Replica Firearm and Suspected Cannabis Recovered from North Point High School Student

Replica Firearm and Suspected Cannabis Recovered from North Point High School Student

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 9:38 a.m., a school administrator at North Point High School became aware a student was possibly in possession of cannabis in their book bag and notified a school resource officer. The bag was recovered at which time over 2.5 ounces of suspected cannabis and a replica semi-automatic firearm,...
Read More »

Charles County Board of Education Announces Administrative Changes

Charles County Board of Education Announces Administrative Changes

The Board of Education of Charles County at its April 24, 2023, work session approved four administrative appointments. The appointments include two new Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) elementary principals, and the approval of two current CCPS acting principals to principals. The Board was also briefed on a few administrative moves and the selection...
Read More »

Celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30, 2023

Celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30, 2023

Did you know that every year in the U.S., nearly 7 million animals go into animal shelters? National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is celebrated annually on April 30th to raise awareness of these pets in need of adoption. The St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption & Resources Center encourages community members to celebrate National...
Read More »

Maryland Department of Agriculture Asks Residents to Act Now to Help Control Mosquito Populations

Maryland Department of Agriculture Asks Residents to Act Now to Help Control Mosquito Populations

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Mosquito Control Program is urging residents to act now to reduce mosquito populations by reducing standing water on their properties. Aside from being nuisances, mosquitoes can also carry a number of diseases that are harmful to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. “Protect yourself...
Read More »

Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update – April 18, 2023

Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update – April 18, 2023

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services staff provided an overview of the Fiscal 2024 Proposed Budget in a Work Session on the General Fund. The General Fund is comprised of property taxes, income taxes, recordation and transfer taxes, and other revenues. Outside agencies provided presentations, including Board of Education, Charles County...
Read More »

Replica Firearm and Box Cutter Recovered from Student at Thomas Stone High School

Replica Firearm and Box Cutter Recovered from Student at Thomas Stone High School

On Monday, April 24, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., a school administrator at Thomas Stone High School was alerted that a student was possibly in possession of a gun, which was reportedly thought to be a toy. The school resource officer responded to the classroom and a replica firearm, replica bullets, and a box cutter...
Read More »

Maryland State Police Accepting Applications For 2023 Leadership and Career Development Seminar

Maryland State Police Accepting Applications For 2023 Leadership and Career Development Seminar

The Maryland State Police announces that applications are now being accepted for the fourth annual Leadership and Career Development Seminar, which will take place from Aug. 4-6, 2023. The goal of the free event is to develop interest and introduce high school rising juniors and seniors and incoming college freshmen to career opportunities with the...
Read More »

Billingsley Elementary School Resource Officer Recovers Replica Firearm (Watergun) from Student

Billingsley Elementary School Resource Officer Recovers Replica Firearm (Watergun) from Student

On Monday, April 24, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., a school administrator at Billingsley Elementary School was alerted by students that another student was in possession of what appeared to be a gun. The gun, which was determined to be a water gun, was recovered. The school resource officer was notified and contacted the Charles...
Read More »

SMECO Nominating Committee to Meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

SMECO Nominating Committee to Meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative’s (SMECO) Board of Directors has appointed 10 members to the 2023 Nominating Committee scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at SMECO’s headquarters in Hughesville. The committee will review candidate applications for the five Board positions to be elected this year. Elections will be held to fill one position...
Read More »

Maryland Joins Coalition of 18 States and Issues Letter to NHTSA: Theft-Prone Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Should Be Recalled

Maryland Joins Coalition of 18 States and Issues Letter to NHTSA: Theft-Prone Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Should Be Recalled

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, in response to Hyundai and Kia’s continued failure to take adequate steps to address the alarming rate of theft of their vehicles, joined a coalition of 18 states calling for a federal recall of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The letter, sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety...
Read More »

Two Injured with One Flown Out After Serious Two Vehicle Collision in La Plata

Two Injured with One Flown Out After Serious Two Vehicle Collision in La Plata

On Sunday, April 23, 2023, at approximately 12:00 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Crain Highway and Turkey Hill Road in La Plata, for the motor vehicle collision reported serious with entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to find one vehicle off the roadway with occupants out of the...
Read More »

Van Hollen, Cardin Vote to Extend Federal Funding Support for Local Fire Departments, Urge House to Follow

Van Hollen, Cardin Vote to Extend Federal Funding Support for Local Fire Departments, Urge House to Follow

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) voted to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration along with funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs for the next several years. These grant...
Read More »

Firefighter Suffers Minor Injuries After Falling Through Floor of Apartment Fire in Waldorf

Firefighter Suffers Minor Injuries After Falling Through Floor of Apartment Fire in Waldorf

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, at approximately 11:53 p.m., firefighters from Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the apartments located at 2225 Stream Vista Place in Waldorf, for a water flow alarm. The first 911 call came from an alarm company reporting water flow alarms were sounding at the address given and shortly...
Read More »

Officers Recover Car Stolen from Gas Station and Arrest Waldorf Man

Officers Recover Car Stolen from Gas Station and Arrest Waldorf Man

On April 10, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., a patrol officer was entering a gas station on Smallwood Drive in Waldorf when he noticed a man running after a vehicle leaving the parking lot, yelling that his car had just been stolen. The officer observed the vehicle enter a nearby neighborhood. The officer, with the...
Read More »

Police Recover Stun Gun from Mathew Henson Middle School Student After Altercation

Police Recover Stun Gun from Mathew Henson Middle School Student After Altercation

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 12:08 p.m., two students at Mathew Henson Middle School were involved in a scuffle at which time one of the students involved activated a stun gun in the school hallway. School staff separated the students and recovered the stun gun. No injuries were reported. The school resource officer...
Read More »

La Plata Police Chief Carl Schinner Appointed As One of Three New Delegates by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)

La Plata Police Chief Carl Schinner Appointed As One of Three New Delegates by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), the Gold Standard in Public Safety, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new delegates. They are Chief Carl Schinner, La Plata (MD) Police Department, Chief (ret.) Shanon Gillette, Downers Grove (IL) Police Department, and Secretary Manuel Alonso Garcia, Secretaria de Seguridad Publica...
Read More »

St. Charles High School Student Falls Ill After Ingesting Oil-Like Substance from a Vape Cartridge

St. Charles High School Student Falls Ill After Ingesting Oil-Like Substance from a Vape Cartridge

On April 19, 2023, at 1:45 p.m., a student at St. Charles High School ingested an oil-like substance from a vape cartridge and became lethargic. Fire and emergency medical services responded to the school, and the student was transported to a hospital where they are being treated. A school resource officer has initiated an...
Read More »

Waldorf Man Wins Three Top Pick 5 Prizes Months Apart with Same Number

Waldorf Man Wins Three Top Pick 5 Prizes Months Apart with Same Number

Lucky digits again deliver $50,000 prize on April 13 A “Big Winner” from Charles County discovered the luck never wore off his favorite Pick 5 number, which just gave him his third $50,000 win in 11 months. The 52-year-old returned to Lottery headquarters this week to claim his latest prize won in the April...
Read More »

Prince Frederick VFD Hosting 76th Annual Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention

Prince Frederick VFD Hosting 76th Annual Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention

Event alert! The Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention is coming up fast this April 30th! Please come out and watch the parade of tri county fire and EMS apparatus on Main Street in Prince Frederick. Once the parade is completed, head on over to the Calvert County Fair Grounds to watch the fire...
Read More »

La Plata Police Recover Handgun on Traffic Stop and Arrest Baltimore Man Who is Then Released Within 24 Hours

La Plata Police Recover Handgun on Traffic Stop and Arrest Baltimore Man Who is Then Released Within 24 Hours

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at approximately 10:51 p.m. hours, an officer conducted a vehicle stop on Drury Drive at Crain Highway on a vehicle displaying Virginia tags. Upon interviewing the driver, the officer noticed the odor of marihuana emanating from the vehicle. Search located a quantity of marihuana and a loaded Taurus 9...
Read More »

Police Arrest Man Armed with Machete who Threatened Parishioners at Church and Used Racial Epithets

Police Arrest Man Armed with Machete who Threatened Parishioners at Church and Used Racial Epithets

On Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 9:13 a.m., officers responded to a church in the 5100 block of Leonardtown Road in Waldorf for the report of a man armed with a machete threatening parishioners and using racial epithets as parishioners were setting up for a service. The victims, who were familiar with the man,...
Read More »

Two Injured After SUV Bursts Into Flames After Collision Involving Dump Truck in Waldorf

Two Injured After SUV Bursts Into Flames After Collision Involving Dump Truck in Waldorf

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, just after 8:00 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the intersection of Piney Church Road and Billingsley Road in Waldorf, for a motor vehicle accident involving a large vehicle. Crews arrived on the scene to find a dump truck overturned and an SUV on fire with multiple...
Read More »

NSWC Dahlgren Division Range Testing This Week “VERY LOUD NOISE” May Be Produced

NSWC Dahlgren Division Range Testing This Week “VERY LOUD NOISE” May Be Produced

Noise Advisory: Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division will conduct range testing on April 20 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Testing has potential to produce VERY LOUD NOISE in communities surrounding NSF Dahlgren. Access to the Potomac River Middle Danger Zone (MDZ), as described in 33 CFR 334.230, will be restricted during testing....
Read More »