Charles News

Registration Ongoing for Community Education Courses; Wide Array of Classes Offer Something for Everyone

Registration Ongoing for Community Education Courses; Wide Array of Classes Offer Something for Everyone

The College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) Fall Community Education schedule is set, and registration continues for individuals looking to upgrade their job skills, pursue a new career, start a small business, or explore personal enrichment activities. From travelling abroad, to learning to drive a motorcycle – or even teaching your dog new tricks, CSM...
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Secretary’s Message: We’re Making Progress on New Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy

Secretary’s Message: We’re Making Progress on New Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy

It has been one year since Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland was shifting its Chesapeake Bay cleanup strategy to align with the latest science that recommends focusing water quality improvement efforts on increasing shallow water habitat and living resources, such as populations of fish and crabs. At the Department of Natural Resources (DNR),...
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CSM Receives $375,000 Safety Grant from Maryland Higher Education Commission to Enhance Security Measures

CSM Receives $375,000 Safety Grant from Maryland Higher Education Commission to Enhance Security Measures

The Maryland Higher Education Commission in July awarded the College of Southern Maryland $375,000 from its Campus Safety Grant Program. This substantial investment will improve security systems at CSM’s four main campuses. The Campus Safety Grant funds will enable the college to outfit all CSM campuses exterior doors with electronic key/access points. The new access...
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State Police Ready For National Night Out Across Maryland on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

State Police Ready For National Night Out Across Maryland on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

The Maryland Department of State Police is eager to engage with communities across Maryland for National Night Out, an annual event designed to strengthen bonds between law enforcement and the communities we serve and protect. Since its inception in 1984, National Night Out has been celebrated on the first Tuesday of August. This year,...
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UPDATE: Oxon Hill Man Found Guilty in Armed Robbery of Sunoco Gas Mart in Waldorf

UPDATE: Oxon Hill Man Found Guilty in Armed Robbery of Sunoco Gas Mart in Waldorf

UPDATE 8/4/2024: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, August 2, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 5-day trial, convicted Jeremiah Terrell Bryant, 25, of Armed Robbery and related charges. On January 9, 2024, detectives with Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Sunoco Gas Mart in Waldorf for...
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Road Safety Reminder: Watch Out for Horse and Buggies While Driving in Southern Maryland

Road Safety Reminder: Watch Out for Horse and Buggies While Driving in Southern Maryland

When driving in Southern Maryland, it’s crucial to remember the unique challenges posed by sharing the road with the Amish and Mennonite communities. These groups often travel using horse-drawn buggies, a mode of transportation that requires special consideration from other road users. Horse and buggies are a common sight in regions with significant Amish...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Captain Clarence Black Graduates from DC Police Leadership Academy

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Captain Clarence Black Graduates from DC Police Leadership Academy

Charles County, MD – Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry is pleased to announce that Captain Clarence Black of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has successfully graduated from Cohort 2024-1 of the DC Police Leadership Academy (DCPLA), hosted by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Sheriff Berry expressed his pride in Captain Black’s achievement, stating,...
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One Child Has Died After Bounce House Goes Airborne at Blue Crabs Stadium

One Child Has Died After Bounce House Goes Airborne at Blue Crabs Stadium

UPDATE 8/3/2024: On August 2 at 9:21 p.m., Charles County 9-1-1 Public Safety Communications received a call from the Regency Furniture Stadium reporting that a moon bounce house became airborne due to a wind gust, while children were inside it. At the time, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team was playing a game,...
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2024 Pro Motocross Championship Returns to Budds Creek Motocross Park

2024 Pro Motocross Championship Returns to Budds Creek Motocross Park

The highly anticipated Round 10 of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship is set to take place at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, MD, from August 15-17, 2024. With its challenging track and picturesque surroundings, this event promises to deliver thrilling action and a memorable experience for all attendees. Venue Information 27963 Budds Creek...
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NHL Capitals Maryland Youth Hockey Event – Registration Now Open for DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day at 18 Local Hockey Rinks

NHL Capitals Maryland Youth Hockey Event – Registration Now Open for DMV Girls Try Hockey for Free Day at 18 Local Hockey Rinks

Should you have any interest in highlighting, registration is now open for the NHL’s Washington Capitals DMV Girls Try Hockey For Free Day, taking place at 18 rinks across Maryland and Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 14.: Participating clubs in Maryland include: Abingdon, Md. – Tomorrow’s Ice (at Ice World in Abingdon, MD) Annapolis, Md....
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UPDATE: White Plains Man Convicted for 2nd Degree Murder After Stabbing Victim 59 Times

UPDATE: White Plains Man Convicted for 2nd Degree Murder After Stabbing Victim 59 Times

UPDATE 8/2/2024: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, July 26, 2024, a Charles County jury, after a 10-day trial, convicted Marvin Ernesto Funez-Martinez, 22, of White Plains, of the Second-Degree Murder of Marco Alexander Pulido-Castro and the Wear and Carry of a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to Injure....
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Police Seeking Identity of Man Who Exposed Himself at Waldorf Grocery Store

Police Seeking Identity of Man Who Exposed Himself at Waldorf Grocery Store

Charles County Sheriff’s officers are seeking the identity of a male who exposed himself to a woman while inside a grocery store on King Street in Waldorf. A photo of the suspect, which was recovered from a store surveillance camera, was obtained. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to...
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One Injured After Single Vehicle Collision Leaves One Trapped

One Injured After Single Vehicle Collision Leaves One Trapped

On Thursday, August 1, 2024, at approximately 3:52 a.m., police, fire and emergency medical services responded to the area of Thompsons Corner Road and Woodburn Hill Road, for a motor vehicle collision with injuries. Police arrived on the scene at 3:58 a.m., to find one occupant trapped in the vehicle. Dispatchers upgraded the assignment...
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Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Executive Director Honored with Historic Preservation Award

Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Executive Director Honored with Historic Preservation Award

POMFRET, Md.— The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area is proud to announce that executive director Lucille Walker has been awarded the 2024 Preservation Service Award by the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission. The Preservation Commission recognized Walker for her “tireless efforts in the creation of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area.” “I’m deeply humbled...
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Maryland Reports Steady Underwater Grass Abundance in Chesapeake Bay for 2023

Maryland Reports Steady Underwater Grass Abundance in Chesapeake Bay for 2023

Underwater grass abundance–a key indicator of water quality and habitat–remained steady in 2023 in the state’s portion of Chesapeake Bay, reaching 37,770 acres, according to data released this week by the Chesapeake Bay Program and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Overall, an estimated 82,937 acres of underwater grasses, also called submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV),...
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Raleigh Man Charged with Stealing Over $20K in Checks from Local Flooring Company

Raleigh Man Charged with Stealing Over $20K in Checks from Local Flooring Company

Kyrie Jabril Smith, 23, of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been charged by criminal summons with multiple counts of theft and a theft scheme involving Southern Maryland Flooring Company. According to court documents, Smith allegedly stole over $20,000 through fraudulent transactions and thefts between April and May 2024. Smith is accused of opening a fraudulent...
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66-Year-Old Crack Dealer from Bryans Road Arrested on Drug and Weapons Charges

66-Year-Old Crack Dealer from Bryans Road Arrested on Drug and Weapons Charges

In a significant breakthrough in an ongoing controlled dangerous substance investigation, Diana Eugenia Halloran, 66, of Bryans Road, was arrested on July 19, 2024, at her residence in Charles County. Halloran faces multiple charges related to drug distribution and the illegal possession of a firearm. The arrest followed a search and seizure warrant obtained...
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Waldorf Man Arrested on Assault and Drug Charges

Waldorf Man Arrested on Assault and Drug Charges

Larry Douglas Murphy, 63, of Waldorf, has been charged with multiple offenses following a violent incident with a female victim. The charges include first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The incident occurred in the early hours of July 24, 2024, at Murphy’s residence on Crain Highway. According to court documents, the...
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Domestic Dispute in Waldorf Leads to Assault Charges and Protective Order Violation

Domestic Dispute in Waldorf Leads to Assault Charges and Protective Order Violation

On July 12, 2024, at approximately 8:58 PM, officers responded to a reported domestic assault on Moran Drive in Waldorf. Upon arrival, the victim reported an altercation with her husband Guadalupe Campos Ramos, Jr., 64, of Waldorf. The victim stated that the argument began in the upstairs master bedroom over Guadalupe’s alleged infidelity. As...
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Port Tobacco Woman Arrested on Multiple Charges After Traffic Stop in La Plata

Port Tobacco Woman Arrested on Multiple Charges After Traffic Stop in La Plata

A routine traffic stop in La Plata, led to the arrest of Courtney Alexis Mearis, 22, of Port Tobacco, who now faces multiple charges, including drug distribution and driving under the influence. According to court documents, Officer McGovern of the La Plata Police Department observed Mearis’s gold Buick making erratic maneuvers in the early...
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Police Arrest Two Teens After Armed Robbery and Carjacking at St. Charles High School

Police Arrest Two Teens After Armed Robbery and Carjacking at St. Charles High School

Detectives assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, with the assistance of a school resource officer at St. Charles High School, have identified and arrested two suspects in connection with an armed robbery and carjacking case that occurred in the student parking lot at St. Charles High School. The facts of the case are as...
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CSM Hosting 33rd Annual Golf Classic on August 8th, 2024

CSM Hosting 33rd Annual Golf Classic on August 8th, 2024

Tarot Revisited. Through Aug.15. Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, La Plata Campus. Members of CSM’s Art Club, advised by Professor Andrew Wodzianski, present new interpretations of Tarot cards in their annual summer exhibition in the Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery. Free. https://www.csmd.edu/calendar/2024/05/tarot-revisited-gallery.html 33rd Annual Golf Classic Tournament. Aug 8. Swan Point Yacht and Country Club. Join us...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty to DUI After Taking Wrong Truck Home From Bar

Charles County Sheriff’s Deputy Pleads Guilty to DUI After Taking Wrong Truck Home From Bar

Robert Ryan Smith, a 36-year-old police officer from Charles County, Maryland, was charged with unauthorized vehicle removal and driving under the influence. The charges are connected to an incident that took place on December 3, 2023, at the Moose Lodge located on Mechanicsville Road in Mechanicsville. According to court documents, St, Mary’s County Deputy...
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Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Saves Citizen’s Bird from Treetop Peril

Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department Saves Citizen’s Bird from Treetop Peril

In a heartwarming display of community service, the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department went above and beyond this afternoon by rescuing a citizen’s bird that had found itself in a precarious situation. The bird, experiencing its first flight, became stranded high in a tree and unable to descend. A concerned owner, worried about their feathered...
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Fatal Collision in Fort Washington Claims Life of White Plains Woman

Fatal Collision in Fort Washington Claims Life of White Plains Woman

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Friday evening in Fort Washington. The collision resulted in the death of 77-year-old Louise Wilder from White Plains. On July 26, 2024, around 6:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Indian Head Highway...
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