Charles News

Charles County Felon Sentenced to 10-Years in Federal Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without a License and Transporting Firearms from Out of State With Intent to Sell Them

Charles County Felon Sentenced to 10-Years in Federal Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without a License and Transporting Firearms from Out of State With Intent to Sell Them

U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Deante Mandel Duckett, age 37, of Cheverly, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license and for transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony. The sentence was imposed on September 28, 2022....
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Charles County Commissioners Meeting Roundup – September 27, 2022

Charles County Commissioners Meeting Roundup – September 27, 2022

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, County Commissioners held a follow-up work session on 2023 Preliminary State Legislative Proposals and Associate County Attorney II Danielle Mitchell provided an update on the proposals. County Commissioners agreed to move forward on the following legislative proposals: Legalizing golf cars and low speed vehicles on Cobb Island Requiring emergency inpatient...
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Applications Open for 2023 Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants

Applications Open for 2023 Keep Maryland Beautiful Grants

Applications are now being accepted for the Keep Maryland Beautiful grants program, managed by Forever Maryland in partnership with the Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. Three different grants are being offered to help volunteer and nonprofit groups, communities, and land trusts to support environmental education projects, litter removal,...
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Martin Harris Appointed Director of Charles County Department of Public Works

Martin Harris Appointed Director of Charles County Department of Public Works

Charles County Administrator Mark Belton announces the appointment of Martin Harris as the director of the Department of Public Works. Harris will begin his employment with Charles County Government on Monday, October 3, 2022. Harris is a strategic government leader with more than 25 years of state and local government management experience within the...
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General Smallwood Middle School Student Charged with Theft and Disorderly Conduct

General Smallwood Middle School Student Charged with Theft and Disorderly Conduct

On Thursday morning, September 29, 2022, a student at General Smallwood Middle School stole shoes from another student and became disorderly when confronted by administrators. Administrators summonsed the School Resource Officer, who detained the student and was able to deescalate the situation. The student was charged on a Juvenile Offense Report with theft and...
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UPDATE: Investigation Continues Into Fatal La Plata House Fire That Killed 59-Year-Old Woman

UPDATE: Investigation Continues Into Fatal La Plata House Fire That Killed 59-Year-Old Woman

UPDATE: Deputy State Fire Marshals are continuing their investigation into the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a 59-year-old woman Tuesday night. On September 27, 2022, at approximately 6:40 p.m., La Plata Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding departments responded to the 1000 block of Suffolk Drive for a dwelling fire with...
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Governor Hogan Proclaims October as Move Over Awareness Month, Expanded Law to Protect Road Users Takes Effect Saturday, October 1, 2022

Governor Hogan Proclaims October as Move Over Awareness Month, Expanded Law to Protect Road Users Takes Effect Saturday, October 1, 2022

Governor Larry Hogan declared October as Move Over Awareness Month in recognition of an expanded law taking effect on Saturday to protect all road users. Read the Move Over Awareness Month proclamation. “Moving over and slowing down when passing a vehicle stopped on the highway isn’t just a matter of following the law—it is about saving...
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Governor Hogan Announces 4.5% Cost of Living Adjustment Increase For All State Employees

Governor Hogan Announces 4.5% Cost of Living Adjustment Increase For All State Employees

Governor Larry Hogan announced that all employees across state government will receive a 4.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA )increase— effective November 1, 2022—as part of a series of measures to enhance statewide workforce recruitment and retention efforts. The governor’s action follows official budget projections from the Board of Revenue Estimates showing that, for...
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Charles County Detention Center Director Pleased to Announce Captain Gardiner Completes National Jail Leadership Academy

Charles County Detention Center Director Pleased to Announce Captain Gardiner Completes National Jail Leadership Academy

Sheriff Troy Berry, along with Charles County Detention Center Director Brandon Foster, is pleased to announce that Captain Brian Gardiner recently graduated from the National Jail Leadership Command Academy (NJLCA). Captain Gardiner completed the weeklong program in August at the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas....
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CPSC, Firefighters Urge Caution When Using Portable Generators as Tropical Storm Ian Continues Its Path of Destruction

CPSC, Firefighters Urge Caution When Using Portable Generators as Tropical Storm Ian Continues Its Path of Destruction

As Tropical Storm Ian moves out of Florida and approaches Georgia and the Carolinas, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is alerting consumers in the path of this dangerous storm about the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from portable generators and other post-storm hazards. Preparing in advance of Tropical Storm Ian is...
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Police Recover 28 Grams of Marijuana from Students Locker at Lackey High School

Police Recover 28 Grams of Marijuana from Students Locker at Lackey High School

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, a school administrator at Lackey High School detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from a locker in the hallway. A subsequent search of the locker revealed a plastic bag containing 28 grams of marijuana. The School Resource Officer was notified, and the juvenile was charged on a Juvenile...
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Rocktoberfest 2022 in La Plata Set for October 1st is Cancelled Due to Weather

Rocktoberfest 2022 in La Plata Set for October 1st is Cancelled Due to Weather

Due to the potential severe weather, we have made the decision to cancel Rocktoberfest 2022, scheduled for October 1st. The steady rain and winds predicted over the next few days would impact the event set up and could ultimately cause damage to our tents along with our stage and music equipment. The safety of...
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Police Arrest Waldorf Man on Multiple Robberies and Assaults Throughout Charles County

Police Arrest Waldorf Man on Multiple Robberies and Assaults Throughout Charles County

On September 26 at approximately 10:24 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a business located in the 11900 block of Acton Lane in Waldorf for a report of shoplifting. The suspect fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival. A short time later, officers responded to a robbery at a nearby...
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Police Arrest Oxon Hill Man After Shooting at a Robbery Victim in Waldorf

Police Arrest Oxon Hill Man After Shooting at a Robbery Victim in Waldorf

On September 17 at approximately 2:31 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of St. Andrews Way and St. Charles Parkway in Waldorf for the report of an incident between two vehicles, which involved a collision and shots being fired. The two vehicles fled prior to police arrival. One...
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UPDATE: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Searching for Two Vehicles Involved in Fatal Hit and Run Involving Pedestrian in Waldorf

UPDATE: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Searching for Two Vehicles Involved in Fatal Hit and Run Involving Pedestrian in Waldorf

UPDATE 9/27/2022: On September 26 at approximately 10:33 p.m., officers responded to the area of Old Washington Road and Bad Dog Alley for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers located a man deceased in the roadway. Initial investigation revealed that the man, later identified as Jeremy Alexander...
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Charles County Man Arrested Under Suspicion of Impaired Driving After Single Vehicle Crash, Police Recover Stolen Handgun

Charles County Man Arrested Under Suspicion of Impaired Driving After Single Vehicle Crash, Police Recover Stolen Handgun

On Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 12:01 a.m., troopers from the Forestville Barrack responded to a single vehicle crash in the area of Route 301 and Timothy Branch Drive in Brandywine. Upon their arrival, troopers found a silver Nissan facing southbound in the northbound lanes on Route 301 and wedged against the guardrail. The...
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Police Arrest Indian Head Man for Violent Assaults and Recover Two Guns

Police Arrest Indian Head Man for Violent Assaults and Recover Two Guns

On September 19 at 4:15 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office were searching the Bryans Road area for a suspect wanted in connection with several violent domestic-related assaults in which the suspect used a firearm to pistol-whip the victim and threaten her. The suspect, Branden Alfred Holland, 23, of Indian Head, was observed...
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Governor Hogan Continues Asia Trade Mission in Japan, Meets with Leadership of Japan Business Federation

Governor Hogan Continues Asia Trade Mission in Japan, Meets with Leadership of Japan Business Federation

To kick off the second leg of his economic development mission to Asia, Governor Larry Hogan today met with leaders of Keidanren—the Japan Business Federation—including Hayakawa Shigeru, co-chairman of Keidanren’s Committee on U.S. Affairs and vice chairman of the board of directors of Toyota Motor Corporation. The governor also touted Maryland’s pro-business environment at...
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Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Administration to Kick-Start New Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment

Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Administration to Kick-Start New Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Stock Assessment

Members point to lowest crab numbers in history of winter dredge survey, recent rapid rise in invasive blue catfish and snakeheads as cause for urgent action On September 21, 2022., U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G....
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Conducting Sobriety Checkpoint Friday, September 23, 2022

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Conducting Sobriety Checkpoint Friday, September 23, 2022

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint in the Hughesville area tonight, September 23, 2022. This checkpoint is grant funded through the Maryland Highway Safety Office.
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Maryland Retired School Personnel Association Offers Mini Grants for Classroom Teachers

Maryland Retired School Personnel Association Offers Mini Grants for Classroom Teachers

Classroom teachers can apply for one of six mini grants offered by the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association (MRSPA). The mini grants — awarding up to $300 per teacher — may be used on special projects or activities that are not funded through the school system, PTA or PTSO. Last school year, Emily Leedy,...
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Charles County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland in La Plata on Friday, September 23, 2022!

Charles County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland in La Plata on Friday, September 23, 2022!

The Charles County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland will begin at 9 a.m. at Texas Roadhouse in La Plata on Friday, September 23, 2022. (located at 103 Drury Dr, La Plata, MD 20646) We will assemble for our annual group photo at 8:45 a.m. No registration is required, just wear this...
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La Plata Police Department Hosting Faith & Blue Event on October 8, 2022

La Plata Police Department Hosting Faith & Blue Event on October 8, 2022

The La Plata Police Department will join over 750 other law enforcement agencies nationwide hosting a Faith & Blue Event. LPPD’s event will be held on October 8th at Wills Park from Noon-3:00 p.m. Please come out and join us and several of our faith-based partners. Faith & Blue was inaugurated in 2020 by...
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Charles County Detectives Arrest 18-Year-Old Waldorf Teen for Shooting of 13-Year Old in July of 2022, Police Recover Two Firearms

Charles County Detectives Arrest 18-Year-Old Waldorf Teen for Shooting of 13-Year Old in July of 2022, Police Recover Two Firearms

On July 18, 2022, at 11:52 p.m., officers from the La Plata Police Department and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 300 block of Jennie Run Drive in La Plata for the report of a shooting. The initial investigation revealed the victim was standing in the area of Caroline Drive when an...
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MDOT Releases Record $19.9 Billion Draft Six-Year Capital Budget Plan

MDOT Releases Record $19.9 Billion Draft Six-Year Capital Budget Plan

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) released its Draft Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP) for fiscal years 2023 to 2028, outlining a record $19.9 billion six-year investment to replace and repair aging infrastructure, expand transit opportunities, assist Maryland’s economic recovery and preserve and expand the state’s transportation network. The Draft FY 2023-2028 CTP is nearly...
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