Charles News

Jury trials to resume in criminal and civil cases statewide on March 7th

Jury trials to resume in criminal and civil cases statewide on March 7th

Court of Appeals of Maryland Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty issued administrative orders announcing the Maryland Judiciary will return to Phase V of its five-phased progressive resumption of operations. The main order, the Fourth Amended Administrative Order Expanding Statewide Judiciary Operations in Light of the COVID-19 Emergency, will take effect on Monday, March 7, 2022. All courts...
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Senate Unanimously Passes “George “Walter” Taylor Act”

Senate Unanimously Passes “George “Walter” Taylor Act”

The Senate just UNANIMOUSLY passed SB 273 – Environment – PFAS Chemicals: Prohibitions & Requirements (George “Walter” Taylor Act), the bill that protects Marylanders from toxic PFA chemicals by: prohibiting the use of fire fighting foam laced with PFAS; banning the use of food packaging that contains PFAS; and prohibiting the sale of carpets...
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Maryland Governor Hogan, and Anne Arundel County Executive Pittman Release Statements on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Maryland Governor Hogan, and Anne Arundel County Executive Pittman Release Statements on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman issued the following statement today regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine: “I, most residents of Anne Arundel County, most citizens of the United States of America, and everyday people all across our planet are outraged and saddened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We want to help. We...
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Daylight Saving Time Begins March 13, Department of Emergency Services Reminder to Check Batteries

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 13, Department of Emergency Services Reminder to Check Batteries

Time will spring forward one hour. Daylight saving time officially begins at 2 a.m., Sunday, March 13, 2022. You lose an hour of sleep, but make sure to turn the clock ahead — spring forward — before heading to bed Saturday night to avoid the panic of a late rise. Don’t forget to change the clock on your...
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La Plata Police Department Honors Latina Wilson During Black History Month

La Plata Police Department Honors Latina Wilson During Black History Month

The La Plata Police Department Honors Local Community Difference Makers During #BlackHistoryMonth: LPPD honors Charles County Public School Vice Chairperson Ms. Latina Wilson. Latina Wilson is a Gulf War veteran who retired from the U.S. Army after serving her nation for 20 years. She is active in the community and serves as president of...
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Police Recover Loaded Firearm From Juvenile in Vehicle After Traffic Stop in La Plata

Police Recover Loaded Firearm From Juvenile in Vehicle After Traffic Stop in La Plata

On Thursday, February 24, 2022, at approximately 8:40 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on Rosewick Road in La Plata after observing a traffic violation. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers detected a strong odor of marijuana. Officers noted a passenger in the car was making furtive movements toward...
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Police in Charles County Recover Two Loaded Firearms from Passenger in Vehicle

Police in Charles County Recover Two Loaded Firearms from Passenger in Vehicle

On Thursday, February 24, 2022, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office were investigating a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Aldermans Place when they observed a car drive through the lot and strike a parked vehicle. Officers were able to stop the car as...
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Police in Charles County Recover Loaded Firearm During Traffic Stop in Waldorf

Police in Charles County Recover Loaded Firearm During Traffic Stop in Waldorf

On Thursday, February 24, 2022, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Patrol Officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on St. Chares Parkway near St. Thomas Drive, in Waldorf, after observing a traffic violation. Upon approaching the driver, officers detected an odor of burnt marijuana. Further investigation revealed the driver had a...
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Firefighters Respond to Commercial Fire Alarm at St. Mary’s Dental and Find Smoke Showing

Firefighters Respond to Commercial Fire Alarm at St. Mary’s Dental and Find Smoke Showing

On Sunday, February 27, 2022, at approximately 12:32 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to St. Mary’s Dental located at 28160 Old Village Road in Mechanicsville, for the commercial fire alarm. Crews arrived on the scene to find a one-story commercial building with smoke showing. The assignment was then upgraded to...
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Washington D.C. Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in La Plata

Washington D.C. Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in La Plata

UPDATE 2/25/2022: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, February 24, 2022, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced Jermaine Shawn Richards, 41, to 10 years with all but 8 years suspended in prison for the Motor Vehicle Manslaughter of Timothy Brown. Upon release, Richards will be on...
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One Flown to Trauma Center After Motor Vehicle Collision with Entrapment in La Plata

One Flown to Trauma Center After Motor Vehicle Collision with Entrapment in La Plata

On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at approximately 10:10 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of 7415 Crain Highway in La Plata, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries. Police arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway in the area of Lindsbrooke Place and reported the...
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La Plata Police Department Honors Charles County NAACP President Dyotha Sweat During Black History Month

La Plata Police Department Honors Charles County NAACP President Dyotha Sweat During Black History Month

The La Plata Police Department Honors Local Community Difference Makers During #BlackHistoryMonth: LPPD honors Charles County NAACP President Dyotha Sweat. Dyotha Rene’ Sweat was born in Franklin, Virginia and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She was educated in the Passaic County school system and had the honor and privilege of being educated by the...
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VIDEO: Governor Hogan, Lt. Governor Rutherford Tout $75 Million Investment in Maryland State Parks; New State Parks in Western Maryland, Eastern Shore to Open This Summer

VIDEO: Governor Hogan, Lt. Governor Rutherford Tout $75 Million Investment in Maryland State Parks; New State Parks in Western Maryland, Eastern Shore to Open This Summer

Governor Larry Hogan visited Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro to tout the investment of $75 million in the governor’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget for the Maryland Park Service, which represents a 20-year high. The governor also announced the opening of new state parks in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore this summer. The...
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Police Recover Knife and Loaded Firearm from Student at Educational Center in Charles County

Police Recover Knife and Loaded Firearm from Student at Educational Center in Charles County

On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 12:30 p.m., a school administrator at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center in Pomfret, MD observed a male student with what appeared to be the outline of a gun inside a crossover book bag that was strapped across his chest. Upon further investigation, staff and a school resource officer...
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No Injuries Reported and One Dog Saved After House Fire in Mechanicsville, Fire Marshal Investigating

No Injuries Reported and One Dog Saved After House Fire in Mechanicsville, Fire Marshal Investigating

On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at approximately 9:22 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, Seventh District, Hollywood, and Charles County responded to the 28900 block of Livingston Drive in Mechanicsville, for the reported house on fire. The 911 caller reported they were not on the scene, and stated they received a call reporting their home...
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Plans for New Charles County Public Library in La Plata Announced

Plans for New Charles County Public Library in La Plata Announced

In the shadow of the more than 56-year-old La Plata library, the Town of La Plata Council voted to approve a lease for a new library in La Plata with Charles County. The Town approval comes after last week’s approval by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. The County will build the new library...
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CSM Closes BU Building at La Plata Campus to Repair Heating System, 16 Classes Will Be Relocated

CSM Closes BU Building at La Plata Campus to Repair Heating System, 16 Classes Will Be Relocated

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) announces it has closed the Business Building (BU) at its La Plata Campus to begin repairs to the hot water boiler loop piping that serves the building. Employees and classes will be relocated during maintenance work, which could take up to three weeks. In addition, the heat will...
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Maryland Supports Nearly 17,000 Jobs Through State Finance and Tax Credit Programs

Maryland Supports Nearly 17,000 Jobs Through State Finance and Tax Credit Programs

The Maryland Department of Commerce announced today that its various finance and tax incentive programs helped create and retain at least 16,892 direct jobs in Maryland during fiscal year 2021. More than 1,000 business recipients utilized the department’s programs over the year, investing nearly $357 million into projects throughout the state. The figures come...
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Governor Hogan Encourages Marylanders to Celebrate Harriet Tubman’s 200th Birthday

Governor Hogan Encourages Marylanders to Celebrate Harriet Tubman’s 200th Birthday

Governor Larry Hogan announced that in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Harriet Tubman and the 5th anniversary of its opening, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center will host a series of free, family-friendly programs during the weekend of March 12 to 13. “Harriet Tubman dedicated her life...
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La Plata Police Department Salutes Long Serving Maryland Law Enforcement Official and Current Sheriff of Prince George’s County Melvin High During Black History Month:

La Plata Police Department Salutes Long Serving Maryland Law Enforcement Official and Current Sheriff of Prince George’s County Melvin High During Black History Month:

The La Plata Police Department Salutes Long Serving Maryland Law Enforcement Official and Current Sheriff of Prince George’s County Melvin High During #BlackHistoryMonth: Melvin C. High Prince George’s County, Office Of The Sheriff. He is serving his third term as elected Sheriff, having been sworn in for his first term as Sheriff on December...
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UPDATE: Police Charge White Plains Man for Robbery in La Plata, Detectives Searching for Second Suspect

UPDATE: Police Charge White Plains Man for Robbery in La Plata, Detectives Searching for Second Suspect

UPDATE 2/22/2022: On January 29, 2022, at approximately 7:59 p.m., LPPD officers responded to 40 Drury Drive, Walmart, for the report of a robbery where a firearm was implied. Investigation found two individuals approached a Walmart associate in the electronics department. The suspect identified as Josiah Emmanuel Young of no fixed address, pinned a...
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La Plata Police Department Honors Sergeant Ricky Fields for Black History Month

La Plata Police Department Honors Sergeant Ricky Fields for Black History Month

The La Plata Police Department Honors Local Community Difference Makers During #BlackHistoryMonth: LPPD honors one of its own, Sergeant Ricky Fields. Sergeant Ricky Fields is a retired Chief Petty Officer from the United States Coast Guard. Dedicating 21-years of service to the United States Armed Forces, Corporal Fields’ last duty-station was the National Capital...
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La Plata Police Department Unveils New Autism Awareness Vehicle in Partnership with Pathfinders for Autisms

La Plata Police Department Unveils New Autism Awareness Vehicle in Partnership with Pathfinders for Autisms

The La Plata Police Department (LPPD) unveiled its autism awareness vehicle at the Pathfinders for Autisms Offices. LPPD’s team, including Mayor Jeannine James, and joined by members of Pathfinders for Autism staff, members of the Baltimore County Police Department, and former Baltimore Oriole BJ Surhoff! The purpose of LPPD’s autism awareness vehicle is not...
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No Injuries Reported After Livestock/Equipment Barn Catches Fire in Mechanicsville

No Injuries Reported After Livestock/Equipment Barn Catches Fire in Mechanicsville

On Tuesday, January 15, 2022, at approximately 1:50 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Hughesville, Seventh District, Leonardtown, and Hollywood responded to 26151 Yowaiski Mill Road in Mechanicsville, for the reported building on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find fire throughout a livestock/equipment barn. Engine 23 laid a supply line over 800 feet to...
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Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Past President and Life Member Thomas A. Pilkerton

Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Past President and Life Member Thomas A. Pilkerton

It is with the deepest sympathy the membership of the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Inc. and Auxiliary announce the passing of Past President Thomas A. Pilkerton, fondly known by all his friends, family, and work colleagues at the R.E. Michel Company as “Andy”. Andy was a Life Member of our department...
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