Charles News

Indian Head Elementary School Staff and Students Learning to “Move This World” with New Program

Indian Head Elementary School Staff and Students Learning to “Move This World” with New Program

Indian Head Elementary School launched a new program this school year to focus on social and emotional needs of students. Called “Move This World,” the program provides students with strategies to express emotions in a positive way. Students learn about and use 10 “emoger” strategies to display their feelings. The emogers focus on breathing,...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Partners with U.S. Army on Veteran Employment Initiative

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Partners with U.S. Army on Veteran Employment Initiative

The U.S. Army and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office are scheduled to sign a partnership agreement on Thursday, November 14, 2019 as part of the U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) program. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, located at 6915 Crain Highway in...
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La Plata Business Association Donates Over $40,000 from Rocktoberfest Proceeds to Charles County Public Schools

La Plata Business Association Donates Over $40,000 from Rocktoberfest Proceeds to Charles County Public Schools

It’s not often that a string quartet or vocalist performance opens a formal business meeting. On November 6, 2019, the La Plata Business Association’s (LPBA) monthly meeting began with student performers from La Plata High School showcasing the talents of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students. For the past six years, the LPBA has...
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Joint Statement from Department of Justice, DOD, DHS, DNI, FBI, NSA, and CISA on Ensuring Security of 2020 Elections

Joint Statement from Department of Justice, DOD, DHS, DNI, FBI, NSA, and CISA on Ensuring Security of 2020 Elections

Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan, Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, FBI Director Christopher Wray, U.S. Cyber Command Commander and NSA Director Gen. Paul Nakasone, and CISA Director Christopher Krebs released the following joint statement: “Today, dozens of states and local jurisdictions...
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Island Music Company’s Annual Holiday String Giveaway to be Held on November 16, 2019, in La Plata

Island Music Company’s Annual Holiday String Giveaway to be Held on November 16, 2019, in La Plata

Grab your guitar, nonperishable food and get down to Island Music Company in La Plata, MD on November 16, 2019 for their Annual Holiday String Giveaway. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m., to 5:00 p.m., The day is filled with complimentary restringing of most stringed instruments, including guitar, bass, violin, violas, ukulele,...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating Semi-Trailer Fires in Charlotte Hall

State Fire Marshal Investigating Semi-Trailer Fires in Charlotte Hall

On Sunday, November 3, 2019, at approximately 5:50 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville responded to the Burger King in Charlotte Hall, for the reported outside fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find two semi-trailers fully engulfed in flames to the rear of the building, and requested an upgraded assignment. Firefighters from Mechanicsville and Hughesville...
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UPDATE: 23-Year-Old Waldorf Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Shooting Another Man in Face During Robbery

UPDATE: 23-Year-Old Waldorf Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Shooting Another Man in Face During Robbery

UPDATE 11/5/2019: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge William R. Greer, Jr. sentenced Teion Lamon Brewer, 23 of Waldorf, to life suspend all but 50 years in prison for the Attempted First-Degree Murder of Johrel Key and Use of a Firearm During...
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University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Awarded $26,000 Grant for Transportation Initiative

University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Awarded $26,000 Grant for Transportation Initiative

University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center (UM CRMC) was recently awarded a $26,000 grant from the Rural Maryland Council. UM Charles Regional is earmarking the funds for a pilot program called, “Transportation to Wellness Project” that provides eligible patients with free transportation home from the hospital or to post-hospitalization medical appointments. The goals...
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Vehicle Arson Fire in Waldorf Under Investigation

Vehicle Arson Fire in Waldorf Under Investigation

On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 10:05 a.m., firefighters responded to St. Matthews Drive and Sunset Ridge Place in Waldorf, for the reported vehicle on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a Ford E350 box truck with a Kawasaki Motorcycle in the cargo compartment, with the fire showing from the cargo compartment....
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Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 3, 2019, Reminder to Check Alarms and Smoke Detectors

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 3, 2019, Reminder to Check Alarms and Smoke Detectors

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 3, 2019 at 2:00 a.m., residents are reminded to turn clocks backward by one hour to 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The Department of Emergency Services reminds everyone that the annual time change is the perfect opportunity to change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The...
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MURDER UPDATE: Bryans Road Man Sentenced to 78 Years in Prison After Shooting Sleeping Friend in Back of the Head

MURDER UPDATE: Bryans Road Man Sentenced to 78 Years in Prison After Shooting Sleeping Friend in Back of the Head

Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Janeal Jerome Thompson, 27 of Bryans Road, to 65 years for the First-Degree Murder of Ronarj Henderson and related charges. Thompson received an additional 12 years in prison for violating probation...
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Detectives Identify Suspects in Multiple Pharmacy Robberies in Waldorf

Detectives Identify Suspects in Multiple Pharmacy Robberies in Waldorf

Charles County Sheriff’s detectives have identified three men suspected in multiple robberies throughout the region. On March 5, 2019, two suspects robbed the High Street Discount Pharmacy in Waldorf and took prescription medications. Then, on March 21, 2019, two suspects robbed the Northgate Care Pharmacy in Waldorf of prescription medication and currency. Detectives assigned...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Unveils New Domestic Violence Awareness Vehicle

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Unveils New Domestic Violence Awareness Vehicle

Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry and the men and women of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office are pleased to unveil the new Domestic Violence Awareness vehicle. The SUV will be used by members of the Domestic Violence Unit to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence and help make the connection as...
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UPDATE: House in Coltons Point Destroyed After Fire, Cause of Fire Still Under Investigation

UPDATE: House in Coltons Point Destroyed After Fire, Cause of Fire Still Under Investigation

UPDATE 10/28/19: On Friday, October 25, 2019, at approximately 10:55 a.m., firefighters from Seventh District and surrounding departments responded to 20428 Riverview Drive in Coltons Point, for the reported house on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find fire showing from all sides from a two story single family dwelling. The fire was discovered...
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First State Fire Marshal K-9 Certified with Maryland State Police Retires at Nine Years-Old

First State Fire Marshal K-9 Certified with Maryland State Police Retires at Nine Years-Old

After six years of dedicated service to The Office of the State Fire Marshal, explosive detection K-9, Blitz, will retire from the Maryland State Police. Blitz, a nine-year-old German Shepherd, was the first State Fire Marshal K-9 to be certified by the Maryland State Police in June of 2013. With his partner, Deputy State...
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Patient First Providing Halloween Safety Tips and Offering Free Candy X-Rays October, 26 to November 3, 2019

Patient First Providing Halloween Safety Tips and Offering Free Candy X-Rays October, 26 to November 3, 2019

Patient First wants everyone to enjoy the frightful fun this Halloween. Here are a few reminders to help insure your “Trick-or-Treaters” have a fun and safe Halloween: Know the route that your children will take if you do not go with them. Younger children should go with adults. There should be at least one...
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Friendship Man Steals Fire Truck From Calvert County and Takes it on a Joyride

Friendship Man Steals Fire Truck From Calvert County and Takes it on a Joyride

On October 19, 2019,  a deputy from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Park and Ride located at Lower Pindell Road and Southern Maryland Boulevard for a vehicle theft from Calvert that had not been reported yet and was found in Anne Arundel. The vehicle was a 2005 Pierce Fire Truck, belonging...
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Pedestrian Seriously Injured After Being Struck in Waldorf

Pedestrian Seriously Injured After Being Struck in Waldorf

On Friday, october 18, 2019, at approximately 6:25 p.m., police fire, and rescue personnel responded to the area of Leonardtown Road and Post Office Road in Waldorf, for the reported motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. Crews arrived on the scene and reported one subject laying in the roadway with agonal breathing, and a...
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Maryland Auto FineFix Program Enrollment Open Until December 31, 2019

Maryland Auto FineFix Program Enrollment Open Until December 31, 2019

A new state program launched in September has helped over 9,000 eligible Marylanders reduce their outstanding uninsured auto fines, eliminating a significant hurdle to registering and insuring their vehicles. FineFix is a partnership between the Uninsured Division of Maryland Auto Insurance and the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA). This program...
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21-Year-Old Man Killed in Motor Vehicle Accident in La Plata

21-Year-Old Man Killed in Motor Vehicle Accident in La Plata

On October 18, 2019, at approximately 3:15 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Poorhouse Road and Gorham Lane in La Plata for the report of a single vehicle crash. A preliminary investigation showed the driver of a Nissan Altima was traveling south on Poorhouse Road when he...
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Detectives in Charles County Investigating Assault on St. Ignatius Drive

Detectives in Charles County Investigating Assault on St. Ignatius Drive

On Thursday, October 17, 2019, at approximately 3:15 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1000 block of St. Ignatius Drive in Waldorf for the report of people fighting and a shot being fired. When officers arrived, all parties involved in the altercation had fled the scene. A preliminary investigation...
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Charles County Man Scores $100,000 Touchdown on Ravens Instant Ticket

Charles County Man Scores $100,000 Touchdown on Ravens Instant Ticket

Lottery luck was waiting for a Charles County scratch-off fan who left work and went into a Faulkner convenience store to purchase instant tickets. The tradesman bought five scratch-offs, including a very lucky $10 Ravens game. The loyal player scratched off the instant tickets in the car outside of the Red Top store located...
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SMECO CEO Announces Retirement, Transition to New Leadership Expected in March, 2020

SMECO CEO Announces Retirement, Transition to New Leadership Expected in March, 2020

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) president and CEO Austin J. Slater, Jr., submitted his retirement letter to the Board of Directors at the monthly board meeting held Tuesday, October 15, 2019. In his letter, Slater recounted his tenure as CEO for the past 17 years as rewarding. “I have proudly worked for our cooperative...
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UPDATE: Maryland State Police Continue Looking for Witnesses in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident in La Plata

UPDATE: Maryland State Police Continue Looking for Witnesses in Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident in La Plata

UPDATE 10/15/2019: Cpl. Zimmerman of the MSP CRASH Team is requesting witnesses to come forward reference this collision. Parties involved reported a white or silver passenger car stopped in the area at the time of the collision. At this time, this white or silver vehicle is not believed to be involved, but is considered...
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House Fire in Newburg Deemed Accidental Due to Unattended Cooking

House Fire in Newburg Deemed Accidental Due to Unattended Cooking

On Sunday, October 13, 2019, at approximately 5:40 a.m., 42 firefighters from Charles and St Mary’s County, and King George, Virginia responded to 9419 Fendall Lane in Newburg, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find nothing evident from a two story split foyer residence. Upon further investigation, firefighters found...
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