On Friday, January 21, 2022, at 7:17 a.m., firefighters responded to the 8500 block of Port Tobacco Road in Port Tobacco for the reported structure on fire, after a 911 caller reported “gray smoke” coming from their detached garage. 47 personnel from La Plata Volunteers and surrounding departments responded, the first unit arrived in...
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On January 10, Sheriff Troy Berry issued a press release regarding the management of COVID-19 at the Charles County Detention Center (CCDC) during the nation’s largest spike in the virus ever. “In past months, there has been a campaign of misinformation being shared on social media regarding COVID-19 at the detention center. Hearing misinformation...
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La Plata police officers are in our community day and night committed to protecting and serving the citizens of La Plata and Charles County. They do remarkable work each day. We’d like to introduce you to the La Plata Police Department’s Officer of the Quarter – Officer Logan Warren. On October 3, 2021, Officer...
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An Indian Head resident who dabbles in Maryland Lottery games and church picnic raffles recently collected a $16,000 Keno prize, which is the biggest score of her life. “I’m just so happy! I thank God!” said Edna Johnson of Charles County. On Jan. 18, when the 72-year-old was at Bryans Road US Fuel, she...
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UPDATE 1/24/2022: On January 22, 2022 at approximately 10:42 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-car crash on Smallwood Drive at the intersection of St. Charles Parkway. A preliminary investigation revealed a Kia Cadenza, operated by Omar Kenyatta Hawkins, 42, of Waldorf, was being driven at a high rate...
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On January 22, 2022, at 1:50 a.m., a patrol officer from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop in the area of St Charles Parkway and St Marks Drive on a vehicle displaying suspended registration plates. During the stop, officers smelled marijuana and found drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana....
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The Officers & Members of L-734 & Baltimore Fire Officers IAFF Local 964 regretfully announce the line of duty deaths of: Lt Paul Butrim FFPM Kelsey Sadler FFPM Kenneth Lacayo Please keep their families in your prayers as well as our member FF/EMT John McMaster who remains in the hospital in serious condition. Maryland...
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UPDATE 1/24/2022 @ 9:00 a.m. : Maryland State Police are continuing an investigation into a traffic crash last night in Charles County that killed three people. The first deceased is identified as Patrick Bowie, Jr., 44, of La Plata Md. He was the driver and only occupant of a silver 2006 Chrysler Pacifica. Emergency...
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Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) have partnered to offer high school students a tuition-free early start to higher education by piloting a new Early College Program. To launch the joint program, CCPS will offer 150 total spaces to rising high school juniors from Henry E. Lackey, St....
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Governor Larry Hogan announced that open enrollment will continue on Maryland Health Connection through February in light of the ongoing public health emergency. A record number of Marylanders—181,603—have enrolled in coverage for 2022 through the state’s health insurance marketplace. A surge of new enrollees fueled the 9% increase over a year ago. “As we battle this...
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On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 11:47 a.m., a call was placed to 9-1-1 stating there was “a shooting at a school,” but the name of the school was not provided by the caller. School Resource Officers and patrol officers were immediately contacted and were able to quickly determine that a shooting had not...
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The Newburg Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department (Station 14) and Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department and EMS (Station 10) received a donation of two surplus vehicles from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Fleet Services Section. “I wanted to show my unwavering support for the Charles County Department of Emergency Services. The operational expenses...
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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) welcomed several new faculty members last fall, all of whom have already made their mark on students and the campuses. Beth Caruso is a new assistant professor of English at CSM’s La Plata Campus. Caruso earned her bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from the University of Georgia, and she...
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Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry, in partnership with Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Navarro, recently met with members of a newly formed Youth Advisory Council established as part of Sheriff Berry’s initiatives to continue to build relationships with communities while enhancing trust among its members. “I felt it was critical to...
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College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students who choose to head to Arizona State University (ASU) to complete their degree can now look forward to an easier transfer process thanks to a new alliance that gives them access to ASU’s MyPath2ASU program. MyPath2ASU™ is a set of customized tools that help ensure a seamless transfer experience...
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January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. As a founding member of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office pledges to continue to combat human trafficking by working with our partners to investigate and prosecute traffickers and rescue victims. The Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF) was formed in 2007 by...
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The new www.ccboe.com website launched on Tuesday, Jan. 18. School sites, which features a new design to deliver a cohesive look. The launch may result in the site being inaccessible for at least an hour on Tuesday. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) last updated its website design in 2017. The new look was developed...
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The Maryland Judiciary announced that, due to the continued surge of positive COVID-19 cases and high rate of community transmission, Phase III operations will continue through March 6, 2022, pending further order. Clerks’ offices in both the District Court of Maryland and circuit courts throughout the state will remain open to the public. The Court...
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The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs announced on Thursday afternoon that all four coaches from the 2021 coaching staff will be returning for the 2022 season. Blue Crabs General Manager Courtney Knichel will bring back Manager Stan Cliburn to accompany the team’s Pitching Coach, Daryl Thompson, Bench Coach, Joe Walsh, and Hitting Coach, Ray Ortega....
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Governor Larry Hogan today announced that his Fiscal Year 2023 budget will include historic investments in public health, including record funding for the state’s local health departments. The budget will also expand support for 50,000 low-income children and 27,000 seniors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while providing additional resources for food banks...
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Beginning on January 18, the BusPatrol school bus safety program in Charles County will go into full effect–meaning motorists who violate bus-stopping laws, as captured on buses outfitted with cameras, will receive an actual citation in the mail rather than a letter of warning. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Charles County Public...
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The Charles County Scholarship Fund is offering more than 60 scholarships to Charles County high school seniors. Interested students can visit the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) website, ccboe.com, to view available scholarships, eligibility criteria and additional requirements. All applications must be completed and submitted online by Tuesday, March 1. Students need only to...
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The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced almost $87 million in funding to combat human trafficking, provide supportive services to trafficking victims throughout the United States and conduct research into the nature and causes of labor and sex trafficking. “Human trafficking is a global problem that reaches into many of our nation’s...
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A La Plata man is facing arson charges after Deputy State Fire Marshals concluded he was responsible for setting his truck on fire on the morning of Saturday, January 15, 2022. On January 15, 2022, shortly after 10 a.m., investigators assigned to the Maryland State Fire Marshal Southern Regional Office were requested to assist...
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On January 13, 2022, at 2:15 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop in the 3700 block of Crain Highway for speeding. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers noticed a new mini-bike in the back. Through further investigation, officers were able to confirm the mini-bike had just been stolen from...
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