Charles News

Three Charles County Public School Students Named 2023 Carson Scholars

Three Charles County Public School Students Named 2023 Carson Scholars

Three Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) elementary students were recently named 2023 Carson Scholars. The Carson Scholars program recognizes students for high academic achievement, humanitarian qualities and community service. Honored this year as new Carson Scholars are: Garcelle Hinson, fifth grade, Malcolm Elementary School Sydney Pennycooke, fifth grade, Mary H. Matula Elementary School Troy...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating Vehicle Arson in Nanjemoy

State Fire Marshal Investigating Vehicle Arson in Nanjemoy

On April 26, 2023, at approximately 4:35 a.m., police and firefighters responded to the area of 8750 Bowie Road in Nanjemoy, for the reported vehicle on fire. 4 volunteer firefighters from Najemoy VFD responded and extinguished the fire in under 10 minutes. The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal responded to investigate the cause...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating Arson at Townhouse in Waldorf

State Fire Marshal Investigating Arson at Townhouse in Waldorf

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at approximately 3:38 p.m., firefighters from Waldorf and surrounding departments responded to 2751 Hadley Drive in Waldorf, for the reported vacant townhouse on fire. The 911 caller reported smoke was coming from the vacant townhome and advised something was on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a...
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Charles County Receives Close to $3 Million in Grants to Expand Rural Broadband Access

Charles County Receives Close to $3 Million in Grants to Expand Rural Broadband Access

The Charles County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that Governor Wes Moore is awarding $2,960,126 to expand high-speed internet access to an estimated 427 households and businesses across Charles County through Connect Maryland. Connect Maryland is an initiative to close the digital divide through the Office of Statewide Broadband. The Connect Maryland Network...
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Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update and Proposed Fiscal 2024 Budget – April 25 and 26, 2023

Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update and Proposed Fiscal 2024 Budget – April 25 and 26, 2023

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Commissioners received a briefing on the state of emergency services in Charles County, from 2017-2022. Director Michelle Lilly and Deputy Director Tony Rose provided an overview of total calls, volunteer versus career response to calls and provision of transports, peak hours analysis, and disparate impacts in different parts of the...
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Dismantling of old Nice Middleton Bridge Set to Cause Traffic Delays on Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Dismantling of old Nice Middleton Bridge Set to Cause Traffic Delays on Wednesday, May 3, 2023

On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, more dismantling of the old Nice Middleton Bridge/Rt 301 will require closure of the new Nice Middleton replacement bridge for approximately 15 – 30 minutes between 9:00 a.m., and 10:00 a.m. The closure may cause traffic delays along Maryland Route 301 North and South of the bridge. Please plan...
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Police Investigating Two Related Altercations at La Plata High School

Police Investigating Two Related Altercations at La Plata High School

On Friday, April 28, 2023, at 12:10 p.m., two students assaulted another student in a classroom while classes were transitioning. The assailants fled from the school but were identified. Shortly after, another fight occurred in the main lobby of the school. The students were separated by school administrators and the school resource officer (SRO)....
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Large House Fire in Avenue Remains Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported and One Displaced

Large House Fire in Avenue Remains Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported and One Displaced

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at approximately 1:35 p.m., firefighters from Seventh District, Leonardtown, Hollywood, Mechanicsville, and Valley Lee responded to 47357 River Springs Road in Avenue, for the reported house on fire. The residence owner/occupant is identified as Anthony Viera with the estimated loss of structure and contents valued at $250,000.00 The American...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Recover Loaded Firearm in Vehicle

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Recover Loaded Firearm in Vehicle

On April 28, 2023, at 12:19 a.m., patrol officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 800 block of Stone Avenue in Waldorf for the report of an intrusion alarm at a school. When officers arrived, they observed a vehicle in the parking lot. Upon making contact with the driver, the odor...
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When Marylanders Register Their Vehicles, They Can Now Support the Environment and Statewide Tree Plantings

When Marylanders Register Their Vehicles, They Can Now Support the Environment and Statewide Tree Plantings

There is a new way for Marylanders to help restore tree cover and mitigate the harmful effects of pollution in the “Old Line State.” The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, is offering state residents a convenient option to donate toward the planting of...
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Verizon Expands High-Speed Internet Across Maryland, Including Charles and St. Mary’s County

Verizon Expands High-Speed Internet Across Maryland, Including Charles and St. Mary’s County

Verizon is bringing more choice for reliable internet to Maryland residents as it deploys high-speed, fiber optic broadband internet service across the state. Nearly 4,000 new households and businesses in Charles, Garrett, Cecil, Howard, St. Mary’s and Washington County will have access to Verizon’s Fios network as part of one of the biggest upgrades...
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Gale Bailey Elementary School Resource Officer Investigating Threat to Commit Violence

Gale Bailey Elementary School Resource Officer Investigating Threat to Commit Violence

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 11:18 a.m., the School Resource Officer and administrators at Gale Bailey Elementary School began investigating a potential threat after they were notified that, while on a video chat that took place the evening before, a student displayed firearms to other students and made a statement that they were...
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Virginia Man Arrested for Impaired Driving After Single Vehicle Rollover in Hughesville

Virginia Man Arrested for Impaired Driving After Single Vehicle Rollover in Hughesville

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at approximately 10:45 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Leonardtown Road and Deborah Drive in Charlotte Hall, for the motor vehicle collision reported serious with one trapped. Crews arrived on the scene to find a pickup truck overturned in the median with the operator...
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Students Tackle Global Warming at VelocityX: Climate Innovation Hackathon, Earn $12,000 in Prizes

Students Tackle Global Warming at VelocityX: Climate Innovation Hackathon, Earn $12,000 in Prizes

As climate change impacts our lives and environment, how will we share the information that people will need to make decisions? This was the question that 25 participants from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), local high schools and other colleges recently grappled with as they competed for prizes from a $12,000 pool at...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Officer Vernon Karopchinsky Honored with Excellence in Patrol Award

Charles County Sheriff’s Officer Vernon Karopchinsky Honored with Excellence in Patrol Award

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s most visible component, the Patrol Division, responds to every call that comes in. These officers see the best and the worst of humanity on a daily basis. In an effort to recognize the extraordinary work of our Patrol Officers, CCSO Command Staff have implemented a bi-annual Excellence in Patrol...
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Replica Firearm and Suspected Cannabis Recovered from North Point High School Student

Replica Firearm and Suspected Cannabis Recovered from North Point High School Student

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 9:38 a.m., a school administrator at North Point High School became aware a student was possibly in possession of cannabis in their book bag and notified a school resource officer. The bag was recovered at which time over 2.5 ounces of suspected cannabis and a replica semi-automatic firearm,...
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Charles County Board of Education Announces Administrative Changes

Charles County Board of Education Announces Administrative Changes

The Board of Education of Charles County at its April 24, 2023, work session approved four administrative appointments. The appointments include two new Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) elementary principals, and the approval of two current CCPS acting principals to principals. The Board was also briefed on a few administrative moves and the selection...
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Celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30, 2023

Celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30, 2023

Did you know that every year in the U.S., nearly 7 million animals go into animal shelters? National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is celebrated annually on April 30th to raise awareness of these pets in need of adoption. The St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption & Resources Center encourages community members to celebrate National...
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Maryland Department of Agriculture Asks Residents to Act Now to Help Control Mosquito Populations

Maryland Department of Agriculture Asks Residents to Act Now to Help Control Mosquito Populations

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Mosquito Control Program is urging residents to act now to reduce mosquito populations by reducing standing water on their properties. Aside from being nuisances, mosquitoes can also carry a number of diseases that are harmful to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. “Protect yourself...
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Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update – April 18, 2023

Charles County Commissioners Meeting Update – April 18, 2023

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services staff provided an overview of the Fiscal 2024 Proposed Budget in a Work Session on the General Fund. The General Fund is comprised of property taxes, income taxes, recordation and transfer taxes, and other revenues. Outside agencies provided presentations, including Board of Education, Charles County...
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Replica Firearm and Box Cutter Recovered from Student at Thomas Stone High School

Replica Firearm and Box Cutter Recovered from Student at Thomas Stone High School

On Monday, April 24, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., a school administrator at Thomas Stone High School was alerted that a student was possibly in possession of a gun, which was reportedly thought to be a toy. The school resource officer responded to the classroom and a replica firearm, replica bullets, and a box cutter...
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Maryland State Police Accepting Applications For 2023 Leadership and Career Development Seminar

Maryland State Police Accepting Applications For 2023 Leadership and Career Development Seminar

The Maryland State Police announces that applications are now being accepted for the fourth annual Leadership and Career Development Seminar, which will take place from Aug. 4-6, 2023. The goal of the free event is to develop interest and introduce high school rising juniors and seniors and incoming college freshmen to career opportunities with the...
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Billingsley Elementary School Resource Officer Recovers Replica Firearm (Watergun) from Student

Billingsley Elementary School Resource Officer Recovers Replica Firearm (Watergun) from Student

On Monday, April 24, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., a school administrator at Billingsley Elementary School was alerted by students that another student was in possession of what appeared to be a gun. The gun, which was determined to be a water gun, was recovered. The school resource officer was notified and contacted the Charles...
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SMECO Nominating Committee to Meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

SMECO Nominating Committee to Meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative’s (SMECO) Board of Directors has appointed 10 members to the 2023 Nominating Committee scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at SMECO’s headquarters in Hughesville. The committee will review candidate applications for the five Board positions to be elected this year. Elections will be held to fill one position...
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Maryland Joins Coalition of 18 States and Issues Letter to NHTSA: Theft-Prone Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Should Be Recalled

Maryland Joins Coalition of 18 States and Issues Letter to NHTSA: Theft-Prone Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Should Be Recalled

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, in response to Hyundai and Kia’s continued failure to take adequate steps to address the alarming rate of theft of their vehicles, joined a coalition of 18 states calling for a federal recall of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The letter, sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety...
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