Charles News

Leadership Southern Maryland Seeks Solutions to Housing and Human Services Challenges

Leadership Southern Maryland Seeks Solutions to Housing and Human Services Challenges

The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program Class of 2023 convened on February 2 to study the tri-county area’s critical housing and human services challenges. They explored the needs and concerns of low-income families, the unhoused, and residents dealing with mental and behavioral health issues related to economic challenges. Center for Children, Inc. Executive...
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Three Chickens Killed After RV Explodes in Waldorf, Cause of Fire Under Investigation

Three Chickens Killed After RV Explodes in Waldorf, Cause of Fire Under Investigation

On Monday, February 13, 2023, at approximately 11:35 a.m., firefighters from Waldorf and surrounding companies were dispatched to the 12000 block of Wendy Lane in Waldorf, for the reported trailer explosion and structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find RV engulfed in flames with no extensions and no exposures in danger. Firefighters...
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Police Investigating Waldorf Man Killed in Temple Hills Motor Vehicle Collision

Police Investigating Waldorf Man Killed in Temple Hills Motor Vehicle Collision

The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that took place Saturday night in Temple Hills. The deceased driver is 27-year-old Stephan Wolley of Waldorf. On February 11, 2023, at approximately 10:15 p.m., officers responded to the area of Temple Hill Road and Lambert Drive for a collision involving two vehicles....
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Charles County Youth Orchestra Presenting An Earthquake Relief Concert on February 19, 2023

Charles County Youth Orchestra Presenting An Earthquake Relief Concert on February 19, 2023

The Charles County Youth Orchestra will present a concert to benefit the victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey on Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. The concert will be held at Christ Church, 112 Charles St, La Plata, MD. The program will include the Andante movement from the Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig...
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UPDATE: Suspect Who Followed Juvenile Female Through La Plata Target and to Victims Residence is Identified

UPDATE: Suspect Who Followed Juvenile Female Through La Plata Target and to Victims Residence is Identified

UPDATE 2/13/2023: The individual in the photograph has been identified. LPPD thanks the public for its assistance. 2/11/2023: Community Awareness and Alert – The La Plata Police Department is Seeking the Public’s Assistance: On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at approximately 6:22 p.m., the individual pictured below was observed following a juvenile female through the...
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La Plata Police Investigating Subject Attempting to Lure Child to Vehicle by Offering Free Drugs

La Plata Police Investigating Subject Attempting to Lure Child to Vehicle by Offering Free Drugs

The La Plata Police Department is seeking information about an incident that occurred on Friday, February 10, 2023, at approximately 2:40 p.m., in the parking lot of 601 Charles Street. The parents of a juvenile informed officers an individual attempted to lure the juvenile into a car by offering free drugs. The child fled...
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Charles County Department of Emergency Services Announce Lori Cherry as Chief of EMS and Special Operations Division

Charles County Department of Emergency Services Announce Lori Cherry as Chief of EMS and Special Operations Division

The Department of Emergency Services is pleased to announce Lori Cherry as the chief of Emergency Medical Services and Special Operations Division. The chief of Emergency Medical Services and Special Operations Division (EMS & SOD) works closely with the county’s jurisdictional medical director, local and regional emergency medical councils, and local volunteer fire and...
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New Nurse Practitioners Join UM Charles Regional Medical Group – Primary Care

New Nurse Practitioners Join UM Charles Regional Medical Group – Primary Care

Nurse Practitioners Heather Oliver, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, and Adwoa Amponsah-Poku, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, are the newest providers at the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Group – Primary Care practice and are taking new appointments at the La Plata and Bryans Road locations. Primary Care offers patients various services, including health screenings, annual physicals,...
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Man Charged After Setting Parents Home in Waldorf on Fire

Man Charged After Setting Parents Home in Waldorf on Fire

Deputy State Fire Marshals arrested a man shortly after he set a fire inside his parents’ Waldorf home. Around 10:30 p.m., on Saturday, February 11, 2023, Deputy State Fire Marshals responded to the 9200 block of Misting Court in Waldorf, after the owner believed his son had set a fire. Charles County Sheriff’s Office...
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Warning Signs of Teen Dating Violence

Warning Signs of Teen Dating Violence

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Sadly, relationship abuse is all too common even amongst our youth. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults.” Teen dating violence can include physical...
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Suspected Marijuana Recovered from Student at Middle School

Suspected Marijuana Recovered from Student at Middle School

On February 9 at 11 a.m., a school administrator at Piccowaxen Middle School was made aware of a student possibly in possession of marijuana. Further investigation revealed the student was in possession of a plastic bag containing less than 10 grams of marijuana, a vape pen, and cartridges with possible marijuana residue, which was...
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Police Investigating Unknown Substance Sprayed in General Smallwood Middle School Classroom

Police Investigating Unknown Substance Sprayed in General Smallwood Middle School Classroom

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 1:25 p.m., students in a classroom at General Smallwood Middle School were exposed to an unknown substance that was sprayed in the air, possibly by another student. Based on the reactions of several students, it appeared the spray was pepper spray. The students were seen by a school...
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SMECO Sponsors 29th Annual Math Competition

SMECO Sponsors 29th Annual Math Competition

The 29th annual regional MATHCOUNTS competition challenged more than 150 students from 17 schools throughout Southern Maryland to test their math skills at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick on Saturday, February 4, 2023. A competitive technological world requires a proficiency in mathematics as a foundation for success in science, technology, and engineering. MATHCOUNTS...
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Waldorf Man Arrested for First-Degree Assault, Suspect Also Violated Probation

Waldorf Man Arrested for First-Degree Assault, Suspect Also Violated Probation

On Sunday, February 5 at 4:43 p.m., officers responded to the 11300 block of Golden Eagle Place in Waldorf for the report of a domestic-related dispute / altercation. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who had clear and visible injuries. The suspect, Andre Joseph Burch, 29, of Waldorf fled the scene prior...
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Two Insurance Agency’s to No Longer Issue New Polices for Certain Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Due to Theft Rates

Two Insurance Agency’s to No Longer Issue New Polices for Certain Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Due to Theft Rates

UPDATE 2/9/2023: The car manufacturers and insurance companies have not confirmed which states will impacted by the change, however, Progressive and State Farm will not be issuing new policies in some areas for certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles due to increased thefts involving the cars. Both insurance companies stated they will continue to insure...
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Waldorf Man Arrested After Getting Caught Attempting to Steal Catalytic Converter in Leonardtown

Waldorf Man Arrested After Getting Caught Attempting to Steal Catalytic Converter in Leonardtown

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies located and arrested a Waldorf man early Thursday morning after attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a business in Leonardtown. Irving Maxwell Zorn, age 36 of Waldorf, was charged with Malicious Destruction of Property and Theft: $100 to under $1,500 and was transported to the St. Mary’s...
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Shoppers Coming to Three Locations in St. Mary’s and One in Charles County

Shoppers Coming to Three Locations in St. Mary’s and One in Charles County

St. Mary’s County Commissioners announced the past Leonardtown and Charlotte Hall McKay’s stores will become the new locations for Shopper’s, along with Shasho Consulting, P.A. Commercial Real Estate announcing Shoppers is confirmed to be returning to the California McKay’s location at the Patuxent Crossing Shopping Center (formerly known as San Souci Plaza.) Along with...
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Waldorf Navy Veteran Wins $30,008 Keno Prize!

Waldorf Navy Veteran Wins $30,008 Keno Prize!

Navy veteran hopes to purchase a home Multiples of 10 are now lucky Keno numbers for Gary Hill of Waldorf. The U.S. Navy veteran followed his routine of placing an 8-spot bet on the numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80, adding the Super Bonus and trying his luck for 20...
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UPDATE: Police Investigating 14-Year-Old Shot in Waldorf, Victim Flown with Serious, Non-Life-Threatening Injuries

UPDATE: Police Investigating 14-Year-Old Shot in Waldorf, Victim Flown with Serious, Non-Life-Threatening Injuries

UPDATE 2/9/2023: On February 8 at approximately 4:03 p.m., officers responded to the area of Albermarle Place in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they discovered a 14-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his leg. The officers provided first aid until paramedics arrived and the victim was transported to a...
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Hospice of the Chesapeake Welcomes Return of MFA Gallery 90 Exhibits

Hospice of the Chesapeake Welcomes Return of MFA Gallery 90 Exhibits

To the delight of the employees, volunteers and clients of the nonprofit, the walls throughout the nonprofit’s administrative building on the John & Cathy Belcher Campus in Pasadena, Maryland, are once again alit with the work of local artists. It had been three years since the Maryland Federation of Art has been able to display...
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UPDATE: Shed Fire Fire in Mechanicsville Deemed Accidental Due to Electrical Event, No Injuries Reported

UPDATE: Shed Fire Fire in Mechanicsville Deemed Accidental Due to Electrical Event, No Injuries Reported

UPDATE 2/7/2023: On February 5, 2023, at 8:41 p.m., firefighters from St. Mary’s County and Charles County responded to 26600 Alexandra Way in Mechanicsville, for the reported structure on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a large shed fully engulfed in flames. Owners identified as Andrew & Kristen Ferro with the estimated...
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Police Recover Knife from Davis Middle School Student

Police Recover Knife from Davis Middle School Student

On February 6, school administrators at Davis Middle School were notified by a student of another student who was in possession of a knife. The knife was recovered while the students were in the lunch room. In accordance with Maryland law, the student cannot be charged criminally due to his age. The school resource...
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Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2023 Results

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Midwinter Waterfowl Survey 2023 Results

In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made visual estimates of the ducks, geese, and swans along most of the state’s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 632,200 waterfowl, which was higher than the 563,800...
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Waldorf Man Killed After Single Vehicle Collision in Brandywine, Police Investigating

Waldorf Man Killed After Single Vehicle Collision in Brandywine, Police Investigating

The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that occurred Saturday night in Brandywine. The deceased driver is 40-year-old Earl Estep III of Waldorf. On February 4, 2023, at approximately 10:10 pm, officers responded to the 14200 block of Brandywine Road for a single-vehicle collision. The preliminary investigation revealed Estep was...
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Charles County Public Schools Cheer Teams Compete and Advance to Regionals

Charles County Public Schools Cheer Teams Compete and Advance to Regionals

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) varsity and junior varsity (JV) cheerleading squads met at St. Charles High School the evening of Thursday, Feb. 2, for the county’s winter cheer competition. The squads are judged for its abilities in tosses, jumps, tumbling, stunts, pyramids as well as other skills. The teams compete twice a year...
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