The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the January firearm deer hunting season opens Jan. 6, 2023, in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this season. The winter firearm season...
Read More »
With New Year’s Eve here, Maryland State Police are urging those who plan to celebrate with alcohol to be safe and smart and avoid impaired, distracted and aggressive driving. With an increase in impaired drivers expected throughout the state this weekend, state police will be conducting saturation patrols at each of the 23 barracks...
Read More »
UPDATE 1/1/2023: On Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 4:06 p.m., officers responded to the area of Crain Highway and Port Tobacco Road in La Plata for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Donnell Henry Hawkins, 30 of La Plata, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Hawkins was pronounced deceased at...
Read More »
Governor Larry Hogan announced nearly $10 million in grant awards through the Community Safety Works program to more than 150 business districts, neighborhood associations, local governments and nonprofit organizations across Maryland, expanding on the governor’s Re-Fund The Police Initiative. Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), this program improves the livability and...
Read More »
PUBLIC NOTICE – BILL 2022-14 – WEAPONS AND FIREARMS PROHIBITED ON COUNTY-OWNED OR OPERATED PROPERTY The Charles County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in a hybrid format, both virtually and in person at the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, Maryland,...
Read More »
High school students currently in Grades 8-11 can apply to attend the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Virtual Academy program for the 2023-2024 school year. The application window opens 7 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 3, and closes at 11:59 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24. Late applications will not be accepted. The program is virtual for students...
Read More »
On December 20, 2022, at 4:55 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Pomonkey Creek Place in Bryans Road for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the vehicle’s occupants and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Further investigation revealed the driver, James...
Read More »
UPDATE 12/25/2022: Budds Creek Motocross owners released the following statement. “Tonight at about 6:30, our barn caught fire. The current thinking is that the wind knocked down a live electrical wire. Thankfully everyone is ok, but we lost a lot of equipment. The barn itself was over 100 years old and has been an...
Read More »
The Tenth District Volunteer Fire Department released the following. “Recently, we were very fortunate to receive this vehicle as a donation from the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) that we plan to use as a replacement brush truck. We would like to send a HUGE thanks to SMECO and Steve Montgomery for his assistance...
Read More »
The St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services encourages citizens to prepare for power outages, and to take steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. When power outages occur during severe weather, the use of alternative power sources can cause carbon monoxide to build up in a home, garage, or camper, putting the people and...
Read More »
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 29,124 deer during the two-week firearms season from Nov. 26 through Dec. 10. The firearms season harvest was 10% higher than last year’s official count of 26,584. “The firearm season remains our most popular hunting season,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “We’d like to thank those...
Read More »
Due to severe cold temperatures forecast for Calvert County this weekend, the Department of Public Safety has issued an animal safety alert for Saturday, Dec. 24, through Sunday, Dec. 25. Animal owners or custodians are required to provide the following protections for the duration of the alert: Dogs and cats should be brought inside....
Read More »
Governor Larry Hogan delivered remarks and presented diplomas to the 24 graduates of the 155th Trooper Candidate Class of the Maryland State Police (MSP)—the 12th and final trooper class to graduate during the Hogan administration. The governor also paid tribute to MSP Superintendent Colonel Woodrow “Jerry” Jones, who is retiring at the end of...
Read More »
On Monday, December 19, 2022, a student arrived to school at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center displaying signs of impairment. The school administrators and the School Resource Officer were notified, and the student was transported by helicopter to a hospital. The student remains hospitalized. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to...
Read More »
On Sunday, December 18, 2022, at 8:12 p.m., officers responded to the area of Glasva School Road and Allen’s View Place in Faulkner for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located a cargo-style box truck occupied by two subjects. Officers saw drug paraphernalia in plain view. Further investigation revealed a shotgun,...
Read More »
This winter, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is kicking off the first comprehensive study of wild turkeys ever conducted in the state. The 3-year research project aims to answer many questions about factors potentially impacting turkey populations. “Wild turkeys are an important game bird in Maryland,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “The results...
Read More »
On Monday, December 19, 2022, a student at General Smallwood Middle School reported that two students forcibly stole his shoes. The school resource officer and school administrative staff initiated an investigation. After pursuing leads and consulting with the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, two students are being charged on juvenile offense reports. The students...
Read More »
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens if you see a stopped school bus with its red flashing lights activated, you must stop (IN EITHER DIRECTION) unless there is a physical barrier between you and the oncoming bus – not a painted median. There is NEVER an acceptable excuse to pass a stopped school...
Read More »
On October 23, 2022, at approximately 2:17 p.m, the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) received a 911 call reporting a shooting. PGPD made contact with the caller, who was in his vehicle with the victim, and determined the victim was suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. Further investigation revealed the...
Read More »
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks visitors to the Chesapeake Bay to be vigilant for marine mammals or sea turtles who show signs of cold-stunning or hypothermia. Cold stunning occurs in late autumn and early winter when the Bay’s water temperatures start to fall. The cold water can cause immediate impacts making some...
Read More »
LA PLATA, Md. – December, 2022 — University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center was awarded a $375,000 three-year grant to continue and expand its Peer Recovery Coach Program which provides help to patients struggling with substance use disorders. This is part of a larger $7.9 million grant investment from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst),...
Read More »
La Plata man sends co-worker to buy tickets for both of them A Charles County man had such good Lottery luck that it passed to his co-worker. The La Plata resident, who nicknamed himself “Basketball Man” to tell his Lottery story, won $50,000 playing Pick 5 in November. The construction worker plays the lucky...
Read More »
The Maryland State Police Cyber Task Force is warning consumers to continue to proceed with caution while shopping online to avoid potential scams this holiday season. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2021 report, non-payment or non-delivery scams cost people more than $337 million annually. Credit card fraud accounted for another $173 million in losses. Consumers can...
Read More »
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at approximately 12:40 a.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, Hollywood, Bay District, Seventh District and multiple departments from Charles County responded to 29665 Donna Drive in Mechanicsville, for the reported house on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 1-story residence with fire showing through the roof. Incident...
Read More »
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service announced the awarding of Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants to 53 volunteer fire departments in 15 counties across the state. The projects to be funded help volunteer fire companies enhance their wildland fire protection in rural communities. DNR awarded a total $131,702 in match funding...
Read More »
