Charles News

Governor Hogan Announces Release of Maryland’s American Rescue Plan, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Report

Governor Hogan Announces Release of Maryland’s American Rescue Plan, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Report

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland has submitted its 2022 American Rescue Plan, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Annual Performance Report to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The report—which details expenditures from March 3, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and includes planned allocations for Fiscal Year 2023—describes...
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Patrol Officers Arrest Two Juveniles Involved in Armed Robbery at St. Charles Towne Center Mall

Patrol Officers Arrest Two Juveniles Involved in Armed Robbery at St. Charles Towne Center Mall

On August 1, 2022, at 8:00 p.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to Mall Circle for the report of a citizen robbery. The victim, a juvenile, reported the suspects approached him in a hallway near the food court, displayed a firearm and stole his jacket and shoes. The suspects fled on...
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Dunkin’ of the DMV Awards Local Maryland Students with Academic Scholarships

Dunkin’ of the DMV Awards Local Maryland Students with Academic Scholarships

Dunkin’ and its DMV franchisees launched their inaugural Dunkin’ Regional Scholarship Program this past spring, which awarded $100,000 in academic scholarships to high school and college students throughout the DMV. In partnership with Scholarship America, Dunkin’ yesterday awarded 40 students throughout the DMV region with a $2,500 academic scholarship to an accredited two or...
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Singing Bad Lyrics Leads Bryans Road Woman to $50,000 Pick 5 Prize!

Singing Bad Lyrics Leads Bryans Road Woman to $50,000 Pick 5 Prize!

This Bryans Road winner is singing a happy tune after botched song lyrics led to her $50,000 Pick 5 prize. Her brush with Lottery luck began while trying to sing an old Prince song – “777-9311” – and struggling with the lyrics. The Bryans Road resident was filling out Pick 5 tickets for the...
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Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department Receives Grain Bin Rescue Equipment from National Education Center for Agricultural Safety

Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department Receives Grain Bin Rescue Equipment from National Education Center for Agricultural Safety

The Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded grain bin rescue equipment, with equipment that was delivered all the way from Iowa! This rescue equipment was provided at no cost to our department by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety through their Grain Bin Safety Week promotion, and even included training. Our...
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La Plata Police Department Maintains National Law Enforcement Accreditation by CALEA

La Plata Police Department Maintains National Law Enforcement Accreditation by CALEA

The La Plata (MD) Police Department was awarded national accreditation on July 23, 2022, by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in the law enforcement program(s). The agency was first accredited in July 2018. Following a multi-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment...
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LifeStyles of Maryland Celebrates “Xavier’s Garden” at New White Plains Shelter in Memory of 11-Year-Old

LifeStyles of Maryland Celebrates “Xavier’s Garden” at New White Plains Shelter in Memory of 11-Year-Old

In May of 2022, LifeStyles of Maryland announced the first residents were making the new White Plains center their home. Full release can be read here. LifeStyles of Maryland released the following on June 2, 2022 “Anyone wishing to donate to the Children’s Miracle Network to purchase a new cardiovascular ultrasound machine, dedicated in...
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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Captain Stine Retires After More Than 25 Years of Service as Correctional Officer

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Captain Stine Retires After More Than 25 Years of Service as Correctional Officer

The CCSO is saying a bittersweet farewell to Captain Amy Stine #2276. Friday, July 29, 2022, was her official retirement date after serving as a Correctional Officer for more than 25 years! Captain Stine began her career on May 12, 1997. In her 25 years at the Charles County Detention Center, she served in...
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Charles County Officers Continue to Address Complaints of Off-Road Vehicles Being Operated Recklessly on Roadways

Charles County Officers Continue to Address Complaints of Off-Road Vehicles Being Operated Recklessly on Roadways

In response to numerous citizen complaints regarding off-road vehicles (ATVs & dirt bikes) operating recklessly in the roadways, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Unit conducted a special enforcement effort on July 27, 2022. Officers were in the 3300 block of Leonardtown Road in Waldorf when they observed a male driving an ATV in...
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Maryland State Police to Celebrate National Night Out With Communities Across The State

Maryland State Police to Celebrate National Night Out With Communities Across The State

Maryland State Police will join communities and law enforcement agencies across the state to celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Established in 1984, National Night Out is observed on the first Tuesday in August in local communities to promote positive police-community partnerships and neighborhood comradery to make all neighborhoods safer places...
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Waldorf Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Attempted Murder and Other Charges

Waldorf Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Attempted Murder and Other Charges

UPDATE 7/30/2022: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, July 28, 2022, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced William Anthony Smothers, 39, of Waldorf, to 30 years in prison for the Attempted Second-Degree Murder of James Rudd, Jr. and related charges. Smothers was also sentenced to 3...
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UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Multiple Armed Robberies at 7-11 Convenience Stores

UPDATE: Waldorf Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Multiple Armed Robberies at 7-11 Convenience Stores

UPDATE 7/30/2022: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, July 28, 2022, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Eugene Emanuel Hardy, 32, of Waldorf, to 18 years in prison for 4 counts of Armed Robbery and First-Degree Assault. On May 23, 2022, Hardy entered a guilty plea...
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U.S. Senator Van Hollen Secures Two Climate Provisions in Newly Released Inflation Reduction Act; Applauds Progress on Combatting Climate Change and Risings Costs

U.S. Senator Van Hollen Secures Two Climate Provisions in Newly Released Inflation Reduction Act;  Applauds Progress on Combatting Climate Change and Risings Costs

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement applauding the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes key provisions from the Senator’s HOPE for HOMES Act and his and Senator Markey’s Clean Energy Accelerator (National Climate Bank) proposal: “We are facing the moment of truth in our battle to confront the climate crisis. We...
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Maryland Permanently Preserves Seven Working Farms with over 820 Acres of Farmland

Maryland Permanently Preserves Seven Working Farms with over 820 Acres of Farmland

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved seven new Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation (MALPF) easements at their meeting on July 27, 2022. These easements will permanently preserve an additional 824 acres of prime farmland in Baltimore, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, and Worcester counties for an investment of more than $4 million. “This voluntary MALPF program...
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Police Investigating Head-on Collision in Newburg, One Flown to Trauma Center and One Transported to Area Hospital

Police Investigating Head-on Collision in Newburg, One Flown to Trauma Center and One Transported to Area Hospital

On Thursday, July 28, 2022, at approximately 7:25 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Budds Creek Road and Sarum Manor Road in Newburg, for the motor vehicle collision reported serious with multiple subjects trapped. Crews from Charles and St. Mary’s County responded and arrived on the scene to find...
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Charles County Detectives Arrest 22-Year-Old Waldorf Man for Drug Trafficking and Recover 5 Loaded Handguns – Released by Judge 24 Hours Later

Charles County Detectives Arrest 22-Year-Old Waldorf Man for Drug Trafficking and Recover 5 Loaded Handguns – Released by Judge 24 Hours Later

On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, members of the Narcotics Enforcement Section, along with CCSO’s Emergency Services Team, served a search warrant at a house in the 5400 block of Harvest Fish Place in Waldorf after receiving information about alleged drug dealing at the residence. During the search, over 600 grams of marijuana, a quantity...
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Department of Justice and BJA Seeking Applicants for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program

Department of Justice and BJA Seeking Applicants for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance is seeking applications for funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by assisting state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to prevent or reduce crime and violence. The Edward Byrne Memorial...
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Maryland State Trooper Recognized As EMS Clinician of The Year by Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems

Maryland State Trooper Recognized As EMS Clinician of The Year by Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems

A 24-year-veteran of the Maryland State Police is recognized as the emergency medical service Clinician of the Year by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). Lt. Nathan Wheelock was honored during a ceremony on June 6, 2022. The prestigious award was presented by Dr. Ted Delbridge, Executive Director of MIEMSS. Each...
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Department of Emergency Services Provides Tips for Extreme Heat Preparedness

Department of Emergency Services Provides Tips for Extreme Heat Preparedness

With prolonged high temperatures in our area, the Department of Emergency Services urges citizens to take precautions: Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than are adults. Older adults, particularly those with preexisting diseases, who take certain medications, are...
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La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Past Engineer and Life Member, John “Jay” Johnson, Jr

La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Past Engineer and Life Member, John “Jay” Johnson, Jr

The La Plata Volunteer Fire Department released the following statement. “It is with great sadness that our department announces the passing of Past Engineer and Life Member, John “Jay” Johnson, Jr. Jay has been a faithful presence in our department for many years and a valuable senior member we could always count on. Our...
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UPDATE: State Fire Marshal Investigating House Fire in Lusby, No Injuries Reported

UPDATE: State Fire Marshal Investigating House Fire in Lusby, No Injuries Reported

UPDATE 7/27/2022: On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at 1:13 a.m., firefighters from Calvert and St. Mary’s County responded to 50 Nursery Court in Lusby, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from the a two-story split level residence and upon further investigation, firefighters found a fire on...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating House Fire in La Plata That Causes $200,000 in Damages, No Injuries Reported

State Fire Marshal Investigating House Fire in La Plata That Causes $200,000 in Damages, No Injuries Reported

UPDATE 7/26/2022: On Monday, July 25, 2022, at 12:15 a.m., firefighters responded to 6415 Valley Road in La Plata, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find fire showing from the 2-story residence. The owner/occupant is identified as Harry Hairfield, with the estimated loss of structure and contents valued at...
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One Firefighter Transported to Hospital After Responding to Vehicle Fire with Extensions in Nanjemoy

One Firefighter Transported to Hospital After Responding to Vehicle Fire with Extensions in Nanjemoy

On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at approximately 11:00 a.m., firefighters responded to the 8000 block of Gilroy Road in Nanjemoy, for the reports of a car on fire inside the garage Firefighters arrived on the scene in just minutes and located a detached shed and a car vehicle on fire. Crews determined the fire...
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Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Epidemic, Expand Access to Treatment and Community-Based Recovery Programs

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Epidemic, Expand Access to Treatment and Community-Based Recovery Programs

Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) today announced $10 million in block and competitive grant awards to help support programs around the state to address the opioid crisis. The grant funding, which will be distributed between July 2022 and June 2023, will be used to support the Hogan-Rutherford administration’s policy...
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Maryland Senators Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding

Maryland Senators Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services—like birth control, cancer screenings and more—by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the...
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