LATEST NEWS
Chopticon softball christens new field
After playing their designated home games at nearby Baggett Park each of the previous two seasons, the Chopticon High School softball team is looking to christen its refurbished home field with a 3A state title this spring and the Braves have won their first 12 games to start the campaign. Last Friday afternoon, April 19, in a clash of two perennial SMAC powers who could face one another two more times this spring, Chopticon (12-0) pulled away from visiting Northern for an 8-4 victory. The...
One Airlifted To Trauma Center Following Serious Collision In Loveville
LOVEVILLE, Md. – On April 22, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Sunnyside Road in the area of Pin Cushion Road. Crews arrived to find two vehicles involved in a collision with a pole and wires down in the roadway....
Southern Maryland police briefs
Car crash leads to recovery of stolen checks On April 15, officers went to the area of Demarr Road and Duly Drive in White Plains for the report of a vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arrival, officers located a Mercedes Benz off the roadway with significant front-end damage and airbags deployed. There were no occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash, charging documents say. Shortly after, Charles...
Charles school system faces substantial budget cuts
The Charles board of education has had to make some tough calls to address a $17 million shortfall in funding from the county. On April 22, the school board held a work session where the school system’s chief financial officer, Karen Acton, laid out various cuts and reductions to the budget. The school board had proposed a $523.4 million budget for next fiscal year, an increase more than $42 million...
Charles emergency services could get nearly $4 million in new funding
County administered departments are all seeing funding increases in the proposed $559.7 million fiscal year 2025 budget. At the April 23 Charles County commissioners meeting, Acting Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services Jacob Dyer detailed the changes in funding. Funding increases for agencies are anywhere from 0.8% to 15.7% in the fiscal 2025 budget, with the Department of Planning and Growth Management having the highest percentage increase. ...
CRITICAL MISSING TEEN: Gernerd McCormick, Age 18, Has Been Located Safe
UPDATE – 3:15 p.m. – Mr. McCormick has been located and is safe. He has been reunited with his family. UPDATE – 12:30 p.m. – Mr. McCormick is still missing. Officers and resources from four different agencies have deployed, including blood hounds from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Prince George’s County Police Department. Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 2 assisted with an aireal search that was supplemented by CCSO and LPPD drones. Officers from LPPD and CCSO conducted ground searches on ATVs and cruisers. If you see Mr. McCormick please call 911.
Fire department responds to crash
The Mechancisville Volunteer Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 235 in the area of Valley Wood Court in Mechanicsville shortly after 5 p.m. on April 17. The fire company reported one motorist was treated for possible injuries.
Southern Maryland athletes compete at Calvert
A quartet of Southern Maryland Athletic Conference outdoor track and field teams, at least one from each of the three counties that comprise the region, were on hand at Calvert High School on Tuesday afternoon as the numerous athletes tuned up for the upcoming SMAC championships at St. Charles on May 7 and 9. Tuesday afternoon offered male and female athletes alike from host Calvert, La Plata, Leonardtown and St. Charles high schools a chance to prep for the championships that the Spartans will host...
Charles board looks to change school moniker bearing slaveholder's name
General Smallwood Middle School may soon be no more. The Charles County Board of Education reviewed the process to change the name of the school and the price tag associated with it at their April 16 meeting because concerns had been raised over Gen. William Smallwood being a slave owner. Jack Tuttle, a content specialist for the school system, elaborated on Smallwood’s history from his findings in the Maryland state...
Charles man sentenced for manslaughter after crash
The state’s attorney for Charles County announced on April 10 that the Charles County Circuit Court sentenced Michael Darrell Dukes, 22, of Hyattsville to 10 years with all but 18 months suspended in prison for the 2022 death of Zkira Kemp. Dukes entered a guilty plea to gross negligent manslaughter earlier this year on Feb. 26. In addition to the 1½ year of jail time, Dukes will be on supervised probation for five years upon his release. ...
Grace’s Event Center Applies For Alcohol Beverage License
LA PLATA, Md. – Application has been made to the undersigned by Carla Jo Bowens and Karen Anita Richardson, Grace’s Event Center LLC, t/a Grace’s Event Center, 4045 Renner Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20602, for a new Class B-R (Restaurant) Beer, Wine & Liquor Alcoholic Beverage License with entertainment.
Sorority chapter holds Charles school board candidate forum
Candidates for Charles County’s only election this year — an at-large seat on the board of education — faced off at a forum last week. Dottery Butler-Washington, a member of the Charles school board, moderated the forum, which was hosted over Zoom by the Phi Alpha Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. “For over two decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a teacher,” candidate Christopher O....
La Plata man selected as judge for Westminster dog show
The Westminster Kennel Club has selected a La Plata man as a judge for the 148th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. “I’ve always had dogs. They developed into a huge part of my life and became a major hobby for me,” Richard Todd Jackson, 54, told Southern Maryland News. “Everything kind of exploded while I was in college.” Jackson, like many freshmen, said he hated living in dorms and...
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