Columbus
Maryland Independent
Growth in Charles County narrowly outpaces goal
Charles County continues to grow and plenty of development will follow suit. The local planning commission heard key statistics from last year in their 2023 annual report at a July 1 meeting. While it may appear on the surface that the county is growing rapidly, the average annual rate of growth has decreased over the last several decades, the annual report said. ...
Charles commissioner seeks to rename Black History Month
Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) is seeking to rename Black History Month — a recognition that was passed by Congress in 1986. “The reason is, looking back at all the wonderful months we have where they celebrate all different heritages, February is the only month that has “history” in the name,” Patterson said at the June 25 meeting of the commissioners. He seeks to rename the month to “African...
Cost of Charles charter to top $1 million as draft approved
Change does not come for free. At the June 27 meeting of the charter board, Charles County’s Acting Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services Jacob Dyer delivered the price tag of switching the county’s form of government. Voters will get to decide in a November ballot referendum whether Charles switches from a code home rule form of government to a charter government, which would come with a county executive and other new positions. ...
Charles officials talk about private burial ground discoveries
During a gravel mining operation in June 2021, contractors found the remains of six bodies in what would later become the Parklands neighborhood in White Plains. Construction was halted and work was done to determine the scope of the burial ground. Mining plans were revised and the development faced some redesign, according to Doria Fleisher, the community engagement coordinator for Charles County. At the June 25 meeting of the Charles...
Library links
Cookie trivia will be held all day July 5-6 and July 8 at the Waldorf West branch. Try and win some cookies. Baltimore Improv Group will hold a comedy show 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 5, at the P.D. Brown Memorial branch. Experience an hilarious, never-to-be-seen-again comedy. Social Security Administration: Retirement information will be held virtually 1 to 2p.m. Tuesday, July 9. The Social Security Administration provides protection for...
Charles County briefs
Resource Day to give parental support, activities for kids The Charles County Advocacy Council for Children, Youth, and Families/Local Management Board is hosting the Children and Families Resource Day on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Charles High School, located at 5305 Piney Church Road in Waldorf. The event will help families find resources available in Charles County to support their child and the family. ...
American Veterans installs officers
American Veterans Post 13 in Waldorf held an installation ceremony for its newly elected officers on June 27. The officers are Commander Joe Raub, left, Past Commander Jim Culbreth, First Vice Commander Bob Bradford, Chaplain Pat Viets, Second Vice Commander David Viets, Provost Marshall Imy Niemiec and Judge Advocate Carl Lempin. Not pictured is Adjutant and Service Officer Debbie Dudak.
Museum matters
Here is what is happening at museums around Southern Maryland this week. Charles The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Chuck Morrison, who will give a lecture titled “The Story of the Airplane on Display at Patriot Park” 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/. The...
Motorcycle crash kills 24-year-old in Charles
A 24-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash earlier this week. On June 25 at 4:40 p.m., Charles sheriff’s officers responded to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Chapel Point Road near the intersection of Purcell Road in Port Tobacco. A preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 Honda CBR600 motorcycle, operated by Nicolas Conrad Slough of Bel Alton, left the roadway and struck a tree, according to a release by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Slough was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact sheriff’s officer A. Fenlon #544 at 301-609-6227.
Charles board backtracks, approves July 5 holiday for county
Based on precedent, the Charles County commissioners have changed their minds and given county employees an extra holiday after all. County government employees will now get off of work July 5 this year after the idea was initially shot down. On June 25, a request came from Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II (D) and Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) to walk back their initial “no” on the extra...
Charles board backtracks, approves July 5 holiday for county
Based on precedent, the Charles County commissioners have changed their minds and given county employees an extra holiday after all. County government employees will now get off of work July 5 this year after the idea was initially shot down. On June 25, a request came from Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins II (D) and Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) to walk back their initial “no” on the extra...
Bacon music in La Plata
Southern Maryland-based Pork Donut performs Friday during the La Plata Concert Series Friday in La Plata. From left is bassist Danny Bacon of Hughesville, guitarist and lead singer Joe Pratta of Charlotte Hall, drummer David Saunders of Dentsville, guitarist Keith Wilsey and keyboardist Danny Gimler of Welcome. The band played classic hits from Cheap Trick, The Cars and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
La Plata siblings commemorate D-Day in Normandy
When the opportunity arose for two high schoolers to represent their Civil Air Patrol squadron at the 80th anniversary of D-Day earlier this month in Normandy, France, Jack and Lauren Compton looked toward their community and raised more than $8,000 to make the incredible chance a reality. The brother and sister both belong to the cadet program in Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The cadet program focuses on building well rounded Americans and aerospace leaders through a curriculum targeting leadership,...
Keeping it clean
Morgan State University Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter members participate in their 16th year of Charles County’s Adopt-A-Road Program on June 15. The local chapter is assigned to pick up litter along a 1.2-mile stretch of Lexington Drive in Waldorf. Charles County encourages residents and organization to help combat littering by “adopting” a county road. Volunteers receive sign recognition in exchange for cleaning their road at least three times a year. Gloves and bags are provided as well as trash disposal; safety vests and caution signs are also available upon request. For more on the Adopt-A-Road Program, go to www.charlescountymd.gov and search in Environmental Resources under the “Services” tab.
Community briefs
'Blindness demonstration' planned at Saturday event The five St. Mary’s County Lions Clubs will be conducting a "blindness demonstration" during the Culture and Cuisine event sponsored by the Lexington Park Business Association in St. Mary’s Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 29. Recyclable eyeglasses will also be collected that day. For more about the event, go to www.visitstmarysmd.com/events/community-culture-cuisine/. Gospel music festival planned ...
Charles County briefs
Resource Day to give parental support, activities for kids The Charles County Advocacy Council for Children, Youth, and Families/Local Management Board is hosting the Children and Families Resource Day on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Charles High School, located at 5305 Piney Church Road in Waldorf. The event will help families find resources available in Charles County to support their child and the family. ...
Charles student advisors recognized by state association
Two school advisors in Charles County were recently honored for their work with students. For those who walk into St. Charles High School and see an enthusiastic academic mentor repping a school polo shirt, it’s probably Danielle Carpenter. Carpenter, academic mentor and student government association advisor at St. Charles, recently received the Mike Michaelson Advisor of the Year Award through the Maryland Association of Student Councils, or MASC, for her...
Museum matters
Here is what is happening at museums around Southern Maryland this week. Charles The Maryland Veterans Museum at Patriot Park will host Chuck Morrison, who will give a lecture titled “The Story of the Airplane on Display at Patriot Park” 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at 11000 Crain Highway in Newburg. Go to www.mdvets.cc/. The...
As charter due date draws near, discourse rages on
As it stands now, Charles County will see the final draft of a charter government presented to the commissioners in about one month. Ahead of the deadline, Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling (D) held a town hall at the Hughesville firehouse on June 20 to address mainly questions related to the charter and to offer his input. A change from the commissioner form of government to charter form will be on...
Charles school board eases sports eligibility policy
The Charles school board approved a revised extracurricular eligibility policy this week that places more emphasis on passing courses than individual quarterly grades. Michael K. Lukas, who has been a board member since 2010, proposed the changed eligibility requirements in hopes of having something that is executable by the upcoming school year. The policy was approved June 17 at St. Charles High School during one of the board’s work sessions. ...
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