FREE THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 CountyWWW.COUNTYTIMES.NET Times Farmer, Civic Leader 2 The Calvert County Times Thursday, March 7, 2019 ON THE COVER 12 CONTENTS Hagner Mister stands in front of Democratic Headquarters in Prince Frederick. LOCAL NEWS 3 COPS & COURTS 7 COMMUNITY 9 SUNDAY 3/10 LOCAL 4 College of Southern Maryland presented its annual State of the College. FEATURE 12 EDUCATION 14 SPORTS 16 ENTERTAINMENT 17 COPS & COURTS 8 EDUCATION 14 Sheriff’s Office introduces new deputies. CSM holds winter graduation. OBITUARIES 18 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 20 “THREE LANES WORK BETTER THAN TWO LANES EACH WAY.” SENIOR CALENDAR 21 SHA DISTRICT 5 DEPUTY DISTRICT ENGINEER KIMBERLY TRAN ON ROUTE 231 PLANS. LIBRARY CALENDAR 21 BUSINESS DIRECTORY 22 WEEKLY FORECAST CLASSIFIEDS 23 Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your Insurance Bill In The Mail? P.O. 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MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 Thursday, March 7, 2019 The Calvert County Times Local News 3 State Unveils Route 231 Projects Commissioners Question Light at Park being considered or why the speed limit not familiar with the area. They would wasn’t lowered, which was also brought have to travel farther east and find a place up in Hutchins’ letter. to make a U-turn. She said the part-time Tran told the commissioners, “Three signal has worked in other areas. lanes work better than two lanes each Each of the three improvements would way.” She said with intersection im- be done on a different schedule, with the provements the existing two-lane corri- part-time light likely the first to get fin- dor was adequate for the traffic volume, ished. Tran noted that a police officer which is heavier nearer Prince Frederick had been struck by a car at the Hollow- and lighter nearer the Benedict Bridge. ing Point Park entrance directing traffic, Tran said with two lanes each way, and the improvement was a safety issue. people would be making left hand turns Captain David Payne of the sheriff’s from the fast lane, causing the potential office said Route 231 is coinsidered to for rear-end collisions. She said the four- be a dangerous venue for traffic enforce- lane Route 5 through Leonardtown is an ment because of the lack of shoulders. example of that problem. Johnson said the three projects could Hance noted his and Hutchins’ aver- be done quicker than an entire corri- sion to a part-time light at Hollowing dor improvement because that would Point Park. Hance observed the po- require National Environmental Policy The existing Route 231 entrance into Hollowing Point Park. tential danger of large trucks headed Act review. And, Hance observed that By Dick Myers cilities on that road including the deten- westbound coming over a hill and en- a four-lane Route 231 would reach an Editor tion center and public works garage. But countering a backup of stopped traffic eventual bottleneck anyway at the two- she said the traffic does not warrant a at the light. He wondered if preventing lane Benedict Bridge and the two lanes The State Highway Administration light. Instead she suggested the county eastbound left hand turns into the park through Charles County. (SHA) has proposed several improve- wasn’t a better solution. consider adding a right-hand turn lane [email protected] ments along Route 231 in the county on Stafford Road, which the county Tran said the park was used for re- but they do not include a corridor-wide owns. gional events with many visiting teams, widening. The Calvert County Board Commissioner Buddy Hance noted some coming from Charles County, and of County Commissioners (BOCC) has the county is working to reduce traffic been told the two-lane road with up to on Stafford Road by relocating the pub- 20,000 vehicles a day is adequate with lic works facility and the county fueling its two lanes and intersection improve- station. Bowen's Grocery ments and with its existing 50-miles- Commissioner President Tim Family Owned & Operated Since 1929 per-hour speed limit. Hutchins was sick and not in attendance The SHA’s District 5 (including South- for an issue that is obviously of concern The Charm and Quality of the Past with the Convenience and Variety of Today ern Maryland) Engineer Corren Johnson to him. Commissioner Steve Weems and Deputy District Engineer Kimberly read a letter from Hutchins to Maryland USDA Choice Beef - Cut To Order! Tran presented findings of a SHA study Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn de- at the March 5 BOCC meeting. The tailing the scary experience Hutchins “Our Own” Freshly Ground Chuck proposed improvements include a part- recently had of nearly being rear-ended “Our Own” Frozen Hamburger Patties time light at Hollowing Point Park dur- by a tractor-trailer when he was sitting Steaks • Roasting Pigs ing busy use times, a longer and wider behind a vehicle making a left turn. The westbound bypass lane at Adelina Road tractor-trailer went around him on the Fresh Local Oysters - Quarts • Pints and a center third left turn lane between shoulder, narrowly missing him. Toye Lane and Mason Road. Throughout the presentation, Com- Tran said there also is an evening missioner Mike Hart pressed the state "SPRING IS COMING" rush-hour problem at Stafford Road highway representatives about why a from county employees leaving the fa- complete road widening project wasn’t Treat Yourself to the Best… EXTREMELY LARGE 2-DAY CONTRACTOR’S REGIONAL HERSHEY'S "BEST" EQUIPMENT, TRUCK & TRAILER AUCTION Hand Dipped Ice Cream ON-SITE AT THE FLAT IRON COMPLEX 16 Taste Tempting Flavors! 5840 Hwy to Heaven Ln, Great Mills, MD 20634 Cones - Waffle • Cake Friday & Saturday • March 22 & 23, 2019 • 8:00 AM SELLING EQUIPMENT & TRUCKS FOR: Hershey's Ice Cream SMECO: Equipment, Trucks & Trailers no longer needed in present operations Saint Mary’s County Government & Agencies • Area Contractors Half Gallons - 30 Flavors! Banking and Lending Institutions • Regional Farms Pints • Novelties • Ice Cream Cakes Dealers • And Others Check out Our Website CochranAuctions.com for more Details, Listing & Photos! FULL SERVICE DELI 4300 Hunting Creek Rd • Huntingtown, Maryland 410-535-1304 www.bowensgrocery.com 410-257-2222 MON-FRI 6 AM - 9 PM • SAT-SUN 7 AM - 9 PM 4 Local News The Calvert County Times Thursday, March 7, 2019 Transportation Plan Moving Forward Three Public Workshops Planned CSM Presents Annual By Dick Myers in multimodal transportation planning, Editor travel forecasting, traffic engineering, Calvert Report geospatial analysis, and civil engineering. With opponents of moving forward now “She said a Technical Advisory Com- More County Financial Support Sought with the comprehensive plan update still mittee has been established of Calvert insisting that a transportation plan should County Government departments that be completed first, that plan is now mov- have a role in transportation matters. She ing forward with three public workshops said, “The Technical Advisory Committee in the near future. met with the consulting team for a kickoff The Calvert County Planning Commis- meeting on January 25, 2019 to review the sion was given an update of the process scope of work and schedule for updating at their Feb. 27 meeting by transporta- the plan. A webpage has been activated on tion planner Tamara Blake-Wallace. She the county’s website with the anticipated reminded the planners that more than a schedule and for updates during the pro- year ago they requested that the county cess: http://www.calvertcountymd.gov/ proceed with a “inter-modal transporta- transportationplan.” tion plan.” She added, “On May 3, 2018 Blake-Wallace said the dates of the a memo to the Board of County Com- three public workshops should be an- missioners was prepared by the planning nounced this week. She added, “the con- director to request funding to update the sultant is currently analyzing existing county transportation plan, which was conditions and studies in preparation for adopted in 1997. The board voted that a the first workshop, which will be held this scope of work be developed to determine spring.” CSM President Dr. Maureen Murphy with Gov. Larry Hogan during a tour last year of the new the cost analysis. “ After the workshops, staff will return to Hughesville campus. Blake-Wallace said a scope of work was the planning commission with a progress developed and a Request for Proposals report in the spring. By Dick Myers Programs (RFP) was advertised and three proposals The update of the comprehensive plan Editor • Cybersecurity courses expanded to received. She said, “The proposals were is next on the planners’ agenda for March Prince Frederick thoroughly reviewed and scored by the 20 and no date has been set for their rec- The Calvert County Board of County • Second class of Adult Education stu- evaluation committee, which consisted ommendation to the county commission- Commissioners (BOCC) at their Feb. dents earn high school diplomas and of Planning & Zoning and Public Works ers.