La Plata

La Plata-- --Early on the morning of the first day, the men are still wary. They stand motionless in the shade of trees, breakfasting on toothpicks, their eyes roving back and forth. Most wear at least one article of camouflage, as though they're not quite ready to leave the underbrush yet. Trappers are, after all, solitary creatures, skittish around their many critics and most comfortable on lonely, late-night rounds of swamps, brier patches and cornfields, where they pace their lines and listen for the rattle of chain that means, by God, they've got something.

On Sunday, July 2, 2006, GERTRUDE A. SMALLWOOD of La Plata, MD. Mother of Benjamin Coates, Mary Lyles, Shirley Spriggs and the late Anna Herd. . Viewing, Friday, July 7 at Thornton Funeral Home, Route 227, Pomonkey, MD, from 7 to 9 P.M. Prayers 8 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, July 8, 11am at Sacred Heart Church, La Plato, MD. Interment St. Joseph Church Cemetery, Pomfret, MD.

On Saturday, June 10, 2006, MARIA J. DIGGES, of La Plata, MD; predeceased by her husband Edward S. Digges, sisters, Martha Barnes Mc Hugh and Barbara Mc Hugh Sullivan; survived by her son, Edward S. Digges, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Katherine K. Digges; sister, Gwendolyn Mc Hugh Ogle; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at her residence in La Plata, MD, on Monday, June 12, from 4 to 7:30 P.M., with prayers at 7:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 10:30 A.M. at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Port Tobacco, MD. Interment to follow in the church cemetery.

On Sunday, April 16, 2006, ELIZABETH VIRGINIA CHAPPELL of Baltimore, MD, mother of Barbara E. Barbar of Baltimore, MD, Pamela Chappell of Hagerstown, MD, Sandra Wideman and Linda Hampton of Atlanta, GA. Friends received at St. John Francis Regis Church, Hollywood, MD on Friday, April 21, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, April 21, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 1889, La Plata, MD 20646.

On March 27, 2006 CHRISTEN FLATHMAN, age 4, from Indian Head, MD. Predeceased by her mother Paula Flathman. Survived by her father Mark Flathman, brother Mark Flathman, Jr., Grandparents Randall and Sharon Wilmoth, Bob and Pat Flathman. Great-grandparents Carmel Stone, Angus and Mary Wilmoth. Family will receive friends on Wednesday April 5, 2006 at the AREHART-ECHOLS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 211 St. Mary's Ave., La Plata, MD from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. with prayers said at 7 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 6th at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata, MD. at 10 A.M. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

On March 27, 2006 PAULA FLATHMAN, 33, from Indian Head, MD. Predeceased by her daughter Christen Ann Flathman. Survived by her husband Mark Flathman, son Mark Flathman, Jr., Parents Randall and Sharon Wilmoth, brothers Paul and Wayne Wilmoth, Timothy Clayton, sisters Jesse Munch, Olivia Clayton. Grandparents Carmel Stone, Angus and Mary Wilmoth. Family will receive friends at the AREHART-ECHOLS FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 211 St. Mary's Ave., La Plata, MD on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. with prayers said at 7 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 6th at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata, MD. at 10 A.M. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

COLLEGE PARK -- Charles County's La Plata (101 1/2 points) won the team title, but several local athletes captured state titles at the Class 4A-3A state wrestling championships at Cole Field House yesterday. North Carroll finished second with 92 points, followed by Old Mill (85), Walt Whitman of Montgomery County (81) and Northern of Calvert County (72). In a matchup of returning state champions, Arundel's Justin Bowser (38-1) had a surprisingly easy time defeating Zach Tolbert (26-2)

DAMASCUS -- For the Broadneck wrestling team, a slow start led to an uncharacteristic off-key performance in yesterday's Class 4A-3A state dual meet semifinals against La Plata. At the same time for North Carroll, it was a tough-luck ending that had the Panthers going home early against host Damascus in the other semifinal. Broadneck (20-2) dropped five of its first six bouts and then had the tight matches go the other way as La Plata came away with a 35-26 win. Damascus got a sudden third-period pin from Steve Richards (189 pounds)

The rules governing elections in La Plata, a town of 8,500 people and county seat of Southern Maryland's Charles County, are a little different. The general election is held every odd year. It's conducted just two weeks after the primary. And to be eligible to vote, a town resident has to show an acceptable form of identification. It's this last provision that's captured the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP. They believe La Plata's ID requirement is unconstitutional, and we think they're right.

A La Plata resident was struck and killed Saturday evening by a car whose driver did not see the pedestrian, state police said yesterday. Scottie Maurice Queen, 53, was walking on Route 225 about 6:30 p.m. when a Chevrolet Lumina driven by Carla Yvonne Crump, 20, of La Plata struck Queen, police said.