Monitor Water Conditions in Havre de Grace

The Department of Natural Resources offers an online tool for checking conditions on the Susquehanna River.

River Sweep to Clean Up Havre de Grace Shore Saturday

Volunteers will meet at Tydings Park.

Earth Day isn't until Monday but citizens in Havre de Grace, Port Deposit and Perryville are doing their part for the planet a couple of days early. The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway is holding its annual River Sweep on Saturday, April 20, near waterways in Harford and Cecil counties. Participants in the cleanup will pick up trash along the Susquehanna River and tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. River Sweep is now in its 13th year, according to Examiner.com, which reported that last year, 850 volunteers contributed to the effort. Volunteers should wear old clothes, bring gloves and meet at one of these five locations at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20: The cleanup will be from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. For more information, …

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Susquehanna State Park Hosts Kayak Fishing Competition

Proceeds from the 2013 Susquehanna Flats Kayak Fishing Jamboree help wounded veterans.

Don't be surprised to see a fleet of kayakers with fishing poles this weekend in Susquehanna State Park. The Susquehanna Flats Kayak Fishing Jamboree is coming to Havre de Grace, April 18 to 21. During the event, fishermen and fisherwomen will paddle around the Susquehanna River in search of striped bass, catfish, large mouth bass and other catches. The event is less a tournament and more a celebration of the sport, which is why organizers say they call it a "jamboree." Registration is $50, and funds generated by the event will go to Heroes on the Water (HOW), a program which helps rehabilitate wounded veterans through kayak fishing.

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4 Darlington Firefighters Taken To Hospital After Training Accident

The fire company members were injured during training operations on the Susquehanna River.

A training accident on the Susquehanna River sent four members of the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company to a local hospital for evaluation Sunday afternoon. Around 1 p.m. the fire company was conducting training on the Susquehanna River when the boat carrying four members hit a rock about 100 yards off the Port Deposit shore line, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association. Two people were thrown into the water while the other two were knocked into the decking of the boat, Gardiner said. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

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Baltimore Man Granted New Trial in Phylicia Barnes Murder Case

The teen's body was discovered in the Susquehanna River in April 2011.

A Baltimore man who appeared for sentencing Wednesday in the case of Phylicia Barnes' death was instead granted a new trial. Michael Maurice Johnson, 29, was convicted of second-degree murder in February. On the heels of the conviction, his lawyers argued that the state withheld information about its witness and made improper statements in the two-day trial. When Johnson showed up for sentencing Wednesday in Baltimore City's Circuit Court, he faced up to 30 years in jail. Now he has a new trial, according to WJZ, which reported that the judge agreed with Johnson's attorneys that the state's key witness was of questionable credibility. According to The Baltimore Sun, the state failed to provide information to Johnson's lawyers that became …

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Havre de Grace Man Drowned in Susquehanna River Saturday

John Duncan, 58, passed away Jan. 19.

A Havre de Grace man pulled from the Susquehanna River Saturday has died, according to officials. John Duncan, 58, accidentally fell into the water near the Amtrak bridge, police said, based on witness testimony. According to police, Duncan was hanging out near the water with his friend, Guy McGee, 44, of Elkton. "[McGee] looked away and when he looked back, [Duncan] slipped and fell into the water," Jeff Gilpin, spokesman for the Havre de Grace Police Department, told Patch. "At that time, [McGee] jumped in the water to rescue [him]." Duncan was found to be unresponsive, and police ruled the death accidental. "It appears they had been drinking, so alcohol may have been a factor in this accident," Gilpin said. "There’s nothing on our end …

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Crews Remove Two Men From Susquehanna River

One of the victims was in "grave condition," officials announced.

Two adult males were removed from the Susquehanna River, near the Amtrak bridge between Havre de Grace and Perryville, early Saturday evening, officials said.  Havre de Grace police responded to the area around 5:15 p.m. after the two men began yelling for help. Police removed both men from the water as the Susquehanna Hose Company arrived on the scene to assist, according to Susquehanna Hose Company Chief Scott Hurst. Hurst said both men were transported to Harford Memorial Hospital, with one suffering life threatening injuries.  The official Harford County Md Fire & EMS PIO Media Page first announced the incident on Facebook. The following post appeared at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday: Two subjects removed from the Susquehanna River near the…

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Bridges Over Susquehanna River To Close

The Hatem and Tydings bridges are slated to close due to high winds.

UPDATE: As of 2:45 p.m., the Hatem and Bay Bridges were closed. The Tydings Bridge is expected to close soon, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. The Hatem and Tydings bridges over the Susquehanna River in Maryland are expected to close at 2 p.m. Monday. High winds caused travel restrictions on the bridge, but traffic is to be shut down after gusts exceeded 55 miles per hour. Interstate 95 is carried by the Tydings Bridge, and U.S. Route 40 by the Hatem Bridge. The bridges are the two primary passages over the Susquehanna River. The Conowingo Dam will remain open. » For live storm updates and up-to-the-minute reports, follow our live chat. The Key Bridge, Nice Bridge and Bay Bridge are under wind restrictions. The Bay …

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Police Identify Woman Found In Susquehanna Friday

A woman was found in the water near Hutchins Park Friday morning in Havre de Grace.

Havre de Grace police have identified the woman who was found dead in the Susquehanna River Friday near Hutchins Park. Marie Rocco, 47, of the 300 block of South Washington Street was discovered at 8:39 a.m. Friday. Rocco also had an address in Vail, CO. Police spokesman PFC Jeff Gilpin said the department is treating the death as a homicide, but the cause of death is still under investigation. Gilpin, in an email to Patch Monday night, said police "have no evidence that has given us any solid direction on what happened." The park is located at the foot of Congress Avenue and is the home to The Lantern Queen and a popular fishing pier. Anyone with information may contact Havre de Grace police at 410-939-2121.

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Female Body Found in Susquehanna River

A female body was found along the shore at Hutchins Park in Havre de Grace Friday.

A female body has been found in the Susquehanna River, Havre de Grace police confirmed Friday. The body was reported to be floating near the pier at Hutchins Park along the Susquehanna River shoreline at 8:39 a.m. Friday, Havre de Grace police spokesman PFC Jeff Gilpin told Patch. Gilpin had no further details at the time. The park is located at the foot of Congress Avenue and is the home to The Lantern Queen and a popular fishing pier. Stay with Patch for updates.

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