Prince George's Headlines: Three School Buses Crashed, Man Found in Burning Car

This week's top headlines from Prince George's County, MD.

Police Investigating Murder of Greenbelt Man Found Inside Burning Car Prince George's County police pulled a Greenbelt man with multiple gunshot wounds from a flaming car on Wednesday morning in Fort Washington, according to police. Marcellus Jermaine Jackson, 33, was pronounced dead on the scene, said Cpl. Henry Tippett, spokesman for Prince George’s County Police Police: Woman Endangered Infant, Assaulted Parents with Knife Kyra Chimere Smith, of Bowie, reportedly tried to jump from a window while holding her child after she allegedly assaulted her parents, according to police. Upper Marlboro Crash Involves 3 School Buses A crash on Monday afternoon resulted in 34 students being transported and treated for minor injuries, according to …

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Rift Between Tartaro And Hunt About Trust

The rift on the Hyattsville City Council between Mayor Marc Tartaro and Councilmember Timothy Hunt became clear after a disagreement at Monday's City Council Meeting.

The rift on the Hyattsville City Council between Mayor Marc Tartaro and Councilmember Timothy Hunt that became clear on Monday stems from a disagreement over transparency and a lack of trust. While the Crittenden Street Construction project was the item listed on the agenda, it was the topic of transparency and trust that took over a portion of the Hyattsville City Council meeting Monday night. And, Wednesday both Councilmember Timothy Hunt and Mayor Marc Tartaro reiterated their concerns about council communications and trust. “Things got out of hand Monday,” wrote Tartaro in an email to Patch, “As a mayor, I’ll take some responsibility for that. There are always going to be strong feelings on many topics, and issues where there is …

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Council Tables Resolution To Increase Employee Insurance Contributions

The move would have saved the city $117,000, but employees argued it would be a financial burden on them.

The Hyattsville City Council tabled a resolution to raise the required percentage that city employees contribute to their insurance plans on Monday after receiving critical feedback from city employees. About 40 city employees came to the meeting after receiving a memo about the proposed increases just two days before. The plan would increase the amount employees would be required to contribute to their health, prescription and dental insurance plans from 20 percent to 25 percent. Currently the city pays 80 percent into the plans. The move could save the city $117,365, according to the council’s agenda. At the meeting, city employees said city's saved costs were miniscule compared to the effect the increase in contribution rates would have…

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Five Things You Need to Know in Hyattsville Today (the Hy-Five)

About posters, DVDs and Humiliation Day.

Morning, Hyattsville! Here are five things you need to know today:   1. It’s going to be a little sunny and a little cloudy today with a high of 34 degrees and a low of 27 degrees. 2. Do you ever wonder what goes on at city council meetings? It’s OK if you can’t attend them. You can order a DVD of the meeting by calling city hall at 301-985-5000. 3. Today is Humiliation Day. Nope, that doesn’t mean you can knock someone down a peg. Rather, it’s a time to remember why we don’t want to humiliate or embarrass others. 4. Find out more about this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day poster contest. 5. On this date in 1974 then President Richard M. Nixon refused to hand over tapes and documents required by the Senate Watergate Committee.

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Hyattsville: Year in Photos

A lot of interesting things happened in Hyattsville in 2011. Here are some photos to commemorate some of the major ones. Do you remember them?

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Hyattsville Mayor Proposing Umbrella Department Including Recreation, Communication

The new department would also include volunteer and senior services, community events and arts.

The first Hyattsville City Council meeting includes a motion to discuss the creation of a department of community services, which would combine a number of other departments in order to enhance communication and coordination. Mayor Marc Tartaro is sponsoring this motion to merge the following departments: “These functions have been fragmented and minimally coordinated, with several staff positions reporting directly to the city administrator,” Tartaro’s motion states. “In many cases, working relationships have developed informally and resource sharing has become common. However, we have an opportunity to align our work and better serve our residents through an intentionally coordinated approach.” Here are some of the reasons for Tartaro’s …

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Sarah Nemeth

5:54 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Thanks for the correction Shani! Don't know why I wrote 6. Meant 8. Either way, I appreciate you letting readers know the right time! Take Care, Sarah   more ›

Hyattsville Redistricting Crew of Three Must Balance Needs of City's Five Wards

The city council chose a small committee to handle the process of redistricting Hyattsville.

Hyattsville's City Council chose three residents to head the city's redistricting efforts of its five wards. Ana Pineda, Christine Hinojosa and David Rain will move forward with this four-month process after being designated by the council on Dec. 21, The Gazette reported. The council decided on a three-member committee over a five-member group in an effort to curb disagreements, the report stated.

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Hyattsville Interviewing for HR Spot Beginning This Week

Hyattsville's would like to fill it's long-discussed human resources director position near the beginning of the new year.

After five months of advertising, the City of Hyattsville likely will begin interviewing candidates for the newly created director of human resources position this week. A director is expected to start next summer. “The city of Hyattsville is growing and there’s a need that has to be filled,” said Abby Sandel, Hyattsville’s communication manager. In 2009, the city commissioned a study of its management efficiency, and according to Sandel, human resources—the management and administration of personnel—was the area identified for the most improvement. The position was originally advertised at the manager level, but after some changes in circumstances the job description was promoted to director. After the city council appointed resident Bill…

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Cafritz, Church, Sign Change Requests on Tap for Tonight's Hyattsville Council Meeting

This is the last scheduled Hyattsville City Council meeting of 2011.

There are a number of housekeeping items on tonight’s city council work session agenda, including the proposed Cafritz development, work at West Hyattsville Baptist Church and an answer to Mount Rainier’s request to be added to a Metro station sign. Hyattsville does not support Cafritz developer’s request to amend the Riverdale Park M-U-T-C, instead recommending the plan go forth according to M-U-I standards, which would permit input from parties of record, including communities surrounding the development. At the Dec. 5 council meeting, representatives of Mount Rainier petitioned the council for addition of their city’s name to the West Hyattsville Metro station sign. The name would be added in smaller lettering below the current …

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