On March 4, 2023, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received numerous complaints of vehicles operating in a reckless manner on Crain Highway between La Plata and the Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge. The complaints ranged from vehicles traveling at high rates of speed, passing on the shoulders, and vehicles blocking...
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The word that clinched the 2023 Charles County Spelling Bee for a Mattawoman Middle School eighth grader was “valedictorian.” Correctly spelling the word that defines a student with the highest academic achievements of a graduating class seems a fitting word for Alec Gallahan to nail. He advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee held...
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On the morning of March 10, 2023, Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) received an anonymous tip that a 12-year-old student at General Smallwood Middle School made verbal statements as well as on a social media platform to shoot multiple students during the school day. The School Resource Officer was notified and initiated an investigation....
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LEONARDTOWN, MD (March 8, 2023) – In her first appearance at a Commissioner Budget Work Session, newly elected State’s Attorney for St. Mary’s County Jaymi Sterling delivered the message that public safety must be the county’s funding priority. Sterling told the Commissioners that the rise in violent crimes in the county is directly attributable...
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On Saturday, March 11, 2023, please expect a large amount of fire apparatus in the area of Columbus Drive and Shining Willow Lane between 12:00 and 1:30 p.m. as firefighters throughout St. Mary’s County will be conducting a visitation/drive-by event for Steven King. King is a volunteer firefighter who has been with the Second...
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“The North Beach Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors is disappointed to learn that a former piece of NBVFD apparatus, a GMC Sierra 2500 formerly Brush-1, is being used in a reckless and potentially fraudulent manner. As is often the case when a piece of equipment reaches the end of its duty period with...
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On Tuesday, March 7, Commissioners approved Charles County’s annual transportation priority letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Staff provided a presentation on transportation priorities, including support for Southern Maryland Rapid Transit, improvements to the US 301 Waldorf corridor, pedestrian safety enhancements at US 301/Smallwood Drive and MD 228/Western Parkway, projects to improve the Hughesville area, and Governor...
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Calvert County Public Schools Career and Technology Academy (CTA) Teacher Scott Owens has been selected as the 2023 Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year by the Maryland Career and Technical Administrators chapter of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). Mr. Owens is a 20-year veteran teacher at CTA where...
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Registration is now open for College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Velocity X Climate Innovation Hackathon where participating teams will solve real world challenges by inventing, designing and testing solutions to solve the impact of climate change. Held at the Velocity Center in Indian Head, coders and inventors are invited to join community partners for...
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Students in the marine science program and related fields of study at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) for years to come will be the beneficiaries of a $1,000,000 federal appropriation secured for the college by U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D, 5th), in whose district the College lies. The funds will support a renovation...
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Calling all campers and counselors! Applications for this year’s Camp DARE sessions are now live! Get your child signed up before spots run out. The first Camp DARE will be held at Real Life Church in Mechanicsville from July 24 to July 28. The second Camp DARE will be held at Lexington Park Baptist...
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On Thursday, March 9, 2023, at approximately 5:54 a.m., firefighters from Leonardtown, Hollywood, Mechanicsville, Seventh District, Valley Lee, and Bay District responded to the 24000 block of Pin Cushion Road in Leonardtown, for the reported structure fire. Volunteer firefighters from Leonardtown was just leaving the scene of a nearby medical call in the Loveville...
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On Thursday, March 9, 2023, at approximately 1:30 p.m., firefighters from Mechanicsville, Leonardtown, Hollywood and Charles County responded to 29650 Whalen Road in Charlotte Hall, for the reported structure on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a large shed with a vehicle inside fully engulfed in flames with extensions to a nearby...
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On March 3, a 12-year-old student at Piccowaxen Middle School entered a classroom that he did not belong in, sat next to another student and tried to grab her hand, which she did not allow. When the teacher dismissed the class, the male inappropriately touched the victim, and then followed her towards her locker....
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UPDATE 3/9/2023: Following a 2-day jury trial in Calvert County Circuit Court, Patrick Allan Portzen, Jr., of Lusby, was convicted of felony firearms possession and related weapons charges. The jury returned its verdict on March 8, 2023, after 3 hours of deliberation. The jury found Portzen not guilty of 1st and 2nd degree assault....
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AT&T continues its 5G network expansion in Maryland, giving residents, businesses and visitors a big boost in their wireless connectivity. We recently added mobile broadband sites in communities across Maryland, to enhance the coverage and capacity, and help customers unlock the power of America’s Most Reliable 5G Network.1 The new sites are in the...
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Joseph Tamjong, 51, of Lanham, Maryland, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for stealing more than $700,000 from the D.C. Medicaid program. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge...
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As the season changes, consumers should replace their batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to ensure they have working alarms throughout their home and to take steps to prevent fires such as cleaning clothes dryer vents. Make these annual habits to help save lives!...
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St. Mary’s Ryken students participated in St. Mary’s County’s History Day and received several individual and group awards. History Day, an Annual National event, engages students in historical research and discussion around an annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, and Ideas.” Regarding the recent event, Mr. Leif Liberg, SMR...
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On the morning of March 8, the nurse at La Plata High School requested the School Resource Officer’s assistance with a student that was hyperventilating and exhibiting abnormal behavior. The officer was able to calm the student down, and the student notified the officer that she had used a vape pen containing what was...
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Anne Arundel County Police Department K9s Drax, Yago, Pyro, Havok, and Hux have received bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vests were embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”. Vested Interest in K9s,...
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Do you have paper documents with personal information that you’d like to purge? Or do you have unused, unwanted, or expired medications in your cabinets? Dispose of them safely at the Community Shred & Medication Take Back Day! This event will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.,...
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The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) held a joint meeting with the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, before their regular business meeting. During the joint meeting, the Commissioners and the Commanding Officer discussed: Lowering speed limits on county roads in military family housing developments....
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The St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption & Resources Center has announced that all dog adoption fees will be waived through March 31, 2023. Adoption fees will still apply for all other animals, excluding dogs and some specific animals that have been “sponsored” and paid in advance by other residents to encourage adoption. Since opening...
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On March 4, 2023, Charles County Sheriff’s detectives arrested and charged David Warren Henson, Jr., 53, of Waldorf, with sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography after it was reported that he sexually abused an adolescent female over a period of two years. Henson has been employed as a teacher at Grace Lutheran...
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