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Black Diamond Disaster to be Commemorated at St. Clement’s Island Museum

Black Diamond Disaster to be Commemorated at St. Clement’s Island Museum

In April 1865, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the Quartermaster Corps sent the barge Black Diamond to the lower Potomac to stand on picket duty off St. Clement’s Island. Her main job was to keep John Wilkes Booth from crossing the Potomac River. During the same time, the steamer Massachusetts headed for...
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Annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival at Annmarie Garden

Annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival at Annmarie Garden

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, Maryland will be transformed into a magical place of merriment on Sunday, April 14 from 11:00am-4:00 pm for the 9th annual Fairy & Gnome Home Festival. Families are invited to enjoy a day full of natural play and imaginative fun, with games, appearances by special characters,...
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UPDATE: Partially Submerged Civilian Craft Removed from Patuxent River

UPDATE: Partially Submerged Civilian Craft Removed from Patuxent River

UPDATE 4/2/2019: The U.S. Coast Guard this past week used a crane barge to remove a sunken abandoned vessel that was polluting the Patuxent River, and causing a hazard to boating navigation. 9/4/2018: On August 21, 2018 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Officer David Helterbran and Sgt. Tim Kraemer of the Maryland Natural Resources Police...
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PARK THE PHONE – April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

PARK THE PHONE – April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Each year, distracted driving results in more than 28,000 injuries on Maryland roads. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office is working with State and local law enforcement to encourage motorists to Park the Phone before they drive. “Distracted driving is...
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Hell Rooms Of Calvert County Public Schools Part III: Superintendent Daniel Curry Responds

Hell Rooms Of Calvert County Public Schools Part III: Superintendent Daniel Curry Responds

Superintendent Daniel Curry said he first learned of Calvert County’s statistics on the use of restraint and seclusion approximately one month ago. “Well, my initial thought is that, that’s not good. And we’ve obviously got some work to do.” Curry added, “We have a wide range of responsibility here and we take it...
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Charles County Department of Health Releases 2019 Food Facility Inspections

Charles County Department of Health Releases 2019 Food Facility Inspections

The Charles County Department of Health (CCDOH) has released an inspection list that identifies which facilities that have been inspected in 2019. The list provides increased transparency into the inspection process and departmental progress in the completion of routine inspections. This inspection database will be updated on a monthly basis to better inform consumers....
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The Hell Rooms of Calvert County Public Schools: Part II

The Hell Rooms of Calvert County Public Schools: Part II

UPDATE 4/3/2019: There was an error in the spreadsheet data that was utilized to create the seclusion graphs in the article below. The article indicated that Talbot County was #1 in seclusions. There was a data entry error that lead to that finding. Talbot actually had zero reported seclusions (lowering them on the graph...
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PRESS RELEASE: Governor Larry Hogan Uses Veto to Protect Maryland Jobs and Economy

PRESS RELEASE: Governor Larry Hogan Uses Veto to Protect Maryland Jobs and Economy

Governor Larry Hogan today vetoed Senate Bill 280 and House Bill 166 – Labor and Employment – Payment of Wages – Minimum Wage, saying it “could cost us jobs, negatively impact our economic competitiveness, and devastate our state’s economy.” Read the governor’s veto letter, which emphasizes three key points: This measure would cost Maryland more...
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The Hell rooms of Calvert County Public Schools Part I: Seclusion & Restraint

The Hell rooms of Calvert County Public Schools Part I: Seclusion & Restraint

“Seclusion and restraint.” It probably isn’t a term with which most people are familiar. If the unfamiliar person were to wager a guess at just what exactly does “seclusion and restraint” mean, images of maximum security prisons or the interrogation of terrorism suspects might come to mind. Cooper Stephens is all too familiar with...
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Welcome Home Kegan Zimmerman, A Real Southern Maryland Champion

Welcome Home Kegan Zimmerman, A Real Southern Maryland Champion

Southern Maryland News Net would like to Congratulate Kegan Zimmerman on his two gold medals and a silver medal. Kegan returned back home to Southern Maryland from the 2019 Special Olympics World Games held in Abu Dhabi, where he represented the United States. Kegan can be seen in the photo with Troopers from the...
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Three Dozen New Troopers Join The Ranks During Trooper Candidate Class 148 Graduation

Three Dozen New Troopers Join The Ranks During Trooper Candidate Class 148 Graduation

As state officials and proud family members looked on, trooper candidates raised their right hands today and took an oath to serve and protect the people of Maryland as they officially became state troopers during the graduation ceremony for the Maryland State Police 148th Trooper Candidate Class. The 36 members of Trooper Candidate Class...
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Original 17th Century Iron Cross Erected by the First English Colonists in Maryland to be on Display

Original 17th Century Iron Cross Erected by the First English Colonists in Maryland to be on Display

The 17th century iron cross, initially erected on St. Clement’s Island by the earliest English settlers to Maryland on the first “Maryland Day,” March 25, 1634, will temporarily return to its first home in the Americas where it will be on display at St. Clement’s Island Museum during the Maryland Day Ceremony on March...
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Charles County BBQ Restaurant Shut Down After Video of Filthy Conditions Goes Viral

Charles County BBQ Restaurant Shut Down After Video of Filthy Conditions Goes Viral

George’s BBQ in Indian Head was recently shut down by the Charles County Department of Health after filthy conditions were seen in a YouTube video of the kitchen. The video was brought to the attention of the health department after it was posted online by Anthony Byrd. The Charles County Department of Health posted the...
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Rumors of Shooting at Esperanza Middle School are False

Rumors of Shooting at Esperanza Middle School are False

After receiving multiple calls and emails from parents, SMNEWSNET was able to obtain the following email that was sent to parents of students at Esperanza Middle School. Good evening Esperanza Middle School Community – We have been receiving inquiries in regards to rumors referencing a potential shooting at EMS. Once we were made aware...
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Troopers From La Plata Barrack Conduct Seat Belt Enforcement Initiative

Troopers From La Plata Barrack Conduct Seat Belt Enforcement Initiative

Five Maryland State Troopers from the La Plata Barrack conducted a seat belt enforcement initiative from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, on Route 5 south at Post Office Road. As a result, troopers conducted 53 traffic stops, issued 35 citations (27 for seat belt violations) and 24 warnings (12...
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UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Say No Sustained or Credible Threats Were Identified at Area Schools

UPDATE: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Say No Sustained or Credible Threats Were Identified at Area Schools

UPDATE: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation with St. Mary’s County Public Schools, regarding threats circulating via text messages and on social media. After an extensive investigation, no sustained or credible threats were identified. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and St. Mary’s County Public Schools will continue to fully...
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Congressman Hoyer Releases Statement on Anniversary of Great Mills School Shooting

Congressman Hoyer Releases Statement on Anniversary of Great Mills School Shooting

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County: “I join with the Great Mills High School community in remembering Jaelynn Willey, whose life was tragically and senselessly cut short one year ago. My prayers and deepest sympathies are...
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UPDATE: Video Added – Charles County Crime Solvers Offering Reward in Multiple Property Damage Cases

UPDATE: Video Added – Charles County Crime Solvers Offering Reward in Multiple Property Damage Cases

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is investigating multiple incidents of property damage in which unknown suspect(s) shot out windows to cars. Charles County Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for the tip that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspect(s). Over the last two weeks, during the...
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Jazz Fest, Job Fair, Open Houses, Connections with Edna Troiano and the Stage Production of Pippin Highlight a Busy April at CSM

Jazz Fest, Job Fair, Open Houses, Connections with Edna Troiano and the Stage Production of Pippin Highlight a Busy April at CSM

Area Public School Jazz Band Clinic at CSM. 9 a.m., April 4-5. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Fine Arts Center (FA), 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Beginning at 9 a.m. and throughout the day, award-winning trumpeter Dr. James Moore will rehearse and critique jazz band students from area public schools as part...
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Maryland State Police Arrest 89 For DUI Over St. Patrick’s Day Holiday

Maryland State Police Arrest 89 For DUI Over St. Patrick’s Day Holiday

UPDATE: Maryland State Police arrested close to 100 people for driving while impaired and issued close to 1,000 speeding citations over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. From March 16 to 18, 2019, troopers arrested 89 people for driving under the influence, issued 999 speeding citations, 3,039 additional citations and 3,933 warnings and conducted 5,843...
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Two Arrested at Sobriety Checkpoint on Saturday Night in St. Mary’s County

Two Arrested at Sobriety Checkpoint on Saturday Night in St. Mary’s County

UPDATE: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Maryland State Police, held a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, March 16, 2019. During the course of the operation at Route 235 and Valley Drive in Lexington Park, 437 vehicles drove through the checkpoint and two motorists were subsequently arrested for impaired driving. 3/13/2019:...
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Letter to the Editor – Maryland’s Move Over Law

Letter to the Editor – Maryland’s Move Over Law

Every day more than 16,000 Maryland law enforcement officers say goodbye to their families and head out to protect and serve their communities. As a police officer, both you and your family know the risks of the job when you’re sworn in to wear the badge – impaired drivers, weapons, domestic incidents gone wrong,...
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VIDEO: Motor Vehicle Accident Involving a School Bus and a Fuel Truck Reported in Leonardtown

VIDEO: Motor Vehicle Accident Involving a School Bus and a Fuel Truck Reported in Leonardtown

On Friday, March 15th, 2019, at approximately 12:10 p.m., police fire, and rescue personnel responded to the area of Point Lookout Road and College Circle in Leonardtown, for the motor vehicle accident involving an occupied school bus. Crews arrived on scene to find a fuel truck and a St. Mary’s County Public School Bus...
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VIDEO: Help Identify Male Suspect in Motor Vehicle Breaking & Entering Case in Lexington Park

VIDEO: Help Identify Male Suspect in Motor Vehicle Breaking & Entering Case in Lexington Park

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the identity of the person seen in the video below. On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at approximately 2:35 a.m., the suspect entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle in the 46100 block of Nancy Court in Lexington Park. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or...
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K9 Brock to be Memorialized in May

K9 Brock to be Memorialized in May

Along with several other fallen police canines across the country, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 Brock will be honored at the Second Annual Police K9 Memorial Service in Washington D.C. on Saturday, May 11, 2019. K9 Brock’s watch ended on Jan. 18, 2018 after a training accident. A four-year-old German Shepherd, Brock served...
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