The Town of La Plata will test early warning devices/sirens on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Testing is done twice per year in early May and early December. The testing lasts about a half hour. The tests consist of both siren alerts and audible notifications. The tests are conducted in conjunction with...
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Comments on Southern Maryland Newsnet’s Facebook page quickly followed the Board of Education’s vote to rename General Smallwood Middle School as Glymont Middle School, effective July 1, 2025. Between April 30 and May 1, about two hundred remarks appeared. Of those that clearly took a side, a little more than 70 percent objected to the change, just under 20 percent supported it, and the rest...
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Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and the Board of Education of Charles County would like input on the 2026-2027 school calendar. The Board of Education typically approves the school calendar two years in advance. At the April 8 Board meeting, staff presented three draft calendar options for the Board’s consideration. Review the options here on...
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and residents are invited to “Chalk the Walk” at participating public locations throughout Calvert County to raise awareness about the importance of children’s mental health. The Calvert County Family Network (CCFN) and Department of Parks & Recreation, in partnership with Calvert County Public Schools, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office,...
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On Tuesday, April 29, Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, presented the county’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget of $594,293,300 an increase of 5.9 percent over last year. The General Fund budget was developed in alignment with Commissioners’ strategic priorities, incorporates departmental needs, and is shaped by community input...
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The Board of Education of Charles County at its April 28 work session approved the name Glymont Middle School to replace the name of General Smallwood Middle School. The name change takes effect July 1, 2025. General Smallwood Middle School will open for the 2025-2026 school year as Glymont Middle School. Eight Board members...
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Maryland State Police are reminding motorists to drive responsibly ahead of Cinco de Mayo weekend. To combat distracted, aggressive, and impaired driving, troopers at each of the 23 Maryland State Police barracks, as well as, the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) Team will conduct statewide DUI saturation patrols and high-visibility enforcement. A...
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Michael Gerard Benedict, 50, of Newburg, is facing multiple criminal charges after two separate incidents earlier this month, according to court documents from the District Court for Charles County. In the most recent case, filed on April 28, 2025, Benedict was arrested and charged with three counts of second-degree assault on law enforcement officers,...
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This May, our grateful nation will come together to honor its fallen fire service heroes during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, the official national tribute to firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty last year. As part of this heartfelt commemoration, we invite landmarks, buildings, fire departments, and communities across...
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The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department proudly hosted the 79th Annual Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2025. This year’s convention held special significance as long-time Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department member Tommy Mattingly Jr., was instilled as President of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association. The two-day event brought...
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Now is the time to voice your concerns, questions and opinions. The Board of Education of Charles County and Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) are hosting a virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. through Zoom. The event is open to the public. Attendees must have an active Zoom account to...
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Nicholas Adam, principal of J.P. Ryon Elementary School, was named the 2025 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Principal of the Year. Before coming to Ryon in 2023, Adam spent five years as principal of Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School after serving as an assistant principal at William A. Diggs and Malcolm elementary schools. “He...
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On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025, St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point and Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in Piney Point, will offer free museum admission for moms during normal operating hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note regular admission prices apply to others with the party: St. Clement’s Island Museum: $3...
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Special Olympics Maryland-St. Mary’s County would like to thank Ryken High School for hosting the annual Spring Games. A special thanks goes out to the businesses, Sheriff’s Office, County and State Officials, and the NAS Patuxent River personnel that each year come out and support these individuals with intellectual disabilities both in school and...
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Juan Jared Perez-Lopez, 20, of Prince Frederick, has been indicted by a Calvert County grand jury in connection with a February fire at Calvert High School. Perez-Lopez was indicted on four criminal counts, including arson and reckless endangerment, stemming from the incident that temporarily disrupted operations at the school and endangered over 1,100 individuals....
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Charles County Public Schools Released the following information on Thursday, April 24th, 2025. “This morning, Westlake High School administrators observed a student smelling strongly of marijuana upon arrival to school. Administrators investigated and found the student had marijuana, paraphernalia, a handgun and ammunition. The items were confiscated, and police are conducting an investigation. Westlake...
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Governor Wes Moore presided over the second bill signing ceremony of 2025, which included The Expungement Reform Act, a key piece of the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative agenda. “The legislation signed strengthens the Moore-Miller Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to public safety while creating pathways to work, wages, and wealth for rehabilitated Marylanders.” “Our strategy to make...
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Georgia Green, a special education teacher at Gale-Bailey Elementary School, was named the 2025 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) nominee for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year Award program. One of five children born to educators, Green was inspired to go into the field of special education by her brothers — twins who are intellectually...
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Nonprofit professionals from across Southern Maryland gathered April 10 at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) 15th annual Nonprofit Institute Conference at the La Plata Campus where participants learned about several opportunities for success in the mission of helping others. With new director Stephanie Rolle, CSM’s Nonprofit Institute only continues to grow in scope...
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The Maryland State Police, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and allied law enforcement agencies across the country, are asking residents to dispose of unneeded prescription medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 26, 2025. The biannual program allows people to safely dispose of...
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Calvert County Farmers Markets are back for the 2025 season, offering an abundance of fresh foods and plants from Calvert County’s farmers, bakers and agri-businesses. Patrons can find local produce, bedding plants (vegetables and herbs) and a bounty of other offerings For those interested in being a vendor at the markets, please visit www.CalvertAg.com/FarmersMarketVendor. For...
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The Calvert Marine Museum is thrilled to announce that rising country star SHANE PROFITT will be the opening act for DARIUS RUCKER at the Motto Mortgage Preferred and RE/MAX One Waterside Pavilion on Thursday, July 10, 2025. A true southern talent with a straight-shooting swagger and barrel-chested voice, Shane Profitt has quickly made a...
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St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Emergency Services (DES) urges community members to be prepared for the next Atlantic hurricane season, which starts on June 1, 2025, and goes through November 30, 2025. While severe weather can happen outside of this timeframe, it is the most active for hurricane and tropical storm activity. In...
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The Naval Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) welcomed new leadership during a change of command and retirement ceremony April 17, 2025, at Pax River. Capt. Joseph Kamara assumed command of PMA-202 relieving Capt. Carey Castelein of his duties as program manager, who will retire from the Navy. Over his tenure, Castelein managed 13 acquisition...
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Lottery player plans to take wife on a vacation to celebrate Easter Sunday turned into a big celebration for a lucky Marylander known as “Air Brown,” who scored a $50,000 prize on the Maryland Lottery’s popular MONOPOLY X50 scratch-off game. A longtime player, Air Brown’s journey with Lottery games began casually with friends, evolving...
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