Community

Firefighters in St. Mary’s and Calvert Respond to Large Brush Fires During Abnormally Dry Fall

Firefighters in St. Mary’s and Calvert Respond to Large Brush Fires During Abnormally Dry Fall

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is implementing a statewide ban on open air burning, effective November 1st 2024, in all Maryland counties. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) currently lists Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s County as D0 – Abnormally Dry with Short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops, Some lingering water deficits, and...
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NAS Pax River Gate 1 Outbound Closure Today, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024

NAS Pax River Gate 1 Outbound Closure Today, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024

NAS Pax River Gate 1 outbound lanes will be closed to traffic Friday, Oct. 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for scheduled maintenance. Gate 3 will open for outbound traffic at 2 p.m. Drivers must use Gates 2 or 3 for outbound traffic during Gate 1’s maintenance. Pax River Gate 1 inbound lanes...
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Next Generation Jammer Lead Test Engineer Jacob Kiehlmeier Selected as Tester of the Year for 2023

Next Generation Jammer Lead Test Engineer Jacob Kiehlmeier Selected as Tester of the Year for 2023

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) has selected Jacob Kiehlmeier as the civilian Tester of the Year for 2023. Kiehlmeier served as the lead test engineer for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) Integrated Test Team (ITT) supporting the Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234). Kiehlmeier...
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DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024

The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, provides several collection sites across Southern Maryland for safe disposal of unused or expired medications. According to the DEA’s official Take Back Day webpage, drop-off locations include Maryland State Police Barrack T in Leonardtown,...
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Make a Difference This Winter: Volunteer Drivers Needed for WARM in St. Mary’s County

Make a Difference This Winter: Volunteer Drivers Needed for WARM in St. Mary’s County

With colder weather settling in, St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Aging & Human Services (DAHS) is seeking volunteer drivers for Wrapping Arms ‘Round Many (WARM), an emergency shelter program for people experiencing homelessness in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This year’s WARM season begins Sunday, November 10, 2024, and runs through Monday, March 27,...
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Former Prince George’s County Elementary School Teacher Indicted For Coercion And Enticement Of A Child And For Possession Of Child Pornography

Former Prince George’s County Elementary School Teacher Indicted For Coercion And Enticement Of A Child And For Possession Of Child Pornography

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 26, 2024, charging Mark Edward Cobb, age 44, of Bowie, Maryland, for coercion and enticement of a child and for possession of child pornography. The indictment was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy...
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Waldorf Man Faces Assault and Hate Crime Charges After Tractor Supply Confrontation

Waldorf Man Faces Assault and Hate Crime Charges After Tractor Supply Confrontation

On October 20, 2024, at approximately 4:04 p.m., Charles County officers responded to a report of an armed confrontation outside a Tractor Supply store in White Plains. According to law enforcement, Harold Andrew Howard, 53, of Waldorf, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree assault and a race or religious crime after...
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Protect Yourself and Loved Ones: Scammers Impersonating Local Law Enforcement in St. Mary’s County

Protect Yourself and Loved Ones: Scammers Impersonating Local Law Enforcement in St. Mary’s County

While the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has acknowledged receiving multiple reports of scammers impersonating deputies and demanding money, their public warning has provided limited details about how these scams are being carried out. To help shed more light on the issue, one local resident, whom we will refer to as Brian, has shared...
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Five Suspects Arrested for Dozens of ATM Robberies, Auto Thefts in DMV Area

Five Suspects Arrested for Dozens of ATM Robberies, Auto Thefts in DMV Area

October 15th, 2024: Federal law enforcement arrested the fourth and fifth defendants charged in connection with a series of burglaries and robberies of commercial businesses, ATMs, and vehicles in the D.C. and Maryland area. Jonathan Winston, 35, of Hagerstown, Maryland Jeffery Felder, 37, of Bowie, Maryland Winston and Felder were arrested early in the...
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Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Chief Gould Honored with Hometown Hero Award

Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Chief Gould Honored with Hometown Hero Award

The St. Mary’s County Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) has named Fire Chief Joe Gould the first recipient of its Hometown Hero Award in the firefighter category. Chief Gould will be officially honored on Saturday, November 9, 2024, in recognition of his exceptional dedication to the fire service and his unwavering commitment to...
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Multiple Students Involved in Assault at Westlake High School

Multiple Students Involved in Assault at Westlake High School

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, a student at Westlake High School aggressively approached another student inside the school. The student who was approached activated pepper spray and an altercation ensued between the two. School staff separated the students. The student who was initially approached ran outside, followed by three other students who caught up...
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Domestic Violence Awareness in St. Mary’s County: A Call for Action

Domestic Violence Awareness in St. Mary’s County: A Call for Action

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time dedicated to highlighting the devastating impact that domestic violence has on individuals, families, and communities. Unfortunately, St. Mary’s County has witnessed two tragic domestic violence-related murders in the past nine days, a stark reminder that this issue is very real and close to home. On October...
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The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Board of Trustees Approve New Policies, Budget Revisions

The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Board of Trustees Approve New Policies, Budget Revisions

The St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) Board of Trustees met on Oct. 11 and 12, working through an ambitious agenda. The Board approved items including revisions to the Faculty Bylaws and Title IX policy, a new Freedom of Expression policy, the 2024 Performance Accountability Report, revision of the FY25 operating budget and reconciliation...
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Canceling Subscriptions Has to be as Easy as Signing up, FTC Says in a New Rule

Canceling Subscriptions Has to be as Easy as Signing up, FTC Says in a New Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a groundbreaking “click-to-cancel” rule, aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel recurring subscriptions and memberships. The new rule mandates that sellers must make the cancellation process as straightforward as the initial sign-up. It will apply to most negative option programs, addressing concerns about deceptive practices...
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All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in Charles County 10/4/2024 to 10/10/2024

All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in Charles County 10/4/2024 to 10/10/2024

Each week, SMNEWSNET.COM will provide a list of all arrests and criminal summonses issued in Charles County. In the spirit of transparency, we are committed to keeping our community informed about local law enforcement activities. This list includes arrests made by both the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police, providing a...
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Honoring Two Generations of Service: Lt. Juan J. Morales III and His Father’s Legacy

Honoring Two Generations of Service: Lt. Juan J. Morales III and His Father’s Legacy

As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is proud to highlight the contributions of Lieutenant Juan J. Morales III, a dedicated law enforcement officer who carries on his family’s legacy of service. His story is one of inspiration, commitment, and an unbreakable bond between two generations who share...
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Southern Maryland Executives Have ‘Honest Conversation’ with Economic & Workforce Development Leaders

Southern Maryland Executives Have ‘Honest Conversation’ with Economic & Workforce Development Leaders

The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program Class of 2024 met with regional economic development leaders at the Chesapeake Hills Golf Course in Lusby, Md., on Oct. 3 to learn about Southern Maryland’s economic and workforce development challenges, opportunities, and initiatives. Participants tuned into an honest conversation among economic development and planning directors about the realities...
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CSM Celebrates Opening of New James C. Mitchell Student Resource Center at La Plata Campus

CSM Celebrates Opening of New James C. Mitchell Student Resource Center at La Plata Campus

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) staff and students celebrated with Charles County dignitaries on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the ribbon-cutting for a newly renovated James C. Mitchell Student Resource Center (SR Center), which had previously served the Health Technology Building (HT Building) at the La Plata Campus. The SR Center is now open to...
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Maryland Voting Deadlines, Canvassing and Additional Information for the 2024 Election

Maryland Voting Deadlines, Canvassing and Additional Information for the 2024 Election

As the 2024 general election approaches, Maryland voters are encouraged to prepare by being aware of key deadlines and processes to ensure their voices are heard at the polls. The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) today is reminding Marylanders that the advance deadline to register to vote in this year’s Presidential General Election...
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Police Investigating Reported Sexual Assault of a Teenage Girl in Lexington Park

Police Investigating Reported Sexual Assault of a Teenage Girl in Lexington Park

UPDATE 10/14/2024 @ 9:45 p.m.:  St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office released the following information. At approximately 5:50 p.m. on Monday, October 14, Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 45000 block of Great Mills Court for the report of a sexual assault. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division is actively...
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All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in St. Mary’s County 10/4/2024 to 10/10/2024

All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in St. Mary’s County 10/4/2024 to 10/10/2024

Each week, SMNEWSNET.COM will provide a list of all arrests and criminal summonses issued in St. Mary’s County. In the spirit of transparency, we are committed to keeping our community informed about local law enforcement activities. This list includes arrests made by both the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police,...
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CSM’s Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Ranks in the Top 10 Nationwide for 2025

CSM’s Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Ranks in the Top 10 Nationwide for 2025

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) cybersecurity associate degree program ranks among the best in the United States for 2025, according to Intelligent.com. The college ranked at number 10 of the 34 top programs in the country with a score of 89.71 out of 100 points. “This national recognition reflects the student-centered focus, industry...
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Grants Awarded to Maryland Department of Natural Resources to Conserve Native Brook Trout and Sunfish and Restore Their Habitat

Grants Awarded to Maryland Department of Natural Resources to Conserve Native Brook Trout and Sunfish and Restore Their Habitat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have awarded the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) two grants through the Chesapeake Watershed Investment for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) program. Grant funds will support comprehensive conservation strategies including targeted reintroduction efforts for two freshwater fish species listed as species of greatest conservation need...
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2024 Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest Winners Announced

2024 Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest Winners Announced

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has chosen the winners of the annual Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest, with the grand prize going to Debby Berlyne for her photo of a green heron at Brookside Gardens. This year’s contest received more than 1,800 photo submissions. This year’s grand prize package includes $700, a Maryland State...
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Five St. Mary’s County School Coaches Awarded with State Athletic Coaches of the Year

Five St. Mary’s County School Coaches Awarded with State Athletic Coaches of the Year

St. Mary’s County Public Schools congratulates the school coaches from across Maryland who have been selected as the 2023-2024 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches of the Year. The NFHS annually honors a Coach of the Year in the top girls’ sports and top boys’ sports by participation numbers.  Winners of...
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