Community

Two Women Arrested on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop in Calvert County

Two Women Arrested on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop in Calvert County

A routine traffic stop in Calvert County on November 17, 2024, led to the arrest of two women, Lisa Diane Dilley, 58, of Chesapeake Beach, and Holly Nicole Sweeney, 50, of Saint Leonard. Both women face charges related to possession of controlled dangerous substances. According to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy First Class...
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Chesapeake Beach Woman Convicted of Animal Cruelty for Operating Illegal Rescue

Chesapeake Beach Woman Convicted of Animal Cruelty for Operating Illegal Rescue

Marliana A. Zahedi-Mullis, 31, of Chesapeake Beach, was convicted on December 2, 2024, in the District Court for Calvert County for charges related to animal cruelty and neglect. The conviction follows a May 2024 investigation by Calvert County Animal Control into conditions at her residence, where she was operating an unlicensed animal rescue, “3...
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Prosecutors Successfully Argue for Murderer’s LIFE Sentence to Endure

Prosecutors Successfully Argue for Murderer’s LIFE Sentence to Endure

State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that a convicted murderer’s sentence of LIFE without the possibility of parole will stand. Earlier this year, Dana Collins, 63, asked the Court to reconsider his sentence stemming from a 1995 murder. The State argued against Collins’s motion. The Court agreed with the State, denied Collins’s motion, and...
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Suttler Post Farm’s 6th Annual Holiday Open House Fundraiser For Hospice Of St. Mary’s Set for December 14th and 15th, 2024

Suttler Post Farm’s 6th Annual Holiday Open House Fundraiser For Hospice Of St. Mary’s Set for December 14th and 15th, 2024

The community is warmly invited to Suttler Post Farm’s 6th Annual Holiday Open House, taking place on December 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Suttler Post Farm. This cherished event will benefit Hospice of St. Mary’s, offering a festive celebration for a meaningful cause. This year’s open house will feature...
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Natural Resources Police Toy Drive Underway for 2024 Holiday Season

Natural Resources Police Toy Drive Underway for 2024 Holiday Season

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is conducting its annual “Boatload of Toys” holiday gift drive at several locations across the state in advance of the 2024 holiday season. NRP officers are collecting donations of new, unopened toys for local children in need. The program is part of the national United States Marine Toys for...
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Rock in the Holiday Season with Historic St. Mary’s City

Rock in the Holiday Season with Historic St. Mary’s City

December 2024 marks the return of a beloved holiday tour, along with a fresh approach to celebration! Historic St. Mary’s City is thrilled to unveil an entire weekend filled with holiday magic, offering activities that will delight every member of your family. Enjoy everything from an outdoor rock show to crafting your own fresh...
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Cannabis-Related ER Visits Increased Ahead of Recreational Legalization, State Dashboard Shows

Cannabis-Related ER Visits Increased Ahead of Recreational Legalization, State Dashboard Shows

by Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters November 24, 2024 Cannabis-related emergency room visits climbed steadily through July 2023, when recreational use was first legalized in Maryland, but have never reached that peak again, fluctuating up and down in the months since. That was just one of the findings of a new Maryland Health Department...
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Holidays and the Dangers of Impaired Driving: Maryland Laws and Recent Crash Data

Holidays and the Dangers of Impaired Driving: Maryland Laws and Recent Crash Data

As families and friends gather for Thanksgiving celebrations, the holiday season also brings increased risks on Maryland’s roads due to impaired driving. Thanksgiving consistently ranks among the busiest travel times of the year, and with that comes a sharp uptick in traffic incidents involving alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement agencies and safety advocates are...
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UPDATE: Police Release Update on Hanging Incident at Barnhart Elementary School in Charles County

UPDATE: Police Release Update on Hanging Incident at Barnhart Elementary School in Charles County

CCSO UPDATE 11/22/2024: The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has updated its investigation into the incident at C. Barnhart Elementary School on November 15, 2024. The investigation included a detailed review of school security footage, re-interviews with witnesses, and additional interviews with individuals who had direct knowledge of the case. The findings indicate that...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to Host 23rd Annual Silent Angel Memorial

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to Host 23rd Annual Silent Angel Memorial

In a poignant commemoration of lives lost to homicide, community members are cordially invited to participate in the 23rd Annual Silent Angel Memorial hosted by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 6 p.m., at the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department at 46900 South Shangri La Drive, Lexington Park....
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Three Arrested After ATF Executes Search Warrants in St. Mary’s County

Three Arrested After ATF Executes Search Warrants in St. Mary’s County

Two adults and one juvenile were taken into custody Thursday, November 21, 2024, following a joint operation between local police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In collaboration with the ATF, the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executed search warrants at three St. Mary’s County residences. Bruce Bernard Franks, 32,...
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Three Mattawoman Middle School Students Charged After Theft, Strong-Armed Robbery of Ski Mask

Three Mattawoman Middle School Students Charged After Theft, Strong-Armed Robbery of Ski Mask

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, a school resource officer at Mattawoman Middle School was made aware of an incident that occurred during school dismissal on November 18. In this case, three students, ages 13, approached another student and forcibly stole their name-brand ski mask. The SRO initiated an investigation and identified the involved students....
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Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report – 2024 Year End Summary

Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report – 2024 Year End Summary

Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show the volume of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen—was generally near or below average in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia in 2024. For the year, hypoxia volumes were larger than average in May and early June,...
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Maryland State Police Teams Up for Charlotte Hall Veterans Home Donation Drive

Maryland State Police Teams Up for Charlotte Hall Veterans Home Donation Drive

The Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack has joined forces with a local middle school student to organize a donation drive for the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. The initiative aims to support veterans by collecting essential items and comforts. Requested Donations Include: Toiletries: Sensitive skin lotions/body wash, electric or disposable razors, aftershave balm, alcohol-free mouthwash,...
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Archaeological Discovery in Calvert County May Shed Light on 17th Century Life

Archaeological Discovery in Calvert County May Shed Light on 17th Century Life

From beneath the forest floor near Chesapeake Beach, archaeologists have uncovered a 17th-century mystery: remnants of a site long forgotten that may hold new clues about life in early colonial Maryland. This rare discovery, made during a recent dig, reveals that history is often right under our feet – and with coastal erosion threatening...
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Waldorf Man Sentenced For Illegally Dumping Diesel Fuel and Causing Environmental Damage

Waldorf Man Sentenced For Illegally Dumping Diesel Fuel and Causing Environmental Damage

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the guilty plea of Larry A. Gross, 46, of Waldorf, Maryland, for violations of Maryland environmental laws regarding the discharge of diesel fuel. On November 6, 2024, Mr. Gross pleaded guilty before the Honorable Stacy W. McCormack of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County to two...
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Threats and Trespassing Lead to Arrest at Home of Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox

Threats and Trespassing Lead to Arrest at Home of Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox

On November 7, 2024, an incident at the residence of Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox led to the arrest of Calvin Wayne Blackwell Jr., 42, of Chesapeake Beach. Deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call reporting trespassing at Sheriff Cox’s home at around 5:30 p.m. According to Deputy First Class...
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Traffic Stop in Owings Leads to Two Drug-Related Arrests by Calvert County Deputies

Traffic Stop in Owings Leads to Two Drug-Related Arrests by Calvert County Deputies

A traffic stop on November 14, 2024, in Owings, escalated into a drug investigation, resulting in the arrests Jay Norman Carroll, 62, of Glenn Dale and Pamela Illene Wall, 41, of Jessup. The incident began at approximately 12:54 p.m. when Deputy Madura, stationed on the westbound side of East Chesapeake Beach Road near St....
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Chesapeake Biological Lab Receives $1 Million Donation to Endow Professorship

Chesapeake Biological Lab Receives $1 Million Donation to Endow Professorship

SOLOMONS, MD – The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL) proudly announces a landmark $1 million donation from longtime supporters Brian Hochheimer and Marjorie Wax (pictured right). This generous gift will establish CBL’s first endowed professorship, named in honor of Professor Thomas Miller, who led the laboratory as its director...
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Leonardtown Rotary Club Recognizes Heroes During Annual “Flags for Heroes”

Leonardtown Rotary Club Recognizes Heroes During Annual “Flags for Heroes”

The Leonardtown Rotary Club held its annual Flags For Heroes celebration on November 10. Flags For Heroes recognize personal heroes both past and present with American flags displayed at the College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus. The flags will remain in place throughout November. This year, 76 heroes’ names were recognized during the roll...
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St. Mary’s County Launches New Website for Comprehensive Plan Update: “St. Mary’s 2050 – Charting Our Tomorrow”

St. Mary’s County Launches New Website for Comprehensive Plan Update: “St. Mary’s 2050 – Charting Our Tomorrow”

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Land Use & Growth Management (LUGM) is excited to announce the launch of a new website dedicated to the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update, St. Mary’s 2050: Charting Our Tomorrow. This update will serve as a roadmap for ensuring a robust economy, directing growth, and prioritizing preservation over the...
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International Programs Student Interns Gain Experience, Enhance Learning

International Programs Student Interns Gain Experience, Enhance Learning

The NAVAIR SYSCOM Security Cooperation Office’s (SSCO) Junior Personnel Development Program (JPDP) provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable work experience while earning their degrees, network with existing team members and strengthen their marketability post-graduation. “The mission of the SSCO is to advance U.S. Strategic Objectives by establishing and growing key allied...
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Student “Hanging” Incident Sparks National Nonprofit Bullying Investigation

Student “Hanging” Incident Sparks National Nonprofit Bullying Investigation

National Nonprofit, The One In Five Foundation For Kids, a national school violence prevention & student advocacy group, formed following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School In Uvalde, Texas – released early Sunday morning, that after a student “hanging,” incident at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in St. Charles, MD, they say is relative...
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New Holiday Event ‘Evening Tides’ Brings Candlelight Christmas to Piney Point

New Holiday Event ‘Evening Tides’ Brings Candlelight Christmas to Piney Point

St. Mary’s County Government’s Museum Division, which oversees Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park, is excited to present a brand-new event this holiday season, Evening Tides: Candlelight Christmas at Piney Point. On Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., visitors are invited to a festive holiday evening on the grounds...
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Public Comment Hearings Rescheduled for Southern Maryland Water Utilities Rate Case

Public Comment Hearings Rescheduled for Southern Maryland Water Utilities Rate Case

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold two public comment hearings (one virtual, one in-person) in the collective rate case for nine Southern Maryland water utilities. Public Utility Law Judge Christine L. Burke will preside over both hearings. A settlement among the parties to the case provides a revenue increase of $425,000 in total,...
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