Community

La Plata’s Girls Wrestling Team Places First in Holiday Showcase

La Plata’s Girls Wrestling Team Places First in Holiday Showcase

Wrestling takes more than physical strength. “It’s a lot of mental stuff,” Oriana Boling, a La Plata High School senior, said. “I’d say it’s more mental than physical.” Boling is among the girls who are making high school wrestling one of — if not the No. 1 — fastest growing sport among their peers....
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Assault at St. Charles High School Sends Staff Member to Urgent Care Facility

Assault at St. Charles High School Sends Staff Member to Urgent Care Facility

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 12:22 p.m. a student at St. Charles High School approached two students in the hallway and began assaulting both students, causing a physical altercation to begin. A staff member attempted to intervene and was inadvertently struck by one of the students causing the staff member to fall to...
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Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dorchester and Caroline County

Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dorchester and Caroline County

The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced the first presumptive positive case of H5 avian influenza in a commercial broiler farm in Dorchester County. This is the fourth case of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services...
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CSM Offers Empowering, Entertaining Events in February 2025

CSM Offers Empowering, Entertaining Events in February 2025

Gallery Exhibit: Iterations by Laurel Lukaszewski. Through March 7. Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, Hank Willoughby Foundation Center for the Arts (FA Building), La Plata Campus at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata. “Iterations is both a literal interpretation of the same subject matter case in different materials and a more flexible examination of imagery...
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St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – January 28, 2025

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – January 28, 2025

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) began their business meeting with an invocation and the pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The CSMC then presented a proclamation in recognition of National Burn Awareness Week. The CSMC then convened as the Board of Health and heard a presentation from the St. Mary’s...
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Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Attends County Meeting for Presentation for Proclamation

Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Attends County Meeting for Presentation for Proclamation

On January 28, 2025, the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department President, Fire Chief, and with 7 other members of the department attended the St. Mary’s County Government Commissioners Meeting in Leonardtown. The County Commissioners were presenting a proclamation in partnership with MedStar Washington Hospital Center Burn Center to declare February 2nd through 8th as Burn...
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Explore Stories of Local African Americans this Black History Month at the U.S. Colored Troops Interpretive Center & Drayden African American Schoolhouse

Explore Stories of Local African Americans this Black History Month at the U.S. Colored Troops Interpretive Center & Drayden African American Schoolhouse

The public is encouraged to head to the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) Interpretive Center in Lexington Park and the Drayden African American Schoolhouse to explore the profound and significant contributions of African Americans in St. Mary’s County this February, in honor of Black History Month. USCT Interpretive Center exhibits will be open and free...
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St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks Invites Community Input on Proposed California Sports Complex at Public Meeting

St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks Invites Community Input on Proposed California Sports Complex at Public Meeting

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) will host a public meeting to gather resident input on a proposed Sports Complex, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the CSMC meeting room, located on the 1st floor of the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. In February...
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Tax Filing Season Begins in Maryland – 2025

Tax Filing Season Begins in Maryland – 2025

Personal income tax filing began Monday, January 27th, 2025 in Maryland, with the Office of the Comptroller beginning a controlled rollout of processing and ramping up to full return processing next week, beginning February 3. This process is in line with established IRS best practices and will allow the agency to test fraud detection...
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Anne Arundel County Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison for Connection With Multi-State Dogfighting Conspiracy

Anne Arundel County Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison for Connection With Multi-State Dogfighting Conspiracy

U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Mario Damon Flythe, 50, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to six months in federal prison and six months of home detention – followed by three years of supervised release; a $10,000 fine, and an additional $2,800 in a forfeiture money judgment, for his involvement in a multi-state dogfighting...
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Patuxent River Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty After Dog’s Death

Patuxent River Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty After Dog’s Death

Angel Joyce-Renee Martin, 23, of Patuxent River, has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty following an investigation into the death of a dog under her care. According to court documents filed on January 21, 2025, Martin is accused of causing and authorizing the deprivation of sustenance, neglecting the dog, and failing to...
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Vape Shop Owner Arrested for Telephone Misuse After Repeated Profane Calls to 911 Center in St. Mary’s County

Vape Shop Owner Arrested for Telephone Misuse After Repeated Profane Calls to 911 Center in St. Mary’s County

Malak Singh, 57, of Leonardtown, was arrested on January 22, 2025, and charged with telephone misuse after allegedly making multiple inappropriate calls to the St. Mary’s County Emergency Communications Center. According to court documents, the calls involved obscene language and occurred despite repeated warnings from law enforcement. At approximately 7:46 p.m., deputies from the...
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CSM Celebrates Its 2025 Health Career Readiness Graduates

CSM Celebrates Its 2025 Health Career Readiness Graduates

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students who have chosen to pursue careers in health care were lauded and celebrated Jan. 16 during the college’s Health Career Readiness Recognition in La Plata. Ninety-six students were recognized for completing programs to become certified nursing assistants, geriatric nursing assistants, dental assistants, phlebotomy technicians, certified clinical medical assistants,...
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Hollywood Man Arrested for Domestic Assault with a Sword in St. Mary’s County

Hollywood Man Arrested for Domestic Assault with a Sword in St. Mary’s County

Travis Terrell Goldring, 39, of Hollywood, Maryland, was arrested on January 21, 2025, following allegations of a violent domestic incident at a residence on Hollywood Road. Goldring has been charged with first-degree assault, a felony, and second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, according to court documents. The St. Mary’s Emergency Communications Center received a report of...
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Pursuit of Justice: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Files

Pursuit of Justice: Charles County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Files

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the homicide of Deandre Nicholson, a 22-year old resident of Waldorf. His case remains unsolved. Your assistance can help us bring justice to Deandre and his family. On January 23, 2018 at approximately 9 p.m., officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4500 block of...
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50 CSM Students Receive Nursing Pins for Completing Degrees  ‘With Hands to Care and Hearts to Serve’

50 CSM Students Receive Nursing Pins for Completing Degrees  ‘With Hands to Care and Hearts to Serve’

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) celebrated 50 nursing graduates at the La Plata Campus last week with a time-honored pinning ceremony that allows CSM faculty to welcome their students as peers and colleagues in the field of nuring. “Success in nursing school is not an accident or gift, it’s hard work, perseverance, hours upon...
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Drivers Urged to Avoid Maryland Route 2 in Anne Arundel County on Friday Afternoon

Drivers Urged to Avoid Maryland Route 2 in Anne Arundel County on Friday Afternoon

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is alerting motorists to avoid MD 2 (Ritchie Highway) on Friday, January 24 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. due to an expected large presence of first responders for the funeral for Montgomery County Firefighter Lieutenant Chris Higgins. Lieutenant Higgins passed away in the line of...
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Brian Ganz Previews His Historic Feb. Strathmore Concert in Free Piano Recital At St. Mary’s College of Maryland on January 27, 2025

Brian Ganz Previews His Historic Feb. Strathmore Concert in Free Piano Recital At St. Mary’s College of Maryland on January 27, 2025

St. Mary’s College of MD Musician-in-Residence Brian Ganz will return to the Main Concert Hall of the Dodge Performing Arts Center on Monday, January 27 at 7 pm with a free program of rarely heard works of Fryderyk Chopin. The program will be a preview of the 14th concert of his “Extreme Chopin” project,...
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Three Teens Charged for Armed Robbery, Theft of Vape Cartridges in Waldorf

Three Teens Charged for Armed Robbery, Theft of Vape Cartridges in Waldorf

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 7:44 p.m., two suspects entered a business in the 3500 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf, and a third suspect remained at the door as a lookout. The suspects displayed a handgun and demanded tobacco products. The employees complied and the suspects fled after stealing a large quantity...
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Protect Yourself from EZ-Pass Maryland Scams

Protect Yourself from EZ-Pass Maryland Scams

Scammers are targeting EZ-Pass Maryland users with fake emails, texts, and phone calls designed to steal your personal and financial information. Here’s what you need to know: Fraudsters impersonate EZ-Pass Maryland, claiming: You owe unpaid tolls and need to pay immediately. Your account will be suspended unless updated. There are issues with your payment...
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Southern Maryland Public School Delays for Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Southern Maryland Public School Delays for Wednesday, January 22, 2025

NAS Patuxent River – The River’s Edge Child and Youth Center (BLDG 2815) and Child Development Center (BLDG 2813) will be CLOSED Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, due to cold temperatures. An update will be provided when services resume at these locations. Calvert County Public Schools – NO CALL YET St. Mary’s County Public Schools...
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Police in Charles County Search for Wanted Suspect Thomas Caparella-Monat

Police in Charles County Search for Wanted Suspect Thomas Caparella-Monat

UPDATE: The La Plata Police Department is actively seeking the public’s assistance in locating Thomas Caparella-Monat, a 32-year-old from Port Republic, MD. Caparella-Monat is wanted in connection with a violent domestic-related assault and several other criminal charges. According to police, the suspect allegedly assaulted a woman, choking her and breaking her nose during the...
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Virginia Man Arrested on Theft and Fraud Charges After High-Speed Chase in Calvert County; Suspect Found with Multiple Fake IDs

Virginia Man Arrested on Theft and Fraud Charges After High-Speed Chase in Calvert County; Suspect Found with Multiple Fake IDs

A high-speed chase through Calvert County on January 8, 2025, led to the arrest of Xavier Leron Jett, 26, of Alexandria, Virginia, who now faces multiple charges, including fraud and auto theft. According to court documents, deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office were alerted by a License Plate Reader (LPR) system to a...
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Green Holly Elementary School Early Dismissal Today, Jan.21st 2025 Due to Water Main Break

Green Holly Elementary School Early Dismissal Today, Jan.21st 2025 Due to Water Main Break

Due to an unanticipated water main break due to an independent contractor working in the area, Green Holly Elementary School will be closing at 1:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The break has occurred in the area of Esperanza Farms in Lexington Park. There will be an emergency water service outage for residents...
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College of Southern Maryland Fall 2024 Dean’s List

College of Southern Maryland Fall 2024 Dean’s List

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has released its dean’s list for the 2024 fall session. Students who have earned 12 or more credits at CSM are eligible to be considered for the dean’s list. At the end of the fall, spring, and summer sessions, full- and part-time time students who have completed at...
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