Community

Traffic Safety: A Comprehensive Five-Year Crash Data Analysis – Part 2, Charles County

Traffic Safety: A Comprehensive Five-Year Crash Data Analysis – Part 2, Charles County

As St. Mary’s County continues to expand and develop, traffic safety remains a critical issue for local residents, law enforcement, and policymakers. Understanding the patterns and causes of vehicle crashes is essential to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Recent data from the Maryland Department of Transportation provides a detailed look at crash trends...
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Superhero Sunday! Calling All Heroes and Those Who Want to See Them! Meet Your Local Fire & EMS Volunteers on Sunday, September 15, 2024

Superhero Sunday! Calling All Heroes and Those Who Want to See Them!  Meet Your Local Fire & EMS Volunteers on Sunday, September 15, 2024

Get ready for a day of fun, excitement, and community spirit! Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 15th, 2024, from 10 AM to 1 PM and head to the newly opened Ward Farm and Nature Park for an unforgettable event that brings our local heroes into the spotlight. This event is a fantastic opportunity...
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Navy Partners with Shield AI to Enhance Autonomy in Naval Aviation

Navy Partners with Shield AI to Enhance Autonomy in Naval Aviation

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD: The Navy’s Strike Planning and Execution program (PMA-281) and Aerial Targets program (PMA-208) recently partnered with Shield AI to integrate autonomy and artificial intelligence software into the BQM-177A sub-sonic aerial target, marking a significant milestone in furthering autonomous systems for real-world applications in naval aviation. The Navy...
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Waldorf Native Airman Timothy Goldring Serves Aboard Aircraft Carrier, USS Ronald Reagan

Waldorf Native Airman Timothy Goldring Serves Aboard Aircraft Carrier, USS Ronald Reagan

By Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach: Airman Timothy Goldring, a native of Waldorf, Maryland, serves aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan. Equipped with a full flight deck and more than 60 aircraft including attack fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft carriers are one of the largest warships in the world. Goldring graduated...
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Taking a Second Look at the Impact of the Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry System

Taking a Second Look at the Impact of the Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry System

Southern Maryland, comprising Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s counties, stands on the brink of significant transformation with the proposed Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry System. Announced at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Conference on August 15, 2024, the findings of a feasibility study conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Passenger Ferry Consortium outline a visionary...
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Traffic Safety: A Comprehensive Five-Year Crash Data Analysis – Part 1, Calvert County

Traffic Safety: A Comprehensive Five-Year Crash Data Analysis – Part 1, Calvert County

As Calvert County grows and develops, traffic safety remains a significant concern for residents, law enforcement, and policymakers. Understanding vehicle crash patterns and causes is essential to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Recent data from the Maryland Department of Transportation provides a detailed overview of crash trends from 2019 to 2023, offering valuable...
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Police Arrest Middle School Teacher with Stolen Handgun in Charles County After DUI

Police Arrest Middle School Teacher with Stolen Handgun in Charles County After DUI

On August 31, 2024, Dhonte Jamar Ford, 30, of Indian Head, was arrested following a traffic stop on Crain Highway in Waldorf. According to court documents ,at approximately 2:17 AM, Deputy Gordon was patrolling the area of Crain Highway when he observed a red Nissan Altima driving southbound without the required lights on. The...
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U.S. Navy Awards $24 Million Contract to BAE Systems for Redesign of AN/UPX-50 Assemblies

U.S. Navy Awards $24 Million Contract to BAE Systems for Redesign of AN/UPX-50 Assemblies

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, MD: The U.S. Navy awarded a $24 million contract to BAE Systems for the continued redesign of the AN/UPX-50(C) digital interrogator assemblies. The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is a modification to a previously issued basic ordering agreement to address parts obsolescence and implement solutions to achieve compliance with the latest...
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Leonardtown Native Ruthie Hornbuckle Serves The U.S. Navy Osprey Squadron

Leonardtown Native Ruthie Hornbuckle Serves The U.S. Navy Osprey Squadron

By Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach: Lieutenant Ruthie Hornbuckle, a native of Leonardtown, Maryland, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM-50). Hornbuckle graduated from Leonardtown High School in 2015. Hornbuckle graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2019 with a degree in operations research. Hornbuckle joined the Navy...
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Join us for the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Fall Carnival!

Join us for the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Fall Carnival!

Mark your calendars for a fantastic family event! The Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department is thrilled to host our annual Fall Carnival from September 13th to 15th, 2024. This exciting event is perfect for families and children, featuring a variety of rides, games, delicious food, and great prizes! Event Details: Dates & Times: – Friday,...
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The Alarming Rise of Roadway Deaths in Southern Maryland

The Alarming Rise of Roadway Deaths in Southern Maryland

As we move through 2024, Southern Maryland is facing a troubling increase in deadly accidents on our roads. This past Labor Day weekend, instead of being a time for family and fun, sadly added to the growing number of fatalities. Multiple people died in crashes over the holiday, showing how important it is to...
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SMECO Helps Stock Food Bank

SMECO Helps Stock Food Bank

SMECO recently helped fight hunger in the region by supporting the Southern Maryland Food Bank. Through donations of food and cash by its employees, the cooperative was able to stock the charity’s shelves with more than 3,100 pounds of food. The donations will enable the food bank to feed more than 140 families. The...
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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Supporting Our Community Together

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Supporting Our Community Together

September marks National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the complexities of suicide and promoting resources for prevention. Suicide is a significant public health issue, affecting individuals and communities across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 11th leading cause of...
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Get Ready for the 77th Annual St. Mary’s County Fair!

Get Ready for the 77th Annual St. Mary’s County Fair!

The much anticipated 77th Annual St. Mary’s County Fair is just around the corner, taking place from September 19th to 22nd, 2024, at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, Maryland. This event, steeped in tradition and community spirit, is a celebration of our rural heritage and the vibrant culture of Southern Maryland. Whether...
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Welcome Back Hawks! CSM Students Set to Return for the 2024 Fall Semester

Welcome Back Hawks! CSM Students Set to Return for the 2024 Fall Semester

Holiday: Labor Day Weekend (College closed).  All campuses of the College of Southern Maryland will be closed for the Labor Day weekend from Aug. 31 – Sept. 2. The college will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Welcome back Hawks! Fall sessions for students start Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, for seven-week and 15-week classes at all College...
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Family Fest On The Potomac River: Free Fun Event for The Whole Family!

Family Fest On The Potomac River: Free Fun Event for The Whole Family!

Get ready for a full day of family fun along the scenic Potomac River at the Piney Point Lighthouse! The Friends of St. Clement’s Island & Piney Point Museums invite everyone to enjoy an exciting lineup of activities, entertainment, and delicious food at this year’s FamilyFest on Saturday, September 14th, 2024. 10:00 a.m., to...
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Summary of the St. Mary’s County Board of Education Meeting – August 28, 2024

Summary of the St. Mary’s County Board of Education Meeting – August 28, 2024

The meeting of the St. Mary’s County Board of Education was called to order on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. The session began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a motion to approve the agenda, which passed unanimously. Superintendent and Student Member Reports The Superintendent began by discussing the start of the new school...
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Maryland State Police Step Up Enforcement To Ensure A Safer Labor Day Weekend

Maryland State Police Step Up Enforcement To Ensure A Safer Labor Day Weekend

The Maryland State Police urge all motorists to prioritize safety during the Labor Day weekend and avoid impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving to protect yourself and others on the road. From August 30 to September 2, state troopers from all 23 barracks will conduct saturation patrols across Maryland. The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction...
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Lexington Park Man Charged with Destroying Two Little Book Exchange Libraries in St. Mary’s County

Lexington Park Man Charged with Destroying Two Little Book Exchange Libraries in St. Mary’s County

On August 24, 2024, Michael Allen King, 51, of Lexington Park, was charged with malicious destruction of property valued at less than $1,000, according to court documents filed by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. The charge, a misdemeanor under Maryland law, stems from an incident on August 20, 2024, at the Westbury Community...
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Johns Hopkins Receives More Than $20M to Support Development of Advanced Surgical Techniques to Treat Cancer

Johns Hopkins Receives More Than $20M to Support Development of Advanced Surgical Techniques to Treat Cancer

A Johns Hopkins University-led research team has received $20.9 million over five years to advance surgical capabilities to treat cancer, part of $150 million in funding announced last week by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) in support of the Biden administration’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. The team is led by Emad Boctor,...
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Governor Moore Honors Rural Legacy Program for 25 Years of Conservation Success

Governor Moore Honors Rural Legacy Program for 25 Years of Conservation Success

Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program is celebrating 25 years of active land preservation across the state this year. Since its inception, the program and its partners have protected more than 125,000 acres of ecologically valuable properties, productive farms, and forests, representing a public investment of more than $405 million. In recognition of this milestone, Governor Wes Moore...
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Commissioners of St. Mary’s County Meeting Summary – August 27, 2024

Commissioners of St. Mary’s County Meeting Summary – August 27, 2024

The meeting began with an invocation led by Commissioner Ostrow, emphasizing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community, seeking guidance for making just and fair decisions, and requesting unity among the commissioners. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag. Commissioner President Randy Guy introduced the commissioners present, which...
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Fire Safety Tips, Precautions and Facts for Back to College Campus Students

Fire Safety Tips, Precautions and Facts for Back to College Campus Students

By Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Vice President and Lieutenant Scot Best: Going to college is an exciting time for students and their parents. Living in a new “home away from home” not only gives young adults more freedom to make their own choices, but it also provides them an increased level of personal responsibility...
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Taylor Sentenced to Life in Prison For 1979 Cold Case Murder of Vickie Lynn Belk in Charles County

Taylor Sentenced to Life in Prison For 1979 Cold Case Murder of Vickie Lynn Belk in Charles County

UPDATE 8/24/2024: Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, August 23, 2024, Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West sentenced Andre Taylor, 63, to Life in prison for the First-Degree Murder of Vickie Lynn Belk. Taylor was convicted of the aforementioned charge by a Charles County jury on July...
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First SOMD Cars & Coffee “Stuff the Bus” Event a Huge Success!

First SOMD Cars & Coffee “Stuff the Bus” Event a Huge Success!

UPDATE 8/26/2024: The first SOMD Cars & Coffee “Stuff The Bus” event was a huge success!!!! “Thanks to all of you, we collected a total of 254 backpacks, fully stocked with supplies, & THEN SOME x10. Your kindness will make a significant impact on so many children and teachers.” A HUGE thank you to...
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