St. Mary’s News

School and Weather Updates for This Weekend – December 5th, 2025

School and Weather Updates for This Weekend – December 5th, 2025

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY: Schools will open 2 HOURS LATE on Friday, Dec. 5th, 2025. ST. MARY’S COUNTY: St. Mary’s County, Maryland is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025.  Snowfall totals for St. Mary’s County are expected between 1–4 inches with very low temperatures. Snowfall is...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Launches Redesigned Website to Improve Public Access and User Experience

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Launches Redesigned Website to Improve Public Access and User Experience

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has launched a newly redesigned website at www.FirstSheriff.com, offering the community a clearer, more accessible, and user-friendly way to find important public safety information. The updated site features improved navigation, a cleaner layout, and a modern design that is easier to read on both desktop and mobile devices. Community...
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Felony Convictions Obtained in Largest Narcotics Seizure in St. Mary’s Counties History

Felony Convictions Obtained in Largest Narcotics Seizure in St. Mary’s Counties History

State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced that Antwian Marquis Johnson, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, was convicted of multiple drug-related charges following a lengthy investigation that resulted in the seizure of approximately 47 pounds of narcotics. On December 5, 2024, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office seized 21.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine and...
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Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman Releases State’s First Feasibility Report for Baby Bonds Program in Maryland

Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman Releases State’s First Feasibility Report for Baby Bonds Program in Maryland

Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman today released a comprehensive report on the feasibility and potential impacts of implementing a statewide “Baby Bonds” program. The report, requested by the Maryland General Assembly, outlines how publicly funded trust accounts for children born into low-wealth households could help close the racial wealth gap, promote economic mobility, and strengthen the state’s...
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St. Mary’s County Police Searching for Wanted Baltimore Man, Carlonte Antoine Knott

St. Mary’s County Police Searching for Wanted Baltimore Man, Carlonte Antoine Knott

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Carlonte Antoine Knott, 33, of Baltimore, for escape. Knott is described as a Black male, 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 250 pounds. Deputies were notified on December 1 that the ankle-monitoring GPS device assigned to Knott had been deactivated, and...
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Southern Maryland Residents Called to Share Family Recipes and Stories for New Feature Film, ‘The Long Table’

Southern Maryland Residents Called to Share Family Recipes and Stories for New Feature Film, ‘The Long Table’

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, and the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area are calling on residents of Southern Maryland to submit family recipes and personal stories for a new feature film, ‘The Long Table’. Sponsored by the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, the project aims to capture...
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SMECO Employees Raise $63,000 for Three Southern Maryland Shelters

SMECO Employees Raise $63,000 for Three Southern Maryland Shelters

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) employees recently held a fund-raising event and donated $63,000 to three shelters serving Southern Maryland: Lifestyles of Maryland, Inc.—Robert J. Fuller Transitional House of Charles County, Project Echo, Inc. of Calvert County, and Three Oaks Center of St. Mary’s County. “A home is more than shelter from the elements....
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Troopers Say Anti-Theft Magnet, Glass Pipes Found During Arrest of Scotland Woman at Target

Troopers Say Anti-Theft Magnet, Glass Pipes Found During Arrest of Scotland Woman at Target

Jill Marie Knittel, 46, of Scotland, and Kevin Bryan Wright, 41, of California, are facing misdemeanor theft charges after store staff reported a shoplifting incident at a grocery store in California in November 2025, according to court documents. In a separate case days later, Knittel is also charged with drug offenses after a Maryland...
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Winter Safety is SNOW Joke – Plan Ahead & Prepare Early!

Winter Safety is SNOW Joke – Plan Ahead & Prepare Early!

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Emergency Services encourages all residents to plan ahead and prepare early to ensure they are ready for winter. Prolonged cold conditions and winter storms raise the risk of freezing home plumbing, community water main breaks, automobile failures, transportation interruptions, automobile accidents, power outages, home heating system failures, hypothermia,...
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The Patuxent Partnership 2025 Defense Summit

The Patuxent Partnership 2025 Defense Summit

On Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, an audience of 200+ attended the 3rd Annual TPP Defense Summit, a full-day program of dynamic panels and speakers, including NAWCAD leadership. Ms. Bonnie Green, TPP Executive Director, welcomed everyone and discussed the challenges of organizing the Defense Summit during a government shutdown. Delivering a useful, informative full-day Summit,...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Announces Increased Holiday Patrols to Enhance Public Safety

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Announces Increased Holiday Patrols to Enhance Public Safety

The expanded patrols will focus on preventing theft from vehicles, promoting responsible driving, and ensuring residents and visitors feel safe during one of the busiest times of the year. Deputies will be highly visible in commercial areas, particularly during peak shopping hours, and will continue proactive patrols in residential communities. In addition to crime...
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DNR Scientists Chart Future for Freshwater Mussel Restoration in Maryland

DNR Scientists Chart Future for Freshwater Mussel Restoration in Maryland

On a chilly fall morning, as fog drifted over the Potomac River, scientists with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources hauled three concrete balls out of the water. Inside each of these 25-pound, thick-walled bowls was a chamber containing several small shells—a group of year-old freshwater mussels. Their concrete shelters, or silos, allowed the...
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Santa Claus to Spread Cheer Over Southern Maryland on December 9th, 2025, Courtesy of the U.S. Navy

Santa Claus to Spread Cheer Over Southern Maryland on December 9th, 2025, Courtesy of the U.S. Navy

Southern Maryland residents young and old should look skyward on Tuesday, Dec. 9, between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. ET as Adm. Saint Nicholas takes to the air on his annual holiday readiness flight. Locals can catch a glimpse of Nicholas — flying under his seasonal call sign “Claus” — as he lifts off...
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SMADC Seeks Southern Maryland School System Partner for USDA Farm-to-School Grant Pilot

SMADC Seeks Southern Maryland School System Partner for USDA Farm-to-School Grant Pilot

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, a Division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland is calling for letters of participation from one of the five Southern Maryland county school systems to join a new 24-month pilot program aimed at streamlining local food sourcing for school meals, with submissions due by 6 p.m. Dec....
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VIDEO: No Injuries Reported After Vehicle Fire in Lexington Park

VIDEO: No Injuries Reported After Vehicle Fire in Lexington Park

On Sunday, November 30, 2025, at approximately 10:20 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services were dispatched to the Quik Shop located at 21265 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, for the reported vehicle fire threatening the structure. The incident was quickly updated to actually be at the Blimpies, at Three Notch Road and...
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Waldorf Man Arrested in California, MD After Mental Health Crisis; Faces Trespassing, Weapons Charges

Waldorf Man Arrested in California, MD After Mental Health Crisis; Faces Trespassing, Weapons Charges

Isaiah Lynn Washington, 29, of Waldorf, was arrested on November 30, 2025, following a 911 call placed by his mother during a mental health crisis at a residence on Goldenrod Drive in California, Maryland. Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded and arrested Washington after confirming he had multiple active criminal cases....
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St. Mary’s County Public Notification Regarding CodeRED Emergency Notification System Cyberattack

St. Mary’s County Public Notification Regarding CodeRED Emergency Notification System Cyberattack

The St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) Department of Emergency Services (DES) is notifying residents about a recent cybersecurity incident involving the CodeRED Emergency Notification System. CodeRED is a third-party emergency notification service used by local governments across the country to send emergency alerts. What Happened CodeRED has informed SMCG that data associated with the legacy OnSolve CodeRED...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After Violent Assault in California; One Suspect Arrested and Firearm Recovered

Man Flown to Trauma Center After Violent Assault in California; One Suspect Arrested and Firearm Recovered

On Monday, November 24, 2025, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of North Patuxent Beach Road and Patuxent Beach Road in California, St. Mary’s County, for a reported assault. According to court documents. Deputies made contact with a male victim who claimed he had been violently attacked inside...
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UPDATE: Convicted Felon is Convicted for Murder of 23-Year-Old Man in Lexington Park

UPDATE: Convicted Felon is Convicted for Murder of 23-Year-Old Man in Lexington Park

UPDATE 11/26/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that a St. Mary’s County jury convicted Joseph Daren Brooks, 23, of Lexington Park, Maryland, of charges that include first-degree murder, the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, and regulated firearm possession by a disqualified person for his role in the...
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Four Injured After Head-on Collision in Leonardtown

Four Injured After Head-on Collision in Leonardtown

On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at approximately 4:00 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Hollywood Road and Leonards Grant Parkway in Leonardtown, for the serious motor vehicle collision with entrapment. Firefighters from Second District, Leonardtown, and Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department were quickly on the scene within seconds of...
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Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving After Striking Curb in Lexington Park

Woman Arrested for Impaired Driving After Striking Curb in Lexington Park

On Thursday, November 27, 2025, at approximately 3:05 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Pegg Road in Lexington Park, for the reported motor vehicle collision with unknown injuries. 911 callers reported a single vehicle on the median with unknown injuries. Police arrived on the...
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One Injured After Vehicle Strikes Pole, Causing Fire and Power Outage in Park Hall

One Injured After Vehicle Strikes Pole, Causing Fire and Power Outage in Park Hall

On Thursday, November 27, 2025, at approximately 12:11 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Point Lookout Road and Janeen Lane in Park Hall, for the reported motor vehicle collision with unknown injuries. 911 callers reported a single vehicle off the roadway and into a pole with live wires...
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All Aboard the Holiday Fun Express! Join Santa & Mrs. Claus for a Festive Storytime at the USCT Interpretive Center

All Aboard the Holiday Fun Express! Join Santa & Mrs. Claus for a Festive Storytime at the USCT Interpretive Center

Experience the magic of the season with our Museum Division! Families are invited to don their coziest Christmas jammies or festive holiday outfits and head to the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) Interpretive Center on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., for a joyful holiday Open House you won’t want to...
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Testing of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Sirens on December 1st, 2025

Testing of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Sirens on December 1st, 2025

There will be a full-cycle test of the alert and notification sirens throughout St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Dorchester counties on Monday, December 1, 2025, at noon. This includes a three-minute activation of all sirens within the 10-mile area around Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. All citizens should be aware of this scheduled testing and...
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Nominations Sought for 2025 Sustainability Awards

Nominations Sought for 2025 Sustainability Awards

The St. Mary’s County Commission on the Environment (CoE) is seeking nominations for the 2025 Sustainability Awards, which recognize St. Mary’s County organizations and residents for outstanding efforts to improve our local environment. Community members are encouraged to submit nominations for students or schools, restaurants, businesses, non-profits, farms or agricultural organizations, and even individuals...
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