St. Mary’s News

Mechanicsville Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography After Downloading and Viewing Images at Library of Congress

Mechanicsville Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography After Downloading and Viewing Images at Library of Congress

Gary Lee Peksa, age 56 of Mechanicsville, Maryland, a former federal employee, was sentenced to eight years in prison for repeatedly connecting his cellphone to a wireless network at the Library of Congress and searching for, downloading, and viewing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The announcement was made by...
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Unofficial 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Saint Mary’s County

Unofficial 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for Saint Mary’s County

Last updated: 07/20/2022 10:57:00 AM Governor / Lt. Governor Republican Candidates Name Party Early Voting Election Day Mail-In Ballot / Provisional Total Percentage Dan Cox and Gordana Schifanelli Republican 1,500 4,074 NR 5,574 56.43% Robin Ficker and LeRoy F. Yegge, Jr. Republican 90 171 NR 261 2.64% Kelly Schulz and Jeff Woolford Republican 1,275...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office; Remembering Retired Corporal Margaret “Peggy” Smolarsky #126

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office; Remembering Retired Corporal Margaret “Peggy” Smolarsky #126

Sheriff Tim Cameron and the men and women of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office fondly remember retired Corporal Peggy Smolarsky on this anniversary of her passing. Corporal Smolarsky passed away on July 20, 2021 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Peggy is missed at the Sheriff’s Office every day. Peggy began her career...
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The Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland Earns National Awards

The Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland Earns National Awards

The Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland has earned two national awards in 2022. The immersive art experience, constructed on St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s campus, honors the story of resilience, persistence, and creative problem-solving that defined the lives of the enslaved individuals that lived in St. Mary’s City between 1750 and 1815....
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U.S. Navy Super Hornet Teams With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Flight Demos

U.S. Navy Super Hornet Teams With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Flight Demos

The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) has conducted a successful series of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) flight tests in which a Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet demonstrated command and control of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The event took place at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, California, and included four flight...
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St. Mary’s County Health Department Awarded $1.6 Million Grant to Support Operations at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub

St. Mary’s County Health Department Awarded $1.6 Million Grant to Support Operations at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub

The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has been awarded $1.6 million in grant funding through the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) Pathways to Health Equity program, which aims to address health disparities, expand access to health services, and improve health outcomes in underserved communities. SMCHD was one of nine recipients selected for...
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One Transported with Minor Injuries After Vehicle Rolls Over Multiple Times in Leonardtown

One Transported with Minor Injuries After Vehicle Rolls Over Multiple Times in Leonardtown

On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at approximately 12:25 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Point Lookout Road and Merchants Lane in Leonardtown, for the motor vehicle collision reported serious with one vehicle overturned with entrapment. Crews arrived on the scene to find two vehicles involved with one off the...
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UPDATE: Missing 10-Year-Old Victim Located Deceased at Camp Merryelande, Police Continuing Their Investigation

UPDATE: Missing 10-Year-Old Victim Located Deceased at Camp Merryelande, Police Continuing Their Investigation

UPDATE 7/18/2022 @ 2:37 p.m.: A 911 caller reported they located the victim near the beach of Camp Merryelande on the St. Mary’s River side. Police and firefighters made their way to the location and met with family members who confirmed the victims identity. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene. The St....
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College of Southern Maryland Board of Trustees Vote to Modify CSM Vaccine Requirement for Students

College of Southern Maryland Board of Trustees Vote to Modify CSM Vaccine Requirement for Students

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Board of Trustees voted July 11 to modify the college’s current vaccine requirement for students – allowing unvaccinated students to attend Hy-Flex classes, which are taught online and face-to-face simultaneously. Currently, CSM requires vaccinations for most students who are taking classes onsite, and masking is optional, though highly...
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Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Process Now Available for 2022-23

Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Process Now Available for 2022-23

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is again offering an online-only process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2022-2023 waterfowl blind site license. From now through July 26, 2022, at 11:59 p.m., hunters may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing through the department’s Compass licensing portal....
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Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Annual Carnival Postponed to Later To Be Determined Date in 2022

Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Annual Carnival Postponed to Later To Be Determined Date in 2022

On Sunday July 17, 2022, the Department held a special meeting to discuss the status of our Annual Carnival. In attendance along with the Members of Hollywood VFD were the Hollywood VFD Ladies Auxiliary and Sheriff Cameron of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. The goal of this meeting was to decide if the...
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State Fire Marshal Investigating House Fire in Lusby with Multiple Pets Killed

State Fire Marshal Investigating House Fire in Lusby with Multiple Pets Killed

On Sunday, July 17, 2022, at approximately 4:05 p.m., firefighters from Solomons, Prince Frederick, Hollywood, Bay District, St. Leonard and Dunkirk responded to the 11500 block of Tomahawk Trail in Lusby, for the reported structure fire. The 911 caller reported she arrived home and found the fridge, cabinets and ceiling had caught on fire...
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First Human Monkeypox Case Reported for St. Mary’s County

First Human Monkeypox Case Reported for St. Mary’s County

The St. Mary’s County Health Department has been notified of a human monkeypox virus infection in a St. Mary’s County resident. The individual is isolating from others and recovering. SMCHD has begun the process of public health contact tracing and notification. The risk of transmission to the general community at this time is believed...
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Sheriff’s Office Seeking Videos in Homicide Investigation

Sheriff’s Office Seeking Videos in Homicide Investigation

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has activated an online portal and is seeking additional information related to a homicide investigation on Friday, July 15, 2022, at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Carnival. Anyone who has video of the incident, prior, during or after the shooting is asked to share the digital file with...
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44th Annual Burchoil Jet Wars at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek – Saturday, July 16, 2022

44th Annual Burchoil Jet Wars at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek – Saturday, July 16, 2022

The 44th annual Burchoil Jet Wars is today! Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Maryland International Raceway! Witness the return of the BONESHAKER Jet Semi Truck, 300mph Jet Dragsters, Fire Breathing Jet Funny Cars, Warriors Outlaw, MPC Real Street, the full 1320 Fabrication ET Series, Wheelstanding Golf Carts, Fireworks and more! Its a Wild Night...
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St. Mary’s County Health Department and Serenity Place Announce Free Mental Health and Counseling Services on Sunday, July 17, 2022 in Hollywood

St. Mary’s County Health Department and Serenity Place Announce Free Mental Health and Counseling Services on Sunday, July 17, 2022 in Hollywood

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has announced that in a collaborative effort with the St. Mary’s County Health Department and Serenity Place, LLC, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office announces that free mental health and counseling services will be available on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad from 10:00...
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Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Carnival Cancelled for Remainder of Weekend

Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Carnival Cancelled for Remainder of Weekend

The following information was released by the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department: Due to an incident that occurred on Friday evening in our Parking Lot, the Carnival has been cancelled for Saturday July 16th and Sunday July 17th.. On Friday evening at approximately 11pm, as the Carnival ended and guests were leaving, a shooting occurred...
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Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Cancels Carnival for Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, July 17, 2022

Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Cancels Carnival for Saturday, July 16, and Sunday, July 17, 2022

The Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department has released the following statement over the shooting incident that occurred on Friday night, July 15, 2022. “Due to an incident that occurred on Friday evening in our Parking Lot, the Carnival has been cancelled for Saturday July 16th and Sunday July 17th. On Friday evening at approximately 11:00pm,...
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UPDATE: Large Barn Fire in Bryantown Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported and No Animals Harmed

UPDATE: Large Barn Fire in Bryantown Under Investigation, No Injuries Reported and No Animals Harmed

UPDATE 7/18/2022: On Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 2:49 a.m., 50 firefighters from Charles and St. Mary’s County responded to 7040 Leonardtown Road in Bryantown, for the reported large barn on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a large equestrian Barn which was vacant. The owner is identified as Noe Zavala, with...
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Bunny Burkett’s Funny Car Gets Fresh Restoration at Maryland International Raceway

Bunny Burkett’s Funny Car Gets Fresh Restoration at Maryland International Raceway

The famed Bunny Burkett World Championship Winning Funny Car is now back at Maryland International Raceway (MIR)! At the end of the 2021 racing season, the funny car body was removed and transported to Ultimate Garage to be repainted after being exposed to weather elements for 12 years. As of today, the body has...
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19-Year-Old Lexington Park Man Arrested for Murder of 16-Year-Old at Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Carnival

19-Year-Old Lexington Park Man Arrested for Murder of 16-Year-Old at Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Carnival

SMCSO UPDATE @ 10:50 a.m.: A 19-year-old Lexington Park man has been arrested and charged by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office in a fatal shooting at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department’s annual carnival on Friday evening. Devron Ny’Quez Murray, age 19 of Lexington Park, is being held at the St. Mary’s County Detention...
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Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Justice Department Launch Investigation of Maryland Department Of State Police Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Justice Department Launch Investigation of Maryland Department Of State Police Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that the Justice Department has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act...
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Police Investigating Multiple Burglaries to Lexington Park Businesses

Police Investigating Multiple Burglaries to Lexington Park Businesses

On Thursday, July 14, 2022, at approximately 11:15 p.m., police responded to the Tobacco Hub located at 46925 South Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported burglary alarm. Police arrived on the scene and found broken windows and an open door. Deputies cleared the building and found no-one inside. A police K9 conducted...
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St. Mary’s College 49th Annual Governor’s Cup Yacht Race Sets Sail July 29 and July 30, 2022

St. Mary’s College 49th Annual Governor’s Cup Yacht Race Sets Sail July 29 and July 30, 2022

St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s highly anticipated Governor’s Cup Yacht Race, scheduled for July 29-30, is open for registration. This year marks the 49th running of the oldest and longest overnight race on the Chesapeake Bay. The main event starts from Maryland’s current capital city in Annapolis to its first capital city in St....
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NAS Patuxent River Search and Rescue Team Saves 9-Year-Old and Her Father Over Holiday Weekend

NAS Patuxent River Search and Rescue Team Saves 9-Year-Old and Her Father Over Holiday Weekend

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD – Amid the celebrations of the July Fourth weekend, a crew from Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Search and Rescue (SAR) “SAR Dogs” squadron was called into action July 1, 2022, for a boater in distress on the Choptank River. A father and his 9-year-old daughter were fishing...
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