St. Mary’s News

Firefighters in St. Mary’s and Calvert Respond to Large Brush Fires During Abnormally Dry Fall

Firefighters in St. Mary’s and Calvert Respond to Large Brush Fires During Abnormally Dry Fall

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is implementing a statewide ban on open air burning, effective November 1st 2024, in all Maryland counties. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) currently lists Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s County as D0 – Abnormally Dry with Short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops, Some lingering water deficits, and...
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November 2024 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

November 2024 Events at the Calvert Marine Museum

This November, a month dedicated to gratitude, the Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) invites you to participate in a series of special events that encompass honoring our veterans, engaging education opportunities for all ages, and a fascinating fossil lecture. Additionally, don’t miss fun shopping opportunities in the Museum Store! For more information, please visit: www.calvertmarinemuseum.com...
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All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in St. Mary’s County 10/18/2024 to 10/24/2024

All Arrests and Criminal Summons Issued in St. Mary’s County 10/18/2024 to 10/24/2024

UPDATE 10/28/2024: We are still waiting for some booking photos from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office that they have refused to release. 10/27/2024: Each week, SMNEWSNET.COM will provide a list of all arrests and criminal summonses issued in St. Mary’s County. In the spirit of transparency, we are committed to keeping our community...
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Maryland State Police 158th Academy Class Graduation Welcomes 20 New Troopers

Maryland State Police 158th Academy Class Graduation Welcomes 20 New Troopers

The Maryland Department of State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. and Major General (retired) Linda L. Singh, PhD, welcomed the graduates of the 158th Academy Class to the ranks of Maryland’s Finest during a ceremony today at LifePoint Church in Reisterstown. Major General (retired) Singh delivered the keynote address to the Department’s 20...
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NAS Pax River Gate 1 Outbound Closure Today, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024

NAS Pax River Gate 1 Outbound Closure Today, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024

NAS Pax River Gate 1 outbound lanes will be closed to traffic Friday, Oct. 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for scheduled maintenance. Gate 3 will open for outbound traffic at 2 p.m. Drivers must use Gates 2 or 3 for outbound traffic during Gate 1’s maintenance. Pax River Gate 1 inbound lanes...
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Founder of Thirty-One Announces Closure in December of 2024 After 21 Years of Business

Founder of Thirty-One Announces Closure in December of 2024 After 21 Years of Business

October 20, 2024 — Cindy Monroe, the founder of Thirty-One Gifts, announced that her popular direct-sales business will be closing its doors in December 2024. This decision marks the end of a 21-year journey that began in Monroe’s Tennessee basement and has grown into a global community of women empowered through entrepreneurship. Monroe started...
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Next Generation Jammer Lead Test Engineer Jacob Kiehlmeier Selected as Tester of the Year for 2023

Next Generation Jammer Lead Test Engineer Jacob Kiehlmeier Selected as Tester of the Year for 2023

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) has selected Jacob Kiehlmeier as the civilian Tester of the Year for 2023. Kiehlmeier served as the lead test engineer for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) Integrated Test Team (ITT) supporting the Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234). Kiehlmeier...
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Elevated Fire Conditions Due to Dry Conditions Throughout Maryland

Elevated Fire Conditions Due to Dry Conditions Throughout Maryland

Amid prolonged dry conditions and gusty winds, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a special weather statement for elevated fire conditions across parts of Maryland. The advisory is effective from Thursday, October 24th, through Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, highlighting an increased risk of wildfires in the region due to a combination of low...
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Maryland State Police Arrest Mechanicville Man on Multiple Charges After Violating Protective Order and Resisting Arrest

Maryland State Police Arrest Mechanicville Man on Multiple Charges After Violating Protective Order and Resisting Arrest

John Edward Nichols, 34, of Mechanicsville, has been arrested and charged with several misdemeanors after an incident in which he allegedly violated a protective order, engaged in disorderly conduct, and resisted arrest. The arrest took place on October 20, 2024, following a disturbance at a residence in California, Maryland. According to the report filed...
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DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024

The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, provides several collection sites across Southern Maryland for safe disposal of unused or expired medications. According to the DEA’s official Take Back Day webpage, drop-off locations include Maryland State Police Barrack T in Leonardtown,...
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National School Bus Safety Week: October 21-25

National School Bus Safety Week: October 21-25

As we recognize National School Bus Safety Week from October 21 to 25, it’s a perfect time for drivers and students alike to brush up on essential safety tips that keep everyone safe on the road. With millions of children relying on buses to get to and from school, it’s critical that we all...
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Man and Child Flown to Trauma Centers After Single Vehicle Collision in California

Man and Child Flown to Trauma Centers After Single Vehicle Collision in California

On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at approximately 10:38 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Indian Bridge Road and Long Bow Drive in California, for the motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway and into a drainage ditch...
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Make a Difference This Winter: Volunteer Drivers Needed for WARM in St. Mary’s County

Make a Difference This Winter: Volunteer Drivers Needed for WARM in St. Mary’s County

With colder weather settling in, St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Aging & Human Services (DAHS) is seeking volunteer drivers for Wrapping Arms ‘Round Many (WARM), an emergency shelter program for people experiencing homelessness in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This year’s WARM season begins Sunday, November 10, 2024, and runs through Monday, March 27,...
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Large Multi-Agency Investigation Ongoing After Shed Fire in Hollywood, Charges Pending

Large Multi-Agency Investigation Ongoing After Shed Fire in Hollywood, Charges Pending

UPDATE 10/21/2024 – The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement: On October 21st, 2024, Deputies with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on the 42000 block of St. Johns Road in Hollywood to assist the Fire Department with a shed fire involving possible ammunition exploding inside. In the...
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Lexington Park Man Arrested for Burglary, Attempted Arson, and Drug Possession

Lexington Park Man Arrested for Burglary, Attempted Arson, and Drug Possession

On October 20, 2024, Cesar Augusto Gonzalez-Lopez, 34, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with burglary, attempted arson, and drug possession, after threatening to burn down a home, breaking into the property, and causing significant damage. According to court documents, the incident stemmed from an argument between Gonzalez-Lopez and the homeowner the previous...
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Protect Yourself and Loved Ones: Scammers Impersonating Local Law Enforcement in St. Mary’s County

Protect Yourself and Loved Ones: Scammers Impersonating Local Law Enforcement in St. Mary’s County

While the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has acknowledged receiving multiple reports of scammers impersonating deputies and demanding money, their public warning has provided limited details about how these scams are being carried out. To help shed more light on the issue, one local resident, whom we will refer to as Brian, has shared...
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UPDATE: Drunk Driver Arrested After Causing Serious Crash in Dameron That Sends One to Trauma Center

UPDATE: Drunk Driver Arrested After Causing Serious Crash in Dameron That Sends One to Trauma Center

UPDATE 10/21/2024: David R. Brunk, age 63, of Dameron, is facing a series of traffic and alcohol-related charges after a late-night incident on October 20, 2024. According to court documents from the District Court for St. Mary’s County, Brunk was charged after an accident on Route 235 near Trapp Road in St. Mary’s County....
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Lexington Park Man Faces Multiple Charges After Traffic Incident in Leonardtown

Lexington Park Man Faces Multiple Charges After Traffic Incident in Leonardtown

On October 16, 2024, Marvin Laquawn Rash, 39, of Lexington Park, was arrested following a traffic incident in Leonardtown. According to court documents, Rash is facing several charges, including failing to obey a lawful order, resisting arrest, and obstructing a police investigation. The incident occurred on Maryland Route 5 near 26825 Point Lookout Road...
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Clements Man Arrested for Assault After Female Victim Suffers Severe Injuries

Clements Man Arrested for Assault After Female Victim Suffers Severe Injuries

Jonathan David Pease, 39, of Clements, was arrested on October 18, 2024, and charged with first and second-degree assault following a violent incident on October 15, 2024, at his residence on Mount Chance Court in Clements. According to court documents, Pease allegedly assaulted a female victim during a heated argument, resulting in serious injuries...
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Port Republic Man Arrested for Trespassing and Drug Possession in Ridge

Port Republic Man Arrested for Trespassing and Drug Possession in Ridge

On October 5, 2024, Parris Commodore, 54, of Port Republic, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including fourth-degree burglary, drug possession, trespassing, and obstructing law enforcement. The charges stem from an incident in Ridge, St. Mary’s County, Maryland. According to the Maryland State Police, officers responded to a call at approximately 9:33 a.m....
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Lexington Park Resident Charged with Drug Possession and Identity Fraud in St. Mary’s County

Lexington Park Resident Charged with Drug Possession and Identity Fraud in St. Mary’s County

On October 15, 2024, Sara Wagner Zetty, 39, of Lexington Park, was arrested by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on multiple charges following a traffic stop on Lexwood Drive in an area known for drug activity. According to court documents, Deputy Wimberly conducted a traffic stop on a silver Honda Odyssey, which was...
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Results of Chesapeake Bay 2024 Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey Show Little Change

Results of Chesapeake Bay 2024 Young-of-Year Striped Bass Survey Show Little Change

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of this year’s juvenile striped bass survey, which tracks the reproductive success of Maryland’s state fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The 2024 young-of-year index is 2.0, well below the long-term average of 11.0, and marks the sixth consecutive year of poor reproduction. “These results underscore the complexity of managing...
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Rural Legacy Farmers and Partners Celebrate 25 Years of Preserving Maryland’s Bucolic Landscape and Working Farms

Rural Legacy Farmers and Partners Celebrate 25 Years of Preserving Maryland’s Bucolic Landscape and Working Farms

Whether it’s waterfront farmland , culturally important land where Harriet Tubman resided, a working farm in Baltimore County, or a stretch of quiet woodlands in Western Maryland, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Rural Legacy Program has been protecting it for a quarter century. The Maryland Rural Legacy Program protects the viability of agriculture while...
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Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Chief Gould Honored with Hometown Hero Award

Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Chief Gould Honored with Hometown Hero Award

The St. Mary’s County Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) has named Fire Chief Joe Gould the first recipient of its Hometown Hero Award in the firefighter category. Chief Gould will be officially honored on Saturday, November 9, 2024, in recognition of his exceptional dedication to the fire service and his unwavering commitment to...
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Man Flown to Trauma Center After Chainsaw Accident in Dameron

Man Flown to Trauma Center After Chainsaw Accident in Dameron

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, at approximately 11:30 a.m., emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the 50000 block of Malone Bay Court in Dameron, for the reported traumatic injuries with serious bleeding. 911 callers reported a 68-year-old male suffered a large cut after an accident involving a chainsaw. Crews arrived on the scene to...
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