St. Mary’s News

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Epidemic, Expand Access to Treatment and Community-Based Recovery Programs

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Epidemic, Expand Access to Treatment and Community-Based Recovery Programs

Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) today announced $10 million in block and competitive grant awards to help support programs around the state to address the opioid crisis. The grant funding, which will be distributed between July 2022 and June 2023, will be used to support the Hogan-Rutherford administration’s policy...
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Maryland Senators Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding

Maryland Senators Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services—like birth control, cancer screenings and more—by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the...
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Pax Firefighters Build Skills for Firefighting at Sea

Pax Firefighters Build Skills for Firefighting at Sea

“Every Sailor a Damage Controlman,” goes thee adage for seagoing personnel, referring to every Sailor’s responsibility in responding to emergencies aboard ship. Firefighters at NAS Patuxent River took that to heart when they completed shipboard firefighting training July 13-16, despite being a stationed on a shore-based air installation. “After hearing of the events taking...
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Maryland State Police Licensing Division Portal Update – To Wear, Carry, or Transport a Handgun

Maryland State Police Licensing Division Portal Update – To Wear, Carry, or Transport a Handgun

As applications for Maryland Wear and Carry Permits continue to be received in unprecedented numbers, the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) Licensing Division is issuing the following information to help applicants navigate through the online application process on the Licensing Portal. Pursuant to the recent Supreme Court ruling, on July 5, 2022 Governor...
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Maryland Senator Hollen and Representative Beyer Introduce to Legislation to Improve ATF, Strengthen Gun Violence Prevention

Maryland Senator Hollen and Representative Beyer Introduce to Legislation to Improve ATF, Strengthen Gun Violence Prevention

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced legislation to improve and modernize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in order to strengthen gun safety in our communities. The legislation – which follows last week’s Senate confirmation of Steve Dettelbach to serve as ATF Director – would...
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Lexington Park Woman Stunned by $25,000 Pick 5 Prize at Canopy Liquors

Lexington Park Woman Stunned by $25,000 Pick 5 Prize at Canopy Liquors

A lucky Lexington Park woman who began playing Pick 5 a few months ago used some very special numbers to pave the way to an amazing $25,000 payday. The St. Mary’s County resident enjoys the Pick 3/4/5 games and always plays them for four days in a row. Last week, she did just that...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Serious Motor Vehicle Collision in California, One Flown to Trauma Center with Life-Threatening Injuries

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Serious Motor Vehicle Collision in California, One Flown to Trauma Center with Life-Threatening Injuries

UPDATE 7/25/2022: On Sunday, July 24, 2022 at 4:41 pm, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies and emergency rescue personnel responded to the 44000 block of St. Andrew’s Church Road in California for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving three vehicles. Upon arrival, it was determined that one of the drivers sustained...
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Calvert Public Safety Issues Animal Safety Alert Due to Severe Heat – July 21 to July 24, 2022

Calvert Public Safety Issues Animal Safety Alert Due to Severe Heat – July 21 to July 24, 2022

The Department of Public Safety has issued an animal safety alert due to forecasted high temperatures and heat index values for Thursday, July 21 through Sunday, July 24, 2022. Animal owners or custodians are required to provide the following protections while the alert is active: Animals must be provided with shelter, water, space and...
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Local Lighthouses Celebrated Throughout St. Mary’s County during National Lighthouse Weekend

Local Lighthouses Celebrated Throughout St. Mary’s County during National Lighthouse Weekend

The Department of Recreation & Parks’ Museum Division will celebrate some of St. Mary’s County’s most significant lighthouses during National Lighthouse Weekend Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, at Piney Point Lighthouse in Piney Point, and Blackistone Lighthouse on St. Clement’s Island, near Colton’s Point. Tours will be available at both locations...
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NAS Pax River Lowers Speed Limits with Eyes on Improving Driver, Pedestrian Safety

NAS Pax River Lowers Speed Limits with Eyes on Improving Driver, Pedestrian Safety

Drivers on NAS Patuxent River can observe speed limits being generally been lowered on base in an effort to curb speeding and improve driver safety. In most areas where a change has occurred, the speed limit has been lowered to 25 miles-per-hour. “After months of base Safety and Security observing several vehicles speeding –...
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Southern Maryland State Police Aviation Command Celebrates 35 Years Of Aviation Service

Southern Maryland State Police Aviation Command Celebrates 35 Years Of Aviation Service

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of a permanent Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopter base in Southern Maryland. On July 1, 1987, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) opened the doors for the section, known through the Southern Maryland region as “Trooper 7.” The helicopter section was originally based...
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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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