St. Mary’s News

Lexington Park Woman Claims $100,000 MONOPOLY X50 Ticket

Lexington Park Woman Claims $100,000 MONOPOLY X50 Ticket

A Lexington Park woman who says she seldom plays scratch-offs decided to gift herself a few of the games instead of getting her usual Pick 3 or Pick 4 tickets. She bought two $10 MONOPOLY™ X50 tickets and one of them gave her an even bigger gift: a $100,000 top-tier prize. She claimed the windfall...
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Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Launches Regional Passport Program

Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Launches Regional Passport Program

The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area today announced the launch of its new regional passport program, an interactive initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to discover the region’s storied past, abundant culture, and natural beauty across Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Southern Prince George’s Counties. Fifteen designated heritage sites throughout the Area are now offering...
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VIDEO: One Arrested, Minor Injuries Reported After Suspect Fleeing Police Causes Car Crash in Lexington Park

VIDEO: One Arrested, Minor Injuries Reported After Suspect Fleeing Police Causes Car Crash in Lexington Park

UPDATE – Sheriff’s Office Press Release – 1/6/2025: On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, while conducting proactive patrol operations in Lexington Park, a deputy with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office observed a gray Ford Fusion fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Fox Ridge Road and Spring Valley Road. The...
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Delegate Brian Crosby Opens 2026-27 SY Academic Scholarship Application

Delegate Brian Crosby Opens 2026-27 SY Academic Scholarship Application

Delegate Brian Crosby has opened applications for his 2026–27 Academic Scholarship, a one-year award available to eligible college students who live in Maryland Legislative District 29B and will be attending a Maryland college or qualifying program during the 2026–27 school year. The scholarship is intended to support St. Mary’s County students pursuing higher education...
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My Sister’s Closet Launches in Southern Maryland to Support Women With Free Professional Attire and Fresh Start Opportunities!

My Sister’s Closet Launches in Southern Maryland to Support Women With Free Professional Attire and Fresh Start Opportunities!

A new community-driven initiative aimed at supporting women across Southern Maryland is officially taking shape. My Sister’s Closet has launched with a simple but powerful mission: women supporting women through dignity, opportunity, and community. Created to help women build confidence during career transitions, interviews, and fresh starts, My Sister’s Closet will provide free professional...
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Forrest Career & Technology Center 26th Annual Tech Expo – January 22, 2026

Forrest Career & Technology Center 26th Annual Tech Expo – January 22, 2026

The Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center (Forrest Center) will facilitate its twenty-sixth annual Forrest Center Tech Expo on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026. The following sessions will be available for students to visit their three favorite programs. Doors open at 5:30 pm Session 1: 5:40-5:55 pm Session 2: 6:00-6:15 pm Session 3:...
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Dangers of Running Over Fire Hoses: A Legal and Safety Reminder for Maryland Drivers

Dangers of Running Over Fire Hoses: A Legal and Safety Reminder for Maryland Drivers

In the midst of an emergency, every second counts. Firefighters rushing to extinguish fires or respond to emergencies rely heavily on their equipment, including fire hoses, to carry out their duties effectively and safely. However, a dangerous and illegal act has been posing serious risks to firefighters and their operations: vehicles running over fire...
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Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Regrets to Announce Passing of Active Life Member Karen Elizabeth Strickland Szabo

Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Regrets to Announce Passing of Active Life Member Karen Elizabeth Strickland Szabo

Karen Elizabeth Strickland Szabo, 59, of Lexington Park, MD, passed away suddenly on December 31, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Leonardtown, Maryland, on September 29, 1966, to Myers and Dee Strickland. Karen grew up on Strickland Road in Great Mills with her two younger sisters, and within walking distance...
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No Injuries Reported After Shed Fire in Hughesville

No Injuries Reported After Shed Fire in Hughesville

On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at approximately 3:05 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 6900 block of Carrico Mill Road in Hughesville, for the reported shed on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 10×10 shed fully engulfed with fire spreading to the nearby brush and trees. Firefighters from...
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Maryland Comptroller’s Office Updates State Tire Fee Regulations Effective January 1st, 2026

Maryland Comptroller’s Office Updates State Tire Fee Regulations Effective January 1st, 2026

The Comptroller of Maryland has submitted amendments to the regulations governing Maryland’s tire recycling fee and new tire fee. Effective January 1, 2026, the tire recycling fee increases to $1.00 from $0.80 on the first sale of a new tire in the state by a tire dealer. Maryland will also implement a $5.00 new...
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Request for Applications: Community Health Resources Commission Coordinated Community Supports Partnership

Request for Applications: Community Health Resources Commission Coordinated Community Supports Partnership

The St Mary’s County Health Department Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) announces a call for Applications for the Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) Coordinated Community Supports Partnership FY2027 Request for Applications (RFA). The full application can be found at the following CHRC link: RFA Consortium St Mary’s County Health Department LBHA is under Track 1 and applications...
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White Elephant Gift Exchange Leads to $77,777 Win for St. Mary’s County Man

White Elephant Gift Exchange Leads to $77,777 Win for St. Mary’s County Man

Imagine hosting a festive holiday party and playing the popular White Elephant game, then walking away with $77,777 as your gift. Well, it happened to a St. Mary’s County man when his gift was a winning $10 Lucky 7s Multiplier scratch-off. Joshua Hill was hosting the holiday party at his home in the St....
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Firefighters Battle Strong Winds During Fire at Patuxent Camp Sites; Leaving Multiple Campers Destroyed and Families Displaced

Firefighters Battle Strong Winds During Fire at Patuxent Camp Sites; Leaving Multiple Campers Destroyed and Families Displaced

On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at approximately 4:07 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Patuxent Camp Sites located at 4774 Williams Wharf Road in Saint Leonard, for the reported camper on fire. 911 callers reported their family members camper was on fire with multiple explosions reported. Prior to the arrival of...
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Mother and Daughter Face Multiple Charges After Assaulting Police in Hollywood

Mother and Daughter Face Multiple Charges After Assaulting Police in Hollywood

Dionna Jaleya Cutchember, 20, and Lakina Chanelle Scriber, 47, both of Hollywood, are facing a combined total of 20 criminal charges following a disturbance on December 26, 2025, at a residence on Satchel Paige Way, in Hollywood. According to court records filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County, the incident involved a...
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Mechanicsville Man Arrested After Overturned Vehicle Leads to DUI, Drug Charges

Mechanicsville Man Arrested After Overturned Vehicle Leads to DUI, Drug Charges

James Roy Chase II, 38, of Mechanicsville, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses following a single-vehicle crash that occurred on December 27, 2025, in Leonardtown, according to court documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County. Chase is facing a total of 12 charges, including two drug-related misdemeanors—CDS possession not cannabis...
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Charlotte Hall Convenience Center Temporary Closure Following “Incident”; No Injuries Reported

Charlotte Hall Convenience Center Temporary Closure Following “Incident”; No Injuries Reported

The Department of Public Work & Transportation has announced an immediate closure of the Charlotte Hall Convenience Center following an incident that occurred on December 30, 2025, around 3 p.m. County officials did not state what the incident was, however, no injuries were reported. Residents are encouraged to utilize the other convenience centers for the duration...
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Virginia Man Sentenced to 20-Years for 1980s Sexual Abuse of St. Mary’s County Child

Virginia Man Sentenced to 20-Years for 1980s Sexual Abuse of St. Mary’s County Child

State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Cecil John Dunlap, 79, of Chesapeake, Virginia was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old-child in 1981 and 1982. During this timeframe, Dunlap’s wife was a prominent schoolteacher serving the Tall Timbers/Valley Lee area in St. Mary’s County, Maryland and privately tutored children at her home....
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Maryland Hunters Take 27,620 Deer During Two-Week Firearms Season

Maryland Hunters Take 27,620 Deer During Two-Week Firearms Season

Maryland hunters reported harvesting 27,620 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 29 through Dec. 13. The firearms season harvest was 10.4% lower than last year’s official count of 30,833 deer but only 3% lower than the five-year average of 28,467 deer. The deer harvest fluctuates from year to year due to a variety of factors such as weather,...
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Attorney General Brown Opposes Trump Administration’s Proposed Rollbacks to Endangered Species Act Regulations

Attorney General Brown Opposes Trump Administration’s Proposed Rollbacks to Endangered Species Act Regulations

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown co-led a multistate coalition of 19 attorneys general in sending a comment letter opposing four proposed rules by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that would undermine key regulations implementing the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. The proposed rollbacks would significantly...
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MVA Shares Year-End Safety and Service Reminders for 2026

MVA Shares Year-End Safety and Service Reminders for 2026

As 2026 approaches, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) encourages residents to start the new year with resolutions focused on roadway safety, while also taking advantage of the convenient services and tools the MVA offers.  “We want all Marylanders to be safe, follow the rules of the road and take full...
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Maryland Park Service Launches Miles for Maryland Challenge

Maryland Park Service Launches Miles for Maryland Challenge

The Maryland Park Service is challenging visitors to walk one mile for each year since the founding of our country – 250 miles for America’s 250th. The “Miles for Maryland” Trail Challenge encourages everyone to get outdoors, enjoy the fresh air, and be active in 2026. Visit your nearest park, or explore the state...
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Defense Contractor IAP Worldwide Services Agrees to Pay More Than $800k to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations

Defense Contractor IAP Worldwide Services Agrees to Pay More Than $800k to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations

IAP Worldwide Services, Incorporated (IAP), a logistics, facilities management, and advanced technical and professional services company headquartered in Delaware, agreed to pay the United States $810,821.65 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the settlement with Special Agent in Charge, Christopher...
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St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office’s 2025: Year in Review – Building on Progress

St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office’s 2025: Year in Review – Building on Progress

St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling reflects on 2025, a year filled with continual commitment to safety, justice, victim services, community engagement, and progress. Secured $507,539 in Grant Funding: In her third year, Sterling’s team successfully secured $507,539 in grant funding for victim services and concentrated gun violence prosecution, bringing the cumulative total of...
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Young Elves Spread Christmas Cheer at Chesapeake Shores Nursing Home

Young Elves Spread Christmas Cheer at Chesapeake Shores Nursing Home

The halls of Chesapeake Shores nursing home were filled with holiday joy on Christmas Eve, thanks to three young visitors who decided to share the Christmas spirit with residents. Emma and Cole Raley, along with their cousin Jay Clarke (Leonard), donned their elf costumes and arrived at the facility with arms full of carefully...
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Woman Arrested After Assaulting Victim With Knife in Lexington Park

Woman Arrested After Assaulting Victim With Knife in Lexington Park

UPDATE 12/29/2025: Niamora Delise Lopez, 20, of Lexington Park, has been charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault following a reported stabbing incident early Monday morning, December 29, 2025, according to court documents. At approximately 1:03 a.m., officers and emergency medical personnel responded to the 45000 block of Indian Way in Lexington Park for...
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