St. Mary’s News

UPDATE: 2-Alarm Apartment Fire in Waldorf Injures 2 Firefighters and Displaces 10 Residents

UPDATE: 2-Alarm Apartment Fire in Waldorf Injures 2 Firefighters and Displaces 10 Residents

UPDATE 6/10/2024: On Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 10:32 a.m., firefighters responded to 6016 New Forest Court in Waldorf, for the structure fire, Firefighters located a 2-story apartment complex on fire. The owner is identified as New Forest Complex with the estimated loss of structure being valued at $400,000.00 Two firefighters suffered non-life threatening...
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Sports Wagering Only Contributes Nearly $7 Million to the State During May 2024

Sports Wagering Only Contributes Nearly $7 Million to the State During May 2024

Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $6,991,225 in contributions to the state from a handle of $431,528,137 during May 2024. Sports wagering contributions go to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs. The $6.9 million contribution to the state in May 2024 was the second-best single-month total and represented a 50.3%...
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Two Lexington Park Men Arrested After Traffic Stop in Calvert – Police Find Drugs and Loaded Gun

Two Lexington Park Men Arrested After Traffic Stop in Calvert – Police Find Drugs and Loaded Gun

On May 29, 2024, at approximately 10:50 PM, Deputy DeSantis of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation along S. Solomons Island Road in the area of Flag Ponds Parkway in Lusby. Contact was made with the driver, Leroy Robert White, 67 of Lexington Park,...
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Police Investigating Armed Carjacking at Waldorf Food Lion, Officers Searching for black 2019 Toyota Camry

Police Investigating Armed Carjacking at Waldorf Food Lion, Officers Searching for black 2019 Toyota Camry

On Sunday, June 9, 2024, at approximately 10:20 a.m., police responded to the Food Lion located at 3200 Old Washington Road in Waldorf, for the reported carjacking. Officers from Charles and St. Mary’s County were notified of the stolen vehicle, tag number and direction of travel and began searching for the suspects. The victim,...
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SMECO Awards Scholarships for 2024 High School Seniors

SMECO Awards Scholarships for 2024 High School Seniors

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) has awarded four scholarships for 2024 to high school seniors who live in the cooperative’s service area. Recipients receive awards based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and school and community involvement. Since beginning the scholarship program in 1993, SMECO has presented awards to 128 students. Each of the following...
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Maryland Department of Health announces first reported heat-related death of 2024

Maryland Department of Health announces first reported heat-related death of 2024

The Maryland Department of Health today announced the first reported heat-related death of 2024 in Maryland. The death occurred in Prince George’s County; the decedent was a male aged 59. “We are very saddened to report our first heat-relat​ed death of the 2024 season,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “As...
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St. Mary’s County Woman Hits $190,383 Jackpot in Her First Time Playing FAST PLAY Game

St. Mary’s County Woman Hits $190,383 Jackpot in Her First Time Playing FAST PLAY Game

In an exciting turn of events, a first-time player from La Plata struck gold in a FAST PLAY game, winning a whopping $190,383 progressive jackpot prize. The anonymous winner, who selected the nickname “First Timer” to tell the story of her Lottery luck, reports being left speechless upon discovering her incredible win. The St. Mary’s County...
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Free Admission for Dads on Father’s Day at St. Mary’s County Museums

Free Admission for Dads on Father’s Day at St. Mary’s County Museums

On Father’s Day, June 16, 2024, St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point and Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in Piney Point, will offer free museum admission for dads during normal operating hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note regular admission prices apply to others in the party: St. Clement’s Island Museum: $3 for...
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Maryland Aquaculture Leases Produce Record Yield of Oysters in 2023

Maryland Aquaculture Leases Produce Record Yield of Oysters in 2023

Maryland’s growing shellfish aquaculture operations harvested a record 94,286 bushels of oysters in 2023, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported.  “Though the shellfish aquaculture harvest is small in comparison to the public fishery, it is growing steadily and the farmer’s product is available throughout the year,” said Brian R. Callam, Ph.D., director of...
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Local “Rosie Riveter” Visits B-25 at U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

Local “Rosie Riveter” Visits B-25 at U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, Patuxent River, MD. – Betty Jean Holly will celebrate her 99th birthday this weekend – just two days after the 80th anniversary of the allied landings on D-Day. During a recent visit to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS), she fondly recalled working in a Kansas City...
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Future Challenges, Opportunities Discussed at Naval Aviation 3-Star Summit

Future Challenges, Opportunities Discussed at Naval Aviation 3-Star Summit

The stars were out for over 200 attendees May 29 at the Naval Aviation 3-Star Summit in Lexington Park, Maryland. The evening’s theme was “Advancing Naval Aviation Readiness for the High-End Fight.” The event marked the first-time leaders of the Naval Aviation Enterprise, including NAVAIR Commander, Vice Adm. Carl “Chebs” Chebi; Commander, Naval Air...
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Governor Moore Signs Executive Order to Advance Maryland’s Pollution Reduction Plan

Governor Moore Signs Executive Order to Advance Maryland’s Pollution Reduction Plan

Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order to advance Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan. The order—one of the most comprehensive on climate change issued by a Maryland governor—directs a whole-of-government approach to address climate change, including requiring agencies to submit a Climate Implementation Plan by Nov. 1, action to propose new emissions standards, and the...
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Mechanicsville Man Arrested for Stalking, After Threatening a Correction Officer and his Family

Mechanicsville Man Arrested for Stalking, After Threatening a Correction Officer and his Family

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Mechanicsville, for the report of a threat. Upon arrival, contact was made with an adult male victim who is actively employed as a Correctional Officer at the St. Mary’s County Detention and...
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UPDATE: Mechanicsville Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder Outside Great Mills Liquor Store

UPDATE: Mechanicsville Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder Outside Great Mills Liquor Store

UPDATE 6/5/2024: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Leroy Christopher Neal, 48, of Mechanicsville, was found guilty of first-degree murder and related firearm charges for the killing of a 46-year-old man that occurred on November 4, 2023. Following a three-day trial, Neal was convicted by a St. Mary’s County jury of first-degree murder,...
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St. Mary’s County Administrator, David Weiskopf Recognized as Public Servant of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce

St. Mary’s County Administrator, David Weiskopf Recognized as Public Servant of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce

St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) is proud to announce that County Administrator, David Weiskopf was recognized as the Public Servant of the Year by the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce at their annual business dinner on June 4, 2024. The Public Servant award recognizes an individual who exemplifies exceptional service to the business...
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St. Mary Catholic Church, Newport Celebrates 350 Years

St. Mary Catholic Church, Newport Celebrates 350 Years

St. Mary Catholic Church, Newport is celebrating a significant milestone in 2024: 350 years since its founding in 1674. It is the third oldest continuously operating Catholic parish in the United States to reach that number. Celebratory events are being held throughout the year to honor St. Mary’s historic role as a place of...
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Maryland Spring Turkey Hunters Harvest 4,959 Birds

Maryland Spring Turkey Hunters Harvest 4,959 Birds

Maryland hunters harvested 4,959 wild turkeys during the 2024 spring regular and junior turkey seasons. This year’s harvest was 7% lower than the record amount set last spring, but surpassed the harvest totals from previous seasons. “Hunters took advantage of favorable weather and abundant turkey populations with another high harvest,” Maryland Department of Natural...
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Health Department Awarded $5 Million Grant to Continue Operations at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub

Health Department Awarded $5 Million Grant to Continue Operations at the St. Mary’s County Health Hub

The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has been awarded $5 million in grant funding through the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) program, which aims to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in underserved communities. Funding will be spread out over five years to help sustain operations at the...
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Pax River Extends Hours, Lanes to Aid Traffic Flow Beginning June 5

Pax River Extends Hours, Lanes to Aid Traffic Flow Beginning June 5

Effective Wednesday, June 5, 2024, NAS Patuxent River NAS Patuxent River will open Gate 2 to traffic starting at 5:30 a.m. Non-commercial vehicle traffic will also be able to utilize the Commercial Vehicle Inspection (CVIS) lane at Gate 1 during high traffic hours of 6 a.m.-9 a.m. Sentries at the CVIS lane will be...
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Demolition of South Coral Drive Begins The End to An Era for Lexington Park

Demolition of South Coral Drive Begins The End to An Era for Lexington Park

The end of an era has begun today. Demolition of the old Lexington Park Volunteer Fire Department / Bay District Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 on South Coral Drive has started this morning to make room for future development. The entire row of buildings are planned to be demolished in the coming months. Bay...
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UPDATE: Man Charged After Setting Motel Room on Fire That Injures 2 and Displaces 46

UPDATE: Man Charged After Setting Motel Room on Fire That Injures 2 and Displaces 46

UPDATE 6/4/2024 – Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal Press Release: A Leonardtown man was arrested after setting a hotel room on fire yesterday evening, displacing 46 guests and causing three-quarters of a million dollars in damage. Just after 8:00 p.m. on June 3, 2024, St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office responded to the Super...
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UPDATE: Police Seeking Assistance Identifying Suspects in Credit Card Skimming Case at Dollar General Store in Charlotte Hall

UPDATE: Police Seeking Assistance Identifying Suspects in Credit Card Skimming Case at Dollar General Store in Charlotte Hall

UPDATE 6/3/2024: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office seeks assistance identifying and locating the individuals shown in these pictures in connection with the discovery of a card skimming device found at the Dollar General Store in Charlotte Hall in May. If you know who these individuals are, please contact Deputy Anthony Cucinotta at [email protected]...
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Trail Life USA Troop MD-0513 Celebrates Freedom Award for Three Rangemen

Trail Life USA Troop MD-0513 Celebrates Freedom Award for Three Rangemen

Zachary Van Ryswick, Joseph Cress, and Noah Foster, members of Trail Life USA Troop MD-0513, will be awarded the Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the highest award in the Trail Life program, which recognizes the many traits a young man must gain to excel in life as a man of integrity and courage....
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Family Displaced After Large House Fire in Hughesville, Fire Marshal Investigating

Family Displaced After Large House Fire in Hughesville, Fire Marshal Investigating

On Sunday, June 2, 2024, at approximately 8:00 p.m., firefighters from Charles, St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Prince George’s County responded to the 6900 block of Bucktown Court tin Hughesville, for the reported structure on fire. Crews arrived on the scene and immediately requested a working fire dispatch and reported fire showing from a 2-story...
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Hollywood Man Arrested After Pointing a Gun at a Group of People at George B. Cecil Park in Valley Lee

Hollywood Man Arrested After Pointing a Gun at a Group of People at George B. Cecil Park in Valley Lee

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a man with a gun at George B. Cecil Park in Valley Lee. Witnesses stated that following an altercation, a male subject pointed a firearm at a group of people gathered at a pavilion in the park. The suspect, identified as Javonte...
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