St. Mary’s News

Lexington Park Woman Arrested for Alleged Shoplifting and Juvenile Endangerment

Lexington Park Woman Arrested for Alleged Shoplifting and Juvenile Endangerment

Zoey Grace McGhee, age 18, of Lexington Park, is facing criminal charges after authorities say she participated in a retail theft with a juvenile at a Dollar Tree store earlier this month. McGhee was arrested on April 4, 2025, and charged with two misdemeanors: theft under $100 and contributing to the condition of a child,...
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UPDATE: Leonardtown Man Convicted of Assault and Setting Fire to Super Eight Motel in St. Mary’s County

UPDATE: Leonardtown Man Convicted of Assault and Setting Fire to Super Eight Motel in St. Mary’s County

UPDATE 4/8/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Anthony Cleaver Mason, 65, of Leonardtown, Maryland, was convicted of assault, arson, and reckless endangerment in connection with a fire that displaced several motel guests and caused extensive damage to a California, Maryland motel. On June 3, 2024, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office...
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Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to Be Held in Callaway on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to Be Held in Callaway on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

The community is invited to join the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, the Department of Aging & Human Services (DAHS), and the Triad/SALT Council to celebrate this year’s Law Enforcement Officers of the Year and to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to their community. Law Enforcement Appreciation Day...
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Time to Care Coalition Decries Implementation Delay Introduced by Administration and Approved by Maryland General Assembly Postponing Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program

Time to Care Coalition Decries Implementation Delay Introduced by Administration and Approved by Maryland General Assembly Postponing Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program

The Maryland Time to Care Coalition decries the 18-month implementation delay, proposed by Gov. West Moore, of the Time to Care Act, originally passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022. The General Assembly gave final approval last night to HB 102, which will delay the Family and Medical Leave Insurance program (FAMLI) benefits...
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CSM Combines Writing and Math Centers to Enhance Student Support

CSM Combines Writing and Math Centers to Enhance Student Support

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has updated its math and writing centers into a combined location at the La Plata Campus, while continuing to offer dedicated math and writing assistance at its Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses. CSM’s writing center services are free to the Southern Maryland community. CSM’s Math Resource Centers offer a...
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Lexington Park Woman Charged After Attempting to Strike Woman with Car

Lexington Park Woman Charged After Attempting to Strike Woman with Car

Annette I. Williams, 38, of Lexington Park, is facing assault charges following an incident last week in which she allegedly attempted to run over a neighbor during a heated argument, according to court records filed in St. Mary’s County District Court. Williams was arrested on April 3, 2025, and charged with first-degree assault, a...
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Hollywood Man Faces Assault Charge After Domestic Dispute

Hollywood Man Faces Assault Charge After Domestic Dispute

Paul D. Bennett, 71, of Hollywood, is facing criminal charges after a domestic assault that occurred earlier this month at his residence, according to documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County. Bennett was arrested on April 4, 2025, and charged with second-degree assault, a misdemeanor offense. The charge carries a potential...
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Navy Test Pilots Take Center Stage in New Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Exhibit

Navy Test Pilots Take Center Stage in New Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Exhibit

A new exhibit showcasing developmental test pilots, flight officers, engineers and the history and influence of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) launches at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum on April 12. The exhibit, “80 Years of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” brings Southern Maryland — home of developmental...
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Lexington Park Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Over Half of a Kilo of Fentanyl

Lexington Park Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Over Half of a Kilo of Fentanyl

UPDATE 4/7/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Daisaun Altay Eric Culpepper, 31, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was sentenced to 27 years in prison, with 15.5 years of active incarceration for the possession of a large amount of fentanyl, destruction of evidence, and a probation violation. On October 16, 2024, detectives from the...
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Arrest Made in Series of Vehicle Burglaries in California and Lexington Park

Arrest Made in Series of Vehicle Burglaries in California and Lexington Park

Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrested Donell Davonne Rothwell, 54, of no fixed address, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in connection with a series of motor vehicle break-ins in the California and Lexington Park areas. Following reports of thefts from unattended vehicles, deputies canvassed local businesses and residential neighborhoods. During the...
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‘Dating While Grieving’ Event Group Explores Finding Love After Loss

‘Dating While Grieving’ Event Group Explores Finding Love After Loss

The thought of dating again after the death of a spouse or life partner can feel overwhelming. How do you open your heart to someone new while still cherishing the person you’ve lost? The grief experts at Chesapeake Life Center aim to help individuals navigate this difficult journey with their upcoming event, “Dating While...
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Drayden African American Schoolhouse Offers Free Public Open Houses in 2025

Drayden African American Schoolhouse Offers Free Public Open Houses in 2025

St. Mary’s County Government’s Museum Division, in partnership with the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC), will be offering free Open Houses for visitors and the community at the Drayden African American Schoolhouse in Drayden, on the first and third Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open House dates include:...
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Two Skunks Test Positive for Rabies in Mechanicsville Area of St. Mary’s County

Two Skunks Test Positive for Rabies in Mechanicsville Area of St. Mary’s County

The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) reports two animals collected in the Mechanicsville area have tested positive for rabies. On April 1, 2025, a skunk was collected from Baptist Church Road, and on April 3, 2025, a second skunk was collected from the Helen Farmettes area. The test results were confirmed by the...
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Governor Moore Swears In New Executive Leadership to Key Positions Across State Government

Governor Moore Swears In New Executive Leadership to Key Positions Across State Government

Governor Wes Moore this week swore in eight new executive leaders, each confirmed by the Senate during the 2025 legislative session, to fill key positions across state government. To date, the Moore-Miller Administration has appointed 3,400 public servants to the state’s boards and commissions—more than 50% being women, 50% are people of color, and...
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Secretary’s Message: A Tree Grows in Maryland – Every One Counts on the Way to 5 Million

Secretary’s Message: A Tree Grows in Maryland – Every One Counts on the Way to 5 Million

Maryland has just celebrated its own Arbor Day, well ahead of the national celebration on the last Friday of the month. This year, I’m glad to say we are catching up on an important initiative that will impact our future. Maryland made an ambitious commitment with the 5 Million Trees Initiative in 2021, and last...
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17-Year-Old Transported to Trauma Center After Crash in Lexington Park

17-Year-Old Transported to Trauma Center After Crash in Lexington Park

On Sunday, April 6, 2025, at approximately 9:50 a.m., Lexington Park VRS Ambulance 397 located a unconscious subject in a ditch near 21401 Great Mills Road and requested a medic and an engine company. As firefighters from Bay District responded to the scene, medical personnel obtained additional information on the scene and reported the...
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Five Injured After Three-Vehicle Collision in Leonardtown, Maryland State Police Investigating

Five Injured After Three-Vehicle Collision in Leonardtown, Maryland State Police Investigating

On Friday, April 4, 2025, at approximately 2:55 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Point Lookout Road and Fairgrounds Road in Leonardtown, for a motor vehicle collision with unknown injuries. Before crews arrived on the scene, 911 callers then reported three vehicles with one trapped and a infant...
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Historic Preservation Commission Accepting Award Nominations

Historic Preservation Commission Accepting Award Nominations

The Historic Preservation Commission is seeking nominations for outstanding achievements in Historic Preservation in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. These awards, first established in 1999, recognize groups, individuals, and projects that further the aims of historic preservation in St. Mary’s County. Recipients will be awarded in three categories: Preservation Project Award: This award recognizes excellence...
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Historic St. Mary’s City April 2025 Events and Workshops!

Historic St. Mary’s City April 2025 Events and Workshops!

Historic St. Mary’s City is excited to share its lineup of events for the month of April 2025. April 9.  Homeschool Wednesday Workshops Spring 2025 – Dates: April 9, May 14, June 4 A hands-on learning experience for homeschool families. Explore navigation, animal husbandry, pottery, and plant life through interactive activities. $10/$8 for members. Additional...
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With Sonar and Some Patience, Maryland Geologists Paint a Picture of the Chesapeake Bay’s Bottom

With Sonar and Some Patience, Maryland Geologists Paint a Picture of the Chesapeake Bay’s Bottom

Not long after the sun came up, a team of Maryland geologists set out on the Patuxent River. As they approached the Upper Patuxent Sanctuary, the team prepared the sensing equipment and took preliminary measurements in the water. With a custom crank-and-pulley system, they lowered the interferometric side-scan sonar off the bow. Soon after,...
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St. Mary’s County Traffic Notice: Temporary Daytime Signal Outage Scheduled for April 8th, 2025 at Chancellors Run Road & FDR Boulevard Intersection

St. Mary’s County Traffic Notice: Temporary Daytime Signal Outage Scheduled for April 8th, 2025 at Chancellors Run Road & FDR Boulevard Intersection

Maryland State Highway Administration, with assistance from St. Mary’s County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T), will perform traffic control on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, for the installation of new traffic signal heads to provide protected left hand turns on the northbound and southbound lanes of FDR Boulevard at the Chancellors Run Road...
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Police Investigating Assault at Nicolet Park in Lexington Park

Police Investigating Assault at Nicolet Park in Lexington Park

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., police responded to Nicolet Park located at 21871 FDR Boulevard in Lexington Park, for the reported assault in progress. 911 callers reported a fight involving 8 subjects with multiple attempting to pull a subject out of an SUV. A short time later, 911 callers then...
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Police Conduct Tobacco Compliance Checks in St. Mary’s County, 18 Businesses Pass and Four Fail

Police Conduct Tobacco Compliance Checks in St. Mary’s County, 18 Businesses Pass and Four Fail

On March 27, 2025, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol Enforcement Unit conducted a series of tobacco compliance checks across the county. The covert operation utilized a 19-year-old confidential informant (CI) from the Sheriff’s Office to assess businesses’ adherence to tobacco sales laws. The CI, dressed in athletic attire, attempted to purchase tobacco...
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Raise a Glass to History at the Annual First Landing Wine & Arts Festival on April 12th, 2025

Raise a Glass to History at the Annual First Landing Wine & Arts Festival on April 12th, 2025

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Clement’s Island Museum will host St. Mary’s County wineries and craft beverage makers, as well as local crafters and artisans for the annual First Landing Wine & Arts Festival. For the fifth year, community members and visitors are invited to enjoy this...
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CTG, a Division of Blue Raven Solutions, Partners with Leadership Southern Maryland to Strengthen Community Leadership

CTG, a Division of Blue Raven Solutions, Partners with Leadership Southern Maryland to Strengthen Community Leadership

Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) is pleased to announce a new partnership with CTG, a Division of Blue Raven Solutions, in support of the region’s community leadership development efforts. CTG’s sponsorship greatly benefits both the LSM Executive Program and the LSM Emerging Leaders Program (LEAP). “CTG, a Division of Blue Raven Solutions, and LSM have...
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