St. Mary’s News

UPDATE: Leonardtown Woman Charged with Vehicular Homicide After Killing One of Her Children and Seriously Injuring Two Others

UPDATE: Leonardtown Woman Charged with Vehicular Homicide After Killing One of Her Children and Seriously Injuring Two Others

UPDATE 10/29/2024: Ashley Nicole Nolan, 28, of Lexington Park, was arrested on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, following an 18-count indictment by the Circuit Court charging her with negligent manslaughter and other offenses related to a fatal March car crash in which a juvenile passenger died. The indictment lists the following charges: • one charge...
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Lexington Park Man Charged in Series of Theft Incidents Across St. Mary’s County

Lexington Park Man Charged in Series of Theft Incidents Across St. Mary’s County

Arlon Charles Menchion, 61, of Lexington Park, faces multiple charges of theft following three separate incidents across St. Mary’s County. Menchion is alleged to have stolen various items, including household goods and a car battery, from local businesses. Here’s a summary of the charges as detailed in court documents. The first incident occurred on...
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Mechanicsville Woman Facing Animal Cruelty Charges in St. Mary’s County After 15 Dead Cats Found in Her Freezer

Mechanicsville Woman Facing Animal Cruelty Charges in St. Mary’s County After 15 Dead Cats Found in Her Freezer

Laura Lynn Reed, 50, of Mechanicsville, is facing 15 counts of animal cruelty following an investigation into severe neglect of animals under her care. Reed was arrested after St. Mary’s County Animal Control and Sheriff’s Deputies found 26 living animals and 15 deceased cats inside her residence on Morganza Turner Road. The investigation began...
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Understanding Delays in Bringing Charges for a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

Understanding Delays in Bringing Charges for a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

In the aftermath of a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the time it takes for police or state attorneys’ offices to bring charges can be weeks or even months. This delay is due to the complexity of the investigation and the need for thorough evidence...
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MADMS to Revolutionize Navy and Marine Corps’ Shipboard Data Management

MADMS to Revolutionize Navy and Marine Corps’ Shipboard Data Management

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, MD.: The Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) Program Office (PMA-251) Information Systems team is revolutionizing Navy and Marine Corps’ shipboard data management with the Marine Aviation Data Management System (MADMS). After several years of fleet feedback, design changes and adjustments, MADMS emerged a complete, integrated shipboard information...
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Public Perception of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office: A Year Later, Praise for Deputies, but Criticism for Leadership

Public Perception of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office: A Year Later, Praise for Deputies, but Criticism for Leadership

Over a year ago, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office released the results of a community survey they initiated to gauge public perception of law enforcement in the county. Although the survey allowed residents to express their views, many now feel that little has changed since the Sheriff’s Office made this information public. While...
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Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department Donates Engine to a North Carolina Department

Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department Donates Engine to a North Carolina Department

On Saturday evening, numerous members of the Seventh District Volunteer Fire Department gathered at the station to welcome Volunteers from the Woodlawn Fire Department in Marion, North Carolina. At the departments last business meeting, the membership board voted to donate their reserve engine to a department in need after the devastation of Hurricane Helene....
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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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