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Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Auxiliary Life Member Amy Copsey

Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Regrets to Announce Passing of Auxiliary Life Member Amy Copsey

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Auxiliary Life Member Amy Copsey. Please keep the Copsey and Guy families in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Amy Copsey joined the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary in April of 1997. Throughout her many years of service, she gave her...
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Maryland State Police Aviation Command Regrets to Announce Passing of Retired Sergeant Christopher Tappan

Maryland State Police Aviation Command Regrets to Announce Passing of Retired Sergeant Christopher Tappan

It is with profound sadness that the Maryland State Police – Aviation Command announces the death of retired Sergeant Christopher Tappan after a courageous battle with cancer. Sgt. Tappan joined the Maryland State Police in 2004, working the Bel Air Barrack until transferring into MSPAC in 2007. Sgt. Tappan was previously assigned to Troopers...
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Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Couch Fire at Hotel Charles, Fire Marshal Investigating

Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Couch Fire at Hotel Charles, Fire Marshal Investigating

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at approximately 5:27 a.m., firefighters responded to the Hotel Charles located at 15110 Burnt Store Road in Hughesville, for the reported smoke in the building. Firefighters from Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties responded to the scene with first arriving units finding nothing evident from the 2-story commercial structure....
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Calvert County Relaxes Chicken and Poultry Laws

Calvert County Relaxes Chicken and Poultry Laws

Calvert County Government announced that backyard chickens just got easier! Always dreamed of starting your own flock? The new Calvert County Zoning Ordinance (effective March 1, 2025) now allows chickens and poultry on non-farm properties 1 acre or larger without special exception. Smaller lots still need special exception approval, and all other livestock requires...
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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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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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La Plata Police Officers Rescue Injured Bird in Hawthorne Green Community

La Plata Police Officers Rescue Injured Bird in Hawthorne Green Community

On Sunday, residents of the Hawthorne Green community in La Plata reported an injured juvenile waterfowl—believed to be a Horned Grebe—wandering in the roadway near Camden Circle and Nicola Lane. Despite attempts by community members to help, the bird continued to evade capture. La Plata Police Department’s Corporal B. Smith (#643) responded to the...
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Police Investigating Gun, Vehicle, Cash and Belongings Stolen After Vehicle Break-Ins in Huntingtown and Dunkirk

Police Investigating Gun, Vehicle, Cash and Belongings Stolen After Vehicle Break-Ins in Huntingtown and Dunkirk

Motor Vehicle Theft: 25-25612 – On March 30, 2025, Sgt. Robshaw responded to the 11700 block of Rivershore Drive in Dunkirk, for a reported motor vehicle theft. The complainant stated that her vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside and was stolen from the driveway of her residence sometime between 10:00 p.m....
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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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Friends of Calvert Library Hosting Trivia Night on Friday, April 11th, 2025

Friends of Calvert Library Hosting Trivia Night on Friday, April 11th, 2025

It’s time for Pub Quiz, your favorite Friends of Calvert Library trivia night! On Friday, April 11, 2025. Pub Quiz will be held at the Calvert County Fairgrounds. Friends of Calvert Library will be holding their popular fundraiser so you can test your knowledge, have some fun and win some cash!  Bowls 29 and...
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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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PG County Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme During COVID-19 Pandemic

PG County Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme During COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Michael Cooley, Jr., aka “Micheal Cooley Jr.,” “5Micmusik,” and “Michael White,” 26, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, to 87 months in federal prison. In January 2025, Cooley pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a conspiracy and scheme to defraud...
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Calvert Marine Museum Announces New Exhibit: Women of Wallville

Calvert Marine Museum Announces New Exhibit: Women of Wallville

The Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest exhibit, Women of Wallville, Friday, April 4, 2025. This exhibit is inspired by the award-winning Witnesses of Wallville project, a descendant community initiative dedicated to preserving the history of the rural Southern Maryland community of Wallville. Through oral histories, historical...
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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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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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