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UPDATE: Who Pulled the Trigger? – Sheriff’s Office Under Fire After Rearrest of Hollywood Shooting Suspect

UPDATE: Who Pulled the Trigger? – Sheriff’s Office Under Fire After Rearrest of Hollywood Shooting Suspect

1/29/2024:  John Curtis Reeves IV, 23, of Bushwood, has been rearrested and faces new charges related to a November 1, 2024, shooting on Breezy Lane in Hollywood, Maryland. However, notably absent from the charges is any direct allegation that Reeves was responsible for the shooting itself. Reeves was initially charged with accessory after the...
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UPDATE: Mishandled Decomposing Bodies and Odor Complaints Lead to Southern Maryland Crematory’s Shutdown

UPDATE: Mishandled Decomposing Bodies and Odor Complaints Lead to Southern Maryland Crematory’s Shutdown

UPDATE 1/31/2025 from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office : Public Notice Regarding the Investigation of Heaven Bound Crematory – The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is aware of the investigation and subsequent closure of Heaven Bound Crematory in White Plains, MD. While the CCSO is not the investigating agency for this incident, we understand the...
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Ray Bivens Appointed Director of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks

Ray Bivens Appointed Director of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County are pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Bivens as the new Director of the Department of Recreation & Parks. Mr. Bivens, a distinguished parks and recreation leader with more than 30 years of experience, assumed his new role on January 27, 2025. Mr. Bivens began his career...
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Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy Closes for Remainder of 2024-2025 School Year

Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy Closes for Remainder of 2024-2025 School Year

It is with great regret that Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy (LHJNA) will not continue with academic instruction for the 2nd semester of the 2024-2025 school year. This has been openly discussed with all Corporation and Board Members and the hard decision made was based on what was in the best interest of the...
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Statement from Charles County Public School Superintendent Regarding American Airlines Plane Crash Tragedy

Statement from Charles County Public School Superintendent Regarding American Airlines Plane Crash Tragedy

January 30, 2025, Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff: On behalf of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS), I share a sorrowful and emotional update. We have learned that the devastating plane crash last night over the Potomac River involving an American Airlines regional flight and a U.S. Army helicopter has directly impacted our school communities. It...
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St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Two Subjects Wanted for FTA Child Support Hearings

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Seeking Two Subjects Wanted for FTA Child Support Hearings

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of these two individuals, who are each wanted on a Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear for a Child Support Hearing. If you have any information, please contact Cpl. Chad Hartzell at 240-309-5227 or Cpl. Kristi Nelson at 240-538-6104. You can also report tips...
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NAS Patuxent River to Participate in Annual Navy Force Protection Exercise CITADEL SHIELD / SOLID CURTAIN

NAS Patuxent River to Participate in Annual Navy Force Protection Exercise CITADEL SHIELD / SOLID CURTAIN

NAS Patuxent River will participate in an annual force protection exercise, starting Feb. 3, 2025. Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2025 (CS-SC25) is conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) on all Navy installations in the continental U.S. “The annual Citadel Shield /Solid Curtain exercise is an opportunity...
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ArtWorks@7th Presents Their “Head in the Clouds” Held January 30, 2025 – February 23, 2025

ArtWorks@7th Presents Their “Head in the Clouds” Held January 30, 2025 – February 23, 2025

This month, the artists at ArtWorks@7th provide their interpretation of “Head in the Clouds”. Having our head in the clouds is about giving ourselves permission to dream and dream big. An artist might be guided by whimsy and fancy in their creations as a way of capturing the chaos. In art, the phrase can...
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Leadership Southern Maryland Studies Regional Human Services and Housing Challenges

Leadership Southern Maryland Studies Regional  Human Services and Housing Challenges

The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program Class of 2025 convened earlier this month to study the tri-county area’s critical housing and human services challenges. They heard from industry leaders about the needs and concerns of children, low-income families, residents dealing with mental and behavioral health issues and domestic violence, and the limited stock...
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UPDATE: Felony Assault on Officers Among Charges After Woman Crashes into Police Car in St. Mary’s County

UPDATE: Felony Assault on Officers Among Charges After Woman Crashes into Police Car in St. Mary’s County

UPDATE 1/30/2025: Sabrina B. Thompson, 26, , of Texas was arrested on January 30, 2025, following a reported series of events involving multiple assaults, property damage, and a violation of an out-of-state protective order. Court documents detail a police pursuit through Lexington Park that ended with Thompson facing six charges, including felony assault on...
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La Plata’s Girls Wrestling Team Places First in Holiday Showcase

La Plata’s Girls Wrestling Team Places First in Holiday Showcase

Wrestling takes more than physical strength. “It’s a lot of mental stuff,” Oriana Boling, a La Plata High School senior, said. “I’d say it’s more mental than physical.” Boling is among the girls who are making high school wrestling one of — if not the No. 1 — fastest growing sport among their peers....
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Assault at St. Charles High School Sends Staff Member to Urgent Care Facility

Assault at St. Charles High School Sends Staff Member to Urgent Care Facility

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 12:22 p.m. a student at St. Charles High School approached two students in the hallway and began assaulting both students, causing a physical altercation to begin. A staff member attempted to intervene and was inadvertently struck by one of the students causing the staff member to fall to...
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Reagan National Airport Closed After Fatal Mid-Air Collision Involving Blackhawk Helicopter and Airplane – Travel and Commuting Delays Expected

Reagan National Airport Closed After Fatal Mid-Air Collision Involving Blackhawk Helicopter and Airplane – Travel and Commuting Delays Expected

UPDATE 1/30/2025: “Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening, emergency personnel at Reagan National Airport initiated their response to a crash between a passenger aircraft, identified by the FAA as American Eagle flight 5342, and a Sikorsky helicopter. Mutual aid from neighboring agencies were called to assist, and takeoffs and landings at the airport were...
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Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dorchester and Caroline County

Preliminary Testing Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dorchester and Caroline County

The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced the first presumptive positive case of H5 avian influenza in a commercial broiler farm in Dorchester County. This is the fourth case of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Confirmation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services...
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CSM Offers Empowering, Entertaining Events in February 2025

CSM Offers Empowering, Entertaining Events in February 2025

Gallery Exhibit: Iterations by Laurel Lukaszewski. Through March 7. Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, Hank Willoughby Foundation Center for the Arts (FA Building), La Plata Campus at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata. “Iterations is both a literal interpretation of the same subject matter case in different materials and a more flexible examination of imagery...
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Maryland Offers Waterfowl Hunting Day for Youth, Veterans, and Military on Feb. 8

Maryland Offers Waterfowl Hunting Day for Youth, Veterans, and Military on Feb. 8

Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the excitement of a special waterfowl hunting day on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. A similar special hunting day is held each November. “This opportunity provides a chance to teach the next generation of wildlife conservationists and honor the service of our military personnel,” said Wildlife...
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17-Year-Old Murder Suspect Apprehended in Calvert County

17-Year-Old Murder Suspect Apprehended in Calvert County

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit identified and charged a 17-year-old male from Temple Hills in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in late December. The suspect is charged with fatally shooting 29-year-old Harvey Jones Jr. of Temple Hills. The suspect is charged as an adult. On December 27, 2024, at...
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UPDATE: Detectives Investigating Death of Missing 19-Year-Old Found in Hollywood

UPDATE: Detectives Investigating Death of Missing 19-Year-Old Found in Hollywood

UPDATE 1/29/2025: On Monday, January 27, 2025, police, fire and rescue personnel responded to a residence in the 25000 block of Jones Wharf Road in Hollywood, for an emergency medical services call. Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased individual. The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore and has...
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St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – January 28, 2025

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – January 28, 2025

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) began their business meeting with an invocation and the pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The CSMC then presented a proclamation in recognition of National Burn Awareness Week. The CSMC then convened as the Board of Health and heard a presentation from the St. Mary’s...
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Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Attends County Meeting for Presentation for Proclamation

Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Attends County Meeting for Presentation for Proclamation

On January 28, 2025, the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department President, Fire Chief, and with 7 other members of the department attended the St. Mary’s County Government Commissioners Meeting in Leonardtown. The County Commissioners were presenting a proclamation in partnership with MedStar Washington Hospital Center Burn Center to declare February 2nd through 8th as Burn...
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Firefighters Respond to Vehicle Fire Threatening Residence in Lusby

Firefighters Respond to Vehicle Fire Threatening Residence in Lusby

By Solomons VFDRS Captain Richard Lacey: On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at approximately 10:50 p.m., firefighters from Calvert and St. Mary’s County responded to the 11000 Block of Redlands Road in Chesapeake Ranch Estates, for the reported vehicle fire threatening a structure. 911 callers reported a truck next to the residence exploded, was on...
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Raphael Wallace Burch III, 56,

Raphael Wallace Burch III, 56,

Raphael Wallace Burch III, 56 years old, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Ray is survived by his wife, Julie Christine Burch, of 22 years. Ray is also survived by his children, Jesse Nathaniel Burch (Seany), Raphael Wallace Burch, IV also known as Buddy and Elizabeth Teddy Burch,...
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Mary Kathleen Cusimano

Mary Kathleen Cusimano

Mary Kathleen Cusimano passed away on January 26, 2025, while residing at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, MD. Mary was born on December 16, 1934, in London, England, to Coleman and Celia Alice Ridge (deceased). She was the only living sibling of her family, with the passing of brothers Colin and Michael...
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Thomas “Bean” Levin Ryce Jr.

Thomas “Bean” Levin Ryce Jr.

Thomas “Bean” Levin Ryce Jr. October 26, 1957 – January 22, 2025 Thomas “Bean” Levin Ryce Jr., of Bushwood, Maryland, passed away on January 22, 2025, in Leonardtown, Maryland, at the age of 67. Born on October 26, 1957, in Leonardtown, Bean was the beloved son of Joan Marie (Nelson) Ryce and the late...
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James “Arthur” Farrell, 89,

James “Arthur” Farrell, 89,

James “Arthur” Farrell, 89, of Compton, MD, passed away on January 20, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Born on August 10, 1935, in Morganza, MD, he was the youngest son of the late William Joseph Farrell, Sr., and the late Edith Mabel (Bussler) Farrell. Arthur was the devoted husband of the late Mary...
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