With profound sadness and deep love, we announce the passing of a devoted wife, extraordinary mother, cherished Gammy and Gigee, and beloved sister. Hope Ann Anderson Poliansky, 73, of Prince Frederick, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Hope was born in Rahway,...
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Phillip Michael Lee, Sr., of Upper Marlboro, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, with his loving wife, Angelia Lee, by his side. He was 72 years old. Phillip was born on April 5, 1953, in Fresno, CA, to Phillip Lee and Shirley Mae Bland. From an early age, he demonstrated the strength of...
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Micheal Steven Pleger, 54, of Callaway, MD was committed into the arms of Jesus on February 3, 2026 at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C., with his loving family at his side. He was born on March 31, 1971 at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, MD to the late Richard...
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Daniel Ray Mays, 70, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, in Waldorf, Maryland, surrounded by the love of his family. Daniel was born May 18, 1955, in Corbin, Kentucky, to the late Luther Douglas Mays and Verna Angeline Mays. He married the love of his life, Carmen Rodriguez Mays, and together they built...
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Brenda Lea Hamilton, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on March 5, 2026, in Callaway, Maryland. Born on November 10, 1953, in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late James B. and Gladys Chappalear. Brenda married the love of her life, Steve Hamilton, and together they...
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Elizabeth Viola “Liz” Kelly, 91, of Hollywood, MD, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on February 27, 1935, in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Liz was the daughter of the late Charles Arthur Thompson and Viola Reed Thompson. She received her education through the St. Mary’s County...
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Following an investigation into an alleged child pornography complaint, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division served an arrest warrant on Terry Joe Hahn, 44, of Hollywood, Maryland, on Monday, March 9, 2026. On Feb. 22, deputies responded after receiving a tip about the possible existence of pornographic images of...
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St. Mary’s County has been designated as the official birthplace of stuffed ham, and a historic marker will be erected and dedicated to this honor by the St. Mary’s County Museum Division with a grant from the Pomeroy Foundation. On Sunday, March 29, 2026, the marker will be installed on the grounds of the...
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Last week, the Humane Society of Charles County (HSCC), the county’s only no-kill animal shelter, issued an urgent plea for help as the organization faced the possibility of closing its doors after more than 50 years of serving the community. After issuing the public plea earlier this week, the shelter originally sought to raise $125,000...
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On Monday, March 9, 2026, at approximately 11:52 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Crain Highway and Gillespie Circle in Waldorf, for the serious motor vehicle collision with one overturned. Crews arrived on the scene within 3 minutes of dispatch to find multiple vehicles involved, and confirmed three...
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In response to continued community interest and the deep need for support after the loss of a beloved pet, Chesapeake Life Center is pleased to bring back its popular Pet Loss Workshop, offering comfort, connection and healthy coping strategies for grieving adults. The free workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m....
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The public is invited to participate in a regional Southern Maryland Forum: Growing Our Own Workforce on Thursday, Mar. 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland SMART Building (Bldg. 3), 44219 Airport Rd, California, MD 20619. This interactive and action-oriented event, part of Leadership Southern...
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The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has been selected to participate in the CDC Foundation’s Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI), a national program designed to strengthen public health data and technology systems at the local level. Through this initiative, SMCHD will receive additional technology and data expertise to improve how the department manages and...
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Several Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers recently earned National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The 14 educators who earned the designation have shown they are effective and accomplished teachers. The following CCPS teachers achieved National Board Certification in December 2025. Teachers are listed by certification area, position...
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A longtime Maryland Lottery player from Greenbelt is celebrating a big win after scratching his way to a $50,000 prize. The winner visited Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on March 3 to claim his prize and share the story behind his win. The winner has been playing Lottery games for about 10 years and...
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The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is opening a new University of Maryland Urgent Care location in Charles County on Monday. UM Urgent Care at La Plata, located in the Potomac Shopping Center off southbound Route 301, across the street from Applebee’s and Safeway, is scheduled to open March 9th, 2026. The center...
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UPDATE 3/8/2026: Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson has announced that Jose Merlos-Majano, Alan Josai Garcia-Padilla, William Cuellar Gutierrez, and a 17-year-old have been indicted on charges including first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and participation in a criminal organization in connection with the death of 14-year-old...
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On Sunday, March 8, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church located on Chancellors Run Road in Great Mills, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. 911 callers reported a 4-year-old female was run over by a church van...
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On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at approximately 9:45 p.m., police attempted to pull over a white Mercedes-Benz C43 sedan for a traffic violation on Middletown Road at Ethridge Drive in Waldorf. When the deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, the suspect vehicle immediately fled at a high rate of speed, with the deputy...
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Knees were bouncing with anxious jitters and hearts were racing as students waited for their turn to approach the microphone in the middle of Piccowaxen Middle School’s gym Wednesday evening for the 48th annual Charles County Spelling Bee. The top spellers from eight Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) middle schools were represented by a team...
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Superintendent of Schools, Dr. J. Scott Smith, announces the 2025-2026 operating calendar adjustments made by the Board of Education at its meeting on March 4, 2026, as follows: Monday, April 6, 2026 (Easter Monday) will be a school day due to an inclement weather make-up day The calendar for the Chesapeake Public Charter School...
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On January 19, a break in a 72-inch sewer main known as the Potomac Interceptor caused an overflow into the Potomac River. The release of sewage from aging federal infrastructure was an emergency and people were understandably worried about both short-term and long-term effects. Maryland state and local authorities immediately closed off areas that...
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The St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2026 Bubby Knott Philanthropist of the Year Award and the 2026 Bubby Knott Non-Profit of the Year Award, recognizing individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact in the community. Both awards will be presented during the Chamber’s annual gala scheduled for May 14, 2026....
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A drive-thru car wash fundraiser will be held on Sunday, March 8, beginning at 12 p.m., to 2:00 p.m., at 28165 Hills Club Road in Mechanicsville. The event is donation-only, with no set price, allowing visitors to give what they can while supporting local volunteers. Each vehicle will receive a full hand wash, with...
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Warning: This video contains violent and graphic material that may be disturbing and is not suitable for all viewers. Please proceed with caution. UPDATE 3/8/2026: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has released the body-worn camera footage from the fatal police-involved shooting involving the Charles County Sheriff’s...
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