UPDATE @ 10:54 P.M.: The victim has been located inside the barn, with firefighters declaring the victim deceased – Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshal are responding to investigate the cause of the fire and incident. Additional updates will be provided at a later time. Incident command has placed the fire under control with crews continuing to hit hot spots and extinguish the fire. UPDATE @ 10:52 P.M.: Crews from Leonardtown VFD Truck 1 have located the victim...
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With great sadness, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office announces the loss of one of our own, Ralph Jerome Butler, Civilian Security Specialist and retired Corrections Corporal, who died early this morning at his home. Ralph was a treasured member of our agency, known for his steady presence and professionalism. He served as a Correctional Officer at the Detention and Rehabilitation Center for more than 23 years before retiring in March 2022 as a Corporal. Ralph returned to work...
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On Monday, February 23, 2026, at approximately 3:20 p.m., firefighters responded to the Oak Street in Indian Head, for the reported house on fire. 911 callers reported their neighbors house was on fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene in under 4 minutes and found fire showing from the single story residence with three occupants out of the home reporting animals trapped inside. Crews quickly made entry with attack lines and reported a fire in the kitchen with extensions into...
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On Monday, February 23, 2026, at approximately 5:36 p.m., firefighters from Leonardtown were dispatched to the area of Maypole Road and Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown, for the reported brush fire. 911 callers reported seeing flames and smoke in the area. Crews arrived on the scene to find a large fire in the woods approximately 600 feet off the roadway from Maypole Road in the area of R G Way. A brush fire task force has been dispatched which...
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UPDATE 2/23/2026: On February 22, 2026, at approximately 4:44 p.m., deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau responded to the area of North Solomons Island Road (MD Route 2) near Aspen Wood Drive in Sunderland for a reported serious motor vehicle collision. Preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle traveling northbound on Route 2 was struck by a falling tree that entered the roadway. The vehicle was occupied by the driver, Michael Lee Simpson, 60, of Deale; front passenger,...
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UPDATE 2/21/2026 : Maryland State Police investigators from the Criminal Enforcement Division made two arrests in connection with the disposal of human remains from a crematorium in Charles County. The accused are identified as Rosa Iyonna Williams, 48, and Brandon Angelo Williams, 50, both of Waldorf, Maryland. After consultation with the Office of the State’s Attorney in Charles County, both were charged with eight violations each of the Maryland General Health Article §5-514, unauthorized disposal of a body. On...
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A joint investigation between the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office continues after a house fire claimed the life of a Mechanicsville woman early Friday morning. On Friday, February 20, 2026, at approximately 6:40 a.m., firefighters from the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding departments responded to 39580 Walnut Circle for a reported house fire with possible entrapment. Firefighters arrived within minutes of dispatch to find heavy fire conditions throughout the two-story...
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On Friday, February 20, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Smallwood Church Road and Marvin Drive in Indian Head, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a large vehicle. 911 callers reported a trash truck was overturned with two injured. Crews arrived on scene to confirm a single trash truck on its side with both occupants out of the vehicle, with no entrapment, and no fuel leaks or hazmat....
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The Department of Veterans Affairs has halted enforcement of a newly issued rule that would change how disability compensation is calculated, following widespread criticism from veterans and advocacy groups who warned the policy could reduce benefits. The interim final rule, titled “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication,” amends 38 CFR § 4.10 within the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). It was published in the Federal Register and took effect February 17, 2026. Public comments are being accepted through April...
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Lloyd Michael Hawkins Jr., 39, of Waldorf, has been charged with robbery, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and theft between $1,500 and $25,000 in connection with an armed robbery reported February 13, 2026, in La Plata. According to court documents, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the La Plata Town Police Department responded at approximately 10:10 p.m. to a reported commercial armed robbery at a tobacco shop on Crain Highway in La Plata. The charging documents state that...
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2/15/2026: On Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 1:35 a.m., firefighters from Bay District, Leonardtown, NAS Patuxent River, Hollywood and Second District responded to 21000 block of Suburban Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported trailer on fire with unknown occupancy. Investigation determined the residence, an abandoned single wide mobile home in a wooded area located at 21476 Suburban Drive in Lexington Park, was unoccupied. The structure was completely destroyed as a result of the fire. The cause of the...
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Casey Wayne Bridgett, 28, of no fixed address, is facing charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal, animal cruelty, animal cruelty—cause or authorize, and second-degree assault following an alleged domestic incident in Mechanicsville, according to court documents. The charges stem from an incident reported on July 17, 2025, at Medley’s Lane in Mechanicsville. A corporal with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence for a reported domestic disturbance. According to the application for statement of charges,...
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Detectives charge three suspects in October 2025 murder at Westlake Dash-In on Smallwood Drive West: Charles County Sheriff’s detectives charged three suspects in connection with an October 2025 murder case. On October 29 at 12:14 a.m., officers responded to the Westlake Dash-In in the 2000 block of Smallwood Drive West in Waldorf for a report of a shooting. The investigation showed unknown suspect(s) fired multiple rounds in the parking lot, striking two individuals who were standing outside a vehicle....
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Four Unified bocce teams from Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) headed to Hagerstown Community College Feb. 10 to compete in the state Unified bocce tournament. Of the 17 local teams, four qualified to move on to the next level. Two teams from La Plata High Schools, and one each from Maurice J. McDonough and North Point high schools recently placed at the district level to advance to the states. At Tuesday’s event, McDonough Team 2 placed fourth; La Plata...
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UPDATE 2/15/2026: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) officers involved in the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in White Plains, Charles County, Maryland. The decedent is identified as 36-year-old Demarcus Irish of Clinton, Maryland. The involved officers are identified as CCSO Sergeant Coulby, a 12-year veteran, and Police Officer First Class Kunz, a 15-year veteran. Both...
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UPDATE 2/24/2026: With less than 48 hours left before the filing deadline, Governor Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller headed to the Maryland State Board of Elections and have officially filed their candidacy for the 2026 Democratic Primary This comes after Moore’s September 9th, 2025, release. In the video, Wes Moore announced he is...
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Do you have paper documents with personal information that you’d like to purge? Or do you have unused, unwanted, or expired medications in your cabinets? This is your chance to dispose of them safely at the Community Shred & Medication Take Back Day! This event will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 9...
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The St. Mary’s Gymnastics Academy (SMGA) is proud to announce successful performances by USAG Team gymnasts at two recent events: the Excalibur Cup held February 13-15, 2026, in Virginia Beach, VA and the East Coast Classic, held February 14-15, 2026, in Laurel, MD. At the Excalibur Cup, St. Mary’s County USAG Team members competed...
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On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, while conducting proactive patrol operations in Lexington Park, a deputy from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office initiated a stop for a traffic violation on a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe and discovered a quantity of controlled substances (CDS) in the vehicle and on the driver. Additional units, including K-9, responded...
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The availability of tiny plankton that larval striped bass eat during their first weeks of life does not appear to be a leading factor for the recent poor spawning success of the fish in Maryland, according to a new study by scientists at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The findings suggest that one...
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Shawn Conway, 50, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, was charged today for second degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Judge Dayna Dayson found probable cause to charge Conway following a preliminary hearing which was held on February 18, 2026, in the Superior...
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The U.S. Navy recently declared initial operational capability for the Small Diameter Bomb II on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking a significant advancement in the fleet’s precision-strike technology. The weapon, also known as the StormBreaker, saw its first operational use on the Super Hornet during a limited early operational capability in 2025, proving real-world...
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Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with a two-week extension of the commercial oyster season to help watermen make up for lost harvesting opportunities after many waterways and parts of the Chesapeake Bay froze during frigid temperatures in January and early February. The change will extend the state’s commercial oyster season to...
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The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), a division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, is proud to announce the launch of the So.MD Livestock Breeders Guide. This new online resource is designed to bridge the gap between farm and field, connecting farmers, homesteaders, and consumers with reputable livestock breeders across the region. Sourcing...
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Sheehy Hyundai of Waldorf recently donated $3,000 to the Southern Maryland Food Bank, supporting its mission to provide meals, emergency supplies, and hunger-relief services to individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout Southern Maryland. “At Sheehy, giving back to the community is a core value,” said Max Cho, General Manager of Sheehy Hyundai of...
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The next concert in the Southern Maryland Bluegrass Series will take place on Sunday March 22 and will feature Calvert County’s own, Mike Phipps and his band The Country Gentlemen Show. It’s the fifth concert of the season and will take place at the Calvert Elks in Prince Frederick, located at 1015 Dares Beach...
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The Winter Storm Warning in effect for St. Mary’s County until through 10 a.m., February 23, 2026. Schools are closed. NAS Patuxent River, Webster Outlying Field, and Navy Recreation Center Solomons remains under Restricted Access for all but Mission Essential Personnel. SMECO remains working throughout the region with over 13,000 without power and over...
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UPDATE @ 7:45 A.M.: SMECO currently has over 100 active outage reports, affecting over 13,000 customers. SMECO remains working throughout the region with over 13,000 without power and over 100 active outages. Some workers have been on shift working to restore outages for over 13 hours. View active outages or report an outage by...
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Governor Wes Moore declared a State of Emergency as the threat of a powerful winter storm impacts Maryland through Monday, February 23. Travel tonight and overnight will be extremely hazardous, especially in areas under a blizzard warning. Marylanders are urged to avoid travel, to follow local forecasts, to stay prepared for winter storm hazards,...
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CALVERT: Calvert County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, February 23, 2026. Code RED for staff. CHARLES: Charles County public schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. There is a Code Two, which is a two-hour delayed arrival, for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) staff who follow the code system. If needed, CCPS...
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The Maryland State Police has activated the Snow Emergency Plan for Calvert County, effective 3:00 p.m. on February 22, 2026. Current weather conditions and forecasts indicate that normal vehicular travel is, or will soon become, extremely hazardous. Motorists are strongly encouraged to stay off roadways whenever possible. Doing so will allow emergency responders and...
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UPDATE 2/22/2026 @ 6:45 A.M.: The National Weather Service has upgraded our winter storm watch to a Winter Storm Warning in effect from today, to Monday morning, for Portions of north central, northeast, and southern Maryland WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches. Locally higher amounts up to 14 inches are...
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