Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, and Treasurer Dereck Davis approved 71 initiatives representing a total expenditure of $646.8 million Wednesday during a meeting of the Board of Public Works, including a $55 million agreement between the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) and the Baltimore Ravens Limited Partnership for the initial renovations at the M&T Bank Stadium at Camden Yards Sports Complex.  

In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law that increased the MSA’s bond issuing authority to $1.2 billion, to be split evenly between Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium for capital improvements. MSA subsequently issued two series of bonds in 2023 to pay the costs of the initial capital improvements at M&T Bank Stadium. However, several factors, including increased construction costs and design changes, led to a $55 million funding shortage from what is available from the 2023 bonds. To cover the shortage and maintain the project schedule, the team agreed to commit up to $20 million in team funds with no expectation of reimbursement to the project, and an additional $35 million of team funds that could be reimbursed from bonds MSA expects to issue in 2026. 

When she voted to approve this item, Comptroller Lierman noted that the funds for this project were already allocated in the existing budget.  

Comptroller Lierman was the lone vote against extending three 2018 bond bills and one bond bill from 2019. 

“I was taught in school that a deadline is a deadline, and I think seven years provides adequate opportunity for organizations to spend the money that the state government has granted to them,” Comptroller Lierman said. She explained her vote was based on the length of time it took organizations to spend the money, and not the merits of the projects. “There's not an unlimited amount of capital funding that the state has. In fact, I think last year there was over $195 million in requests and the General Assembly was only able to meet half the need. I think it is really important that organizations not ask for capital funding until they are ready to spend it.”  

Comptroller Lierman recused herself from voting on a Department of General Services (DGS) award of $445 million for technology modernization and staff to 39 firms at Statewide Agile Resource and Teams, which supports the work of Maryland’s health and human services benefit programs on the MD THINK platform, including the Department of Human Services, Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.  

DGS received 19 protests to the contract award, with two of those protests sustained, and 17 denied. Lt. Governor Miller and Treasurer Davis voted in favor of the contract.  

In all, the Board of Public Works approved 71 items, representing a total State expenditure of $646,836,739.71, including: 

• Grant agreements for five recipients for five projects located in five counties with a total value of $2,337,000. 

• Three items awarding $19,018,560.27 to prime certified small business primes 

• Three items awarding $19,245,609.80 to certified minority business enterprise primes 

• Two items awarding $1,540,729.76 to Employment Works Program providers 

• Seven items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises 

• Three items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises. 

The next meeting of the Board of Public Works is March 19, 2025. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, commissioners hosted a round table discussion on the impact of federal executive orders on Charles County. County, regional, state and federal partners came together to discuss the state and local response to the separation of federal workers and contractors, and other changes occurring at the federal government level.

The Charles County Department of Economic Development has launched a website with resources for local individuals and businesses impacted by the federal government transition. The site includes job search assistance, unemployment resources, benefits programs, and other resources to help former federal employees recover.

2025 Legislative Update

Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney, provided an update on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly Session. Commissioners gave consensus to give letters of support for a bill that would allow the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to regulate off-road vehicles used on highways. Commissioners also agreed to a letter of support for a bill requiring homeowners association members to receive additional training on their duties.

Commissioners also heard a request from the Liquor Board to send a letter of opposition on a pair of bills that would expand where beer and wine could be sold. The Liquor Board held a public hearing on the bills on Feb. 13, and the speakers opposed the proposed bill. Commissioners voted 4-1 to send a letter of opposition to the bills.

The Commissioners agreed to send a letter opposing HB 352, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2025 because it would, in part, shift $2.7 million in teacher pension costs from the state to the county, among other harmful impacts.

Briefings

• Christie Burnett, Executive Director of the Charles County Charitable Trust, presented an annual update on the trust’s activities.  In 2024, the Charles County Charitable Trust awarded approximately $1.7 million to over 60 nonprofit organizations through four rounds of grant funding through the trust’s Fiscal Year 2024 nonprofit Grant Program and three additional rounds funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
• Stacy Schaefer, Executive Director of the Resilience Authority of Charles County, presented a report on the authority’s activity during 2024. Projects funded through grants secured by the Resilience Authority of Charles County include the creation of a Stormwater Pocket Park at the Elite Gymnastics Recreation Center, funding for the Residential Stormwater Drainage Improvement Program, and restoration work along the shoreline in the Town of Indian Head.
• Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, and Eric Jackson, Chief of Treasury, briefed commissioners on delinquent commercial taxes. The discussion included the number of ordinary and personal businesses that were delinquent, the percentage of delinquent taxes collected, and the percentage of collections performed through 2021-2024.

Public Hearings

During the evening session, commissioners hosted three public hearings. The first hearing was a request by the Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department to enter a tax-exempt loan to purchase a new aerial ladder truck for the fire department. The loan of $600,000 would provide for a new truck to enter service in 2028.  Commissioners unanimously approved the measure.

The commissioners also held a public hearing on two land donations. The first was with Hospice of the Chesapeake for 5 acres along Davis Road in Waldorf. The land would be subdivided with 5 acres belonging to Hospice of the Chesapeake and 15 acres retained by the county. Commissioners approved the land donation.

The second was for a land donation for an 8.7-acre parcel of land along Country Lane in Waldorf. The request made by Melwood was first received in Sept. 2023. Commissioners voted to close the public record, and the official approval will be made as a resolution at a later date.

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

• A budget amendment increase of $150,000 to support the adequate public safety ordinance consultant study. The need for the study was initially discussed during the Feb. 4, 2025, commissioners meeting as the first step in creating an adequate public safety ordinance in the county.
• A budget amendment increase of $2 million to reimburse the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission 15% of construction costs related to the Clinton Zone Phase IV Transmission main.
• A budget amendment increase of $397,000 for potential property purchases.
• A budget amendment transfer of $100,000 to meet a match for grant funding needed for significant repairs at Stagg Hall.
• A letter of support for grant funding to restore historic Rich Hill.
• A letter of support for the Maryland Veteran’s Museum to seek fiscal year 2026 federal earmark funding for enhancements to the property.
• A request to approve the fiscal year 2026 VanGO Annual Transportation Plan and authorizing resolution of the VanGO service.

WASHINGTON – The Democratic members of Maryland’s Congressional delegation held a meeting with leaders from federal employee unions and Democracy Forward to discuss supporting federal employees amid Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s illegal attacks on merit-based civil servants who do critical work on behalf of the American people. The members spoke with leaders from the American Federation of Government Employees, National Treasury Employees Union, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, and Democracy Forward on their shared efforts to combat these attacks and protect our federal workforce. A recording of the full media is available here.

“The Trump-Musk Administration’s illegal purge of federal workers is not only hurting our hard-working public servants — it is hurting important services for all Americans. This is not about efficiency, this is about rigging the government for the already rich and powerful like Elon Musk. To our dedicated federal workers, in Maryland and across the country, we stand with you and won’t stop fighting — in Congress, in the courts, and in our communities — to reverse these reprehensible actions,” said Senator Van Hollen.

"No state has more federal workers per capita than our great state of Maryland," said Senator Alsobrooks. "These are our friends. Our neighbors. Our family. This President has orchestrated a callous witch hunt against these patriotic Americans. In his attacks on them, he is attacking the people they serve – the American people. Team Maryland will continue to do everything in our power to push back against this Administration.”

“Our delegation is working around the clock to help federal workers not simply because they are our constituents, not simply because they are essential to our economy, but because they provide vital services to the American people every day. We continue to coordinate closely with our union partners to protect our federal workers' rights and to hold Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Russell Vought accountable for their illegal and destructive actions,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer.

“From Day One, members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation have been at the center of a congressional fight, constitutional fight, legal fight, and street fight to organize the hearts and minds of so many affected citizens,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “We are on the same team as our federal workforce and are thankful for the dignity of their work. Our marching orders are to resist and to overcome what so many are fearful of in the federal government,” he concluded.

“Maryland Congressional Democrats are fighting hard every day for federal workers across my district, our state and America,” said Congressman Raskin. “In their rampage against the government and public service, the Trump Administration is rejecting the authority of Congress and running afoul of the Civil Service Act, the First Amendment and the rule of law. My colleagues and I are using every tool available to reject and rebuff their unlawful and irrational executive actions, like the mass summary firings of tens of thousands of federal workers. I’m grateful to my unified Democratic partners in the Maryland congressional delegation, the federal employee union leaders and legal experts who joined our meeting yesterday. We are hanging tough every day for the federal workforce, the rule of law and our democracy.”

“Civil servants and government contractors work for the American people.  These patriotic workers do jobs that matter, they protect our water supply, they ensure we have clean air to breathe, they do research to keep our medicines safe and they stave off starvation and disease across the world and in our communities here at home.  This administration and its chainsaw approach to trimming perceived government excess is wrong and shortsighted.  I will continue to fight for the public servants who help Americans with everyday needs.  Our government is of the people for the people and by the people not a regime ruled by a multi-billionaire,” said Congressman Ivey.

“There are so many cruel and unusual pieces of the Trump Administration’s plan, but the probationary piece of their plan especially impacts workers of my generation, people who are early to mid career, and those who will be the next generation of leaders in civil service. These workers are being arbitrarily fired for no cause whatsoever. These folks were not given two weeks notice. They were not given severance. They were shut off from their work and from their livelihoods when they have mortgages, children, and parents to take care of,” said Congresswoman Elfreth.

“I have heard from hundreds of constituents who have been impacted by the Administration’s actions, including a laid off employee whose chief job was to find waste, fraud and abuse at HHS,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “These cuts to federal programs—and the dedicated federal workers who manage them—are shortsighted, nonsensical and likely illegal. Team Maryland will continue to fight to ensure that our federal workers and their employment rights are respected, that their years of deep experience and public service are not devalued and that Marylanders who depend on these vital programs are not left in the lurch.”

"We have heard from countless federal employees who are scared, confused and, in many cases, suddenly facing unemployment after years of dedicated service to our country," Congressman Olszewski said. "These are real people with real families to support — who are also providing critical services to Americans. We will all soon find out what life is like without sufficient workers to process Social Security checks, safeguard our skies and inspect our food. I stand united with my Team Maryland colleagues as we fight the Administration's reckless assault on our civil service."

A recording of the full meeting is available HERE.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – 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.

For their main agenda item, the CSMC approved the request to hold a public hearing regarding ZONE24-0002, property located at 25741 Three Notch Road in Hollywood, Maryland, and the proposed ordinance(s) to amend the 2010 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map changing the land use designation of the property from Rural Preservation to Rural Commerce and the property's zoning district from Rural Preservation to Rural Commercial Limited. Once finalized, Public Hearing information is posted at: www.stmaryscountymd.gov/PublicHearings.

During County Administrator Time, the Commissioners took the following action:

• Reviewed future CSMC meeting agendas.
• Approved FY2025 agreements between the St. Mary's County Health Department and St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office (SMCSO) Detention and Rehabilitation Center for the STOP, Five County, Maryland Community Justice Treatment, and Day Reporting programs. 
• Approved FY2025 RSAT grant award on behalf of SMCSO.
• Approved FY2026 Maryland Highway Safety Grant on behalf of SMCSO.
• Approved FY2025 Program Open Space funding for the LED Light Retrofit project for fields three and four at Chancellors Run Regional Park.
• Approved the budget amendment to realign funds due to salary savings.

The CSMC then received a legislative update from the Office of the County Attorney.

The Commissioners wrapped their business meeting with Commissioner Time.

The CSMC reconvened that afternoon for a Budget Work Session. Community members are encouraged to visit https://bit.ly/SMCG-FY26-Budget to view the county budget timeline and meeting schedule, watch meeting videos, and more!

The next Commissioner’s business meeting will be on March 4, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the CSMC Meeting Room, on the 1^st floor of the Chesapeake Building, located at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. There will also be a Budget Work Session that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CSMC decisions and related documents are available on the SMCG website in BoardDocs. Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on TV Channel 95 or on-demand via www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov.

Visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov for more information.

 In coordination with the Charles County Government, the Charles County Economic Development Department (EDD) has launched a dedicated web page to support residents and businesses affected by changes in federal employment due to the ongoing government transition. As part of the Washington, D.C. Metro area, Maryland represents a significant portion of the federal workforce, including a substantial portion of Charles County’s workforce. These resources are essential for the many individuals and families in the region directly impacted and navigating these ongoing changes.

The Government Transition Resources web page serves as a centralized hub connecting Charles County residents, federal employees, contractors, business owners, and job seekers with essential support services. In partnership with local organizations and state agencies, the platform provides access to vital resources such as career counseling, unemployment benefits, business development assistance, transportation support, childcare and family services, and affordable housing options. Additionally, it offers assistance to individuals facing housing insecurity. These initiatives aim to provide guidance, stability, and critical information for those navigating this period of transition.

“It is crucial that our residents and businesses have access to the support they need during this federal transition,” says EDD Director Kelly Robertson-Slagle “At this moment, the most important message is that you are not alone. We want to hear from you, understand your challenges, and ensure that Charles County provides the best assistance possible for our community.”

The Government Transition Resources web page will be regularly updated as new programs and services become available. To further tailor support to the community’s needs, EDD has also launched a survey for county residents, business owners, and federal employees. The survey provides an opportunity for community members to share their specific challenges and request assistance. The survey can be completed here.

To access the full list of available resources, please visit: https://www.meetcharlescounty.com/government-transition-resources.

The last day of school for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students for the 2024-2025 school year is Friday, June 13. The last day for teachers is Monday, June 16. These dates did not change from the update CCPS shared in mid-January.

However, to date CCPS has used the four possible inclement weather make-up dates identified in the school calendar (June 11, 12, 13 and 16). Following the calendar, this would push the last day of school for students – as state law requires them to attend school for 180 days – to Monday, June 16. CCPS applied for and was granted a waiver yesterday from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for one instructional day, since the last day for students would fall on a Monday.

Under state law, when inclement weather causes the last day of school for students to fall on a Monday, school systems can request a waiver to the 180-day student attendance requirement. If CCPS must make any additional school closures due to inclement weather this school year, the last day of school would be revisited by CCPS.

The end-of-year schedule (barring any additional unforeseen inclement weather closures) is as follows.

• Two-hour early dismissal for students: Wednesday, June 11.
• Two-hour early dismissal for students: Thursday, June 12.
• Two-hour early dismissal, last day of school for students: Friday, June 13.
• Last day of school for teachers: Monday, June 16.

June 6, 9 and 10 are now full days of school for students. Please make a note of the changes to any print copies of the 2024-2025 Parent Handbook/Calendar. The print calendar is printed and distributed at the start of each new school year.

The online CCPS calendar at www.ccboe.com shows the updated end-of-year schedule.

CCPS did not apply for a waiver of any inclement weather days used in January, including any days identified as a state of emergency. Before a waiver to the 180-day attendance rule would be approved by MSDE, school systems must demonstrate use of its identified inclement weather days as well as an effort to make-up any additional lost instructional time.

CCPS applied for a waiver last week after it used its fourth inclement weather closure day, causing the last instructional day for students to fall on a Monday. The waiver process specifically outlines that school systems can request a waiver when bringing students back to school on a Monday as day 180.

BALTIMORE – Baltimore Gas & Electric’s request for a rate increase of $152 million in its first multi-year rate plan (MRP)—on top of the $277 million rate hike it has already gained under the MRP—should be rejected, the Office of People’s Counsel told the Public Service Commission this week. BGE has failed to meet its burden of showing its request is prudent, OPC said.

“The magnitude of BGE’s request is shocking,” Maryland People’s Counsel David S. Lapp said. “The request primarily results from BGE’s failure or refusal to manage and contain spending within its control. The company is failing to operate its business with the fiscal stewardship and financial prudence that its customers deserve—and need—to afford their bills.”

In 2023, the last year of its first MRP, the company spent $323 million more on capital infrastructure than it budgeted, OPC’s filing points out. Due to those investments, customers will see higher rates for decades into the future—while BGE earns higher profits. The company also exceeded its operating and maintenance budgets by nearly $66 million.

If the Commission awards BGE the $152 million it is requesting, that sum will be recovered from customers through an increase on their rates starting this year. But BGE’s spending during 2023 will also increase rates in later years, OPC pointed out. And while OPC acknowledges that BGE did incur some significant expenses for storms, higher-than-expected inflation, and supply chain disruptions, it failed to take prudent measures to reduce spending by delaying or reprioritizing projects to lower costs for customers. Instead, BGE initiated entirely new projects and accelerated work planned for subsequent years.

“Companies operating in competitive markets must economize and tighten their belts when faced with rising costs,” Lapp said. “Monopoly utilities, operating within budgets reviewed and approved by the Commission, should do the same.”

BGE carries the burden of showing that its requested rate increases are reasonable, OPC’s filing points out. But even after making additional filings the Public Service Commission required, BGE failed to do so, providing only cursory and inadequate information.

If the Commission approves any increase, OPC’s filing identifies numerous examples of cost overruns that should be rejected. When it approved BGE’s second MRP, OPC’s filing points out, the Commission stated its expectation that BGE would “manage their operations and spending within the limits the Commission has approved” and put BGE on notice that a “[f]ailure to adjust [c]ompany practices when budgets are being exceeded could lead to future disallowances.” Disallowances are appropriate for numerous projects for which BGE is seeking approval, OPC said.

In one example, BGE requests an additional $7.6 million to upgrade distribution lines, on top of its initially projected cost of $10.5 million. BGE provided little support on the need for continuing with the projects rather than delaying them to mitigate rate impacts and provided no information on how reliability would be affected by slowing down the work, OPC’s filing explains.

In another example, for its gas system, the company initially budgeted $5 million for a project, but spent $10.4 million after redeploying workers from projects subject to a Commission stop-work order—related to BGE’s installation of gas service regulators under the company’s Operation Pipeline program. “It appears that the company took the opportunity to maintain its planned rate of capital spending by accelerating spending in one area due to reductions of spending in another,” OPC’s filing observes. “Such program management does not responsibly steward customer dollars and denies customers potential cost savings and rate relief.”

BGE’s rates have been spiraling upward, OPC’s filing observes, but BGE has made no efforts to slow the pace and scope of its capital spending—which serves only to increase rates further and increase BGE’s profits in the long term. If granted, the total cost to customers of BGE’s first MRP will be much greater than what the Commission initially approved—$213.8 million. It is also $128.6 million greater than the approximately $310 million that the company originally requested in 2020, but which the Commission did not accept by approving the lower amount of $213.8 million.

The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel is an independent state agency that represents Maryland’s residential consumers of electric, natural gas, telecommunications, private water and certain transportation matters before the Public Service Commission, federal regulatory agencies and the courts.

Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed search warrants on a residence and multiple vehicles in Great Mills on Wednesday, February 26, leading to the seizure of suspected cocaine and fentanyl, cash, and a loaded handgun.

During the warrant service at a residence in the 22000 block of Baja Lane, deputies recovered $1,638 in U.S. currency and controlled dangerous substance (CDS) paraphernalia. Additional searches of vehicles yielded several tied-off bags containing approximately 45 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 82 grams of suspected fentanyl, and a loaded, unserialized Polymer 80 9mm handgun.

Following the warrant service, Daiquan Malik Barnett, 28, of Great Mills, was taken into custody and charged with

• Two counts CDS possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance
• Two counts CDS possession of a controlled dangerous substance
• Possession of a controlled dangerous substance in an amount of 28 grams
• Possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony
• Possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime
• Possession of a regulated firearm after being convicted of a disqualifying crime
• Possession of a regulated firearm after having been convicted of CDS possession with intent to distribute
• Possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony
• Possession of an unserialized firearm
• Two counts of related ammunition charges

Barnett is currently incarcerated at the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he awaits a bond hearing.

This case remains under investigation, and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Lieutenant Brian Fennessey at 301-475-4200, ext. 8063, or by email at Brian.Fennessey@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Graduation rate data for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2024 was released yesterday by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The data indicates that more than 90% of CCPS students in the Class of 2024 graduated on time with their peers, or within their four-year graduation cohort. The four-year graduation cohort rate tracks student progress from their freshman year through their senior year.

The CCPS graduation rate of 90.47% for the Class of 2024 exceeds the statewide average reported by MSDE as 87.6%. This is the fifth consecutive year that the graduation rate for CCPS seniors was reported as higher than the state average.

The four-year cohort graduation rate increased slightly from 90.2% in 2023 to 90.47% for 2024. All CCPS high schools graduated students at a rate of at least 84% or more. Graduation rates for the Class of 2024 by high school are below.

• Henry E. Lackey High School: 88.2%. 
• La Plata High School: 93.5%.
• Maurice J. McDonough High School: 91.2%. 
• North Point High School: >95%.
• St. Charles High School: 88.9%. 
• Thomas Stone High School: 84.2%. 
• Westlake High School: 87.7%.

The percentage of students for the CCPS Class of 2024 dropping out of school also decreased with this cohort and was reported by MSDE as 5.4%. The dropout rate for the CCPS Class of 2023 was 5.8%. MSDE reports the average statewide dropout rate at 8.3%.

With the Class of 2024, specific subgroups of students increased graduation rates among their peers. The graduation rate for students who identify as two or more races increased more than 7% in 2024, from 86.8% in 2023 to 94.1% with the Class of 2024. Additionally, the graduation rate for white students rose more than 2% from 2023 to 2024.

CCPS staff will present to the Board of Education of Charles County at its March 11 meeting additional graduation rate information and data, as well as share the work in progress at the school level to improve the graduation rate among students.

CCPS provides high school students with support to reach graduation. These supports include grade recovery and course recovery programs during the school year and summer, along with additional offerings for original credit that start in middle school and are offered to all high school students. Additionally, CCPS uses its student information system, Synergy, to track individual student progress toward graduation.

Data reports for CCPS high school students are calculated to indicate a student’s progress toward graduation. These reports are shared in ParentVue and StudentVue, with an additional report provided at the end of the school year once final grades are complete. This tracking system is part of the school system’s implementation of college and career readiness requirements within the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., said while the data shows progress in the right direction, her goal is to continue to push more students to graduate on time with their cohort.

“We remain committed to ensuring that all students have the support necessary to graduate on time. Our work since the pandemic related to the graduation rate has shown a slow but steady increase in overall success for our graduates. Staff consistently monitors student progress toward the goal of graduation, and steps in when additional support or interventions are needed. I am proud of our students, and of our teachers and staff who work hard to ensure all our graduates are leaving CCPS ready for life after high school,” Navarro said.

Graduation data for each Charles County high school is posted on the Maryland Report Card website.  

LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Land Use & Growth Management (LUGM) continues to seek input from the community on the vision, key planning themes, and goals to be considered as the county’s Comprehensive Plan is updated. The “St. Mary’s 2050” plan will establish a cohesive, countywide vision for land use, economic development, other quality-of-life goals, and will outline an actionable strategy to achieve this vision.

Public input is critical to ensuring St. Mary’s 2050 reflects the needs and priorities of the community. There is still time to participate, online visioning activities are still available on our website through Monday, March 3, 2025, allowing community members to provide their valuable feedback. Click “Participate Now” to get started! Online visioning activities are available in over 240 languages.

Community members are encouraged to visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov/StMarys2050 to get more information and to stay involved.

About St. Mary’s 2050

St. Mary’s 2050: Charting Our Tomorrow is an update to the County’s existing Comprehensive Plan, which will guide future land use in the County through 2050 and beyond. St. Mary’s 2050 will chart the course for ensuring St. Mary’s County continues to be a great place to live, work, and play. Visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov/StMarys2050 today to learn more, stay engaged, and add your voice in shaping the future of St. Mary’s County.

Bel Alton High School was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The addition of the formerly segregated high school is a prestigious recognition of its role in a national program that coordinates and supports public and private initiatives to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historical and archaeological resources.

"Placement on the NRHP is significant for us as it enables us to further our mission of preserving, promoting, and sharing the cultural history of Bel Alton High School and the Black community it served for 27 years," stated Matt Wills, Chair of Bel Alton High School Alumni Association said in a release by the organization.

Bel Alton High School operated from 1938 to 1966 as a Blacks Only school during the Jim Crow era of segregation in the United States. The school was spared demolition in the late 1980s in part by work of the Bel Alton High School Alumni Association, which rehabilitated the school building as a community center from 2008 to 2015.

Currently, the building is the home of the Bel Alton High School Alumni Association and county and State agencies.

"The addition of Bel Alton High School to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is a tremendous honor that recognizes its important role in Charles County’s history,” Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq., said. “As one of only 42 sites in our county on this prestigious list, this designation ensures that Bel Alton High School’s legacy is preserved for future generations, highlighting our commitment to honoring and protecting the cultural heritage that shapes our community.”

The National Register of Historic Places is a prestigious list of approximately 100,000 sites across the country deemed worthy of preservation. Of those sites, 1,500 reside in Maryland, and 42 are in Charles County, including such notable locations as Thomas Stone National Historic Site, Moyaone Reserve Historic District, Mount Aventine, Pomonkey Historic District, and Rich Hill.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) is proud to announce the 2025 Will Smith Leadership Award recipients. Recipients received their awards at a ceremony held on February 16, 2025, at Great Mills High School

The Will Smith Leadership Award was established in 2009 to recognize 8^th grade participants in the St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks youth basketball program. The award is named after R&P basketball alumnus Will Smith, who lost his life on September 21, 2008, while he was a student at Becker College in Massachusetts. The ceremony was attended by Will’s parents, Jeanne and William, and his brother, Timothy. Awards were presented by Raymond Bivens, Director of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks.

“Presenting this award to these young men and women is medicine for us,” said Jeanne Smith, Will’s mother. “Will was a hurricane—for 19 years he went through life with the biggest smile, offering a hand to anybody.” 

The award recognizes players who participate in the league from 6^th-8^th grades and demonstrate sportsmanship, passion for the game, and leadership on and off the court.

The 2025 Recipients of the Will Smith Leadership Award are:

• Aiden Mills
• Alex Pope
• Antonio White
• Blake Fleming
• Brody Lynch
• Brooklyn Gray
• Chandler Boyd
• Cooper Wieber
• Demi Carroll
• Desiree Dyson
• Gaige Wenk
• Jack Loewe
• Jacob Copeland
• Jamar Somerville
• Jamarion Jefferson
• Keimari Baskin
• Kendrick Berry
• Khloe Jarman
• Liam Klier
• Makhai Berry
• Maxwell Shubrooks
• Nasir Hebb
• Noah Earhart
• Quintin Dorn

To learn more about R&P youth sports leagues, including the youth basketball program, visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov/recreate.

Never miss an update! Follow R&P on social media at: www.instagram.com/stmarysrecandparks and www.facebook.com/stmarysmdrecreation.

CDS Violation: 25-13217 On February 15, 2025, Deputy Campbell conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on N. Solomons Island Road just prior to Fox Run Blvd. in Prince Frederick, for multiple traffic violations. Contact was made with the driver, Amber Renee Kellis, 40 of Great Mills, who was informed of the violations. Further investigation revealed K9 Kodak conducted a open air sniff of the vehicle alerting to the positive odor of a controlled dangerous substance. A vehicle search revealed a cut straw with a white powdery residue (Alprazolam) and a prescription pill bottle with an altered label and a white powdery residue. Kellis was placed into custody and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center where she was charged with CDS: Possession of Paraphernalia and CDS Prescription/Remove Label.

Damaged Property: 25-13087 On February 15, 2025, Deputy Morgal responded to the 3000 block of Abington Manor Drive in Huntingtown for a report of property damage. The complainant reported that an unknown suspect(s) had damaged the gate to the community pier, breaking both the lockbox and chain. The estimated value of damaged property is $500.

Trespassing: 25-11376 On February 10, 2025, Deputy Deinert responded to the 7-11 located at 15 N. Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick, for the report of a disorderly subject. The complainant advised Brandon McNeil Robinson, 18 of no fixed address, was making threats towards store management. Investigation revealed Robinson had been previously trespassed indefinitely from the property. Robinson was placed into custody and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center where he was charged with Trespassing: Private Property. 

Charles County, MD – In a commitment to transparency and accountability, Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry is informing the public of actions involving a Charles County Sheriff’s officer.

Recently, Cpl. Dale Harrison, a 16-year veteran, was charged with driving while impaired in Stafford County, Virginia. Harrison, who was off duty, was driving his personal vehicle. Upon notifying the Agency, Harrison was suspended with pay, per Maryland law. In accordance with Agency policy, the CCSO’s Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an administrative investigation. 

LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) is proud to announce that Buffy Giddens, County Attorney has been named to The Daily Record's 2025 listing of Leaders in Law, an honor that highlights her outstanding contributions to the legal profession and her commitment to serving St. Mary's County.

Through Leaders in Law, The Daily Record and the Maryland State Bar Association honor outstanding legal professionals across Maryland who are serving businesses, clients and individuals and making communities stronger. Ms. Giddens' dedication to upholding the law and ensuring the best interests of St. Mary's County residents have earned her this well-deserved distinction.

“We are incredibly proud of Buffy and this prestigious recognition,” said Commissioner President Randy Guy. “Her unwavering dedication, professionalism, and legal expertise have strengthened our county government and made a lasting impact on our community. We are fortunate to have her leadership guiding St. Mary’s County.”

Ms. Giddens expressed her gratitude for the honor, stating, "I am deeply humbled to be recognized among Maryland's Leaders in Law. Serving St. Mary's County is a privilege, and I am committed to continuing to support and protect the interests of our residents and this beautiful community."

The 2025 Leaders in Law honorees will be celebrated on April 7, 2025, at the Hilton BWI in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. The event will bring together top legal professionals from across the state to highlight their achievements and dedication to public service.

For more information about the Leaders in Law program, please visit The Daily Record’s website at: https://thedailyrecord.com/event/leaders-in-law.

About The Daily Record 

The Daily Record is a digital first, daily news media company focused on law, government and business at TheDailyRecord.com. The Daily Record publishes a print edition on weekdays in addition to more than 25 special products a year in a variety of industries including Power Lists. The Daily Record hosts 11 annual events to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. These events include Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEOs, Influential Marylanders, Health Care Heroes, Icon Honors and more. The Daily Record’s Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting and email marketing among other services. The Daily Record, with 137 years of editorial excellence, is part of BridgeTower Media, the authoritative voice for insights and marketing solutions across 40+ brands in five key sectors across the United States.

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested Steven Ray Lee, 32, of Lexington Park, on February 23, serving three open warrants for multiple charges:

FTA: Two counts of CDS possession – not cannabis

FTA: Two counts of CDS possession of paraphernalia

FTA: Wear and carry a dangerous weapon concealed on person

FTA: Failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order

Trespassing on private property

During a subsequent search, deputies located a controlled dangerous substance on Lee, and he was charged accordingly.

Lee was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he awaits a bond hearing.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County are seeking applications from residents who are interested in serving on a local Board, Committee, or Commission. Volunteering to serve as a member of these groups is an excellent way to meet new people while contributing to the successful operation and development of our community!

Visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov/boards for board descriptions and to complete the online application. All applications must include a resume and be submitted by March 24, 2025.

Current vacancies:

• Airport Advisory Board
• Board of Trustees Museum Division
• Commission for People with Disabilities
• Commission for Women
• Commission on Aging
• Economic Development Commission
• Ethics Commission (alternate member)
• Human Relations Commission
• Social Services Board

Please note the following, additional vacancies have special requirements:

• Electrical Examiners Board – Must be a master electrician.
• Historic Preservation Commission – Discipline of architecture, architectural history, history or archaeology.
• Metropolitan Commission Board – Must reside in the 1^st district.

Interested residents can complete the online application at www.stmaryscountymd.gov/boards or call Diane Gleissner at (301) 475-4200 ext. 1707 for more information.

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – A joint investigation between partner law enforcement agencies and the Maryland Car Rally Task Force yielded five arrests in connection with car rallies in Baltimore City and Baltimore and Prince George’s counties yesterday.

Those arrested and charged are identified as:

• Joseph Derek Houck,20, of Hagerstown, MD is charged with first-degree assault on a trooper, motor vehicle unlawful taking, theft over 25k, theft under 100k, and obstruction.
• Corey Jones, 20, of Walkersville, MD is charged with motor vehicle unlawful taking and obstruction.
• Isaiah Simmons, 20, of Walkersville, MD is charged with motor vehicle unlawful taking and obstruction.
• Jalil Turner, 19, of Walkersville, MD is charged with motor vehicle unlawful taking and obstruction.
• Joshua Peter Placide, 22, of New York is charged with DUI/DWI and 15 traffic citations.

Starting at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22 until 4:00am on Sunday, February 23, members of the Maryland Car Rally Task Force (MCRTF) dismantled a total of seven large-scale illegal exhibition driving events throughout Baltimore City, Baltimore and Prince George’s counties at the following locations:

            ·3326 Auchentoroly Terrace in Baltimore  

            ·100 West Cold Spring Lane & 3300 Hillen Road in Baltimore

·100 Ridgewood Road, Baltimore
·3967 Boston Street in Baltimore
·Konterra Drive and Schweitzer Lane in Laurel
·Annapolis Road at Forbes Blvd in Lanham
·6351 Ammendale Road in Beltsville  

The Maryland Car Rally Task Force is comprised of the Maryland Department of State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and police departments from Prince George’s, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Montgomery counties. This collaborative effort remains vital in addressing illegal exhibition driving across designated regions.

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, February 7, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs sentenced Katravien Tyrieus Vercher, 25, of Waldorf, to 40 years in prison for four counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Vercher will be on supervised probation for five years upon release from prison. He is also required to register as a Tier 3 Sex Offender for life.

On September 25, 2024, a Charles County jury convicted Vercher of the above-listed charges.

On March 22, 2023, officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Waldorf for the report of child sexual abuse. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the juvenile victims’ mother. The mother reported that Vercher sexually abused three of her children over the course of three years.  

An investigation revealed that Vercher moved in with the victims and their mother at their Waldorf residence in 2020. Vercher began abusing the victims within a few months of moving in. The victims were 5, 6, and 10 years old when the incidents first began. In the first incident, Vercher asked the 10-year-old victim if she wanted to play a game, and she responded yes. Vercher then began making sexual advances toward the victim. The sexual contact with the 10-year-old victim continued repeatedly over the course of three years and progressed in nature. He also came up with a code phrase to use with the victim when they were around other people, indicating he wanted sexual contact.

Vercher engaged in sexual acts with the other two minor victims as well. On one occasion, the two youngest victims were present during the sexual act at the same time.

One of the victims eventually reported the abuse to their mother, who then called the police.

During the course of the investigation, Vercher admitted to making comments about the 10-year-old victim’s appearance and being attracted to what she was wearing. He also admitted to slapping her buttocks.

At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Alexa Casavecchia asked for 60 years, stating that the “scars are always going to be there” for the victims.

Before sentencing Vercher, the Honorable Judge Gibbs stated, “It was an abuse of trust what happened to them. This grooming took some time. You abused their trust. You abused the trust of their mother who left them in your care.”

Sentence

Count 1 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor

•     25 years with all but 15 years suspended

Count 3 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor – Continuing Course of Conduct

•     30 years with all but 15 years suspended

•     Consecutive to Count 1

Count 5 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor: House/Fam

•     25 years with all but 10 years suspended

•     Consecutive to Counts 1 and 3

Count 6 – Sexual Abuse of a Minor: House/Fam

•     25 years, all suspended

•     Consecutive to Counts 1, 3, and 5

5 years of supervised probation upon release

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (February 21, 2025) — Maryland’s Joint Enforcement Task Force on Workplace Fraud (JETF) has released a new annual report, revealing the magnitude of worker misclassification in Maryland. Misclassified workers lose out on critical workplace protections, including access to unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, health insurance coverage, minimum wage, and overtime pay, and workplace fraud also causes significant harm to employers and the state.

Collectively, in 2024, Task Force agencies discovered over 5,500 misclassified workers through their enforcement actions. Over $36 million in unreported taxable wages were uncovered through 2024 Unemployment Insurance audits. The report dives into specific occupations to reveal the scale of the problem. 

Through the voices of workers and business owners, the report details how workplace fraud not only deprives workers of basic protections, but can also put law-abiding businesses at a disadvantage. This happens when competitors reduce their labor costs through misclassification, which shifts those costs to workers, to taxpayers, and to society at large. Required taxes may also go unpaid, which lowers state revenue and impacts funding to pay for critical public services.

“Misclassifying workers is not an acceptable business practice and it is alarming to see the rate at which some employers are engaged in this egregious behavior,” Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman said. “I am committed to protecting workers and supporting an ethical and prosperous business environment in Maryland. The Office of the Comptroller will continue to partner with other agencies, unions, and anyone interested to aggressively pursue lawbreakers robbing workers and the state of much needed resources.”

“Workplace fraud hurts Maryland’s ability to create quality jobs and grow the middle class,” says Maryland Secretary of Labor and Task Force Chair Portia Wu. “Combatting workplace fraud is critical to ensuring that pathways to work, wages, and wealth are available to all Marylanders.”

The JETF is dedicated to strengthening investigations and enforcement of laws regarding workplace fraud through coordinating data sharing and enforcement work across multiple Maryland state agencies. Restarted by Governor Wes Moore in January 2024, the nine-member group is chaired by Secretary Wu and includes Comptroller Lierman and Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown.

“Hardworking Marylanders should be paid what they are owed and given the benefits to which they are entitled,” said Attorney General Brown, JETF member. “When they’re not, it hurts not just the victims of workplace fraud and the businesses that follow the rules, but the entire State of Maryland, which loses out on valuable tax dollars.”

The JETF report includes several possible areas of action to address workplace fraud. Some are broad, such as increasing education and outreach to workers and businesses about their responsibilities and rights under the Workplace Fraud Act. Other recommendations are specific to fields where worker misclassification is a particular challenge, such as construction, and potential opportunities to increase accountability in those industries.

The report is available on the Maryland Department of Labor website.

Workers who have questions about their status—or believe they have been misclassified—can contact the Division of Labor & Industry at workrights@maryland.gov. Employers found to have committed workplace fraud can be investigated and cited by Task Force agencies, and will be required to come into compliance with their legal obligations, including payment of restitution, back taxes, and contributions to the unemployment insurance fund.

BALTIMORE – State regulators should update and revise rules intended to protect utility customers from having their utility service terminated or denied, the Office of People’s Counsel said in a petition filed today with the Public Service Commission. OPC’s proposed rule changes would end certain punitive utility payment practices and give customers more time to seek assistance when they have trouble paying their bills.

“It’s time to reduce the utilities’ broad ability to deny or terminate service or impose additional costs on utility customers,” Maryland People’s Counsel David S. Lapp said. “We need to minimize barriers for customers—particularly those who are low-income—who try to maintain, establish, or reestablish their essential utility services. Our proposed changes will increase transparency and standardize minimum arrearage and termination practices to prevent different outcomes for customers in similar situations and will give customers facing termination more time before service is terminated to resolve difficult situations.”

Dramatic increases in terminations from 2019 to 2023—Baltimore Gas & Electric had nearly 80,000 residential terminations in 2023—laid bare the need for comprehensive consumer protection reform, OPC’s petition points out. Terminations declined in 2024 from 2023 at BGE and some other utilities, as the Commission took action to temporarily increase summer termination notice periods and certain utilities voluntarily halted terminations amid exhaustion of bill assistance funding. Yet high levels of terminations are likely to continue, with per-person energy assistance funding dropping and as utility rates continue to rise—in some cases, significantly, as documented in OPC’s June 2024 rates report. Rates for gas customers will continue to rise significantly in the coming years absent a change in course, as documented in OPC’s gas spending report released last week. These circumstances are leaving many customers without sufficient help to pay unaffordable utility bills and pushed the number of calls to OPC’s Consumer Assistance Unit to a record number in Fiscal Year 2024.

The Commission recently voted to propose new summertime heat protections, following OPC’s June petition for emergency action to protect customers from shutoffs during soaring summer temperatures, and opened a docket to consider other changes. OPC’s supplemental petition asks the Commission to revisit numerous other regulations intended to protect customers having trouble paying their bills.

OPC’s filing highlights examples of customers experiencing issues that its proposed rule changes are intended to address. One example highlights a customer's reported termination affecting the home of a mother with a 3-month-old infant relying on electric-powered breathing equipment. Other examples illustrate policies that exacerbate customer affordability issues, such as requiring customers to pay large new security deposits in addition to outstanding bills to restore service—or even to pay new security deposits after late payments that don’t result in termination.

Among other rule changes, OPC’s petition asks the Commission to:

• Rein in punitive utility practices on late fees, deposits, and credit requirements for low-income customers. These fees often serve to penalize households that simply cannot afford to pay and have little to do with the administrative costs that utilities incur in trying to obtain payment.
• Limit the utilities’ ability to require customers to “reestablish” credit based on prior payment history or to terminate service for a failure to pay new deposit requirements. Regulations currently allow utilities to require an existing customer to pay a deposit based on a change in a customer’s circumstances. Rules also allow a utility to terminate service to a customer who has paid their bill but failed to pay an imposed deposit.
• Enhance and standardize minimum requirements for arrearage and collection practices to increase transparency and uniformity among utilities. Current regulations give utilities flexibility in establishing certain minimum requirements for these arrearage and collection “practices” or “timelines.” BGE’s policy states that “[a]rrearage notices vary by customer payment behavior. Some customers will receive a reminder and others will receive a turn-off notice.” OPC’s petition seeks a minimum 30-day termination notice period in most circumstances, to prohibit terminations for outstanding bills less than $500 (or $700 for a dual-service utility), and to require collections and termination information to be made available in a regulator-approved Customer Rights and Assistance Pamphlet.

“About a fifth of Maryland households face high energy burdens,” Lapp said. “With rising energy costs and decreased benefit amounts, the affordability crisis is mounting. While rule changes will not address the underlying issues, they will help more people retain utility service, reduce arbitrary terminations and collections practices, and ultimately help prevent extreme customer hardships.”

The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel is an independent state agency that represents Maryland’s residential consumers of electric, natural gas, telecommunications, private water and certain transportation matters before the Public Service Commission, federal regulatory agencies and the courts.

Calvert Library is embarking on a strategic planning process to shape its services and programs for the next 3-5 years. As part of this effort, the library is seeking input to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of our community.

One opportunity for residents to share their ideas will be at screening of the documentary, Free for All: The Public Library, scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 6pm at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Hosted in partnership with Friends of Calvert Library, Maryland Public Television, and PBS Independent Lens, this special screening offers a chance to see the documentary before its official debut.

Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today's librarians who serve the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, the film highlights the importance of libraries as civic institutions where everything is free, and the doors are open to all.

Following the film, attendees will have the opportunity to provide input on Calvert Library's future plans and learn how to be effective library advocates. In addition to participating in the discussion, you can also provide feedback through this link (https://qrfy.io/r/DBcDko6Alj).

“Community input is vital as we plan for the future,” said Carrie Willson, Executive Director of Calvert Library. “We want to hear from residents about the resources, programs and services that matter most to them. If you prefer direct engagement over a survey, this event is a great way to get involved and have a voice in shaping our library’s future.”

For more information about the strategic planning process, to register for Free for All: The Public Library, or to access the survey, visit https://calvertlibrary.info  or contact Calvert Library at 410-535-0291.

Student in possession of a vaping device that tested positive for THC: On February 19, a school resource officer at Westlake High School observed a student vaping inside the school. The vape was recovered and tested positive for THC. The student will be charged on a juvenile citation with possession of cannabis. The student also faces disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. PFC Joffe is investigating. 

Student in possession of cannabis at Mattawoman Middle School: On February 18, a school administrator at Mattawoman Middle School discovered a student, age 12, in possession of cannabis. The cannabis was recovered, and the student will be charged on a juvenile civil citation with possession of cannabis. The student also faces disciplinary consequences in accordance with the CCPS Code of Student Conduct. Cpl. Cabellero is investigating.

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 19, 2025) – This morning, at approximately 4:10 a.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence in the 28000 block of Livingston Road in Mechanicsville for the report of two subjects not breathing.

Upon arrival, patrol deputies entered the home and located the bodies of two unresponsive adults on a couch. Both individuals had gunshot trauma, and a weapon was located nearby. The individuals were pronounced deceased by emergency medical services personnel. They were identified as Julia Ann Money, 43, and Daniel Lewis Money, 46.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division were called to the scene and have assumed the case. Next of kin were located and notified. Detectives are continuing the investigation and, preliminarily, are naming the incident an apparent murder/suicide.

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 18, 2025) – Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 45000 block of Carefree Way in Lexington Park at approximately 1:38 a.m. on Sunday, February 16, for the report of a subject with a gun.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that the suspect had fled the scene. According to witnesses, the suspect approached the residence, and when multiple occupants went outside to see what he was doing, he pointed the firearm at the victims, causing them to retreat inside, where they witnessed him slashing tires on a vehicle in the driveway before fleeing the area.

The suspect was identified as Adam David Chaney, 41, of La Plata. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division and patrol deputies located Chaney at his home. Detectives executed a search warrant, and a firearm was recovered; Chaney was arrested without incident.

Chaney was charged with first- and second-degree assault, firearm use in the commission of a felony/violent crime, and malicious destruction of property valued at less than $1,000. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he awaits a bond hearing.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Andrew Burgess at 301-475-4200, ext. 8041, or by email at Andrew.Burgess@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or text Crime Solvers at 274637. In the message block, type "Tip239" and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation.

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – Feb. 18, 2025 – On Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, the Calvert County Public Works Building, Calvert Broadcast Studio and parking lot, located at 100 Skipjack Road in Prince Frederick, will be closed to staff and the public for scheduled maintenance and construction.

Work will include the installation of a shelter and top section tower replacement. County staff will continue to work as scheduled, either remotely or at alternate locations, and will remain accessible to the public during normal business hours. The building will reopen to staff and the public on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while we complete this infrastructure improvement. For more information, contact General Services at 410-535-1600, ext. 2327 or by email at GenSvcs@calvertcountymd.gov.

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay up to date with Calvert County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and YouTube at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov.

Initiatives will trial ideas aimed at increasing invasive catfish removals in the Chesapeake Bay 

Waterman David “Cornflower” Confair fishing for invasive blue catfish on Marshyhope Creek. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is launching two pilot programs in coordination with its Invasive Catfish Advisory Committee aimed at curbing the spread of blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. 

Applications are now open for the Blue Catfish For-Hire/Commercial and Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Programs. Commercial watermen and charter boat captains can apply to participate through online forms on the DNR website.

“The silver lining to the challenges blue catfish pose in the Chesapeake Bay is they taste great,” said DNR Invasive Fishes Program Manager Branson Williams. “These pilot programs aim to reduce barriers for commercial fishermen to catch and sell more blue catfish. Our goal is to reduce biomass, and these programs will help with those efforts.” 

Blue catfish – Ictalurus furcatus – are problematic due to their voracious and indiscriminate appetites, high reproductive rate, and potential to harm native species, some of which are commercially and recreationally important to Maryland, including blue crabs. 

The pilot programs are part of a larger effort by the department to mitigate the negative impact blue catfish have on native species and ecosystems. Other initiatives include incentivizing charter captains to gather harvest data on their catfish and Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) trips, supporting invasive species tournaments, and working with stakeholders and other agencies to increase removals. There is no season or limit on recreational blue catfishing for anglers holding the appropriate Maryland fishing license. 

Details of the two new programs are below.

Blue Catfish For-Hire/Commercial Pilot Program

The Blue Catfish Charter Pilot Program allows participants to run for-hire and commercial fishing trips simultaneously and removes crew limits on commercial hook-and-line fishing trips that target blue catfish. This action will financially incentivize captains to sell excess blue catfish after a charter rather than releasing the fish alive. 

There is no maximum number of pilot participants for this project. Applicants must hold an appropriate commercial fishing license, target blue catfish on the charter trip, and complete daily reporting for the charter trip and commercial activity. 

Applications for the program are open now and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Program

The department is considering relaxing regulations prohibiting finfish trotlines south of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge to combat increased abundance and expanded distribution of invasive catfishes through additional commercial harvest. 

Maryland DNR image

The Mid- and Lower-Bay Finfish Trotline Pilot Program will allow a small number of harvesters to use finfish trotlines (see illustration) in the mainstem Chesapeake Bay south of the Bay Bridge. The department will examine bycatch, user conflicts, and other issues encountered during the pilot before proposing regulation changes to allow widespread use. 

Finfish trotlines are an effective gear commonly used to harvest invasive blue and flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). Trotlines accounted for 26% of Maryland’s blue catfish harvest from 2019 through 2023. 

Program participants must possess a Maryland Unlimited Tidal Fish License (TFL) or Unlimited Finfish Harvester License (FIN). All harvest must be reported after each trip via an electronic reporting form or logbook provided by the department. 

Current license holders can still use finfish trotlines to harvest blue catfish and other fish in legal waters of the state without participating in this program.

Applications are open now through February 20, 2025. A limited number of permits will be issued based on weighted selection criteria. 

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Damaged Property: 25-9697 On February 4, 2025, Deputy Gadwill responded to the Rod ‘n Reel located at 4160 Mears Avenue in Chesapeake Beach, for the report of property destruction. The complainant advised unknown suspect (s) defaced a concrete wall in the parking garage with red, black, and white spray paint sometime between 4 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 4. The estimated value of damaged property is unknown at this time.

Damaged Property: 25-10285 On February 6, 2025, DFC Savick responded to the 8900 block of Erie Ave in North Beach, for the report of property destruction. The complainant advised unknown susupect (s) broke out the front passenger window on a vehicle parked outside residence sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 8 a.m. on Feb. 6. The estimated value of damaged property is $100.

Damaged Property: 25-10907 On February 8, 2025, Deputy Gadwill responded to the North Beach Post Office located at 9132 Bay Avenue in North Beach , for the report of property destruction. The complainant advised an unknown suspect (s) put 2 holes in the wall near the mailroom. The estimated value of damaged property is unknown at this time.

Disorderly Conduct: 25-10677 On February 7, 2025, DFC Shoemaker was on patrol in the area of the Patuxent Plaza Shopping Center in Solomons, where he observed Bobby James Endres, 38 of Huntingtown, wanted for open warrants. Upon making contact with Endres, he began to flee. Endres was eventually taken into custody and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center where he was charged with Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Obstructing and Hindering. 

Theft: 25-11245 On February 9, 2025, DFC Claggett responded to the 5900 block of Sunderleigh Drive in Sunderland, for the report of a theft. The complainant advised sometime between Feb. 6 and Feb. 9, a silver Hitachi air compressor was stolen from the residence. The estimated value of stolen property is $1000.00.

Theft: 25-10076 On February 5, 2025, Deputy MacWilliams responded to Walmart located at 10600 Town Center Blvd. in Dunkirk for a reported theft. The complainant stated that a customer had left her purse in a shopping cart, which was later retrieved by a Walmart employee and placed into store custody. A male suspect, who initially provided a false name but was later identified as 29-yearold Lionell Victor Garrison of District Heights, claimed the purse belonged to his girlfriend. He was seen forcefully pulling the purse from the employee’s hands. Further investigation revealed that while Garrison eventually returned the purse to the customer, several of her credit and gift cards were missing. In addition to the purse theft, Garrison and a female accomplice, 28-year-old Tawny Nicole Atkins of Chesapeake Beach, were captured on store surveillance stealing multiple items from Walmart. They exited the store without paying, bypassing all final points of sale. Inside the store, they had also abandoned a shopping cart filled with $546 worth of merchandise. When questioned, Garrison became agitated and disorderly, causing a disturbance in front of customers. He was subsequently charged with Robbery, Disorderly Conduct, Theft: Less than $100 (Shoplifting), Theft: Less than $100, Obstructing and Hindering, Resisting/Interfering with Arrest, and Fraud—Personation to Avoid Prosecution. Atkins was charged with Theft: Less than $100 (Shoplifting) and was released at the scene.

A St. Mary’s County man was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly threatening a victim with a handgun.

On Feb. 13, 2025, at approximately 8:10 a.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 21000 block of Enterprise Road in Lexington Park for a reported incident involving threats with a firearm. Upon arrival, deputies canvassed the surrounding area and located a suspect matching the description provided by the victim near Midway Drive and Yorktown.

The suspect, identified as Akeem Grinnell-Cropper, 35, of Lexington Park, initially refused deputies’ commands but was taken into custody. A Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver was recovered from his jacket.

A subsequent check of law enforcement databases revealed that Grinnell-Cropper is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions for disqualifying crimes.

Grinnell-Cropper was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he was charged with:

First-degree assault

Second-degree assault

Carrying a handgun on his person

Use of a firearm in the commission of a felony

Four counts of possession of a regulated firearm after being convicted of a disqualifying crime

Disturbing the peace

Failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order of a law enforcement officer

Grinnell-Cropper remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.

 As the temperatures continue to drop, we depend on multiple types of heating sources to stay warm inside our homes. Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray is providing Marylanders life and home-saving heating safety tips. "Various heat sources continue to play a major role in home fires in Maryland. I'm asking everyone to please follow these basic guidelines so we can work together to reduce the number of residential fires to prevent injuries and deaths in our homes."

• Ensure chimneys are cleaned annually or more frequently if used as the primary heating source.
• Use properly sized fireplace screens or enclosures. Never use a flammable liquid to start a fire in a fireplace or wood stove.
• When disposing of cooled ashes, do not use paper, cardboard, or plastic containers to remove them; instead, use a metal container with a lid. Ashes will insulate hot embers long after the fire is considered out.
• Ensure fuel-burning stoves are installed according to local fire codes and manufacturer instructions.
• Have your furnace inspected and serviced annually.
• Check portable electric heaters for frayed/damaged wires, ensure they are clean, and place them on a flat surface. Use only appliances listed by an approved UL testing laboratory and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Do not use extension cords with portable space heaters. The extension cord can overheat and cause a fire.
• If you use kerosene-fired heaters, use only "K-1" kerosene fuel. Never fill the unit inside; remove it to the exterior after it has cooled before refueling. Note: Portable kerosene heaters are banned in Baltimore City.
• Open a window enough to provide proper ventilation.
• Keep combustibles (furniture, curtains, clothing, paper goods, etc.) at least three feet from all heat sources. Combustibles placed too close together can ignite quite easily.
• Fuel-burning appliances can produce the deadly, tasteless, and odorless gas carbon monoxide. Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to provide an early warning of carbon monoxide levels.
• Always turn off portable heating equipment when leaving the room for extended periods. Portable heaters should never be operated unattended.
• Range tops and ovens should never be used as a heat source. These devices are designed for food preparation only.

Along with these heating tips, ensure your smoke alarms and CO detectors are in good working order. These devices should be replaced every 10 years to ensure they operate as early as they are designed. "Routine maintenance and safe operation of heating equipment, combined with properly installed and operating smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, are a life-saving combination for all Marylanders," stated Mowbray.

Mr. Daniel Ball was located on February 13 in Waldorf and was safely taken into custody.

Original Release:

Charles County Crime Solvers offering cash reward in fugitive case: The CCSO’s Warrant/Fugitive Unit is seeking the location of Daniel “Danny” Ball, 55, whose last known address was in Waldorf. Ball has several active warrants for failure to appear in court for felony theft, as well as new charges related to several shoplifting incidents. Ball has used force to avoid apprehension in previous thefts. Daniel Ball is 5’9” and weighs about 190lbs. He has tattoos on both arms, including the date “7-23-81” on his right forearm, and dogs on both upper arms.

Anyone with information about Daniel Ball’s whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact Detective Caldwell at 240-419-4516. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for the tipster who provides information leading to an arrest in this case. The investigation is ongoing.

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners announces county offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents Day. In addition:

·         The Appeal Solid Waste Facility, which includes the landfill and transfer station, and all county customer convenience centers will be open Monday, Feb. 17, with normal operating hours.

·         The Solomons Septage Receiving Facility will be open Monday, Feb. 17, with normal operating hours.

·         The Water & Sewerage billing and customer service office will be closed Monday, Feb. 17.

·         Calvert County senior centers will be closed Monday, Feb. 17, and Meals on Wheels will not be delivered. Meal delivery is scheduled to resume Tuesday, Feb. 18.

·         All community centers will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17.

·         There will be no county bus service Monday, Feb. 17; service will resume Tuesday, Feb. 18.

·         Calvert Library locations will be closed Monday, Feb. 17. Downloadable materials and virtual services are available 24/7 at calvertlibrary.info/.

·         The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter and Animal Control Division will be closed Monday, Feb. 17. Animal Control Officers will be available for emergencies at 410-535-3491.

·         The Calvert Marine Museum and Museum Store will be open with normal hours on Monday, Feb. 17. Visit www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/ for information on upcoming events.

·         Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17.

·         Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center will be open Monday, Feb. 17, with normal hours.

·         All recreation parks including Dunkirk District Park, Ward Farm Recreation & Nature Park, Hallowing Point Park and Cove Point Park will be open with normal hours on Monday, Feb. 17.

·         Chesapeake Hills Golf Course will be open Monday, Feb. 17, with normal operating hours.

·         Flag Ponds Nature Park and Kings Landing Park will be open on Monday, Feb. 17, with normal operating hours. Battle Creek Cypress Swamp and trails will be open with normal hours, but the nature center remains closed due to fire damage. For a full nature park schedule visit calvertcounty.com/3301/Parks

·         Breezy Point Beach is closed for the season.

Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman, in partnership with a coalition of financial officers from Maryland and five other states, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration retracting $80 million federal funding from the City of New York:

As state financial officers, we are compelled to address the recent federal retraction of $80 million from New York City, funds that were legally allocated for essential services. Such unilateral actions by the federal government undermine the fiscal stability of our states and local governing units and set a concerning precedent. 

All states require the passage of balanced budgets, and each of us is dedicated to being responsible fiscal stewards of public money. This fiscal responsibility ensures economic stability and maintains trust with our bondholders, creditors, contractors, and the public. The unexpected withdrawal of previously allocated federal funds disrupts this balance, potentially destabilizing local and state economies. If allocations can be rescinded without warning, it jeopardizes the finality of our budgets and contracts, eroding public and private sector confidence in governmental financial commitments and contributing to negative financial outlooks for our local and state economies.  

We stand in solidarity with the New York City Comptroller and urge the federal government to restore the withdrawn funds promptly. Furthermore, we call for a clear commitment against such unilateral actions in the future, ensuring that states and municipalities can rely on federal allocations to maintain balanced budgets and uphold their financial obligations.  

Joining Comptroller Lierman in releasing this statement are: Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis, Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, Maryland State Treasurer Dereck Davis, Nevada State Treasurer Zachary Conine, Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, and Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak.

The Board of Education of Charles County unanimously voted during its Feb. 11 meeting to renew the contract of Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., for a second, four-year term.

Navarro was hired by the previous Board in 2021 with her first term closing this summer on June 30.

In the past four years Navarro has focused on the development of the Strategic Plan which guides the work of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS). The plan focuses on three priorities — student learning and achievement; access and opportunities; and culture and climate.

During Navarro’s time as CCPS superintendent, the school system’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program has grown, the number of high school students taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes has increased with scores remaining steady, enrollment in the Early College Program, a partnership between CCPS and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), has doubled and prekindergarten enrollment has increased. Under her leadership, CCPS has also expanded high school level course access to students at the middle school level.

She thanked current Board members, as well as the previous Board which hired her four years ago.

“I am very happy to keep serving this community and the incredible staff, students and families that we serve,” Navarro said.

Previously, Navarro was chief academic officer for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland for six years and was the acting Chief Academic Officer in Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) for five years. She is the parent of two children who are CCPS students. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) formalized the reappointment.

The Town of Indian Head announced the town has received $3.685 million in funding from the Clean Water Commerce Act.

The awarded funds will go towards performing Shoreline restoration work along the Potomac River and Henderson Lane. 

"This grant award is massive for the Town of Indian Head. It allows for the expansion of our living shoreline, adds resiliency, and encourages continued development in town,” Indian Head Mayor Brandon Paulin said. “Folks have truly enjoyed our Potomac River improvements, like the Boardwalk, in recent years. This grant helps us continue making improvements so everyone can enjoy the Potomac River's shoreline for decades to come. I want to thank all of our community partners that played a role in securing this grant."

The application for funding was spearheaded by the Resilience Authority of Charles County, and the project will create a living shoreline along a stretch subject to storm surge, sea-level rise, and erosion. A living shoreline will stabilize the land, significantly decrease erosion, and provide a wildlife habitat. It will also attract appropriate commercial development and provide greater climate resilience for the town.

"The Town of Indian Head’s recent grant award to create a living shoreline along Henderson Lane is a significant step forward in advancing the Commissioners’ resiliency and sustainability goals,” Deborah Hall, Acting County Administrator, said. “This project not only protects our shoreline from erosion and enhances flood mitigation but also strengthens our commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for our community."

The project was brought to the Resilience Authority by the Charles County Office of Economic Development in coordination with the Mayor and Town Manager of Indian Head and Southern Maryland RC&D in coordination with Ecotone, a private restoration firm.

Maryland Department of the Environment awarded the funding as an Environmental Justice project through the CWCA, which provides $4 million a year for purchasing environmental outcomes from projects that alleviate the environmental harms and risks borne by communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks. The goal of the CWCA is to improve the health of Maryland’s waterways in a cost-effective manner. 

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 13, 2025) – The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Austin Brent Leaman, 29, who is wanted on four open warrants.

Leaman is described as a black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 142 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Leaman’s location is asked to call the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-8008.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or text Crime Solvers at 274637. In the message block, type "Tip239" and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation.

Note: Tip239 is case-sensitive and must be typed in the message block as shown. With Crime Solvers, you never have to give your name. You may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 13, 2025) – The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Austin Brent Leaman, 29, who is wanted on four open warrants.

Leaman is described as a black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 142 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Leaman’s location is asked to call the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-8008.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or text Crime Solvers at 274637. In the message block, type "Tip239" and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation.

Note: Tip239 is case-sensitive and must be typed in the message block as shown. With Crime Solvers, you never have to give your name. You may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

Charles County Crime Solvers offering cash reward in fugitive case: The CCSO’s Warrant/Fugitive Unit is seeking the location of Daniel “Danny” Ball, 55, whose last known address was in Waldorf. Ball has several active warrants for failure to appear in court for felony theft, as well as new charges related to several shoplifting incidents. Ball has used force to avoid apprehension in previous thefts. Daniel Ball is 5’9” and weighs about 190lbs. He has tattoos on both arms, including the date “7-23-81” on his right forearm, and dogs on both upper arms.

Anyone with information about Daniel Ball’s whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact Detective Caldwell at 240-419-4516. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for the tipster who provides information leading to an arrest in this case. The investigation is ongoing.

During Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting, Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman and Governor Wes Moore voted to approve a contract for Fraport Baltimore Partnership, LLC to develop, renovate, lease, and manage the retail, restaurant, and commercial services at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Treasurer Davis voted against the measure after questioning Maryland Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Samantha Biddle about the procurement process.

According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, the lease would generate $39.4 million in revenue in its first full year of operations. Fraport has also committed to investing $31.5 million in capital improvements and would pay the state a 90% share of gross concession revenues. Comptroller Lierman expressed that Fraport’s selection represented the best option among the proposals.

“I am confident that several of the bidders could have rolled out a very successful BWI concessions program and we're lucky to have or be able as a state to choose from multiple able vendors,” she said.

Comptroller Lierman also noted the plan would generate needed revenue for the Maryland Aviation Administration and sales tax for the state, allow for new vendors within the airport’s forthcoming connector for the A/B concourses and would reduce the risk of current vendors leaving the airport.

“The plans are creative and inviting for Maryland visitors and those of us coming home or flying out. I just think remaining in a month-to-month contract means empty food and retail spaces in a brand-new concession space and that is a huge risk to the state. Nearly 30 million people travel through BWI annually, and it would not only be embarrassing not to have any concessions in a new space to offer travelers. But we would be losing millions of dollars in sales tax brought to us, often by people from other states. I appreciate the ACDBE [Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise] vendors who are there and have been patient and are waiting for us to get this done.”

On a Maryland Department of Natural Resources item, the board approved $3.6 million in Program Open Space funding for the first state park to be created in Wicomico County. The parcel is part of the Long Hill Property, a 445-acre 18th-century plantation listed on the National Registry of Historical Places along Wetipquin Creek.

In all, the BPW approved 70 items, representing a total State expenditure of $396,648,102.20. A comprehensive list of items approved are as follows:

• Grant agreements for six recipients for sox projects located in four counties and Baltimore City with a total value of $2,800,000.
• Six items awarding $16,407,421.71 to prime certified small business primes.
• Six items awarding $17,505,671.71 to certified minority business enterprise primes,
• 10 items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises.
• Two items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises.

The next meeting of the Board of Public Works is February 26, 2025.

Damaged Property: 25-8545 On January 31, 2025, DFC DeSantis responded to the District 3 office located at 11771 HG Trueman Road in Lusby, for the report of property destruction. The complainant advised an unknown subject slashed the victim’s tire with a knife sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., while the vehicle was parked behind the Golden Chicken located at 11771 HG Trueman Road in Lusby. The estimated value of damaged property is $100.

Disorderly Conduct: 25-8717 On January 31, 2025, Deputy Parrott responded to the Quality Inn located at 255 Lore Road in Solomons, for the report of a disorderly subject. The complainant advised Charles Raymond Corbin, Jr., 49 of Lusby, was yelling racial slurs and threatening staff in the lobby. Corbin was escorted to his room where he engaged in a verbal altercation with a guest. Corbin continued his disorderly behavior and refusal to comply. Corbin was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Disorderly Conduct.

Theft: 25-7386 On January 27, 2025, Cpl. Barger responded to the lobby of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office located at 30 Church Street in Prince Frederick, for the report of a theft. The complainant reported an unknown suspect(s) stole her prescription medications sometime between Jan. 25 – Jan. 27. The estimated value of stolen property is $60.00.

Theft: 25-8389 On January 30, 2025, DFC Grierson responded to the 400 block of Dogwood Drive in Lusby for the report of a theft. The complainant advised an unknown suspect(s) stole a Stihl backpack leaf blower from the victim’s shed. The estimated value of stolen property is $600.00.

Theft: 25-8356 On January 30, 2025, Cpl. Aurich responded to the Dunkirk CVS located at 10095 Ward Road in Dunkirk, for the report of a theft. The complainant advised an employee had been stealing prescriptions from the pharmacy. Upon arrival, contact was made with Lee Anne Switzer, 52 of Chesapeake Beach. Switzer was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Theft: $100 to Under $1,500- Shoplifting. (No photo available)

Theft: 25-8251 On January 30, 2025, DFC Grierson responded to the 500 Block of Maryland Avenue in Lusby, for the report of a theft. The complainant advised an unknown suspect (s) stole the rear license plate off a vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence sometime between Jan. 19 – Jan. 29. The estimated value of stolen property is $100.00. 

Trespassing: 25-8625 On January 31, 2025, Deputy Tunnell responded to the Chipotle located at 144 W. Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick, for the report of trespassing. Upon arrival, contact was made with Sterling Willis McClendon, 60 of No fixed address and Tyree Tyquonna Nolan, 28 of No fixed address. Both McClendon and Nolan had been previously trespassed indefinitely from the shopping center. They both refused to follow orders from deputies by resisting arrest and causing a disturbance in front of citizens. McClendon was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Trespassing: Private Property, Resisting/Interfering with Arrest, Failure to Obey a Reasonable/ Lawful order of a Law Enforcement Officer, and Disorderly Conduct. 3 Nolan was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Trespassing: Private Property, Resisting/ Interfering with Arrest, Obstructing and Hindering, Failure to Obey a Reasonable/ Lawful order of a Law Enforcement Officer, and Disorderly Conduct. 

Trespassing: 25-8676 On January 31, 2025, Deputy Chase observed Robert Allen Rice, 58 of Prince Frederick, in the Fox Run Shopping Center located at 615 N. Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick. Investigation revealed Rice had been indefinitely trespassed from the Giant food store. Rice was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Trespassing: Private Property. 

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – Feb. 11, 2025 – Calvert County Government offices will close at 2 p.m. today, Feb. 11 due to inclement weather. The following Calvert County services are affected by the closure:

·         All Calvert County Government offices will close at 2 p.m.

Circuit Courts will close at 1 p.m.

·         The Appeal Landfill, septage receiving and all county convenience centers will close at 2 p.m.

·         All county Parks & Recreation activities, rentals and programs are canceled after 2 p.m.

·         Community Centers, parks, the Chesapeake Hills Golf Course and the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center will close at 2 p.m.

·         The Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter will close at 2 p.m.

·         All Calvert Library locations will close at 1 p.m.

·         Calvert Marine Museum will close at 2 p.m.

·         County transportation schedule end-times and locations for each route are below:

o   North: 1:30 p.m. at Calvert Pines

o   Dunkirk: 1:40 p.m. at Calvert Pines

o   Mid County: 12:40 p.m. at Calvert Pines

o   South: 2:16 p.m. at Calvert Pines

o   Prince Frederick Shuttle: 1:06 p.m. at Calvert Pines

o   Charlotte Hall: 11:40 a.m. at Calvert Pines

o   Lusby: 11:24 a.m. at Southern Pines

Residents are encouraged to stay informed in the event of an emergency by visiting www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/BeAwarePrepare and signing up for Calvert County ALERT to receive timely information about various emergency and non-emergency situations in the county.

Updates will appear on the Calvert County Government website, www.CalvertCountyMd.gov, and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd. 

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay up to date with Calvert County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and YouTube at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov.

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 11, 2025) – The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of Daniel Jerome Ball, 55, who is wanted on five open warrants.

Ball is described as a black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, bald, and has brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Ball’s location is asked to call the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 301-475-8008.

Tipsters can also call Crime Solvers 24/7 at 301-475-3333 or text Crime Solvers at 274637. In the message block, type "Tip239" and select SEND. After you get a response, continue your conversation.

Note: Tip239 is case-sensitive and must be typed in the message block as shown. With Crime Solvers, you never have to give your name. You may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – All St. Mary's County Government (SMCG) administrative offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday. Offices will resume normal operating schedules on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

The February 17 closure also includes:

• All three St. Mary's County Libraries (Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown, and Lexington Park).
• All three Senior Activity Centers (Garvey, Loffler, and Northern), and there will be no home-delivered meals.
• The St. Mary's Transit System (STS), including ADA and SSTAP.
• St. Mary's Animal Adoption & Resource Center.

The following SMCG operations will be open on February 17:

• The six Convenience Centers and the St. Andrews Landfill.
• St. Clements Island Museum, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, and the Old Jail Museum.
• The Wicomico Shores Golf Course and the Riverview Restaurant.
• Department of Recreation & Parks programs and facilities*.

*Please note that Recreation and Parks programs held at St. Mary’s County Public School locations will not operate on President’s Day.

For more information on SMCG programs and operations, please visit: stmaryscountymd.gov.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – 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 Engineers Week.

During County Administrator Time, the Commissioners took the following action:

• Reviewed future CSMC meeting agendas.
• Approved the State's Attorney's Office's request to convert their regular part-time Paralegal position to a full-time Paralegal position.
• Approved a letter to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources indicating that the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area (RLA) is the prioritized RLA for St. Mary's County.
• Approved a letter of assurance to the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission related to certain improvements at the Forest Run Wastewater Pump Station.

The Commissioners then received a legislative update from the Office of the County Attorney.

The Commissioners wrapped their business meeting with Commissioner Time.

The next CSMC business meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the CSMC Meeting Room, on the 1^st floor of the Chesapeake Building, located at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. There will also be a Budget Work Session that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CSMC decisions and related documents are available on the SMCG website in BoardDocs. Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on TV Channel 95 or on-demand via www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov.

Visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov for more information.

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – NAS Patuxent River has authroized a staggered departure by zone Feb. 11, 2025 due to forecasted inclement weather associated with Winter Storm Harlow. NAS Patuxent River will institute an operating status of Restricted Access for All but Mission Essential Personnel from 12 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 due to forecasted weather conditions. This applies to NAS Patuxent River, Webster Outlying Field, and Navy Recreation Center Solomons.

Know Your Zone
NAS Patuxent River will initiate its staggered departure by zone.

NAS Pax River Zones 1 and 2: depart NAS Pax River beginning 11 a.m. Feb. 11

NAS Pax River Zones 3 and 4: depart NAS Pax River beginning 11:30 a.m. Feb. 11  

All gates at NAS Patuxent River will open for outbound staggered departure beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 11.

Civil service employees designated non-critical may request unscheduled leave if departing prior to their staggered departure time. Admin leave will be granted for the hours after staggered departure time. Check with your command for specific guidance.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (February 10, 2025) — The Comptroller of Maryland has reissued 1099-G forms to an estimated 6,000 Marylanders who mistakenly received forms belonging to other taxpayers earlier this month, due to an internal printer malfunction.

The error affected a limited number of forms sent to incorrect addresses. Once the agency learned of the error, it took immediate action, encouraging individuals to shred documents they received in error and making changes to its processes to further protect taxpayer information. For instance, forms completed by the agency will no longer include full social security numbers.

Taxpayers can download a duplicate form online at www.marylandtaxes.gov/1099G   

The Office of the Comptroller will pay for one year of credit monitoring for all impacted individuals through Kroll, a company specializing in identity theft protection. Affected individuals will receive an additional notification in the mail from Kroll containing information on how to activate their services.

Affected taxpayers with concerns can call 410-260-7980 or 1-800-638-2937 and select “option 2.” They can also email gad@marylandtaxes.gov with the subject line “1099G Issue.”  

LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County, Maryland is under a Winter Storm Warning beginning Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 1 p.m. and continuing through the morning of Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Snowfall totals for St. Mary’s County are expected between 5–7 inches, with no significant ice accumulation expected.

Due to anticipated inclement weather, St. Mary's County Government (SMCG) administrative offices will close early, at noon on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. This closure also includes:

·       The Senior Activity Centers (Garvey, Loffler & Northern) with no home-delivered meals

• • Please note the Memory Café launch, scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Garvey Senior Activity Center has been canceled.

·       Department of Recreation & Parks programs, facilities, museums, and golf course

• The St. Mary's Transit System (STS)
• The Convenience Centers and the St. Andrews Landfill
• The St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption & Resources Center
• The St. Mary’s County Health Department
• St. Mary's County Libraries (Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown & Lexington Park)
• Additionally, the afternoon Budget Work Session (BWS) for the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) has been cancelled and planned agenda items rescheduled for discussion during the BWS on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The CSMC business meeting will take place as scheduled prior to early closure. Meeting documents are available for public access from the SMCG website in BoardDocs.

Community members are encouraged to use the following resources during severe weather:

• Sign up for local emergency notifications at: www.stmaryscountymd.gov/CodeRed
• Check for local road closures at: https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/RoadClosures
• Report non-emergency issues, such as downed trees via our 311 system at: https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/SM311
• Report power outages to SMECO at: https://www.smeco.coop/Outages
• Visit https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/Prepare for additional preparedness tips

NAS Patuxent River will be OPEN for the morning commute Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Current forecasts expect snowfall by Tuesday afternoon, so continue to watch NAS Pax River's social media feeds for updates on base operational status as the day progresses.

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – Feb. 10, 2025 – In the spirit of spreading love and joy this Valentine’s Day, the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter wants to make your Valentine’s Day extra special by offering $14 adoptions for all cats and dogs to qualified adopters, with their “Paw-sitively Purr-fect Love” adoption event from Tuesday, Feb. 11 through Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Adoption fees are waived for all other adoptable animals at the shelter during this event.

This adoption event applies to all adoptable animals at the shelter, which includes dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and pigs. Additionally, all adopters during this promotion will receive a personalized Valentine’s Day card and special treat expressing the shelter’s thanks for choosing adoption and making a difference in the life of a shelter pet. Not only will you help by clearing out the shelter, but you can celebrate Valentine’s Day in the most heartwarming way possible by receiving love and gratitude from your new companion.

Whether you’re a longtime pet owner or a first-time adopter, the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter is dedicated to making the adoption process a joyful and rewarding experience.  This Valentine’s Day, join us in spreading the love and giving a forever home to a furry friend.

Find your perfect match by visiting the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the adoption process, visit www.CalvertCountyAnimalShelter.com/Adoption.

To schedule an intake appointment, call 410-535-7387. The shelter is located at 5055 Hallowing Point Road in Prince Frederick. For more information about adopting from the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter visit www.CalvertCountyAnimalShelter.com. Visit the Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter on Instagram at @calvertcountyanimalshelter and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyAnimalShelter.  

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay up to date with Calvert County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and YouTube at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov.

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – Feb. 10, 2025 – Calvert County has been awarded $98,500 from the Governor’s Office for Children’s Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households (ENOUGH) Local Management Board (LMB) Capacity Building Grant. The funding aims to leverage the local infrastructure of the LMB to support local communities in pursuit of their goals.

In May 2024, Gov. Wes Moore signed the ENOUGH Act into law as a first-of-is kind, state-led response to alleviate childhood poverty.  The ENOUGH initiative provides resources to communities through partnerships with community organizations, non-profit organizations, and anchor institutions to improve the quality of life for Marylanders experiencing multi-generational poverty.

Calvert County’s allocation will be used to develop a Neighborhood Action Plan focused on four key areas:

1.      Cradle to Career Education – Smooth educational transitions, from early care to career readiness.

2.      Healthy Families – Improved healthcare access, reduced infant mortality and strengthened behavioral health services.

3.      Economically Secure Families – Promoting stable employment and family-sustaining wages.

4.      Safe and Thriving Communities – Creating safer environments with better housing, nutrition, and transportation options.

The Calvert County Family Network (CCFN) serves as the Local Management Board for Calvert County, working with public and private partners to ensure children and families thrive. For more information about CCFN visit, www.calvertcountymd.gov/Calvert-County-Family-Network-CCFN or contact CCFN at 410-414-5997. For more information about the ENOUGH Initiative visit the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children website.

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay up to date with Calvert County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and YouTube at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov. 

* This project is funded under award number LMBC-2025-0005 from the Governor’s Office for Children.

All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any state agency

LEONARDTOWN, MD – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated St. Mary’s County, along with several other Maryland jurisdictions, as a primary natural disaster area due to drought and excessive heat occurring between June 22, 2024, and October 22, 2024. This designation allows eligible farmers and agricultural producers in St. Mary’s County to apply for emergency loans through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to aid in recovery efforts.

Emergency loans are available to assist producers in replacing essential equipment or livestock, reorganizing farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The FSA will evaluate loan applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability. The deadline to apply for assistance is September 15, 2025.

“St. Mary’s County remains committed to supporting our agricultural community as they navigate the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions,” said Commissioner President, Randy Guy. “We encourage all eligible producers to take advantage of these federal resources to help sustain their farming operations.”

In addition to St. Mary’s County, the following Maryland counties are designated as primary disaster areas: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, and Prince George’s. Several neighboring states including Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, are also eligible for assistance.

Farmers seeking more information on available resources can visit www.farmers.gov and use the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool to explore program options. To file a Notice of Loss or inquire about eligibility, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center.

For more details on USDA emergency loans, please visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-farm-loans.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – St. Mary’s County Public Schools will host three Rising Freshman Orientation Nights this March. The events provide an opportunity for rising ninth graders and their families to preview ninth-grade course selections, learn about available Academies and Pathways, meet counselors and school administrators, and get an overview of high school graduation requirements. The Rising Freshman Orientation Nights will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 3rd, at Leonardtown High School, Tuesday, March 4th, at Chopticon High School, and Thursday, March 6th, at Great Mills High School.

Families are welcome to attend any night. All information will be repeated each night. For more information, contact the Department of Strategic Initiatives at 301-475-5511, extension 32133, or email classof2029@smcps.org.

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 10, 2025) – The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred on Sunday, February 9, 2025.

At approximately 2:29 p.m., patrol deputies responded to the area of the Crossroads Apartments in the 21000 block of Great Mills Road in Lexington Park for a reported crash. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a two-vehicle collision involving a 2015 Nissan Armada and a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit was called to investigate. A preliminary investigation determined that both vehicles were traveling in lane two of Great Mills Road toward Westbury Boulevard when the Nissan, driven by Zykera Sharnae Shubrooks-Nunley, 20, of Lexington Park, struck the rear of the Chevrolet, operated by Kathy Mae Davis, 59, of Lexington Park. The impact forced the Chevrolet into a telephone pole, causing it to overturn and eject the driver.

Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. Shubrooks-Nunley was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. Investigators believe that speed and driver error were contributing factors in the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it is asked to contact Corporal Jason Smith at 301-475-4200, ext. 2328.

LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Thursday, February 6, 2025, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Donine Carrington Martin sentenced Jahad Karim Frierson, 27, of Waldorf, to 35 years in prison for the Second-Degree Murder of Leon Nathaniel Inabinett, Jr. Frierson was also sentenced to a consecutive 1,067 days in prison for violating the probation of an unrelated incident.

On December 3, 2024, a Charles County jury convicted Frierson of the above-mentioned charge.

On June 20, 2021, officers responded to the Bryans Road Firehouse in the 3000 block of Livingston Road in Bryans Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered victim Inabinett suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a hallway inside the firehouse. The victim was transported to a local hospital but, unfortunately, was pronounced deceased as a result of his injuries.

An investigation revealed that the victim attended a birthday party at the firehouse before the incident. Frierson had an issue with the victim due to a prior incident. After learning the victim’s location, Frierson contacted co-defendant Ryan Lamont Bell to help confront the victim. Frierson and Bell rode to the firehouse together and hid in bushes waiting for the victim to come out. At the end of the party, the victim was carrying a tray of cookies to put in a vehicle in the rear parking lot. Frierson and Bell approached the victim while he was outside. Frierson brandished a handgun given to him by Bell, struck the victim and then shot him several times. After the shooting was over, both Frierson and Bell fled in the same vehicle. The victim was able to make it inside the firehouse to try to get help but collapsed in the hallway.

An ankle monitor that Bell was wearing for a separate incident indicated that Bell’s location was at the firehouse at the time of the murder. Cell phone records also place Bell and Frierson in the area at the time of the murder. Surveillance video depicts the two confronting the victim and running away.

The handgun used to kill the victim was located in Bell’s vehicle. Bell reported to investigators that he took the gun after the murder and cleaned it.

On November 14, 2022, Bell entered a guilty plea for Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. On December 19, 2024, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

During the sentencing for Frierson, Assistant State’s Attorney Constance Kopelman asked the judge for the maximum sentence of 40 years, stating that Frierson “needs to be prevented from committing any other act like this for as long as possible. He didn’t care that he was on probation when he committed this murder.” She furthered, “The facts are just so brutal. Leon did not see this coming. The defendant ambushed him, and Leon had nothing to protect himself with. He was carrying cookies.” She told the judge that Leon’s future and potential was “all extinguished by the defendant. The defendant destroyed the victim’s right to the life he chose. In a society, we cannot tolerate this senseless gun violence. The defendant showed no mercy, no humanity. It is senseless. It is not okay, and it needs to be punished.”

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision that occurred on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

At approximately 10:58 a.m., patrol deputies responded to 28085 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown for a reported crash. Upon arrival, they found a two-vehicle collision involving a motor scooter and a Nissan sedan.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene. A preliminary investigation determined that a 2023 Zhilong BWS motor scooter, operated by Joseph Louis Young, 71, of Leonardtown, attempted to cross Point Lookout Road but failed to yield the right-of-way and was struck by a northbound 2023 Nissan Versa.

Young was ejected from the scooter and transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Investigators do not believe speed, alcohol, or drugs were contributing factors in the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or events leading to it is asked to contact Corporal Jason Smith at 301-475-4200, ext. 2328.

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 7, 2025) – Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Lexington Park man on Thursday following an ongoing investigation into suspected drug-related activities. James Allen Chase, 65, was taken into custody and charged with possession with intent to distribute other related offenses.

On February 6^th, 2025, as part of the ongoing investigation by the Vice Narcotics Unit, deputies initiated a traffic stop on Great Mills Road and executed a search and seizure warrant on Chase’s vehicle. During the search, deputies located more than 10 individual bags of suspected cocaine, $400 in U.S. currency, and other drug-related items.

Simultaneously, investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division executed a search and seizure warrant at Chase’s residence in the 46000 block of Kent Drive in Lexington Park. During the search, detectives recovered multiple tied-off bags of suspected cocaine with an approximate weight of nearly 100 grams, drug paraphernalia, and more than $100,000 in cash. A loaded and cocked Harrington & Richardson Inc. 12-gauge shotgun was also found at the residence.

Chase was transported to the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he was charged with CDS- possession with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, intent to promote an offense/conceal and disguise the proceeds of an offense involving a controlled dangerous substance CDS- proceeds from offense, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance CDS- possession not cannabis.

NAS Pax River will close Gate 1 Friday, Feb. 7 from 2-4 p.m. for maintenance. 

Gate 2 will be open for inbound/outbound traffic, and Gate 3 will be open for outbound traffic only during this time.

PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland - Personnel at Naval Air Station Patuxent River are advised that increased traffic volume is expected at NAS Patuxent River and Webster Outlying Field beginning Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 with the implementation of return to office orders across the base.

In anticipation of this increased traffic volume, the following changes to gate operations will begin Feb. 7:

NAS Pax River Gate 2 – Gate 2 will open two traffic lanes at 5 a.m and additional inbound lanes for morning rush hour traffic starting at 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. An additional fourth lane starts after the far left lane inbound to Gate 2 and splits into two after turning from Three Notch Road/MD Route 235 past the guard shack. Drivers should proceed with caution when merging into two lane traffic after presenting ID and gaining base access.

Webster Field Back Gate – Webster Field’s Back Gate will be open for inbound traffic for morning rush hour traffic from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and outbound traffic from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

NAS Patuxent River’s Gate 1 and Webster Field’s Main Gate will remain open 24/7.

NAS Patuxent River’s Gate 3 remains open for inbound traffic from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and outbound traffic from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Drivers are again reminded that increased traffic in and around NAS Patuxent River and Webster Field is expected, to include Maryland Route 235, beginning Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 and should plan accordingly. Drivers should present their ID card with barcode showing for scanning and/or handling by sentries.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – 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 Transit Equity Day, Dating Violence Awareness Month, and Black History Month.

During County Administrator Time, the Commissioners took the following action:

• Reviewed future CSMC meeting agendas.
• Approved the State's Attorney's Office's request to convert their regular part-time Paralegal position to a full-time Paralegal position.
• Approved a letter to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources indicating that the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area (RLA) is the prioritized RLA for St. Mary's County.
• Approved a letter of assurance to the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission related to certain improvements at the Forest Run Wastewater Pump Station.

The Commissioners then received a legislative update from the Office of the County Attorney.

The Commissioners wrapped their business meeting with Commissioner Time.

The next CSMC business meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the CSMC Meeting Room, on the 1^st floor of the Chesapeake Building, located at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. There will also be a Budget Work Session that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CSMC decisions and related documents are available on the SMCG website in BoardDocs. Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed live on TV Channel 95 or on-demand via www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov.

Visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov for more information.

Fish communities changed significantly in the Blackwater River drainage

Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists perform winter fyke net surveys in the Little Blackwater River in 2019. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger,

Chesapeake Channa adults were first documented in Maryland, thousands of miles from their native habitat in East Asia in 2002. Subsequent illegal introductions and natural dispersal in the decades since their arrival in Maryland expanded the species range. A new study by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirms the negative impact this invasive species has on other fish and the ecosystem.

A comparison of fish communities in the Blackwater River drainage near Cambridge before and after the introduction of non-native Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead, found lower relative abundances for 19 of 22 resident species observed, resulting in differences in community structure and biodiversity after the introduction.

Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Dr. Joe Love, and co-authors Joshua J. Newhard and Meghan Walker, published their findings in the online early edition of the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management in November 2024.

Since their arrival, Chesapeake Channa have colonized an average of three new Chesapeake Bay subwatersheds per year, according to a 2018 study by Love and Newhard. 

“We know that this is an opportunistic, predatory species that could impact native fish populations, but before this study, whether their predation has changed the composition of aquatic communities was unknown,” said Love. 

A factor that helps them efficiently establish populations is reproduction. A recent study conducted by Love found these fish can release tens of thousands of eggs and could spawn more than once a year.

The authors recognized an opportunity to compare the fish communities in the Blackwater River drainage before and after the predator’s introduction because an inventory of fishes was conducted in that area in the early 2000s. Chesapeake Channa were first reported in Blackwater in 2012 and today it is a popular recreational fishing area for them, with some limited commercial harvest. 

During a 2018 survey, fisheries biologists Joseph Love and Jim Thompson (right to left) examine a Chesapeake Channa caught in the Blackwater River near Harriet Tubman State Park. Maryland Park Rangers Dana Paterra and Angela Crenshaw (left to right), then managers of the state park, observe. Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.

In 2018 and 2019, biologists sampled six sites using the same methods as the fish community studies performed in Blackwater in 2007 and 2008 to learn if the number of species or the proportion of those species had changed. They conducted additional surveys between 2021 and 2023 to substantiate their findings. 

Before the introduction of the Chesapeake Channa, the three most abundant species, in order, were white perch, brown bullhead, and black crappie. Six years afterward, the three most abundant species were common carp, gizzard shad, and then white perch. While most species studied experienced declines, the biologists noted the greatest decreases were in popular prey for Chesapeake Channa such as black crappie, white perch, bluegill, and pumpkinseed.

The authors found that changes in water quality conditions could not explain the changes observed in the fish community. Instead, predation or displacement likely explained the changes observed.

Managing invasive species costs the United States more than $100 billion per year. In Maryland, aquatic wildlife like blue crabs and striped bass play important roles in the economy and culture, and invasive species could impact these industries and local ecosystems. Other studies have shown that once invasive fishes are established they cause widespread reductions in biomass. This study examined changes in one waterway where Chesapeake Channa has flourished, but impacts may not be the same everywhere. Impacts from an invasive species depend upon its abundance and the ecosystem, both of which greatly differ across rivers and lakes of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Sportfishing and commercial harvesting for invasive fishes have become popular in Maryland and help the state manage the population. Chesapeake Channa and blue catfish both taste mild and have a firm texture, making them great fish to eat. Chesapkeae Channa is available on menus and at local seafood markets seasonally in spring and summer. There is no season or limit for harvesting Chesapeake Channa, and Maryland DNR has many resources available on its website for anglers interested in learning more.

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Dawud Abdur Rahman of DAR Project Management Consulting was joined by Lucille Walker, Executive Director of the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, to present commissioners with the summary of findings on the study of the Black and Indigenous History in Bryans Road, Pomonkey, and Indian Head. The study development arrives as the Pomonkey Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.

The methodology for the study included forming a steering committee, monthly meetings, and historical research, including oral history, genealogical research, and a pedestrian tour of Chapman State Park, which the study reported was once part of a large plantation and fishery owned by the Chapman family, who used enslaved labor on the property.

The study recommended creating a cross-agency task force to raise awareness of the national significance of the Black and Indigenous History in the Bryans Road-Pomonkey-Indian Head area. Near-term recommendations included developing exhibits and trail material for Chapman State Park.

2025 Legislative Update

• Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney and Jenifer Elin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, offered updates on the Maryland General Assembly. Commissioners gave consensus for letters of support for House Bill 835, which would alter the types of alcohol available at Blue Crabs Stadium, and House Bill 841, which would dissolve the Charles County Gaming Permit Review Board.

Commissioners also agreed to send a letter of support for Senate Bill 357, which would give the Prescription Drug Affordability Board more leeway in making high-cost drugs more affordable in Maryland.

Commissioners also agreed to send a letter of support for Senate Bill 774, which adjusts the valuation of rural broadband service providers' operating property under certain scenarios.

G.S. Proctor & Associates representatives Joseph Green and Jeanette Tejada de Gomez briefed commissioners on the governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget and how costs, such as teacher pensions and the local offices of the Department of Assessments and Taxation, are proposed to be shifted from the state to the county.   

• Commissioners also heard from William Smith, Coordinator of the Charles County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, who requested that they support a request for an amendment to House Bill 947, which concerns the Tax Credit for Volunteer Emergency Responders. Volunteers requested that the income cap be increased to $250,000 per year and the benefit be increased by $500 to $2,500 in 2028. A motion to support ended in a 3-2 vote with three commissioners in opposition.

Briefings

• Jason Groth, Acting Director of Planning and Growth Management, and Michelle Lilly, Director of the Department of Emergency Services, presented a briefing on the request for a consultant for an Adequate Public Safety Ordinance. The ordinances would regulate new development to ensure public safety infrastructure is available to support the growth. Components often include service level standards, development review processes, and possible impact fees/excise tax for development projects, if needed.

A stakeholder group would be brought together to study a potential ordinance and impact fee based on community feedback. Commissioners unanimously approved the proposal to begin the process of establishing an Adequate Public Safety Ordinance.

• Dina Barclay, Director, and Rita Wood, Chief of Housing Authority, briefed commissioners on the budget performance of the Charles County 2024 Housing Choice Voucher program. The presentation included key performance indicators, program challenges, and the program’s outcomes. In Calendar Year 2024, $11.5 million in federal funding was managed, with the vast majority directed to housing assistance payments. Charles County’s Housing Authority was found to have no significant audit findings and consistently meets or exceeds HUD performance standards.
• Renesha Miles, Chief Equity Officer, and Elaine Pollard, DEI/HR Coordinator, held an update on a request to establish February as African American Heritage Month Instead of Black History Month in Charles County. The discussion included a review of data from Community Conversations and a survey taken from July 26 to Aug. 31, 2024. The in-depth analysis included a summary of residents' feelings for either name, concerns about changing the name, and the historical legacy of the name “Black History Month.” Commissioners took no further action on the matter during the meeting.

Proclamations

Commissioners recognized the following proclamations:

• 2025-06 Black History Month
• 2025-07 Career and Technical Education Month
• 2025-08 National Burn Awareness Week
• 2025-09 National Engineers Week

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

• A budget transfer request of $214,000 to provide adequate funding to acquire two parcels of land along Bensville Road. The purchases would support the county’s Middletown Road-Bensville Road Waterline Interconnection project.
• A budget transfer request of $506,880 to cover additional equipment expenses for technology and furniture at Margaret J. Thornton Elementary School. Funds would be transferred from the Eva Turner Elementary School modernization/addition project, as the funds are no longer needed for that project.
• A change order of $175,000 to repair cracks discovered in the Mattawoman Flow Equalization Basin. A budget amendment increase was also approved to cover the additional costs from the change order.
• A request for a public event permit for the Charles County Public Library Books, Bites, and Beats Fest on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
• A budget transfer request of $176,775 to use County funds to purchase property on Middletown Road if the State Board of Public Works does not approve the use of Program Open Space funding. 
• A contract for a lobbyist agreement with G.S. Proctor.

To hear an audio summary of this meeting, please listen to our new video and podcast series “From the Dais: Commissioners Meeting Update.”

Viewing option of the meeting: Click Here

Next Scheduled Commissioner Meeting(s): Feb. 25-26, 2026

Atlantic menhaden weigh less than a pound, and measure little more than a foot long. But this small fish has big consequences for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. A bill introduced in the Virginia General Assembly is looking to study the Atlantic menhaden population in the Chesapeake. There’s little data on Atlantic menhaden populations in the Bay, and fishing and conservation groups say that’s the problem. Jaclyn Higgins, with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, says menhaden populations aren’t well-researched in the Bay, despite studies on the species along the entire Atlantic coast.

"There were a couple studies kind of done throughout the last 20 years, but nothing super comprehensive and nothing that would allow us to say this is the amount of menhaden that we would consider healthy for the Chesapeake Bay. Really, we don’t know anything about Chesapeake Bay menhaden."

The bill would provide three million dollars for the study of menhaden populations in the Chesapeake. The research would look at if reduction fishing, that pulls millions of pounds of menhaden out of the Bay each year, is leading to local depletion.

But why is such a small fish so important to the Chesapeake Bay environment? Well, Higgins says Atlantic menhaden are a keystone species for the rest of the Chesapeake food chain.

 "They make up the base of the marine food chain along the Atlantic, but in particular, in the Chesapeake Bay. They are a primary food source for striped bass. Striped bass are really reliant on menhaden as a food source in those juvenile and adult stages while they’re in the bay. "

Studies indicate that 30-percent of the Striped Mouth Bass’s diet is Atlantic mendhaden.

 Atlantic menhaden weigh less than a pound, and measure little more than a foot long. But this small fish has big consequences for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

 As 21st-century policing continues to evolve, the need for accurate data and accessible technology has become a priority for law enforcement agencies nationwide. Recognizing this need, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO) and St. Mary’s County Government (SMCG) took a significant step forward by transitioning to a new records management and computer-aided dispatch system, Tyler Technologies, on August 13, 2024.

Building on this advancement, SMCSO, in coordination with SMCG, is now launching Citizen Connect, an interactive, map-centric portal that enables the community to view and analyze public safety trends in their area.

Citizen Connect is a geospatial interface that displays incidents—calls for service that have resulted in a Sheriff’s Office response in which a Deputy completes a report—on an interactive map. The application is accessible from both mobile devices and computers, offering a user-friendly experience for those seeking information about law enforcement activity in St. Mary’s County. To access Citizen Connect, visit our website, www.FirstSheriff.com, and find the link under Quick Links on the front page.

To ensure privacy, precise street addresses are not disclosed within the Citizen Connect system. The shown incident location is the general location of the reported incident and never shows the specific address and some occurred incident types are never displayed to protect victims’ privacy.

Incident data within Citizen Connect is updated every 72 hours; however, no information is available for incidents occurring before August 13, 2024, as the system was implemented in conjunction with the transition to Tyler Technologies.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to transparency and public engagement by providing technological resources that foster community awareness and trust.

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. to receive and consider written and oral public comment regarding the update to the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance and zoning maps, and amendments to the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan and town center master plans, and town center zoning ordinances. The public hearing will be held in the Commissioners Hearing Room, located in the Calvert County Circuit Courthouse, Second Floor, at 175 Main St. in Prince Frederick. The date may be subject to change due to weather or emergency.

In the event that public comments conclude before 7 p.m., the Board has committed to recessing the meeting until 7 p.m., then reopening it to allow those not able to comment earlier an opportunity to express their views. Residents are urged to review the proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan and town center master plans, the zoning ordinance and zoning map updates, and the proposed text amendments in their entirety. Comments submitted previously to the Planning Commission are not part of the record from this hearing – please submit any comments you have based upon the documents that are a part of this hearing before the close of the Record. The public is invited to attend the meeting in person at the Commissioners’ Hearing Room in the Calvert County Circuit Courthouse, located at 175 Main St. in Prince Frederick. Individuals may also listen or comment by phone:

·         Toll-free: 301-715-8592

·         Meeting ID: 899 4188 8251

·         Passcode: #

·         Request to speak: *9

The public hearing will be streamed live on Comcast channel 1070 and the Calvert County Government YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/CalvertCountyGov. Recorded meetings can be watched on demand at www.CalvertCountymd.gov/Meetings or www.YouTube.com/CalvertCountyGov.

The Calvert County Zoning Ordinance regulates land usage, as many aspects can impact adjoining neighborhoods, public facilities and overall county development as part of the effort to promote health, safety and welfare of Calvert County residents, as mandated in the Comprehensive Plan (adopted in 2019 and amended in 2022). 

At the Hearing, the Board will consider and receive comments regarding the following documents:

1.      Proposed amendments to the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan; 

2.      Proposed amendments to the Huntingtown Town Center Master Plan; 

3.      Proposed amendments to the Solomons Town Center Master Plan; 

4.      Proposed amendments to the St. Leonard Town Center Master Plan;

5.      Text Amendment 24-01: Amendments to the Dunkirk, Owings, Prince Frederick, Lusby, and Solomons Town Center Zoning Ordinances to reduce density to 4 units per acre;

6.      Text Amendment 24-02: Amendments to the Dunkirk, Owings, Huntingtown, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, Lusby, and Solomons Town Center Zoning Ordinances to remove Architectural Review Committee reviews;

7.      Text Amendment 24-03: Amendments to the Dunkirk, Owings, Huntingtown, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, Lusby, and Solomons Town Center Zoning Ordinances to remove the Land Use Charts;

8.      Text Amendment 24-04: Amendments to the Prince Frederick, Lusby, and Solomons Town Center Zoning Ordinances to increase Transferable Development Right (TDR) requirements; 

9.      Text Amendment 24-05: Amendments to the Dunkirk, Owings, Huntingtown, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, Lusby, and Solomons Town Center Zoning Ordinances to update Zoning Ordinance references;

10.  Text Amendment 24-06: Amendment to the Prince Frederick Town Center Zoning Ordinance to increase residential parking requirements; and

11.  Comprehensive Rezoning: Repeal and Readoption of the County Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Maps with amendments.

The documents are available for review at www.calvertcountymd.gov/PublicHearings.

Residents, businesses and stakeholders are encouraged to review and comment on the items being considered. Individuals may submit written comment before the public hearing.

Written comments submitted in advance must be received by 4:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 by email to ZOupdate@calvertcountymd.gov, or by mail; Calvert County; Attn: ZO Update, 205 Main St., Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Written comments will be accepted at the County Commissioners’ public hearing up until the close of the record. Any of the draft ordinances, maps, amendments or plans may be substantively modified, revised, amended or otherwise changed, based upon comments in the Record.

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay connected with Calvert County Government through the mobile app, newsletters, social media and more at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/StayInformed.

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is seeking applicants to serve on the 2025 Compensation Review Board. This board convenes every four years to provide valuable insight and recommendations to help shape compensation and benefit packages for county officials. Key responsibilities of the board include:

·         Salary Review: Evaluate the salaries established by state and local law for county officials

·         Benefit Analysis: Examine existing policies and procedures in the county regarding inclusion of benefits and compensation packages for county commissioners

·         Recommendations: Provide recommendations for salary adjustments and inclusion of benefits in the commissioners’ compensation package

The Compensation Review Board plays a vital role in ensuring compensation packages align with legal standards and meet the evolving needs of county leadership. Serving on the board offers a unique opportunity to shape the policies and decisions that directly affect your community and address local challenges.

For more information visit www.calvertcountymd.gov/Compensation-Review-Board. To complete the application, visit www.calvertcountymd.gov/FormCenter/County-Administration/Member-Application.

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay up to date with Calvert County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and YouTube at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov.

Maryland’s 2025 Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Higher Bird Counts

A waterfowl survey airplane prepares to take off, Maryland DNR photo by Stephen Badger.

Aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have completed their annual population estimates of ducks, geese, and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River and Atlantic coast shorelines. 

This year, the teams counted about 705,300 waterfowl, which was higher than both the 593,200 birds observed in 2024 and the most recent five-year average of 624,300 birds. 

“Wintering waterfowl distribution and abundance is influenced by many factors, including weather, food availability, annual changes in population, and habitat quality,” said Wildlife and Heritage Director Karina Stonesifer. “The midwinter waterfowl survey allows our biologists to measure distributional changes and long-term trends of wintering waterfowl in Maryland.”

Overall, estimated numbers of dabbling duck (126,000) were higher than the 2024 count of 91,300 birds. The number of mallards (62,300) and black ducks (47,600) were higher than their respective 5-year averages (54,740 and 27,840). 

The 2025 midwinter survey was conducted during the first two weeks of January. Biologists counted 414,200 Canada geese in the 2025 survey, which was higher than both the 350,500 geese counted in 2024 and the 5-year average of 354,760. Overall, higher dabbling duck and Canada goose numbers likely reflect the cold weather observed in December and January. 

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey has been conducted annually since the early 1960s and covers most of the tidal shorelines and near-shore waterfowl habitat in Maryland. 

Results of the past five surveys are below. The survey was not conducted in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

The Office of the Comptroller has identified a printing malfunction that led to a limited batch of roughly 6,000 1099-G forms going to incorrect addresses. The printing error did not impact other tax forms produced by the agency. There was no external data breach; this was an internal issue. Individuals who mistakenly received another person’s information should destroy the document immediately.

The correct 1099 will be mailed to affected individuals this week, and the correct information is also available to view through the General Accounting Division Online Service Center.

In the coming days, our agency will also provide additional instructions to affected individuals regarding credit monitoring services paid for by the Office of the Comptroller. Additionally, our agency will establish a dedicated email address, phone line, and website for impacted individuals. Affected taxpayers can also email gad@marylandtaxes.gov with the subject line “1099G Issue” with questions or concerns.  

We sincerely apologize for not catching the error and for any distress this incident may cause the affected individuals. We will be altering our process in the future on printing jobs to ensure this type of incident does not ever happen again. 

Calvert County Government is pleased to announce the results of the latest community survey, reflecting the opinions and insights of 727 residents. The survey is done by a third-party and uses a representative sample by matching respondent data to the U.S. Census Bureau’s race, ethnicity, age and gender distributions in Calvert County. Rake-weighting was applied as a statistical safeguard to balance out any remaining discrepancies in distribution ensuring no demographic group is overrepresented or underrepresented in the final score. The results provide residents’ perspectives, which will assist Calvert County leaders make decisions and provide services that align with community needs.

The survey identified top areas for improvement according to residents:

·         Arts and Culture: Calvert County Government continues to advance initiatives to incorporate the arts into county facilities, including the addition of a mural at the Appeal Landfill and the new basketball court mural at Cove Point Park.

·         Public Transportation: Despite continued county efforts to better meet community transportation needs, transportation continues to score low. Calvert County is utilizing resident feedback to make public transportation more accessible and convenient for all residents, including updates to transportation route maps, the addition of two new buses, a fare-free transportation system (implemented July 1, 2024), the Name That Bus campaign, and education and outreach regarding transportation use.

·         Ease of Permit and Zoning Process: Calvert County Government debuted the Encompass online portal in March 2023, allowing residents and businesses to apply

for building permits with comfort and ease. Many who negatively scored the ease of permitting in Calvert County had not used the new Encompass portal and many were unaware it was an option.

Additional areas of concern for residents include:

·         Availability of affordable housing

·         Availability of jobs that pay a living wage

·         Access to quality health care services

The survey also highlighted key areas respondents feel are strengths:

·         Safety: Overall safety continues to score high. The establishment of new Sheriff’s Office district stations in Dunkirk and Lusby is a significant step in maintaining and improving this essential area.

·         Libraries and Education: Quality of libraries and education funding are consistently praised. The recent opening of a new Twin Beaches Public Library and ongoing county funding for education reflect the county’s commitment to these essential services.

The survey showed that 72% of surveyed residents expressed overall satisfaction with life in Calvert County. This significant figure highlights an overall positive sentiment within our community and motivates staff to continue working on areas needing improvement.

The survey also features a rotating section which allows county staff the opportunity to ask key questions and direct outreach to community needs. In the most recent survey 36% of respondents identified tax incentives for businesses that produce living-wage jobs as a top priority for improving employment in the county. To learn more about how the county is addressing these concerns with incentives and grant opportunities, visit the Economic Development page at www.ChooseCalvert.com. Additionally, 49% of survey participants expressed interest in learning more reasons for businesses to relocate to Calvert County. The Economic Development team offers a Community Profile at www.ChooseCalvert.com/CommunityProfile showcasing the county’s economic strengths, workforce capabilities and quality of life features that make Calvert County a desirable destination for business growth and investment.

Full survey results are available at www.calvertcountymd.gov/SurveyResults.

Find information on Calvert County Government services online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov. Stay up to date with Calvert County Government on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CalvertCountyMd and YouTube at www.youtube.com/CalvertCountyGov.

Lee L. Richardson, 23, of no fixed address, was apprehended today by the U.S. Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force in Prince George’s County on an arrest warrant charging him in the murder of Matthew Skye Keister. 

On January 27, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 25000 block of Jones Wharf Road in Hollywood, MD, for the report of a male not breathing and found a deceased victim inside a trashcan on the property.

The victim’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, where an autopsy determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound. Deputies identified the victim as Matthew Skye Keister, 19, of Hollywood.

The subsequent investigation led to the identification of Richardson, a known associate of Keister, as the suspect in the murder; a warrant was issued on January 30 for his arrest. 

Richardson is charged with murder second-degree, assault first- and second-degree, firearm use during a felony-violent crime and bury or disposal of a body in an unauthorized place. The suspect is being held at the Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown. 

State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced that Sidney Joseph Spry, 29, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was sentenced to 75 years in prison with 52 years of active incarceration for attempted second degree murder, first degree assault, and firearm charges.

In September 2022, Spry armed himself with two firearms and drove to his former employer’s business park where he fired many rounds into the office building toward the area of his former supervisor’s office. He then fled the area by car. In a separate incident several days prior, Spry fired multiple rounds at a neighboring apartment from his complex’s parking lot after a lengthy history of disputes with his neighbors over noise complaints. No persons were struck; however, spent bullets were found in the bedroom near the victims’ baby bassinet.

During a lengthy sentencing hearing, the Court carefully listened to arguments presented by both the State and the Defense and ultimately sentenced the Defendant to a sentence above the sentencing guideline range, as follows:

• Attempted second degree murder: 30 years in prison with 18 years of active incarceration, consecutive to all other counts and cases;
• Use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime: 18 years in prison, consecutive to all other counts and cases;
• First degree assault: 25 years in prison with 8 years of active incarceration, consecutive to all other counts and cases; and
• Use of firearm in the commission of a violent crime: 20 years in prison with 8 years of active incarceration, consecutive to all other counts and cases.

The Maryland Sentencing Guidelines called for a sentence between 10 to 17 years. The State requested the maximum penalty of 95 years in prison. The total sentence imposed was 75 years with 52 years of active incarceration.

Sergeant Austin Schultz of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Mosier prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.

The Honorable Joseph M. Stanalonis presided over the case.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – The St. Mary’s County Commission for Women (CFW) is pleased to announce their annual Women’s History Month Brunch & Awards Ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of women and girls in our community. This event will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the White Rose, located at 21030 Point Lookout Road in Callaway; doors open at 10:30 a.m.

This year’s theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations”. St. Mary’s County is blessed with an abundance of women who, through their volunteer contributions, have fought long and hard to stand up for other women and girls in our community. We invite you to help us celebrate their accomplishments!

Each year four awards are presented: the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement and Hometown Shero awards (selected by CFW), and the Woman of the Year and Tomorrow’s Woman awards (community nomination; selected by independent panel of judges).

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement award will be given to Charlottis Woodley, a longtime advocate for education and community empowerment. The 2025 Hometown Shero award will be presented to Norma Pipkin and Marta Kelsey to recognize their many years of service to the community.

Nominations are now open for the “Woman of the Year” and “Woman of Tomorrow” awards. The deadline to submit nominations is 5 p.m. on February 17, 2025.

For event information, tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or to submit a nomination, please visit www.stmaryscountymd.gov/cwawards. For questions, please call (301) 475-4200, ext.1680.

Proceeds will support the Jane Hale-Sypher scholarship through the College of Southern Maryland, which was established to help non-traditional students further their educational goals.

About the St. Mary’s County Commission for Women

The St. Mary’s County Commission for Women (CFW) champions women’s issues and concerns. The CFW was created to address matters of specific concern to women in the areas of employment, education, health, public office, family, and legal rights. This very active group stays busy in our community reaching out to women in many walks of life. In addition, each year the CFW takes the time to recognize female volunteers who represent the backbone of our community. The members are appointed by the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County and report to them the areas of concern to women in our community. Learn more at: www.stmaryscountymd.gov/CW.

LEONARDTOWN, MD – Do you want to know how to access Medicare, Medicaid, or other similar programs and services? Do you have questions about Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia? Do you want to learn about St. Mary’s County Legal Aid, how to avoid scams, and reduce debt? Get connected and get the information you need at the Department of Aging & Human Services (DAHS) Keys to Senior Independence series!

The Keys to Senior Independence series will be held on Mondays, from March 17–April 7, 2025, from 6–9 p.m., at the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown (Building C, Room 206).

This year’s presentation topics are:

Rethinking Aging & Financial Planning (Monday, March 17)

Join us to learn about programs offered through DAHS! Our programs, ranging from nutrition services and health promotion to elder advocacy and caregiver support, help older adults in St. Mary’s County maintain their health and independence. Additionally, a representative from PNC Bank will talk about how to make the most of your money as you age.

Mental Health & Cognitive Decline (Monday, March 24)

This evening will cover several facets of mental health, including information on Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

Financial Health/ Identity Protection (Monday, March 31)

Speakers this week will discuss scams directed toward the aging population and how to detect, avoid, and report them, along with legal information and financial options for older adults!

Physical Health (Monday, April 7)

Speakers this week will teach participants about cardiovascular health, prostate care, living well with Lyme disease, and about the importance of preventive care.

Sign up for one presentation or all four! For more information, or to register, contact Nicoletta Pollice, Outreach Specialist with DAHS at (301) 475-4200, ext. 1074, or via email to Nicoletta.Pollice@stmaryscountymd.gov.

CDS Violation: 25-5238 On January 20, 2025, DFC Newton initiated a traffic stop on an unregistered vehicle along Boyds Turn Road in Owings. Upon making contact with the occupants, deputies observed a butane blow torch on the lap of passenger, Nicholas Edward Large, 43 of Dunkirk. Investigation revealed 30 Oxycodone pills, Percocet, crack cocaine, a metal push rod, two smoking devices with burnt residue, 6 burnt copper filters, and a cut straw with burnt ends were recovred. Large was placed into custody and transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with CDS: Possession-Not Cannabis and CDS: Possession of Paraphernalia. 

CDS Violation: 25-6221 On January 23, 2025, DFC DeSantis conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle swerving all over the roadway, nearly striking a guardrail in the area of Town Square Drive in Lusby. During routine questioning, CDS paraphernalia (burnt cut straw with heroin residue) was observed in plain view. A vehicle search revealed multiple paper folds containing both crack cocaine and heroin, a loose crack rock, two cut straws with residue, a grinder with crack cocaine residue, and 75 Suboxone strips. The driver identified as, Rilyn Boyd Dlouhy, 25 of Lusby, was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with CDS Possession with the Intent to Distribute, CDS: Possession- Not Cannabis, and CDS: Possession of Paraphernalia. 

Damaged Property: 25-6838 On Saturday January 25, 2025, Deputy Angell responded to 315 Stafford Road in Prince Frederick, for the report of a disorderly subject damaging property. The complainant reported Marquez Graham Raynor, 24 of Huntingtown, put a hole in the wall and destroyed a hand sanitizer dispenser. Raynor was trespassed from the property and charged with Malicious Destruction of Property/ Value less than $1,000. (No photo available)

Disorderly Conduct: 25-5413 On January 20, 2025, S/DFC Wilder responded to the 10200 block of Tickle Lane in Lusby for a reported assault. The caller, later identified as Michael Cook Oswald, 52 of Lusby, contacted 911 multiple times, stating he had been assaulted and made concerning statements about potential violence. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Oswald, who exhibited signs of intoxication and alleged he was assaulted by Khalaia Myasha Brown, 24 of Lusby. Brown denied the assault and instead accused Oswald of pushing her. After law enforcement explained the handling of the situation, Oswald became belligerent. Shortly after deputies left, Oswald called 911 multiple times, threatening harm to others in the residence. He was arrested for Obscene Telephone Misuse, Disorderly Conduct and Second-Degree Assault. Brown was charged with Second-Degree Assault. 

Disorderly Conduct: 25-7201 3 On January 26, 2025, deputies responded to the 11400 block of Green Acres Ct. in Dunkirk, the report of a disorderly subject. The caller, Brandon Russel Saunders, 36 of Dunkirk, made multiple threats to harm his neighbors and was reported to be intoxicated. Upon arrival, deputies observed Saunders yelling threats at his neighbors and ordered him to return to his residence. Despite multiple warnings, Saunders continued yelling and became aggressive. Saunders reemerged, escalating the situation while resisting arrest. After being secured, Saunders began banging his head against the patrol car cage making additional threats toward deputies. Saunders was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Intoxicated Public Disturbance, Resisting/Interfering with Arrest, and Failure to Obey a Lawful Order.

Motor Vehicle Theft: 25-6629 On January 24,2025, DFC Shoemaker responded to the 4800 block of St. Leonard Road in St. Leonard, for reported vehicle theft. The complainant advised an unknown male stole the victim’s vehicle and the theft was caught on surveillance. The male was observed returning the victim’s vehicle as deputies arrived and placed the suspect, William Thomas Murphy, 48 of St. Leonard into custody. Murphy was tranasported to the Calvert County Detnetion Center and charged with Theft: $100,000 Plus- All Other and Motor Vehicle/ Unlawful Taking

Theft: 25-5435 On January 20, 2025, DFC Sturdivant and Cpl. Bortchevsky responded to a reported shoplifting in progress at Harris Teeter located at 10125 Ward Road in Dunkirk. Investigation revealed Romulus Munteanu, 27 of Flushing, NY, was observed on store surveillance leaving the store on an electric scooter with unpaid groceries. A second suspect, Florin Butnariuc, 40 of Federal Way, WA, was located inside the T-Mobile and provided a receipt covering some, but not all groceries. The total value of stolen merchandise was valued at $1,047.81. Both suspects were transported to the Calvert County Detention Center. Butnariuc was charged with Theft: $100 to Under $1500 and Theft: $100 to Under $1500-Shoplifting. Munteanu was charged with Theft Scheme: $100 to Under $1500.

Theft: 25-6943 On January 25, 2025, Deputy Angell responded to the 3200 block of Holland Cliffs Road in Huntingtown, for the report of a theft. The complainant advised the front registration plate was stolen from her vehicle. The estimated value of stolen property is $175.00.

Theft: 25-6934 On January 25, 2025, Deputy Morrison responded to the 200 block of Hoile Lane in Huntingtown, for the report of a theft. The complainant reported his handicap placard had been stolen. The estimated value of stolen property is $25.

Trespassing: 25-5670 On January 21, 2025, Deputy H. Jones responded to the 7-11 located at 685 Prince Frederick Blvd in Prince Frederick, for the report of a trespassing. Upon arrival, Kentyra Yuncinda Eboney Harris, 32 of Waldorf, was arguing with store personnel when asked to leave, causing a disturbance in front of customers. Harris refused to comply with orders from management and deputies and began resisting arrest. Harris was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing and Hindering, Failure to Obey a Reasonable/ Lawful Order, Trespassing: Private Property and Resisting/Interfering with Arrest.

County Commissioners were joined by leaders from the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services, and Town of La Plata Police Department for a joint meeting on public safety in Charles County. The meeting was a forum for officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities to provide for public safety and emergency response. Topics included leveraging technology and managing staffing needs as the county grows.

Commissioners were also joined by Dr. Maria Navarro, School Superintendent; Dr. Marvin Jones, Chief of Schools; and Jason Stoddard, Director of School Safety and Security, to discuss ways to improve school safety, security, and discipline. The conversation included a review of the school system’s code of conduct and response levels to classroom disruptions.

2025 Legislative Update

Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney, and Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, updated commissioners on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly Session. They also briefed them on three drafted local proposals, including bills to repeal the Charles County Gaming Review Board, to expand the authority of special police officers to maintain the safety and security of elected officials and county employees, and to expand the locations for consumption of liquor within the Blue Crabs Stadium.

Commissioners supported the request of Director of Public Works, Martin Harris, to provide testimony concerning HB20 - Transportation Investment Priorities Act of 2025.

A letter of support was also drafted for House Bill 97, which would expand the capabilities of economic development authorities and allow communities to create Redevelopment Authorities to enhance support for economic development opportunities.

A letter of opposition was approved for SB292, which specifies certain vehicle offenses as secondary enforcement only.

Briefings

• Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, and Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney, presented a briefing on two NIKE Land Donations requests by  Melwood and the Piscataway Indian Nation. Land donation requests were received from both parties in September 2023. The Melwood donation would include a 10-acre property at 12705 Country Lane in Waldorf. The current tenant, Melwood, has leased the property since 1992. Commissioners approved a public hearing for the Melwood land donation on Feb. 25, 2025, at 6 p.m.

The Piscataway donation would be for a 16.492-acre property on 16816 Country Lane, which has an appraised value of $2.88 million. The Official Piscataway Conoy Tribe of Maryland, Inc., has occupied the property since 2023. Commissioners voted 3-1 to schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 6 p.m.

• Charles Rice, Planning Director, and Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning, briefed the Commissioners on a revised design for on-site public notice signage. The presentation reviewed the type of zoning applications that require on-site posted signage and comparisons between the original version and the new sign template. The latest sign template is weatherproof and includes a QR code leading to a website containing all information for a given application.

The new signs were piloted with several new projects over the past year, including the Aviation Business Park Rezoning project. They have received positive feedback for their weatherproof design, more legible fonts, and overall visibility. Commissioners approved using the new sign template as the standard rule of practice and procedure going forward.

• Joel Binkley, Planning Supervisor; Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning; Charles Rice, Planning Director; and Dawud Abdur-Rahman, Planning Commission Secretary, held a briefing on updates regarding the Affordable Housing Workgroup's activities. The workgroup is developing a comprehensive strategy to increase the county's affordable housing availability.

The workgroup recommended an aspirational goal that 25% of new residential housing units be affordable to HUD’s three low-income tiers by 2033. In addition, the Planning Commission would devise and update a five-year work plan that includes specifics, including regulatory changes, developer incentives, and other programs enhancing affordability.

The Affordable Housing Workgroup plans to present its strategy to the Planning Commission and the public for input in March 2025. The proposal would return to commissioners for approval in May.

• Sam Drury, Deputy Director of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, provided an update on the future Mallows Bay Heritage Center feasibility study. The future heritage center will aim to enhance education, exploration, and economic opportunities for both visitors and residents by providing increased accessibility, educational initiatives, and improved amenities. The Inflation Reduction Act awarded a $5 million grant for planning and preconstruction of the visitor center.

In addition, the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary received upgrades in November 2024, with electrical power access and broadband network connection. The completion of this project will bring network connectivity to the park to include future safety and security enhancements, including an emergency call station.

• Deborah Hall, Acting County Administrator; Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator; Doria Fleisher, Assistant Chief of Media; and Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning, briefed commissioners on the Winkler House. The home, built in 1923, currently sits on land designated as the future site of the new La Plata Library.

A stakeholder meeting was held in Sept. 2024 to determine sentiments related to the property and the value of renovation versus demolishing the house. Because of the high cost of necessary renovations, presenters recommended demolishing the house to create a pocket park while creating a display within the library to commemorate the house.

Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling suggested allowing the Town of La Plata to take ownership of the home before demolition if the community wants to preserve it. Commissioners agreed to send a letter giving the town 30 days to decide whether to take over the Winkler House without impeding the library project.

• Charles Rice, Planning Director, and Reed Faasen, Zoning Administrator, held a work session on Proposed Bill 2024-16. The Bill would exempt Agritourism projects with 50 or fewer parking spaces from requirements to widen driveways to provide two-way traffic. The Commissioners deferred action on the bill to allow time for more stakeholder engagement and to address misconceptions about the bill. Commissioners voted unanimously to hold another work session on March 11.

Department Highlights

Commissioners were updated on the actions of the Department of Community Services, Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and Planning and Growth Management. Highlights included:

• The Department of Community Services secured a grant to purchase a 5-bedroom home for Jude House, Inc. The home facilitates an expansion of Jude House programs, including Robins Nest, a safe haven for sober living and reunification for women and their children.
• The Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism has started its community engagement activities for the future Sports and Wellness Complex at the former Sears Building at St. Charles Towne Center. They also recently completed the installation of a new turf field with lighting at Bensville Park, to expand access for games and practices, and other improvements to enhance its use.
• The Department of Planning and Growth Management celebrated the inclusion of Charles County into Maryland Mesonet. Weather stations for the Mesonet system, which measure soil moisture, rain fall, and other weather-related measurements, will be built in the Soil Conservation District in Waldorf, at the Nanjemoy Community Center, and at the Jude House in Bel Alton.

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

• A budget transfer request of $533,000 to fund the development of a shared-use path along Radio Station Road.
• A budget transfer request of $80,000 to cover the remaining fiscal year costs for mattress recycling. The volume of mattresses collected and recycled under the program is higher than projected.
• Two Inter-category budget transfer requests for Charles County Public Schools to cover $590,000 in expense movement and a budget transfer increase of $25.3 million to cover the Oracle Cloud ERP system implementation.
• A budget amendment increase of $176,775 for a property on Middletown Road for Program Open Space.
• A letter of support to the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to open the Lower Potomac Field Station in Nanjemoy for recreational opportunities.