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Thompson falls short in 100th win bid, again
In the second game of an unscheduled double header last Thursday evening, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs pitcher Daryl Thompson was once again denied the 100th win of his prolonged career with the Atlantic League team on a night when several fielders simply betrayed him. Southern Maryland (35-36) struggled through the first half of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball schedule and had dipped to six games below the .500 mark. But the Blue Crabs have since started the second half of the ALPB slate in...
Charles health officer pushes 'Blue Zones' designation
Charles County could begin the process of becoming a Blue Zone, which examines community health and strives to have citizens live longer. “It’s about health, and anything that’s going to improve the health of Charles County is an interest to me,” Dr. Dianna Abney, health officer for the county, said at the June 25 commissioners’ meeting. “A healthier Charles County is the vision of the health department.” Abney told the...
Charles school board approves elementary redistricting plan
The Charles County Board of Education at its June 11 meeting approved an elementary school redistricting plan that will create an attendance zone for the new Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary School, set to open in August 2025. The approved plan moves 1,044 existing students from the following schools: Berry, Billingsley, William A. Diggs, Mary H. Matula, T.C. Martin, Arthur Middleton, Walter J. Mitchell, J.P. Ryon and William B. Wade elementary schools. ...
After Trump rally shooting, Maryland politicians across spectrum decry violence
After a shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday left one attendee and a gunman dead and former President Donald Trump injured, Maryland officials on both sides of the aisle expressed support for victims and outrage at the act of political violence. “I condemn in the strongest possible terms what has happened in Pennsylvania today to President Trump,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in a statement. “Political violence is never acceptable. Ever.” ...
AW139 helicopter arrives at Joint Base Andrews
The Nuclear Emergency Support Team welcomed the arrival of its new AW139 helicopter at Joint Base Andrews, June 17, enhancing its nuclear emergency response capabilities. As a mission partner at Joint Base Andrews, NEST is a specialized unit under the National Nuclear Security Administration responsible for a full range of nuclear emergency response missions, to include preventive radiological detection, radiological consequence management, and nuclear forensic analysis. The AW139 will join...
Fire Tower Road gun range legal battle faces judicial misstep
A two-year long legal battle against an unlicensed gun range will likely drag on after a major misstep by the Charles County judicial system. While a 2022 injunction preventing gunfire at the property on Fire Tower Road in Welcome remains in place, Byron David Bell Sr., who owns the property, had a $309,000 lien removed from his house on July 9 due to the Charles County courts failing to allow an alternative way to serve him notice of a hearing. ...
Body of missing swimmer found in Patuxent River
The body of a 19-year-old Huntingtown man who was last seen swimming in the Patuxent River near the Benedict Bridge Monday evening was recovered Wednesday morning. According to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Alex-Garcia-Lopez’s body was located around 6 a.m. in the vicinity where he was last seen alive. The search for Garcia-Lopez began shortly after 7 p.m. on July 8 after a 911 hangup call was received. ...
Children explore art at St. Mary's library
Art can be found just about anywhere, including at the local library. The Leonardtown Library hosted “Art Night for Kids” on Monday evening, continuing a summer program that encourages children to explore techniques that created famous works of art. Children’s librarian Andie Tydings created the series to aid children in exploring and mimicking professional art styles used in famous art pieces. Monday’s piece was, “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte,”...
St. Mary's College's Tarleton earns academic sports award
Following his third season as a member of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland baseball team, St. Mary’s County resident Cole Tharleton was recognized for academic excellence by the College Sports Communicators for the second straight season as a member of the CSC Academic All-District Baseball Team. The CSC Academic All-District Baseball acknowledgement recognizes achievements on the field as well as in the classroom. Tarleton, a rising senior at St. Mary’s College who is majoring in economics and on pace to graduate next spring, carried...
Report gives Chesapeake Bay gets its best grade in decades: C+
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The overall health of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary, received its highest grade since 2002 in an annual report released by scientists Tuesday: a C-plus. Scientists at the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science made special note of Pennsylvania’s efforts to block pollution from entering state waterways. Pennsylvania has faced criticism in the past for not doing enough to stop pollution from flowing into...
Legion baseball teams battle on the mound
In the regular season finale for both teams, the St. Mary’s Post 255 (Morgan) squad outlasted La Plata Post 82 12-7 on Monday evening at La Plata High School as both teams prepare for the upcoming District Tournament that commences this evening. Post 255 (Morgan) — one of three teams it entered in the Frank Riley League — jumped on La Plata starter Cole Barrett by scoring five times in the top of the first and the visitors added three more runs in the second,...
After two delays, town hosts fireworks
After two delays due to weather and public safety concerns the annual fireworks display in Chesapeake Beach finally took place Sunday night. Town officials wrote to residents in a press release Monday that the event "was made possible by your patience and understanding of the importance of safety. We conducted the town's unique display, subject to over 10 hours of weather and water conditions, with safety as our top priority." Thanks were extended to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, the Calvert County Sheriff's Office, the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard for their participation.
St. Mary's all-stars fall in state softball tournament
Coaches and players from the St. Mary’s Little League Softball 10-12 All-Stars were hoping for a much better end to the Maryland state tournament that they hosted this week at the Southern Maryland Youth Organization Field in Pomfret, but many of them departed somewhat tearfully on Monday evening after they were upended by South County 11-5 in an elimination game. St. Mary’s had won the District 7 title and advanced to the state tournament with high hopes of earning another crown. But on Sunday morning...
Joint Base Andrews welcomes new 316th Wing and installation commander
U.S. Air Force Col. Jun S. Oh assumed command of the 316th Wing and installation during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Tuesday. Oh, who previously served as the 374th Operations Group commander at Yokota Air Base, Japan, shared his gratitude and commitment to his new role. “I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to join the ranks alongside the outstanding Airmen of the 316th...
Grooving in the heat
Groove Span — Rick Humphreys, left, Jennifer Cooper and Carl Reichelt — perform on Washington Street at Leonardtown’s First Friday event for the month of July. The town’s August First Friday will be part of the annual Wharf Fest weekend.
Greenbelt Municipal swims past Indian Head
Conditions inside the Lackey High School swim pool on Saturday morning only provided a mild relief to those outdoors as visiting Greenbelt Municipal edged host Indian Head 292-286 in a Prince-Mont Swim League Division C meet. Indian Head (2-2) swimmers combined to post 23 victories on Saturday morning, including a three of the five relays, but Greenbelt Municipal prevailed narrowly thanks to three more wins and depth points in other events. Cumulative finals points aside, however, Indian Head coach Meladeh Toney was pleased with the...
Convicted sex offender in Charles sentenced to 25 years for child pornography solicitation
The state’s attorney's office for Charles County announced that on July 1, Johnny Darrell Hammonds, 54, of White Plains was sentenced to 25 years in prison for four counts of solicitation of child pornography. Upon release, Hammonds will be on supervised probation for five years. On May 3, Hammonds entered a guilty plea to the aforementioned charges, as well as admitted to violating his probation in a separate case involving...
Collating equity in Southern Maryland
What began as a topic of conversation less than a decade ago, the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition has since expanded into a grand sum of 31 organizations working together to elevate the history of Black, Indigenous and other people of color across Southern Maryland. Although the local history of Black and Indigenous people in the region is referenced in books, members and organizers of the coalition have sought to make it more accessible through a comprehensive and easily searchable website. Their mission is...
North Point student sworn in as new student member of Charles school board
The Charles County Board of Education swore in Samarjeet “Sam” Virk, a rising senior at North Point High School, to be the student member of the board for the next school year. Virk, who was sworn in at the board’s June 17 work session, was elected in May by Charles County students in sixth through 12th grade. The election was held from April 15 through May 17 and 2,408 votes were cast. He secured 63% of the vote, representing 1,513 ballots. ...
Calvert's bus service goes 'fare free'
As the early 1970s rock standard refrains, “Come on and take a free ride.” As of Monday, the white and green buses of Calvert’s public transportation division are a free ride to designation points in the county. The decision to offer the rides beginning July 1 without the customer paying a fare was made by the county commissioners back in early January. ...
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