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| Posts from January 2013 |
Prince William Police Look for Suspect in Fatal Hit and Run
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 31 2013 5:23PM
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Authorities in Prince William County are looking for the suspect of a fatal hit and run accident on Woodland Drive in Triangle, just before 10:30 Thursday morning.
Police responded for the report of an unconscious man in the road. Joseph Patrick Lyons of Triangle was pronounced dead at an area hospital, a short time later. A preliminary investigation reveals that he was in the road when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
Anyone with information on the incident should contact Prince William Crime Solvers.
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Tractor Trailer Overturns on I-95 Ramp
by Frank Hammon
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posted Jan 31 2013 11:14AM
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Fredericksburg police deal with traffic at the I-95 Interchange at Route 3 following an accident involving an overturned tractor trailer Thursday.
According to a police department release, the truck was relasing an unknown amount of fluid on the ramp from Northbound I-95 to Route 3 West. The ramp is now open.
Photo: Reza Marvashti, The Free Lance-Star
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Fredericksburg businessman didn't pay taxes since '88
by AP
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posted Jan 31 2013 10:50AM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Fredericksburg businessman who admits he hasn't paid personal incomes taxes for more than 25 years could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
The U.S. attorney's office says Jimmy Holland Boyd entered a guilty plea this week to failing to pay employment taxes and personal returns. He owes the U.S. $350,000 in back taxes.
Sixty-three-old Boyd was president of Spring City Co. Excavating Inc., a real estate developing and excavating business. He admitted that for four years he paid workers a quarter-million dollars in wages but failed to pay federal income and other taxes on those wages.
Boyd also admitted he had not filed personal income tax returns since 1988.
Prosecutors say Boyd will be sentenced May 3. Besides a prison term, he faces steep fines.
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UPDATE: Decision on Mistrail in Ex-Officer's Trial to Come Friday
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 30 2013 5:55PM
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The judge and jury reconvene on Friday morning in the case of a former Culpeper police officer convicted in the shooting death of an unarmed woman.
After the jury found Daniel Harmon- Wright guilty of voluntary manslaughter Tuesday, court officials discover two dictionaries and a thesaurus in the jury room. At least one of the dictionaries was bookmarked to a page bearing the definition of the word "murder."
The judge met with attorneys for both sides Wednesday on how to proceed. The judge also called in jurors one-by-one, to get their take on its' impact on a verdict. They say the definitions being looked up were malicious and malice.
Based on her findings, Judge Susan Whitlock could declare a mistrial in the lengthy case. If that happens, Wright would be scheduled for a new trial, likely to start sometime next summer. Otherwise, the jury will start hearing pre-sentencing proceedings at 9:30 a.m. It would make a decision on a sentence later in the day Friday. On the three counts, Wright could face up to 25 years behind bars.
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Fredericksburg Police Warn: Lock Your Vehicles; Arrests for Larceny
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 30 2013 2:56PM
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Police warn, make sure you park in a well lit area and that you car is locked at all times.
It comes after two men are arrested on Marye Street in Fredericksburg early Wednesday morning, after reports they were tampering with parked vehicles in the 800 block. Officers found sunglasses, loose change, an Ipod, Gps and a number of cds on the men.
Edward Washington was also found with marijuana and was held on a $1,000 bond. Michael Washington is charged with felony larceny and is held without bond. Both men are also charged with public intoxication.
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Local Social Security Office Move Catches Residents Off-guard
by Frank Hammon
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posted Jan 30 2013 11:11AM
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The Fredericksburg area Social Security Administration office has moved.
The office moved away from it's location on Southpoint Parkway earlier this month, but area residents going there say there's no notice on the door indicating to where the office moved.
WFLS News has learned the office is now located in the Salon Plaza Complex at Cosner's Corner. The office opened there on January 14th.
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Wegamns Raises Thousands for Food Bank
by Frank Hammon
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posted Jan 30 2013 11:08AM
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The fall checkout scanning campaign at Wegmans in Fredericksburg netted more than $12,000 for the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank.
The Check Out Hunger program allowed customers to donate amouints from $1 on up at the checkout with 100% of the proceeds going to the local food bank. Across the chain of stores $1.38 million was donated.
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Traffic Stop Leads to Marijuana Arrest at Remington Home
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 29 2013 7:25PM
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A weekend traffic stop in Culpeper leads to the arrest of a Remington man.
Police say an officer stopped a teen Saturday, that was found in the possession of pot. He led detectives to the home of 41 year old Jeremy A. Engh where they found marijuana residue and a sawed-off shotgun.
He is charged with possession of marijuana and unlawful possession or use of a sawed off shotgun. He was released on his own recognizance.
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UPDATE: Jury Finds Ex Culpeper Cop Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 29 2013 5:38PM
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 Photo: Courtesy of fredericksburg.com
After more than eight hours of deliberation, a jury this afternoon finds a former Culpeper police officer guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of an unarmed woman last year.
Daniel Harmon-Wright was charged with murder in the Feb. 9 shooting death of 54 year old Patricia Ann Cook, but the jury agrees to guilt on the lesser charge. It also finds him guilty of shooting into an occupied vehicle and shooting into an occupied vehicle resulting in manslaughter. He is being acquitted of a charge of using a firearm in commission of a felony.
The jury returns to recommend Wright's sentence tomorrow. On all of the changes, he could face between four and 25 years in jail.
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Comments Being Accepted on Spotsylvania Schools' Calendar
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 29 2013 2:31PM
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Members of the community have two more weeks to comment on a proposal for the new calendar in Spotsylvania County Schools.
The calendar committee, after overwhelming community response, endorses a plan for a start date after September 3rd. There are two options for a post Labor Day start date and one for an August 26th start.
A School spokeswoman says comments on all three are being accepted at http://spotsylvania.k12.va.us. The School Baord will vote on an option February 11th.
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Fredericksburg man pleads guilty to producing child porn
by AP
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posted Jan 28 2013 3:57PM
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A former preschool teacher has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography by filming his sexual abuse of 5-year-old students in Japan.
Fifty-four-year-old James Manring of Fredericksburg entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
According to a statement of facts, Manring filmed himself abusing students while teaching at a preschool in Japan from 1996 to 1999. Prosecutors say Manring brought a DVD depicting the abuse when he returned to the U.S. He came to the attention of law enforcement when, authorities say, he bought videos containing child pornography.
Prosecutors say Manring taught preschool in Bethesda before his arrest on Nov. 13.
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Chaos early Sunday at a Fredericksburg nightspot
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 28 2013 2:31PM
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Chaos early Sunday at a Fredericksburg nightspot with multiple fights and at least two people shot.
The melee starts around 1:50 at Central Station on Princess Anne St. A music event that drew hundreds of people was winding down as fights were going on inside and out.
By time police sort through the commotion, 23 Christopher Gyamfi of Woodbridge was arrested.
Police had more than 100 people to deal with during the commotion and call in backup from state police and Stafford and Spotsylvania sheriff's offices.
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Winter Weather Means For One School District
by Frank Hammon
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posted Jan 25 2013 12:49PM
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The inclement weather means changes for one area school district.
Stafford County Schools will have a full day of classes on Monday and Tuesday. The teacher work day originally scheduled on Monday, January 28th, has been moved to Wednesday, January 30th. There will be no school for students on Wednesday, January 30th, due to the teacher workday.
On Monday, January 28th, middle and high school students will have their exams that were originally scheduled for Thursday the 24th. Exams originally scheduled for today, will be given on Tuesday.
The second semester will begin on Thursday, January 31st, and report cards will now be issued on February 5th.
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Dog Shot During Arrest
by Frank Hammon
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posted Jan 25 2013 11:31AM
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Joshua Williams/Photo: Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office
Spotsylvania Sheriff's deputies were forced to shoot a suspect's pit bull as it attempted to attack him during a drug arrest Thursday night.
The incident happened last night as deputies were in the process of arresting 24-year-old Josh Williams who was wanted on warrants for aggravated malicious wounding.
In addition,Williams is charged possession with intent to distribute cocaine and PCP. The items were found during the arrest.
Williams is held without bond.
The investigation continues.
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Fredericksburg Brothers Charged in Maryland, More Pending
by Frank Hammon
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posted Jan 25 2013 9:31AM
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Two Fredericksburg men have been arrested and charged in connection with a strong-armed robbery that happened on December 10 in Maryland.
During the robbery on December 10 in Waldorf 18-year-old Rachard Marshall and 20-year-old Kwaune Marshall are alleged to have confronted a 17-year-old boy as he walked along Tanglewood Drive.
The suspects are reported to have assaulted the teenager and stole his Nike Air Jordan shoes.
During the arrest on Wednesday, a key was found in Kwaune's pocket belonging to a car that had been stolen in Washington, D.C. Inside the car investigators found a handgun.
The pair is charged in Charles County with robbery and second degree assault. Other charges in other jurisdictions are pending.
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Spotsylvania School Board Meeting is Moving
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 24 2013 7:14PM
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Due to an expected large number of people planning to show up and hear about the Sposylvania School Board's 2013-2014 budget plan, the meeting is being moved.
It will still be held at 6:30 p.m. next Monday, but will now be in the Auditorium at Massaponax High School. Parents will also get to hear about three options for next year's school calendar.
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Fredericksburg Man Charged in Snowy I-95 Crash
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 24 2013 5:29PM
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A Fredericksburg man is charged with reckless driving early Thursday after a quick succession of three crashes at one I-95 spot on a snowy morning in Northern Virginia.
The series of isolated incidents involved a Virginia State Police cruiser and a Virginia Department of Transportation safety patrol vehicle, both of which were hit. Fredericksburg resident Robert Craig, lost control and slid into the VDOT truck, which hit a VDOT worker, and then hit the cruiser.
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2 brothers sought in Dumfries slaying arrested
by AP
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posted Jan 23 2013 4:45PM
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DUMFRIES, Va. (AP) - Prince William County police say two brothers sought in the death of a Dumfries woman have been captured in Florida.
Police say 27-year-old Christopher Tolliver and 29-year-old Jason Tolliver were arrested Wednesday in North Palm Beach without incident. A third brother, 38-year-old Reginald Tolliver, was arrested Tuesday. All three have been charged with first-degree murder.
The three were sought for the death last week of 35-year-old Tasheka Leavell. Investigators say she was shot after answering a knock on the door of her home early Thursday.
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More Tastes of Winter Head to Fredericksburg Wednesday and Friday
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 23 2013 4:35PM
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The next chance for a taste of winter heads into the Fredericksburg area later Wednesday evening.
Brian Jackson with the National Weather Service in Sterling says the areas for snow accumulation is hot or miss. It comes as part of a low pressure system that developed over the south. About a half inch to an inch is likely. He says this system will move out by midday Thursday. An Alberta Clipper passes through the region Friday afternoon, bringing more widespread swaths of accumulating snow.
Cold temperatures will stay in place for at least the next few days, meaning that anything that does fall could create slick road conditions.
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Bus driver to serve 6 years for fatal crash
by AP
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posted Jan 23 2013 3:55PM
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BOWLING GREEN (AP) - The driver of a bus that crashed killing four will serve six years in prison on four involuntary manslaughter convictions.
Prosecutor Tony Spencer says Kin Yiu Cheung was sentenced Wednesday in Caroline County Circuit Court in Bowling Green to 40 years with 34 years suspended.
The 38-year-old was convicted in November of charges stemming from the May 2011 crash on Interstate 95 in Caroline County.
The bus was en route from Greensboro, N.C., to New York. Witnesses described Cheung's erratic driving before the bus swerved off the road, hit an embankment and overturned.
A state trooper testified at the trial that Cheung nodded when asked whether he'd fallen asleep behind the wheel. Cheung's attorneys have called it a "horrendous accident."
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Group Wanted for Questioning After Gun is Pulled at Fredericksburg IHOP
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 22 2013 5:19PM
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A group of men and women are wanted for questioning after a disturbance at the Central Park IHOP early last Sunday morning.
Police say the were being loud and started jumping onto tables and over partitions. When one man was confronted and told to settle down, he went outside and returned with a handgun.
The group then left the scene in a marron Toyota or Nissan. Anyone with information should contact the Fredericksburg Police Department.
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1 of 3 brothers sought Dumfries slaying arrested
by AP
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posted Jan 22 2013 11:32AM
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DUMFRIES, Va. (AP) - Prince William County police say one brother has been arrested and they are looking for two others in the death of a Dumfries woman.
Police said Tuesday that 38-year-old Reginald Tolliver has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Police say Tolliver is being held without bond in the death of 35-year-old Tasheka Leavell. Investigators say she was shot after answering a knock on the door of her home early Thursday.
Investigators say they are still looking for 27-year-old Christopher Tolliver and 29-year-old Jason Tolliver. Police say the Tollivers knew Leavell but have not revealed a motive.
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Hartwood fire leaves 2 families homeless
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 21 2013 10:40AM
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Two Stafford families lost almost everything when their house burned down early Sunday morning. No one is hurt in the fire on Tom Jenkins Lane in Hartwood.
Two adults and two small children were able to get out before crews arrived.
The other family, with one child, had been out of town for the night.
The fire marshal's office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire. No damage estimates were available.
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Former VRE manager sentenced to 2 years for bribes
by AP
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posted Jan 18 2013 4:41PM
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A former manager at Virginia Railway Express has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for taking more than $350,000 in bribes from a contractor.
Forty-nine-year-old Kevin Jannell of Fredericksburg was sentenced Friday in federal court in Alexandria. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to pay back $357,000 and perform 100 hours of community service.
Jannell worked as a facilities manager for VRE. He admitted taking a monthly bribe of up to $4,000 from a subcontractor that did maintenance work for the commuter railway. In exchange, prosecutors say Jarrell gave the company favorable evaluations that allowed it to keep the contract. Court papers don't identify the company that paid the bribe.
Prosecutors say the scheme began in 2003 and ran for nearly a decade.
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Garage fire causes $15,000 in damage
by AP
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posted Jan 18 2013 1:08PM
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A garage fire Friday morning in Fredericksburg caused $15,000 in damage.
No one is hurt after a detached garage catches just after 8 o'clock at a home on Gibson Street in Courtland Heights.
It'scaused by an electrical connection in the garage, which spread to contents stacked on the floor of the garage.
The fire is determined to be accidental.
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Police looking for brothers in Dumfries slaying
by AP
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posted Jan 18 2013 12:18PM
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DUMFRIES (AP) - Police believe two brothers are responsible for the death of a woman who was fatally shot after she answered a knock on the door at her Dumfries home.
Prince William County police announced Friday that they're looking for 27-year-old Christopher Tolliver his 29-year-old brother, Jason Tolliver. Both have been charged in warrants with first-degree murder in the death of 35-year-old Tasheka Leavell.
Police say the Tollivers knew Leavell but they are declining to reveal a motive. Police also believe a third man was involved in the slaying, but he has not been identified.
The suspects had not been located as of noon Friday and are considered armed and dangerous. The shooting occurred early Thursday morning. DUMFRIES, Va. (AP) - Police believe two brothers are responsible for the death of a woman who was fatally shot after she answered a knock on the door at her Dumfries home.
Prince William County police announced Friday that they're looking for 27-year-old Christopher Tolliver his 29-year-old brother, Jason Tolliver. Both have been charged in warrants with first-degree murder in the death of 35-year-old Tasheka Leavell.
Police say the Tollivers knew Leavell but they are declining to reveal a motive. Police also believe a third man was involved in the slaying, but he has not been identified.
The suspects had not been located as of noon Friday and are considered armed and dangerous. The shooting occurred early Thursday morning.
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Bomb Threat Made at Post Office; Suspect in Custody
by FLS
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posted Jan 16 2013 10:54AM
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Authorities in Spotsylvania County have taken a man into custody after he reportedly made a threat to blow up the Thornburg Post Office.Around 9 a.m. today, a postal worker called police and said a man there claimed to have a bomb and was going to rob the facility.
The man had a paper bag containing a box that he described as an explosive device that was armed with a mercury switch.
Spotsylvania Sheriff’s units arrived and surrounded the building, and after about 15 minutes, the suspect surrendered. He has been taken in for questioning, but has not yet been charged with anything.
He is described as a local retired trucker in his early 50s.
The Postal Inspection Service Bomb Squad from Quantico, Virginia State Police, ATF and FBI are on scene investigating the package.
Police don’t know at this point if it’s a real device or a hoax, but they aren’t taking any chances.
The Thornburg I-95 exit and Mudd Tavern Road are closed while police investigate.
According to fredericksburg.com
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Area School Leaders Way in on Governor's Education Plans
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 15 2013 7:18PM
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Governor Bob Mcdonnell has lofty plans on how to measure school accountability in the coming years.
Many of his proposals are before the 2013 General Assembly and Virginia school leaders are weighing in on the outcome. Stafford County Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Chris Quinn says the plan to return to and A through F grading system could work, since it is something kids and parents already understand. Already, states like Louisiana and Florida use such a system.
When asked if too much decision making is shifting from the local to state level, Quinn says it depends. He says as long as new programs are implemented in a smart way, he will take the trade off for guaranteed state education funding.
According to the latest Education Week's Quality Counts report card, Virginia schools rank fourth overall in the nation.
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Authorities charge W.Va. suspect in 1980 murder
by AP
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posted Jan 15 2013 2:30PM
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WARRENTON, Va. (AP) - Virginia authorities have made an arrest in a Fauquier County slaying that went unsolved for more than three decades.
Court records show that 64-year-old Ronald Cloud was charged on Tuesday with murder in the New Year's Eve 1980 shooting of Brad Baker.
The 30-year-old Baker was found with shots to his head and groin, with the front door window panes smashed out of the two-story farmhouse where he lived.
He was the manager of Kinloch Farm, an estate owned by relatives of Stephen Currier of the famed Currier and Ives prints.
Cloud is the stepson of a man who was fired from the estate the same day Baker was slain.
West Virginia records list Cloud as a prison inmate convicted of sexual assault.
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Fight outside Fredericksburg Convenience Store
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 15 2013 12:59PM
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Three people from Spotsylvania, ages 18-21, say that they were walking out of the Wawa on Plank Road in Fredericksburg early Tuesday morning when they were assaulted by a group made up of about five males and three females.
　
The three victims were forced to the ground,punched and kicked until the attackers broke up and left in vehicles. The victims were able to provide descriptions of three of the suspects.
The three victims had injuries consistent with the described assault, but all three denied treatment.
All the people involved reportedly started at a nearby restaurant before the fight erupted at Wawa.
The investigation is ongoing.
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Presidential Seals Bask in Glory, Live Hard Life
by AP
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posted Jan 15 2013 9:54AM
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<VIDEO> The presidential seal gets lots of visibility on podiums and aircraft like Air Force One. But perhaps its biggest day is Inauguration Day, hanging for all the world to see. The AP's Lee Powell goes to where the seals are born.
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Dominion Power still planning for 3rd reactor
by AP
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posted Jan 14 2013 1:24PM
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LOUISA, Va. (AP) - Dominion Virginia Power officials say plans are still on track for a third nuclear reactor at the company's North Anna Power Station.
Critics of the plan are doubtful that the reactor will be built. They cite low natural gas prices, delays in the approval process and the Fukushima disaster in Japan.
Dominion vice president Eugene S. Grecheck acknowledges that demand for electricity has dropped due to the economy and natural gas is a more attractive fuel due to falling prices. But he tells The Free Lance-Star that Dominion's plan hasn't changed.
He says Dominion officials believe it's not in the company's interest, or the nation's interest, to be dependent on one fuel.
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Raw: Dress Rehearsal for 2nd Obama Inauguration
by AP
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posted Jan 14 2013 9:03AM
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<VIDEO> Inauguration organizers held a practice parade in Washington to prepare for next week's swearing-in of President Barack Obama.
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Reported Shooting In Fredericksburg
by FLS
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posted Jan 11 2013 4:21PM
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Police say early indications are that a man shot his girlfriend and then shot himself in the head today at Fall Hill Apartments.
The man was in very poor condition, police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said. His girlfriend was in critical condition.
The shooting occurred inside the man’s apartment.
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Battle of Fredericksburg's 150th a Boon for the Area Economy
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 10 2013 7:43PM
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The 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Battle of Fredericksburg last month was a major boon for the City of Fredericksburg.
Economic Development Director Karen Hedelt says months of planning led up to the event. The National Park Service, Battle of Fredericksburg Committee and the Regional Tourism Partnership worked on the two week event. It happened at a number of venues, with events almost daily.
Hedelt says they estimate that some 20,000 people were in the area over the timeframe. While it is hard to get a final dollar amount on money spent, they estimate that each person spent about $50 on food, lodging and gasoline. That ends up putting about $1 million in tax revenue into the city's coffers.
Some of the groups involved last month are gearing up again for more historic visitors coming back to the area. They will be here this time for events surrounding the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville, from May 3rd through May 9th.
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Minor quake rattles Louisa Co., no damage reported
by AP
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posted Jan 10 2013 11:16AM
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LOUISA, Va. (AP) - Louisa County has been rattled by a minor earthquake.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-2.0 earthquake hit at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday. The epicenter was less than a mile east of Louisa.
There are no injuries or damage.
In 2011, the county was struck by a magnitude-5.8 earthquake.
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Some Fredericksburg Small Businesses Hopeful for 2013
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 9 2013 8:00PM
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A recent small business owner confidence survey by the National Federation of Independent Business finds some improvement in 2012, but some mixed opinions.
Locally, Fredericksburg Business Owners Billie Armstrong with Salon 730 and John Rice with Sullivan's Auto Body are optimistic.
She says their salon actually secured funding to expand their operation inside their Kenmore Avenue location last year. Armstrong expects more expansion this year in the way of hiring more personnel and adding extra services.
Rice says they had a booming 2012, with lots of body work, and are hoping for a great 2013. Their small business doesn't create the need for more staff. The Fall Hill Avenue business has already made some equipment purchases this year and may even be able to invest in a pricey new frame machine.
Both agree that customer service is key and that added government taxes on small businesses, that have a larger staff, are a greater burden.
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Driver in Fatal Hit and Run Arrested
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 9 2013 4:36PM
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A Culpeper County man is arrested on a charge of felony hit-and-run from a December crash in Fauquier County that killed one person and seriously injured another.
A tip led Culpeper Police to the whereabouts of 32 year-old Diego Mendoza early Wednesday morning. Mendoza is taken into custody without incident.
Mendoza took off from the scene of the accident on December 23rd on Route 17 that kills 58 year-old Douglas Rabren of Stafford. Mendoza is being held without bail.
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Judge reduces possible sentence in WikiLeaks case
by AP
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posted Jan 8 2013 4:23PM
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FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - A military judge has reduced the potential sentence for an Army private accused of sending reams of classified documents to the WikiLeaks website.
Col. Denise Lind ruled Tuesday during a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade for Pfc. Bradley Manning.
Lind found that Manning suffered illegal pretrial punishment during nine months at the Marine Corps brig at Quantico. She awarded a total of 112 days off any prison sentence Manning gets if he is convicted. Defense attorneys had sought to have the charges against him dismissed.
Manning was confined to a windowless cell 23 hours a day, sometimes with no clothing. Brig officials say it was to keep him from hurting himself or others.
He is charged with aiding the enemy and 21 other offenses. His trial begins March 6.
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Man whose murder conviction is overturned sues
by AP
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posted Jan 8 2013 12:18PM
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CULPEPER, Va. (AP) - A man whose capital murder conviction was overturned is suing the Culpeper County sheriff, four other officers, a former prosecutor and an informant.
Media outlets report that Michael Hash of Culpeper alleges the defendants engaged in a concerted effort to convict him even though there wasn't any credible evidence against him.
Hash served 12 years of a life sentence before a federal judge overturned his conviction in February 2012.
U.S. District Judge James Turk cited police and prosecutorial misconduct. In August 2012, Turk approved a special prosecutor's motion to drop the case.
Hash was 15 at the time of the 1996 slaying of 74-year-old Thelma D. Scroggins. He was convicted in 2001.
His federal lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requests a jury trial.
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Joint Land Use Public Hearings with Fort A.P. Hill on the Way
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 7 2013 5:25PM
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Three public meetings will be held later this month to prepare a Joint Land Use Study between Fort A.P. Hill, the counties of Caroline, Essex, King George and Spotsylvania and the Towns of Bowling Green and Port Royal.
Officials say the study will look at development within the communities near the Caroline County installation and try to encourage collaboration between the fort and surrounding communities. The meeting on the 22nd is at the U.S. Army Reserve Center Cooke at Fort A.P. Hill.
The one on the 23rd is at the Caroline County Community Services Center and the final, on the 24th, is at the Lee Hill Community Center in Fredericksburg. They will all last from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
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Fatal Accident on Metro Orange Line Delays Service
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 7 2013 3:15PM
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Metro resumed single track service on the Orange Line as of 3:00 p.m. Monday.
Officials say the service was disrupted around 11:30 a.m. when a woman intentionally placed herself in the path of an arriving train at Ballston Station and was fatally injured.
Following the incident, service was suspended between East Falls Church and Virginia Square for several hours due to the police investigation and recovery. Customers on the Orange Line have experienced delays in excess of 30 minutes throughout the afternoon.
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Remains Found in Stafford Identified
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 7 2013 12:24PM
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The human remains found behind the GEICO building on Route 17 in Stafford County last week are identified as 45 year-old Timothy Wait.
Wait was reported missing by his wife on May 12, 2011. He was last seen walking in the area of Mine Road Commuter lot, in North Stafford. Over the last year and a half the Stafford County Sheriff's Office has had an extensive ongoing effort to locate Wait.
The preliminary report of the autopsy by the Medical Examiner's Office and the investigation by the Sheriff's Office indicates that the death of Wait was not the result of foul play.
The remains were found on Monday December 31st.
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Grant will Help Install Canoe and Kayak Launch in Port Royal
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 7 2013 11:27AM
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Governor Bob McDonnell announces 15 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries grants on Monday.
The more than $440,000 is designed to help improve boating access to public waters in Virginia. It was identified as a need in Virginia's Outdoors Plan. McDonell says the new recreational opportunities will benefit Virginia business and tourism.
Locally, the Town of Port Royal will get 10-thousand-dollars to install a non-powered canoe and kayak launch, to get into the Rappahannock River.
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Germanna's Dickinson Building Reopens After Quake Repairs
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 7 2013 10:16AM
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The Dickinson Building on Germanna Community College's Fredericksburg Campus which suffered serious damage during the earthquake in August 2011, reopened Monday after extensive repairs and renovations.
The quake damaged all three stairwells and created a floor-to-ceiling crack in the wall on the ground floor of the Dickinson Building, which is Germanna's largest. It was the most seriously damaged building in the Fredericksburg area. The building was closed after the quake.
Monday is the beginning of Germanna's spring semester, and over 12,000 students are returning to classes at campuses.
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Regs allow wheelchair user to resume bus rides
by AP
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posted Jan 7 2013 10:03AM
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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - George Lewis and his wheelchair are riding FREDericksburg Regional Transit buses again, thanks to a change in federal regulations.
Transit officials told Lewis in the summer of 2011 that he couldn't ride anymore because he and his motorized wheelchair were too heavy.
Since then, the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations have changed. Passengers in wheelchairs of any size must be transported, as long as the combined weight doesn't exceed 800 pounds and the bus lifts can handle them.
Lewis told transit officials about the revised regulations last month. They agreed that he could ride and sent him 17 fare cards.
Lewis said that he knew there had to be a way and he wasn't going to give up.
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Caroline girl killed trying to cross Route 1
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 4 2013 10:37AM
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A seventeen year-old Caroline County girl was killed trying to cross Route 1 Thursday evening.
State police say Mia McManus of Ruther Glen was in the right travel lane of southbound Route 1near Deerfield Road in Caroline County when she was hit by a car around 6:30.
She was flown to VCU where she died.
The driver of the car was not hurt.
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Pipe bomb explodes in Treasury official's mailbox
by AP
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posted Jan 4 2013 7:35AM
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LORTON, Va. (AP) - Officials are investigating an apparent pipe bomb that destroyed a mailbox at the Virginia home of the Treasury Department's inspector general, but a department official says there's no reason to suspect it was linked to the inspector general's work.
No one was injured when the device exploded at the Fairfax County home of Eric M. Thorson between midnight and 12:30 a.m. Monday. Richard Delmar, counsel to the inspector general, says officials have no reason to suspect the bombing was linked to Thorson's work at the department.
An investigation is ongoing. Thorson joined the department as inspector general in 2008.
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Judge Rules in Favor of Fairfax County in EPA Case
by Associated Press
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posted Jan 3 2013 7:35PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that the Environmental Protection agency exceeded its authority by attempting to regulate stormwater runoff into a Fairfax County creek as a pollutant.
U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady in Alexandria ruled late Thursday in favor of the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which challenged EPA's restrictions on the flow of stormwater into Accotink Creek.
The judge agreed with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who argued that the EPA was trying to regulate water itself as a pollutant. In his ruling, O'Grady said: "Stormwater runoff is not a pollutant, so EPA is not authorized to regulate it."
Cuccinelli says the ruling could ultimately save Virginia taxpayers more than $300 million.
An EPA spokesman could not be reached for comment after business hours.
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Charles County Sheriff to Close District II Building for Mold Issue
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 3 2013 7:29PM
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The Charles County Sheriff's Office will be temporarily closing its' District Two building on Indian head highway, effective immediately.
A report has confirmed elevated levels of mold and allegens that have to be corrected.
There will be no interruptions in police service. Officers assigned to the building will continue to work their assigned beats and use the sheriff's office mobile command center in the station's parking lot.
The front cubicle of the building will stay open to citizens who need to use the community phone for police related calls.
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Wake and Funeral Set for Prince William Cop
by Associated Press
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posted Jan 2 2013 7:27PM
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BRISTOW, Va. (AP) - Funeral plans have been set for a Prince William County police officer who died after his motorcycle struck a minivan in Bristow.
Prince William County police say a wake for 35-year-old Officer Chris Yung will be held Thursday at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge. A funeral is set for Friday at the same place.
Police say the crash that killed Yung occurred around 2 p.m. Monday. Police say he was on his way to the scene of another accident and was heading south on Nokesville Road when his motorcycle struck the minivan. Yung was taken to a hospital, where he died. No one else was injured.
Yung was a 7-year veteran of the department and worked for the traffic unit.
A police spokesman says the crash remains under investigation.
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Court Injunction Over Online Suit Shot Down
by Associated Press
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posted Jan 2 2013 7:26PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The state's highest court is reversing a judge's order that a northern Virginia woman remove negative online reviews of a home contractor.
The Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and Public Citizen said Wednesday that the Supreme Court of Virginia has thrown out the preliminary injunction issued in Fairfax County Circuit Court. The groups had appealed the judge's order saying it violated free speech rights.
Jane Perez is being sued over comments she posted on the Internet regarding Dietz Development LLC. Last month a judge ruled that Perez could not imply that the contractor stole items from her home. And she is barred from repeating them in new posts. The contractor is claiming the reviews were false and cost him business.
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Spotsylvania Man Arrested for Reported Sexual Assault in Fredericksburg
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 2 2013 3:49PM
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A Spotsylvania County man was arrested after the report of a sexual assault at the city maintenance building on Tyler Street in Fredericksburg last month.
Police say the victim was not injured and knew the suspect. Fifty-nine-year-old Zolly Hawthorne was charged with misdemeanor sexual battery and released by the magistrate on his own recognizance. Hawthorne is an employee of the Fredericksburg Department of Public Works.
Anyone with information concerning this case or similar incidents should contact the Fredericksburg Police Department.
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Prince William County Cop Dies in Crash
by Associated Press
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posted Jan 1 2013 5:32PM
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BRISTOW, Va. (AP) - Prince William County police say an officer has died after his motorcycle struck a minivan in Bristow.
The crash occurred around 2 p.m. Monday. Police say 35-year-old Officer Chris Yung was on his way to the scene of another accident and was heading south on Nokesville Road when his motorcycle struck the minivan, which was making a left turn into a shopping center. Yung was taken to a hospital, where he died. No one else was injured.
Officer Jonathan Perok, a police spokesman, says the details of the crash remain under investigation.
Yung was a 7-year veteran of the department and worked for the traffic unit.
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Stafford County Schools to Keep Added Police Presence
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 1 2013 3:54PM
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Effective Wednesday, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office will continue its increased presence in Stafford County Public Schools. The bodies were added following the mass elementary school shooting in Connecticut. Already all Stafford high schools have a full time School Resource Officer and the 8 middle schools share 2 Officers. Now, any school that does not have a deputy assigned will get a patrol deputy that will be required to check in there during the day and patrol the inside and outside of the building.
In the near future the Sheriff's Office will also begin work on a new initiative called Protect Our Children Neighborhood Watch Program. It will enlist the help of neighborhood residents in an effort to help keep children safe.
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Make a Plan to Avoid Holiday Debt for 2013
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 1 2013 2:58PM
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Many who got caught up in the emotion of holiday buying over Christmas may be paying the price now with credit card statements.
Gail Cunningham with the National Federation for Credit Counseling says make the payments now, but use the information on what you spent overall to help plan for this year. Divide that number by ten and pay yourself that amount each month. By November, you will have cash in hand to go and buy this year's gifts. Starting a Christmas Club account is also a smart idea.
Cunningham says try to pay all bills in full when they arrive. If that is not possible, at least commit to paying them off within the first quarter of the year. If the debt drags on longer, unnecessary interest charges will be added.
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Public Schools Encourage Parents to Volunteer
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Jan 1 2013 2:04PM
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Parents can do more than just help their kids with their school work this year. Renee Daniels with Spotsylvania County Schools says they can get involved in the school system by becoming volunteers. Wallace says parents can help in a number of ways. Some become room mothers to younger children, some act as cafeteria or hall monitors and still others run special events and field trips.
Daniels says public schools enjoy getting parents involved in the process. She says it is helpful for parents to see their kids in a learning environment and that often gets kids more excited about learning. Many times, Wallace says parents can help fill in holes where help is needed but no money is in the school budget.
If you want to get involved, contact your child's teachers or school principal. More times than not, if a parent shows interest, a job in the school can be found.
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Prince William officer killed in motorcycle crash
by AP
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posted Jan 1 2013 6:08AM
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BRISTOW (AP) - Prince William County police say an officer has died after his motorcycle struck a minivan in Bristow.
The crash occurred around 2 p.m. Monday. Police say 35-year-old Officer Chris Yung was on his way to the scene of another accident and was heading south on Nokesville Road when his motorcycle struck the minivan, which was making a left turn into a shopping center. Yung was taken to a hospital, where he died. No one else was injured.
Officer Jonathan Perok, a police spokesman, says the details of the crash remain under investigation.
Yung was a 7-year veteran of the department and worked for the traffic unit.
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Human Remains Found in Stafford
by Bill Dubensky
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posted Jan 1 2013 5:40AM
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The Stafford Sheriff's office is still investigating the discovery of human remains behind GEICO on Route 17.
Authorities say they were discovered Monday evening in a wooded area. Sheriff's Spokesman Bill Kennedy says it is obvious that they had been there for quite a while. As of New Year's Day, they have been sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Richmond for evaluation to help make a positive identification.
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Arrest in football player's death
by AP
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posted Jan 1 2013 12:04AM
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FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - A college football player in Virginia found fatally stabbed is being mourned, and Fairfax County police have made an arrest in his killing.
Authorities have arrested 22-year-old Johnny Bonilla, of Gainesville, in the death of Zavier O. Stringfellow. Police say Stringfellow was stabbed during a meeting with Bonilla.
The 19-year-old Stringfellow, of Manassas, was found dead Friday in a minivan in the Vienna area.
Stringfellow played football for Battlefield High School in Haymarket and more recently for Ferrum College in southwestern Virginia, where the roster lists him as a defensive end. His coach, Dave Harper said that Stringfellow was well-liked and had a good attitude.
It wasn't clear if Bonilla had a lawyer. A man who answered the phone at a Bonilla family listing in Gainesville declined to comment.
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Driver in fatal hit-and-run still sought
by AP
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posted Jan 1 2013 12:03AM
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BEALETON, Va. (AP) - State police are still looking for the driver responsible for a fatal hit-and-run in Fauquier County.
State police have obtained a warrant for 32-year-old Diego Vazquez Mendoza of Culpeper County.
Mendoza Is accused of fleeing on foot after his pickup truck rear-ended a car on Route 17 on Dec. 23. The impact pushed the car into another car. The car and the pickup then ran off the side of the road together.
The car's driver, 58-year-old Douglas Rabren of Stafford, was killed. A passenger was injured.
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