Local |
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| Posts from February 2013 |
Local Government Workers Talk About Spending Cuts
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 28 2013 7:12PM
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The massive across the board spending cuts set to kick in Friday could deal a devastating blow to thousands of area federal and civilian military workers. We catch up with some of them to ask how they feel. Most agree that something needs to be done to reduce the deficit, but are not sure the sweeping cuts are the answer. Many say it should come from scaling back on government funded programs instead.
Of those that will see effects, the possibility of losing a workday to furlough is the biggest concern. They tell WFLS that they are living fairly check to check and that less money will really hurt their families. One supervisor says he fears the added workload if his staff is pared back, but is hoping to see some fiscal restraint. Several government contractors tell us that they will have to wait and see.
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Tornado Drill Comes to Region and Virginia in March
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 28 2013 6:27PM
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The eleven tornadoes that hit Virginia last year left $3 million in damage, so would you know how to react?
Registration is open for the March 12th Statewide Tornado Drill.
It is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and schools are required to participate. Businesses and families can practice at 9:45 a.m. that day. A test warning will be sent to NOAA Weather Radios and then be broadcast by local radio and TV stations. In a real event, take cover, go to an interior windowless room or to a basement.
Get more on tornado safety, how to hold a drill, and how to register at vaemergency.gov.
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AAA One-Stop-Shop Opens in Central Park
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 28 2013 6:22PM
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Many area residents spend lots of their time in traffic and working, so is one-stop shopping important? AAA Mid-Atlantic thinks so.
It is opening a Car Care Insurance and Travel Center in Central Park. While your car gets fixed, you can renew tags, get a vehicle title, buy insurance and even book your next vacation.
The grand opening, next to IHOP, is Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. They will be giving free battery tests and auto glass chip repairs.
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Community Worries About Sequestration Furloughs
by AP
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posted Feb 27 2013 8:21AM
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<VIDEO> The military-reliant community near Ft. Belvoir, VA is keeping a close eye on the sequester debate. If spending cuts kick in March 1, tens of thousands of Ft. Belvoir's workers could face furloughs. And that could cause a ripple effect.
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Area Congressman Wants to Hear Personal Stories
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 26 2013 6:37PM
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Letting your voice be heard to area Congressmen and Senators could help them push to avoid this week's massive federal spending cuts.
First District Congressman Rob Wittman says lawmakers are in DC trying to hammer out an 11th hour deal to stop cuts from kicking in this Friday. He says sharing personal stories could help sway other lawmakers that represent areas not so populated by military workers.
It could deal a devastating blow to northern Virginia's civilian and federal defense employees.
He says concerned citizens may call his office at 202-225-4261 or send an e-mail through www.wittman.house.gov.
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Your New car May Come Without a Spare Tire
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 26 2013 6:33PM
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The term "buyer beware" is more true than ever these days when you head out to buy a car.
Windy VanCuren with AAA Mid-Atlantic says new EPA and Department of Transportation fuel efficiency standards mean the car may not come with a spare tire. Some are equipped with an emergency sealant, inflator kit or an emergency tire that can travel a short distance without air.
Even if your new or current car does have a spare, it is of no use if it is not properly maintained. Make sure that it is properly inflated and stored. If you are using a sealant, make sure you check the date and at least replace it every five years.
If you don't have roadside assistance, you may want to consider getting some. More than half of all cars left disabled on Virginia roads in recent months were caused by a lack of maintenance.
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Some Handmade Signs in Spotsylvania Will Start Being Yanked
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 26 2013 4:27PM
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You need to be careful about where you put your yardsale, for sale and other signs in Spotsylvania. The county's new agreement with the state will allow it to remove any sign placed in a VDOT right of way. They can only be within five feet ofthe edge of state road from noon on Friday until noon on Monday. And they ALL have to be less than six square feet. If a sign is in the median, it is fair game to be removed anytime.
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More Money to Preserve Crabs; Wait Until Fall to Fertilize
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 25 2013 5:43PM
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More money to help make sure more blue crabs in the Rappahannock River are covered in butter and old bay this year.
The Friends of the Rappahannock gets a $5,000 education grant from National Nursing Center's Consortium. It will be used to expand the "Save the Crabs and Eat Em'" campaign in tidal communities. It works to limit lawn fertilizer from running off into the river.
Local businesses and restaurants will be asked to put up signs and fliers asking people to wait until the fall to fertilize lawns. When it is done in the Spring, heavier rain causes more runoff of dangerous chemicals gets into the river and streams, hurting fish and crabs.
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Expect Road Construction in the Region this Week
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 25 2013 5:37PM
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Expect to tap the brakes on parts of the interstate and Route 1 in the region this week.
Even though Spring is not here yet, VDOT road construction is in full swing. This week, look out for mobile pothole repair on I-95 north from Caroline to Fairfax each day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. And in Stafford, one lane will be closed on Route 1 from Garrisonville to Telegraph Road from 9 until 5 each day.
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Budget Cuts May Close Manassas Airport Tower, Six Others
by AP
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posted Feb 25 2013 11:47AM
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Control towers at seven airports in Virginia and West Virginia could close by April 1 if lawmakers fail to head off federal budget cuts set to take effect Friday.
The Federal Aviation Administration warns it will have to close 100 towers at airports with fewer than 150,000 flights a year as part of its plan to trim $600 million in costs.
In Virginia, the Manassas and Lynchburg towers would close.
In West Virginia, only the towers at Morgantown and Charleston would remain open.
Slated for closure are towers at Bridgeport, Wheeling, Huntington, Lewisburg and Parkersburg.
Flights would still run, but pilots using radios would have to coordinate landings and takeoffs themselves, with no assistance from air-traffic controllers. That could lead to delays clearing runways.
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BREAKING: Homicide Suspect Taken into Custody
by Frank Hammon/Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 25 2013 5:08AM
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John Wesley Jefferies/Photo: Fredericksburg Police Department
John Wesley Jeffries was taken into custody in the 2000 block of Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg, at the home of a friend on Wednesday afternoon. He was apprehended by members of the Safe Streets Task Force, made up of law enforcement officials from Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Virginia State Police, and FBI.
Jeffries is in the custody of Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office and was transported from the scene by ambulance to Mary Washington Hospital. Fredericksburg Police say he was not injured during the arrest.
He has been wanted for questioning in the deaths of a from fauquier County. They are identified as 80 year old Nelson Slack and his 74 year old wife, Ethel.
Their vehicle was found on Lafayette Boulevard Sunday afternoon.
Police spent nearly 3 days looking for the 60 year old, who was believed to be armed and dangerous. Jeffries has also been wanted on warrants related to family abuse charges in Spotsylvania County. He previously served 13 years in prison for a number of charges including rape and sodomy.
He is also wanted as a person of interest in an assault off MeadowView Drive last Saturday night. A resident was taking out the trash when he saw a man in his yard. The resident yelled for him to identify himself and the suspect puched him back into the house. The victim then fought back and struck the man in the head with his handheld oxygen machine. It allowed him to escape to a neighbor's house and call 911. When Fredericksburg Police arrived, the suspect was gone, but he matches Jeffries description.
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UMW Students Join the "Harlem Shake" Sensation
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 22 2013 6:32PM
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It's all over YouTube and went viral in days. If you haven't done the Harlem Shake, you've probably seen it.
University of Mary Washington students join Katie Vanvalkenburg and Kevin Donahue Friday afternoon on Ball Circle. She says hosting the shake is about promoting school spirit and a way to brighten a dreary February day for many students.
So what is it? It is sort or a dance, but not really. Some call it crazy, silly and fun. Led by the campus mascot, a giant eagle, the dozens come wearing everything from a milk carton costume and a dog suit to dragon pajamas.
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A Cheaper Way to Get to DC on the Way
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 22 2013 6:22PM
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Starting March 1st, there is another cheap way to travel from Fredericksburg to DC and get out of the I-95 gridlock.
While the express lanes construction is underway, people with a validated VRE ticket can buy an Amtrak step-up ticket foronly three bucks. Then, any VRE rider that uses a station served by Amtrak can ride its' rail instead.
The discounted ticket is designed to reduce traffic and makes VRE train less crowded.
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Hearings on VRE Fare Hike Start Next Month
by Frank Hammon
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posted Feb 22 2013 11:54AM
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Riding the rail to work could become more costly this summer. The VRE plans to raise its fares by four-percent in July 1. There will be series of public hearings throughout the month of March so you can have your say on the matter.
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Tuesday,
March 5, 2013
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7:00pm
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March 6, 2013
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March 19, 2013
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12:00pm
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March 20, 2013
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March 21, 2013
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12:00pm
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March 27, 2013
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7:00pm
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March 28, 2013
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Reaction to Tougher Standards Ahead for Local Teachers
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 20 2013 6:16PM
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The plan to toughen regulations for Virginia teachers is on its' way to the governor's desk.
So, we ask how Louisa County School's Superintendent Dr. Deborah Petit feels about the changes and how they would be carried out. She says in some case extending the probationary period from three to five years could help. As it stands now, if school officials do not want to keep them in a contract after three years, they get cut loose.
As for the provision that a teacher could be fired after one bad appraisal, Petit thinks it will be handled fairly. She says most school districts go through an extensive interview and then training or mentoring process. Most teachers that are hired appear to be a good fit for the school. If they are not, Petit says that feedback would be given early on. She finds it hard to believe that a large amount of school systems would take advantage of the change, if it becomes a law.
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Plastic Bottles Found on Local Properties are Explosive
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 20 2013 5:34PM
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A decades old prank is appearing in area counties that can be dangerous.
Captain Jeff Pearce with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office says kids like mixing household chemicals in plastic bottles to see the reaction. They don't usually realize the amount of heat produced once items like Draino are mixed with other cleaners. When they are put into plastic and closed, the gases expand. It can make even the slightest movement of the liquid cause an explosion. Pearce says the liquid that comes out can cause serious burns and even mame someone if the bottle is in their hand.
The bottles have been discovered recently in several counties throughout the region. Pearce says if you see one on your property or elsewhere that looks swollen or milky, DO NOT pick it up and call 911.
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Local Scholarships Being Awarded to High School Grads
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 20 2013 3:38PM
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About to graduate are have a teen that is and you are wondering how to pay for college?
The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region is about to award $100,000 of them in April. There are 33 categories, from need and merit based to field of study. Last year, the foundation gave $60,000 away to graduates in Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Culpeper.
Apply at www.cfrrr.org by March 4th.
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JMU Student from Spotsylvania Struck Crossing Street
by Frank Hammon
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posted Feb 20 2013 6:48AM
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A 22-year-old James Madison University student from Spotsylvania was struck by a pickup truck last night while crossing a street in Harrisonburg. Police say Daniel Holland, who was the 2010 Valedictorian at Spotsylvania High School, sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
64-year-old Dale Simmons of Linville is charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian.
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Stafford Residents and Commuters Invited to Route 630 Meeting
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 19 2013 5:45PM
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People that drive on Courthouse Road between Cedar Lane and Winding Creek Road in Stafford County are encouraged to come to a public VDOT meeting Wednesday night.
Officials will be on hand with brochures and maps on a plan to widen that stretch of road. When all is said and done in a few years, the road from Cedar Lane to Winding Creek will be four lanes.
If you can not attend, you can get involved and comment on-line at www.virginiadot.org, through March 4th.
The meeting runs from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Colonial Forge High School.
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ACLU Worries Young Students Are Being Treated too Harshly
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 19 2013 5:43PM
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Another case where a young area student is suspended for seemingly innocent childhood behavior, that is deemed as a threat to harm others. Officials at Minnieville Elementary in Prince William County now say they will clear the child's school record of the incident. Claire Gustanaga with the Virginia ACLU is still concerned that the behavior of children is being turned into criminal conduct.
The boy apparently made the pointing motion after another child pretended to shoot him with a bow and arrow. Officials put the fake gun pointing in the same category as bringing a real weapon to school.
In recent years a Spotsylvania County teen was suspended for shooting a plastic spitwad. It was considered violent criminal conduct.
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Stafford Man Robbed in Woman's Bed After Night at Local Bar
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 19 2013 3:51PM
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You can never be too careful about who you spend your time with these days.
A Stafford man loses money from his pants' pocket and an ipod, after spending the night with a woman he knew and had met out at a local bar. He tells police he awoke in the woman's Fredericksburg apartment to an armed man standing over him, demanding money. The victim was able to jump out of a window and escape and says it was clear that Kristin Lecky knew the suspect. He is described as black, with dreadlocks, in his early 30's, 5 feet 5 inches tall and between 180 and 190 pounds.
Lecky is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and a number of drug possession charges.
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Stolen Truck Hits Home in Prince William County
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 19 2013 1:50PM
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A police incident in Prince William Tuesday is more proof that you should monitor who your teenagers spend their time with these days.
Early Monday morning police responded to the report of five teens walking out of the Molinari Emergency Shelter Home. There was a report that the group stole a 2000 Chevy Silverado from an area home, sometime after 12:30 a.m.
Tuesday morning, police got multiple calls about seeing the missing truck driving erratically. A deputy responded, but the truck sped away, before losing control and crashing into a house. None of the four residents were hurt. Four teens ran from the truck, but were caught. The fifth teen that left the home Monday is also being questioned. Charges are likely, but the investigation is ongoing.
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The Locals React to the Soaring Price at the Pump
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 18 2013 6:41PM
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President's Day marks a full month of rising gas prices in Fredericksburg, the state and nation.
The local average for a gallon of regular is $3.74. So WFLS asks some local residents, how does it make you feel? Some say sick and awful, others say very upset and worried. All agree that it will likely affect how much they drive and how they carry out their daily and weekly errands. Even those we talk to with cars that get good gas mileage are worried about a continuing spike of the price at the pump.
Earlier this month, Triple-A Mid-Atlantic officials cited higher crude prices, refinery maintenance slow downs and low gas supplies as reasons for the rise. The highest recorded average for a gallon nationwide hit in 2008, topping out at four-dollars and eleven cents.
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Free Tax Help Offered for 2012 Earners Under $51K
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 18 2013 6:38PM
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If your household brought in less than $51,000 last year and you still need to file 2012 taxes, there is some free local help.
John Kowalski with the Rappahannock United Way says they have multiple offices in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford and one in King George and Caroline to handle filing.
Once there, a certified tax professional can complete them or a tax coach will be provided to help with filing for free on their computers. if people want to use the service without leaving home, log onto www.myfreetaxes.com/fredericksburg. A list of participating locations and what to bring can be found on ruwfreetaxes.org.
The deadline to file federal taxes is Monday, April 15th. The Virginia state filing deadline is Wednesday, May 1st.
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Local Civil Right's Activist Speaks at Germanna Black History Event
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 18 2013 6:34PM
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This area and the world look very different today than they did in the late 1950s and early 1960's.
The civil rights movement in Fredericksburg in part of a free Black History month discussion held at Germanna Community College Monday night. Long-time local civil rights activist, musician and teacher Gaye Adegbalola, then Gaye Todd, is among those speaking.
She says the sit-ins at lunch counters here were in large stores like People's Drug and Worlworths. The same thing was happening at those large stores all through the south. Adegbalola says it was a powerful non-violent way to protest segregation and "when you hit people in their pocketbooks, their hearts will follow."
Gaye says she is happy to see that the Fredericksburg area and the world are more tolerant today. "In my mother's day, she was forced to have two feet in the black world. I have a foot in each and my son's feet are free."
 Photo of a young Gaye Adegbalola, then Todd, as seen on a placard today at the corner of Caroline and William Streets in Fredericksburg.
 Photo of sit-ins that were organized in Fredericksburg lunch counters.
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Group To Commemorate Battle's Sesquicentennial
by AP
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posted Feb 18 2013 10:38AM
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REMINGTON, Va. (AP) - The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Kelly's Ford will be commemorated next month with a ball and a symposium.
Period dress is optional for the ball. It's scheduled for March 16 at the Inn at Kelly's Ford in Remington. The inn will host a Kelly's Ford Symposium on March 17.
The Culpeper Star-Exponent reports that the Brandy Station Foundation will donate half of the ball's proceeds to the Civil War Trust toward the purchase of Fleetwood Hill. The Fleetwood Hill property is the core battlefield of the Battle of Brandy Station in June 1863.
The remaining proceeds will be used to support the Graffiti House.
The Battle of Kelly's Ford was fought on March 17, 1863.
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Last Chance to Audition In-Person for Work at Kings Dominion
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 15 2013 5:30PM
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The last chance to try out in-person to fill one of four-thousand seasonal jobs for King's Dominion's 2013 season is Saturday.
You must first apply at kingsdoiminion.com/jobs. Then come to the park in Doswell Saturday. Singer, Actor and Character registration is at 1:00 p.m. Dancers, Stage Managers, Techicians and all other positions are at 4:00 p.m. Those auditioning should use the park employee entrance.
The 2013 season opens on March 29th.
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Congressman Votes Against Continued Federal Pay Freeze
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 15 2013 4:14PM
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Virginia Congressman Rob Wittman is among those voting against an effort to extend a pay freeze for federal employees.
In effect since January of 2011, new legislation would make it last through the end of this year. Wittman also voted against the initial pay freeze. Last November he joined a bipartisan group in Congress to sending letters to the president and House leadership urging them not to single out federal workers during deficit reduction efforts.
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Local Reaction to Violence Against Women Act
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 14 2013 8:33PM
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An answer on whether money will continue to be available to protect and serve local and state female victims of domestic violence is still awaited, but is a step closer.
Senators okayed reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act this week, but there is no decision in the House.
Director of Empower House, formerly the Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence in Fredericksburg, Cathy Anderson, is hopeful. She says if the plan is approved, Congress would allow more than $650 million over five years for a number of programs that protect women. The sticking point with lawmakers this year is likely expanded language to include native women, lesbians, and those who are transexual or transgendered. The aspect of how immigration issues are addressed will still be decided.
Anderson says they already help any woman that is a victim of abuse and think the added protections have been long needed. Last year was the first time the Act was not reauthorized since 1994. Like this year, the Senate quickly passed the measure, but the House says it has much work and deciding to do.
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Fredericksburg Couple Claim Massive Lottery Win
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 14 2013 8:28PM
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A very happy Valentine's Day for the Fredericksburg couple who claim the second largest Powerball jackpot ever won in Virginia.
David and Nancy Honeywell claim a one-time cash option payment of about $136 million, before taxes, on Thursday.
David Honeywell bought the winning ticket for the February 6th drawing at a self-service machine at Richmond International Airport before leaving for a business trip to Denver. He says he checked the ticket from a hotel the next morning and saw he matched the powerball number, which would mean a few bucks. He says he looked at the other numbers and though something was wrong. He then checked to see if the date was correct and says he was shaking so hard that he barley dropped the ticket. He promptly called his wife, took a picture of the ticket and sent it to Nancy. She confirmed what David thought.
He says he finished his Colorado trip and headed back to Virginia. He says it was one of the most nervous that he has ever been to travel, with the winning ticket.
Both of the Honeywells are employees with the Department of Defense and neither say they plan to quit right away. David says he is in the middle of a big project that he just coludn't leave unfinished. As for his 13 year old car, it may be destined for junk yard.
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BREAKING NEWS: $217M Powerball Winner To Be Announced
by Frank Hammon
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posted Feb 14 2013 11:41AM
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Virginia State Lottery officials say they will present the check to the winners of the $217 million Powerball jackpot at 1 p.m. today at, where else, the site of where they purcahsed their ticket, the machine at Richmond International Airport.
A lottery spokesman wouldn't tell WFLS News much more than that the winning couple has strong ties to the Fredericksburg area.
Stay tuned.
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Area Residents Could Weigh in on Planned VRE Hikes
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 13 2013 6:18PM
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Area residents may get a chance to weigh in on a proposed fare hike to ride the Virginia Railway Express.
Its Operations Board will vote this Friday on whether to hold public hearings on a four percent bump. According to the VRE agenda, obtained by fredericksburg-dot-com, the increase would offset increases in fuel and other costs.
Meetings would be held in Fredericksburg, Stafford and Manassas in March and April. The hike could go into effect in July.
A three percent increase took affect last July for local riders. The board's long-range plans means that two more such hikes could happen by 2017.
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Fredericksburg PD Says SWAT is Key in Barricade Situations
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 12 2013 11:43PM
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Fredericksburg Police Lieutenant and Former SWAT Commander Bill Hallam says Ex-LA cop Christopher Dorner's past has made him more of a danger.
He says past experience with weapons and a military knowledge of tactical warfare creates more of a threat to the general public.
Hallam says that when there is a barricade situation, the scene is always secured first. SWAT is then called and when they arrive, they take position. Their officers are specially trained and often have bigger shields, different weapons and a better means to closely negotiate with suspects or kidnappers.
In all four people have died and two have been injured in the more than five day rampage and manhunt for Dorner, two of them law enforcement officers.
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Transportation Plan Amendments Would Raise the Gas Tax
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 12 2013 9:19PM
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A move by Virginia's Senate finance committee Tuesday is likely another stall tactic.
From Richmond, Free Lance-Star Reporter Chelyen Davis says the new amendments to the House passed version of the Governor's transportation plan make it look very different. Instead of eliminating the gas tax, like the governor had hoped, it would raise the tax. A sales tax would also be added to gas and localities could tack on even more.
The changes spell likely failure back in the House, which would lead to a conference committee. It would be made up of Democrats and Republicans from both chambers and they would hash out final details.
The General Assembly is set to adjourn next Saturday. As long as a decision on the revenue side of the transportation is reached by February, 13, talks could continue until then and beyond.
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Burglary Suspect May have Hidden Inside Target Before it Closed
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 12 2013 2:27PM
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A second business break-in in recent days.
In this one, police think the suspect hid inside the Target store on Prince William Parkway, before the store closed last Thursday night. Surveillance video shows him using tools that were for sale inside to break into locked cabinets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87AP_2lub9g&feature=youtu.be
He got away with electronics and other items valued at around ten-thousand-dollars. He is described as white, between 16 and 24-years-old, about 5 feet ten inches and 130 pounds, with short brown hair. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, dark colored jeans and black sneakers.
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Employee Startled By Burglar
by Frank Hammon
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posted Feb 12 2013 12:33PM
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An employee at a Fredericksburg arriving at work early Tuesday is surprised by what's inside the downtown bakery.
Police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe says the employee found the door to Eileen's Bakery on Caroline Street unlocked and thought another employee had arrived ahead of her so she opened the door. The burglar alarm sounded, so she backed away from the door. Moments later a man walked away from the business.
The suspect is described as a whit man in his 40's, unshaven, about five-feet, seven-inches and about 160 pounds. He was wearing blue pants a gray hoodie and a black jacket. He was last seen walking towards Sofia Street.
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Suspect Charged In Multiple Daytime Vehicle Break-ins
by Frank Hammon
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posted Feb 12 2013 12:29PM
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A suspect is arrested after several vehicles are broken into, but authorities warn car owners that their vehicle is not a two-thousand pound safe with four wheels.
Fredericksburg Police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe recommends that nothing of value be left in even a locked vehicle.
She says 23-year-old Stacey Branham faces multiple felony charges in connection with Monday afternoon's break-in of at least three vehicles in the city. The investigation is ongoing.
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Business at Local Restaurant Halted for Unpaid Business License
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 11 2013 7:27PM
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A local business is forced to temporarily close after the discovery that it was operating without a valid Fredericksburg business license. Fredericksburg Police Spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe says James Nikitakis was arrested Friday, but released on a personal recognizance bond the same day.
Records show that business license taxes were not paid at Central Station on Princess Anne Street for more than a year. Police came across the information as their investigation into a double shooting at the establishment last month progressed.
Central Station will likely reopen soon though. The Fredericksburg City Teasurer tells WFLS that Nikitakis paid the business taxes for 2012 and 2013, in full, early Monday morning.
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Virginia Diocese Weighs in on Papal Decision
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 11 2013 7:23PM
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A gathering of cardinals next month will fast-track the selection of a replacement for Pope Benedict.
Leaders of the Arlington Diocese, that oversee Fredericksburg parishes, say they understand the Holy Father's decision. Mike Donohue says its' Bishop, Paul Louverde, will be active in the final days of this papacy.
The 85 year old Benedict cites age and health for reasons to leave the job. The resignation may mean that age will become less of a factor when electing a new pope. The process to choose a replacement will also be similar, yet different. This will be the first time that a pope has been alive when a conclave is called in 600 years. The cardinals will still meet though.
Benedict's final service will be delivered on February 27th and last day will be the 28th. The successor will be decided sometime next month and Donohue says it could even happen during Holy week.
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I-95 Construction Shutdowns Planned
by Frank Hammon
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posted Feb 11 2013 12:30PM
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If you have plans to travel along a stretch of I-95 near the Stafford-Prince William County line you might want to alter those plans. Starting tonight there will be full, intermittent closures of the highway north and south at Quantico starting at midnight. The closures will take place near the 147 mile marker at the Quantico Marine Corps base exit.
There will be six stoppages of 15 minutes each as Dominion Virginia Power crews remove and install electrical wires in support of the 95 Express Lanes.
Motorists may experience delays through 4 a.m.
Heading north, the last exit before the roadwork is Garrisonville Road. The last exit headed south is Joplin Road.
Signs and message boards will be posted to warn drivers of the closures, and state police will be on hand to direct traffic.
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Local FBI Profiler Weighs in on Manhunt for Former LA Cop
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 8 2013 5:49PM
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The massive manhunt for the former LA PD cop that killed three people and wounded one other person has been in high gear Friday.
Some reported sightings of Christopher Dorner haven't panned out. Former FBI Profiler from Spotsylvania, Clint Van Zandt says this may play out with one of a few scenarios. He says dorner may do away with himself, could come out of hiding and entice police into a shootout or hunker down before making another move.
Van Zandt says Dornr left his ID on one town near L.A. and left his burning truck in another area, possibly to taunt police and gain media attention.
The killing spree happened after he was fired from the police department, denied a military promotion and let go from the Navy.
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Dominion Virginia Power Crews Head to the Northeast
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 8 2013 5:43PM
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Thousands of flights canceled and runs on gas stations and supermarkets. From New York to Maine, residents are bracing for a storm that could bring as much as 3 feet of snow.
The winds are projected to be over 70 miles an hour and Dan Genest with Dominion Virginia Power says that could mean disaster. He expects there could be millions left in the dark. He says the combination of high wind and heavy, wet snow is the worst combination for outages. There will likely be many downed trees, power poles and power lines.
A State of Emergency is already in effect in many states in the northeast. It allows localities and state officials more authority to make decisions. Among them, requesting mutual aid ahead of severe storms. Genest says they got a call earlier this week to help. Friday morning, 60 Dominion line crews and 200 contractors left for the northeast. He expects more will be requested to help with restoration efforts in the coming days.
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northeast Storm Leaves Northern Virginia Traveler Grounded
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 8 2013 5:37PM
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Forecasters say it could be a blizzard for the history books -- and it's already shut down air travel in the Northeast.
Today thousands of planes are grounded. Northern Virginia resident Amanda Lugo tells WFLS she is among those affected. She was set to fly out to Boston Friday, but her flight was canceled on Thursday afternoon.
Lugo was traveling for pleasure and had the chance to reschedule her trip for next week. Her carrier, Jet Blue, allowed those affected to cancel themselves without penalty or rebook their trips. She was on the phone for several hours making it happen though.
Many others were not so lucky and are stranded in airports.
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Manassas Woman Could be Jailed on Federal Firearms Violation
by Associated Press
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posted Feb 7 2013 7:00PM
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A Manassas woman has pleaded guilty to violating federal firearms laws after buying 31 handguns over a two-week span at three Virginia gun shows.
Forty-four-year-old Kimberly Dinkins pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Alexandria to dealing firearms without a license. She faces up to five years in prison.
Court records show that Dinkins resold all of the guns for a profit.
Federal law does not require a person to register as a firearms dealer for occasional private gun sales. But it does require a dealer's license if a person devotes significant time and energy to the sale of firearms with a primary goal of making a profit.
A Virginia law limiting individuals to one handgun purchase per month was repealed last year.
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Spending or Saving Problems Could Spell Disaster
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 7 2013 6:40PM
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Do you have a problem with spending or saving?
More than 60% of the 2,000 that respond to a new poll say they have both. The National Federation for Credit Counseling's Gail Cunningham says there are some key signs of dangerous habits. Do you hide purchases, delay paying bills and live on credit. If so, you need to know that the habit will not change itself, but there us help. Cunningham says the National Federation for Credit Counseling Agency has 750 registered counselors from coast to coast.
She does think the days of freely spending are returning too soon. Consumer spending hit a four year peak over the Christmas holiday. Shoppers were expected to spend over $12 billion on Superbowl weekend alone. Much of that money came from big ticket purchases, like televisions to watch the big game.
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More Proof that You Can't Have Too Many Locks on Your Home
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 7 2013 6:19PM
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More proof that you can't have too many locks on your house.
A Ferry Farm resident is hit in the head by an intruder Thursday and taken to an area hospital. Stafford authorities say the same man allegedly broke into a home down the street, about an hour later. He ran off when a resident went to get a gun.
A sheriff's K-9 tracked Brandon Wayne Felix' scent. The 18-year-old is charged with two counts of burglary, malicious wounding, being drunk in public and underage possession of alcohol.
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Spotsylvania Man Leads Authorities in High Speed Chase
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 7 2013 5:46PM
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A dangerous high-speed chase for local authorities Thursday.
The pursuit of Spotsylvania resident Christopher Dale Lewis started in Fredericksburg, goes to two other counties and ends in the Mayfield area. Police say he ran two red lights, ran over two curbs and got a flat tire.
Lewis is charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving while revoked for DUI, resisting arrest, possession of PCP and a number of other charges.
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Plan Ahead for Snowy Weekend Air Travel
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 7 2013 5:09PM
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If your travel plans between now and the weekend will take you there by air, plan ahead now.
Rob Yingling with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says there is little concern for an impact on Reagan or Dulles, here in Virginia. They do expect major cancelations in and out of northeast hubs. Consider contacting your carrier now to try and adjust your flight.
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Local Residents React to Five Day a Week Postal Service
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 6 2013 6:34PM
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Financial struggles led to the U.S. Postal Service announcement Wednesday that they plan to stop Saturday delivery this summer.
WFLS asks some local residents...how do you feel about the change?
Some say they pay most of their monthly bills on-line, so it is of little impact. Others say that they pay bills by mail, but would just amend they way they do business and mail them during the week. Some feel sorry for what could have to happen and agree that the increased use of technology is partly to blame. For the most part, the residents we polled think it will mean an added headache for business owners.
The Postmaster General has made the call amid the sequestration debates in Washington. For now, Congress has no say in the switch to five day a week service. If a deal is reached by March 1st to stop automatic spending cuts, postal officials hope Congress will not try to reverse its' decision.
The service has seen massive budget deficits for several years. They are largely due to a federal mandate that the U.S.P.S. fund healthcare accounts of its' retirees. If the Saturday stoppage does take affect this August, the Postal Service is projected to see a cost savings of $2 billion every year.
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Three Arrested in String of 69 Local Vehicle Larcenies
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 5 2013 6:19PM
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 Deandre Rice
 Eugene Evans
 Antoneio Chapman
More proof that you should keep your vehicle locked up tight. Spotsylvania County Sheriff's deputies and detectives arrest three suspects in a string of 69 larcenies from vehicles
They say Deandre Rice, Eugene Evans and Antoneio Chapman are suspects in the thefts in Spotsylvania and Stafford counties and the City of Fredericksburg. During a routine traffic stop, a deputy noticed and recognized some stolen property from the incidents.
The thefts happened in the Fox Point, Crown Grant, Lees Park, Hamilton's Crossing, Lee's Crossing, Pelham's Crossing and Park wood subdivisions. Some of the stolen property and will be returned to the victims.
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Local Utility Scam Targets Vulnerable Populations
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 5 2013 2:29PM
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A warning to utility customers in Fredericksburg and throughout Virginia.
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Spokeswoman Casey Hollins says scammers have been contacting utility customers, demanding immediate cash payment for electric bills. Some of them have even requested that the customer meet the caller at an area location and give them cash for the bill. A more alarming trend is the targeting of the Spanish speaking and elderly population.
Hollins says utility providers never contact customers demanding payment and never make a call without already having their personal account information. When in doubt, never give information or meet anyone. Hang up and contact your provider or local police immediately.
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The Cha-Ching Sound is Louder at Local Gas Pumps
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 5 2013 2:26PM
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If you put gas in your car this week for the first time since late last week, you likely had a shock.
Windy VanCuren with AAA Mid-Atlantic says prices have been on a steady rise. She says the price has jumped 17 cents in the past week and a staggering 10 cents in much of Fredericksburg since last Friday.
The typical jump in the price at the pump in the Spring appears to have come early. VanCuren says it is likely because of higher crude oil and wholesale prices, refinery maintenance slow downs and low gas supplies.
Prices are not likely to drop in coming weeks, but the rise could be slower and level off to a peak before the summer driving season.
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Local Autism Counselor Weighs in on State of Rescued Alabama Child
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 5 2013 2:24PM
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A kidnapped five year old boy from Alabama is now safe and kidnapper Jim Dykes is dead, so what now?
Pam Gorski with Reaching Potentials in Fredericksburg, who treats autistic children, says trauma for a child with such a condition is different. Young Ethan suffers from Asperger's syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She says it was likely difficult for him to deal with the trauma of what happened and to adapt to a new person and new surroundings. The child was taken to a nearby hospital, after being rescued Monday, and reunited with his family.
Gorski says that though the situation for a child with a condition on the autism spectrum is different to deal with, it would be as traumatic for a child of any age. She says Ethan's parents and others may have to delve more slowly into dealing with what he went through, over a week being held captive. She says sometimes children with such conditions might relate better to social stories or other strategies to get them to open up about how they are feeling.
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ACLU Speaks Out on More Officers in Virginia Schools
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Feb 1 2013 7:38PM
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Budget plans are being unveiled by the Virginia House and Senate over the weekend, so where will the talks about more security in schools fit in?
Measures to increase police presence have failed in the Senate week, but one is still alive in the House. American Civil Liberties Union Director Claire Gustanaga is concerned on the role they might play. "We need to get back to thinking about kids as kids and disciplining them as to what makes sense, not turning every child into a criminal because there happens to be a school resource officer or a police officer on the campus." She says childrens' safety is important, but it needs to be done the right way.
Gustanaga says it is critical that school staff, not school resource officers are in charge of discipline. The ACLU fears that schools are being turned into a pipeline to the prison system. The worry that more surveillance and metal detectors also could lead to an infringment on civil rights, says Gastanaga. She also worries the officers could get too involved on the disciplinary side and lose focus on outside school threats.
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Jury Recommends Three Years in Ex Cop's Manslaughter Trial
by AP
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posted Feb 1 2013 11:17AM
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CULPEPER, Va. (AP) - A jury is recommending three years in prison for a former Culpeper police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman.
Media reports say the jury delivered its recommendations Friday in the trial of Daniel Harmon-Wright. The punishment is on the low end of sentencing guidelines.
Tuesday, jurors convicted the defendant of voluntary manslaughter in the Feb. 9, 2012, death of Patricia Ann Cook. He said he shot Cook after she attempted to drive away in her vehicle with his arm caught in the window.
Culpeper County Circuit Judge Susan Whitlock on Friday denied a motion that had been brought Wednesday by attorneys for Harmon-Wright. They said jurors who convicted Harmon-Wright consulted a dictionary to guide their deliberations on the meaning of "malice," indicating they were confused about jury instructions.
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