Author: Aya Karouane

I'm a high school junior at Mountain View High. A Stafford local, I love to learn more about our area!

Business

Goodwill Moving Across Sudley Road

By Aya Karouane

A Goodwill of Greater Washington store at 8014 Sudley Road in Manassas will relocate to 8117 Sudley Road, the Westgate Plaza shopping center, across from its current location.

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Features

Wildcat Battalion Marksmanship Team Qualifies for All-Service Championship

By Aya Karouane
The 2024-2025 MVHS MCJROTC Marksmanship Team | Photo: Aya Karouane

The Wildcat Battalion Marksmanship Team at Mountain View High has just qualified for the All-Service Championship, and they don’t plan on stopping there.

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Features

Hoofs on the Ground: Inside the Prince William Mounted Patrol Unit

By Aya Karouane
Tristan and Dylan Nicolson of Woodbridge get a chance to pet horses from the Prince William County Police Mounted Unit. [Photo: Alan Gloss]

The Prince William Mounted Patrol Unit has become a fixture within the police department. Serving on horseback, they go where regular officers cannot. 

We spoke with Sergeant Jeramy Ramos, one of the officers on the Mounted Patrol Unit, to learn more about their role within the community. 

The Mounted Patrol Unit was established in 2006 as a part-time unit. Taking inspiration from a similar unit within Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, the mounted patrol unit, the Prince William Police Department partnered with the National Parks Service at the Manassas National Battlefield Park to load the horses. 

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News

Area Schools Set for Winter Break

By Aya Karouane
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

Winter Break is almost here in the Potomac region, here are the dates for the schools in our area.

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Fredericksburg

Santa’s Visiting the Fredericksburg Visitor Center on Select Dates

By Aya Karouane
This building will get a lot more foot traffic after the move.[Photo: Mike Salmon]

Santa will visit the Fredericksburg Visitor Center on select dates for Pictures With Santa 2024, offering families a chance to meet him and take photos. Tickets are $5 per family, with each visit lasting 5 minutes.

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News

Interstate 66 Closures Begin Sunday

By Aya Karouane
While driving through this confusing interchange at I-66 and I-495, it’s appropriate to play “Flight of the Bumblebee,” on the stereo with the volume up.

From Dec. 8 to Dec. 10, multiple I-66 ramps will be closed overnight, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for drainage work as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Drivers should follow signed detours, and all work is weather and schedule dependent.

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News

Interstate 95 Closures in Dale City Begin Monday

By Aya Karouane
Looking south along the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes near Springfield. [Photo courtesy of Transurban]

Starting Dec. 9, lane closures will occur on both southbound and northbound I-95 near Neabsco Creek for bridge-related geotechnical work, with closures scheduled intermittently until late winter. The closures are part of preparations for the I-95 bridge replacement project, which will begin in 2027, and drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes.

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Fredericksburg

VDOT Publishes Hot Spot Schedule for the Fredericksburg Region

By Aya Karouane
The Falmouth Bridge connects Fredericksburg and Stafford. (Photo: VDOT)

Emergency repairs are underway on the northbound Route 1 lane at the Falmouth Bridge, with delays expected during peak times. Various construction and maintenance projects are ongoing throughout the Fredericksburg District, including road closures, lane restrictions, and bridge repairs across multiple counties, with some projects set to be completed in the coming years.

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Breaking News

Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Investigating Fatal Crash on Patriot Highway

By Aya Karouane
[Courtesy of Northern Virginia Police Cars via Instagram]

Press Release from Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office:

On December 5, 2024, at approximately 1:40 pm, deputies with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Patriot Highway and Orchard Ridge Drive for a report of a motor vehicle crash. Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit responded to the crash scene. Preliminary investigation shows that a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado operated by William Aimino was traveling north on Patriot Highway, and crossed over the centerline of the roadway into opposing lanes of traffic, causing a head-on crash with a 2005 International flatbed truck. Mr. Aimino was pronounced deceased on the scene and was found to be wearing his seatbelt. Mr. Aimino’s next of kin has been notified. The case is still under investigation by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit. Sheriff Roger Harris and the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office extend their condolences to Mr. Aimino’s family and friends for their loss.

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Features

Potomac High School Senior Places At National Business Competition

By Aya Karouane
Juliocesar Flores [Image: Prince William County Public Schools]

Juliocesar Flores, a senior at Potomac High School, achieved success in regional and state FBLA competitions and earned second place at the National Leadership Conference. He attributes his accomplishments to the guidance of his teacher, Felix Sandy, and the skills gained through FBLA as he prepares to pursue a career in business.

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