Author: PLN News

Stafford

Stafford schools say a shelter-in-place drill set off an alert at every school

By PLN News
Kindergarten students get off the bus at Park Ridge Elementary School on "transition day," Monday, August 11, 2025. [Photo: Stafford County Public Schools]

Stafford County Public Schools told families Wednesday afternoon that a routine shelter-in-place drill at one school set off an alert across every school in the division. The division said the alert was tied to the drill and that there was no emergency and no danger to students or staff.

The note, sent at 3:15 p.m., did not name the school where the drill started and did not say whether the alert had been cleared. Shelter-in-place drills are for severe weather, including tornadoes. The division said Safety and Security and Technology teams were still checking why the false alarm spread and working to fix it.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Officers find shell casings after shots fired at Woodbridge apartments

By PLN News
File photo of police lights
Photo: Scott Rodgerson / Unsplash

Prince William County police said officers found shell casings Tuesday night after shots were fired at Avana Stoney Ridge Apartments in Woodbridge. No one was reported hurt. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office daily incident report listed a locker theft at a Garrisonville Road gym and a shoplifting arrest at Target.

On October 6 at 8:31 p.m., officers responded to Avana Stoney Ridge Apartments, in the 14400 block of Artery Lane in Woodbridge (22192), to investigate a report of shots fired, the Wednesday daily incident report said. The investigation revealed multiple gunshots were heard, and a gray SUV and three unknown individuals were seen leaving the area. Officers located multiple shell casings in the parking lot. No injuries or damage to property were reported.

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Prince William

Supervisors award $200,000 for foundation and soil repairs at seven properties

By PLN News

Prince William County is getting into the home repair business. Supervisors on Tuesday awarded $200,000 under the county’s new Foundation and Soil Management Program to seven eligible projects.

The Board of County Supervisors approved a prorated distribution of the $200,000 pot. Staff had received applications from May 1 to June 15. Of those, seven met the rules. The full cost of the eligible work was $356,831; the board had only $200,000 available, so each award was reduced based on ranking and requested amount.

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Prince William

House of Mercy lost 75 pallet spaces of storage. It has raised about $100,000 of the $350,000 it says it needs to fix it.

By PLN News
Four people stand at the House of Mercy food pantry doors under the 8154 address, holding school-supply donations next to a labeled FOOD PANTRY sign.

House of Mercy has about $75,000 in cash and another $25,000 in pledges toward the $350,000 it says it needs to lease two adjacent bays and reopen thrift-store floor space near Gainesville, Executive Director Jessica Root said Monday.

The nonprofit closed roughly one-third of its thrift-store sales floor to customers after losing about 75 pallet spaces of storage. That section remains closed and is likely to stay closed through the end of the year, Root said. In the first month after the closure, furniture revenue fell about 44 percent, and household-goods revenue fell about 18 percent.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg schools meet special education requirements for third year, but SOL scores lag region

By PLN News
Fredericksburg City School Board meeting
Fredericksburg City School Board meeting, Oct. 5, 2026. Credit Regional WebTV.

Fredericksburg City Schools has met Virginia’s special education requirements for the third consecutive year, but recently released Standards of Learning scores show the division still trails neighboring jurisdictions in every subject and that students with disabilities continue to post substantially lower pass rates.

Director of Student Services Maris Wyatt presented the Virginia Department of Education’s local determination at the School Board’s regular meeting on Oct. 5. The determination, which lags one year behind the reporting period, rates divisions as Meets Requirements, Needs Assistance, Needs Intervention, or Needs Substantial Intervention based on a mix of compliance and student outcome indicators.

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Stafford

Stafford Schools breaks ground on Edward E. Drew, Jr. Middle School rebuild

By PLN News
Officials break ground on the replacement for Edward E. Drew, Jr. Middle School. Credit Stafford County Public Schools.

Stafford County Public Schools broke ground Tuesday on the replacement for Edward E. Drew, Jr. Middle School at the Oak Knoll Farm site near Clift Farm Road and Leeland Road.

The new building is planned for about 1,100 students and is scheduled to open in August 2028. The current school, built in 1951, has a capacity of 650. Principal Amy Ivory and Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith spoke at the ceremony. Students from the Drew band and chorus also performed.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Suspects shatter door at Dale City vape shop, flee in red sedan

By PLN News
File photo of police lights
Photo: Scott Rodgerson / Unsplash

Prince William County police said two people shattered the front door of a Dale City vape shop early Tuesday, took merchandise, and left in a red sedan. No arrests were listed.

On Oct. 6 at 2:32 a.m., officers responded to Tobacco King & Vape, 5820 Mapledale Plaza in Dale City, to investigate a burglary, the Tuesday daily incident report said. The investigation revealed two unknown individuals shattered the glass front door and made entry into the business. The suspects took merchandise before leaving the area in a red sedan with tinted windows. Police described the suspects as two individuals wearing dark-colored clothing. No arrests were listed.

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Manassas Park

Jury selection continues in Naresh Bhatt murder trial

By PLN News
Naresh Bhatt
Naresh Bhatt. Credit Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center.

Jury selection continues in the trial of Naresh Bhatt, charged in the 2024 disappearance and presumed death of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, InsideNoVa reports.

Bhatt has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, concealment of a dead body, and physical defilement of a dead body. No body has been found. Mamta, a Manassas Park nurse and mother, was last heard from on July 29, 2024. Judge Kimberly A. Irving is presiding. The trial is expected to run for weeks.

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Prince William

Prince William parks lists a Halloween lineup through Oct. 31

By PLN News

Prince William County Parks & Recreation is taking registration for a Halloween lineup that runs through Oct. 31. The Great Pumpkin Party is almost full.

Take a Sip of History is Thursday, Oct. 15, free, no registration, at Water’s End Brewery with Prince William Historic Preservation. Adapted Recreation Spooky Snacks is Wednesday, Oct. 21, for people with disabilities. The Great Pumpkin Party is Friday, Oct. 23, for ages 2 to 8 with a parent. The same night, Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre has a free outdoor showing of its 2009 Ghost Hunters episode. The ghost tour is ticketed.

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