Author: PLN News

Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Bristow Fatal Crash; Man Charged With Rape

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

Prince William County police said a 21-year-old Manassas Park man died Sept. 17 after a crash on Hansen Farm Road in Bristow. Officers identified the driver as Sayed Mohammad Hamed Shams and said he crossed double yellow lines while trying to pass a vehicle turning onto Wellingford Road, lost control and struck a parked, unoccupied tractor-trailer. Speed is believed to be a factor.

The same day’s county report said detectives arrested Edgar Jose Mendoza, 34, of Manassas, on a rape charge after investigating a March 15 sexual assault on Breeden Hall Court in Bristow involving a victim who was 16 at the time.

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Stafford

Stafford splits 5–2 on Stafford One industrial site, extends Potomac Creek clock

By PLN News
Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway. Stafford County Planning Commission memorandum, June 24, 2026, in the Sept. 15 Board packet.Aerial view of Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway.
Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway. Stafford County Planning Commission memorandum, June 24, 2026, in the Sept. 15 Board packet.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rezoned about 38.6 acres at Stafford One Industrial to heavy industrial on a 5–2 vote, unanimously approved a small Telegraph Road office rezoning, extended the Potomac Creek Campus application clock to Dec. 4, and cleared temporary construction access for a Hartwood Elementary School replacement.

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Fredericksburg

City ED seeks EDA feedback on $100k strategic plan update

By PLN News
Josh Summits, director of Economic Development and Tourism. Photo: City of Fredericksburg / file
Josh Summits, director of Economic Development and Tourism. Photo: City of Fredericksburg / file

Fredericksburg’s economic development director asked the city Economic Development Authority on Sept. 14 for a fast read on a new department strategic plan, funded at about $100,000 this year, that would replace the 10-point plan City Council adopted in 2023.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Man Charged After Fredericksburg Domestic Assault

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

Fredericksburg police said they arrested Jose Caal Choc, 38, of Fredericksburg, after a Sept. 16 morning assault on Ivanhoe Court. Officers said a woman was taken to a hospital in serious condition. Detectives charged Caal Choc with aggravated malicious wounding, abduction, entering a dwelling at night to commit assault, destruction of property and domestic assault and battery. He was held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Prince William County police are seeking a suspect after a Sept. 14 aggravated assault at Almita’s Restaurant in Woodbridge, in which officers said a 30-year-old man was struck with a belt buckle and taken to a hospital. The same county report listed an indecent-exposure complaint in Gainesville and an attempted residential burglary in Nokesville.

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Manassas

ARTfactory’s No Exit opens Friday in Manassas

By PLN News
ARTfactory show bill for No Exit in Manassas
Show bill for No Exit at the ARTfactory in Manassas. (Courtesy ARTfactory)

ARTfactory’s production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit opens Friday, Sept. 18, at the ARTfactory in Manassas.

The four-actor existentialist drama follows three souls — Vincent (Andrew Chi), Inez (Becca Parsons) and Estelle (Amantha Peterson) — ushered into a single room in the afterlife by a mysterious Valet. Expecting the physical torment of damnation, they instead find they are destined to become one another’s eternal tormentors, according to ARTfactory press materials. Ned Kieloch plays the Valet for performances Sept. 18–20, and Brendan Banner plays the role Sept. 25–27.

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Prince William

Families urge blood donations as Board marks Sickle Cell Awareness Month

By PLN News
Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School. Photo: Potomac Local News / file.
Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School. Photo: Potomac Local News / file.

Candis King would have turned a year older this month.

The Colgan High School 10th-grader died Oct. 4, 2025, of complications of sickle cell disease. Prince William County Public Schools confirmed her death the next day. Principal Tim Healey told Colgan families in a letter that counseling would be available that week. Potomac Local reported the death Oct. 5, 2025.

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Features

Weekend Roundup: Fall Family Festival in Fredericksburg, Oktoberfest in Manassas, and a free band night in Woodbridge

By PLN News
Guests raise steins around a golden keg during Oktoberfest at 2 Silos Brewing Co. in Manassas. Photo courtesy of 2 Silos Brewing Co.
Guests raise steins around a golden keg during Oktoberfest at 2 Silos Brewing Co. in Manassas. Photo courtesy of 2 Silos Brewing Co.

From a free inclusive festival at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds and Oktoberfest at 2 Silos in Manassas to a free outdoor band concert in Woodbridge and Friday night music in Market Square, here are things to do Friday evening through Sunday.

According to the disAbility Resource Center, the Fall Family Festival is Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. A Weekend Roundup Tips media advisory from the center says admission and parking are free, and Deputy Director Seth Whitten said more than 2,700 people attended last year. The festival page promotes a family-friendly day with 80-plus vendors, live music and entertainment, and free family activities.

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Newslinks

News Links: Prince William Seeks $373,000 for Behavioral Health Court; Manassas Water Tastes Musty

By PLN News
News Links
News Links

Prince William is asking the state for nearly $373,000 to staff a new behavioral health court docket, Manassas says musty tap water is seasonal and safe, and Dominion and NextEra sweetened a $67 billion merger bid that would change Virginia electric bills.

According to InsideNoVa, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved a $373,187 grant request to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to expand the county’s new Behavioral Health Docket. The money would come from the department’s State Opioid Response program for fiscal 2027 and would go to the Office of Criminal Justice Services if the state awards it.

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Weather

Warm, humid Thursday with storms late; cooler weekend starts Friday

By PLN News
NWS map showing Thursday high temperatures in the mid-80s to low 90s across the Baltimore-Washington region with storm chances later
National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington today’s forecast high temperatures map for Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026.

It is already warmer and stickier than Wednesday. Early this morning, temperatures sit in the mid 60s to low 70s. Dew points are mostly in the 60s. Clouds have built along and east of I-95. Isolated showers may brush western Maryland around daybreak, but most of the region starts dry.

Highs today reach the mid 80s to low 90s. Humidity stays up. Showers and thunderstorms should fire first over the Alleghenies and then slide toward the I-95 corridor between about 4 and 9 p.m. The chance of severe weather is low. A few stronger storms could still produce brief gusty winds. Storms should fade a couple of hours after dark.

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Stafford

Stafford Sheriff: missing and endangered person near Pepper Tree Lane located safely

By PLN News
Photos released by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office of a missing and endangered person sought near Pepper Tree Lane.
Photo: Stafford County Sheriff’s Office

UPDATE (11 p.m. Sept. 16): The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said the missing and endangered person has been located safely. The office said there is no threat to the community at this time and thanked people who submitted tips or information that helped locate him.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday evening it was trying to locate a missing and endangered person and that there was a large police presence near Pepper Tree Lane and Regester Chapel Road.

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