On October 25, Virginia State Police Captain Richard K. Boyd officially joined the Department’s executive team as a Major and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Major Boyd started his career with Virginia State Police in 2004 after graduating from the academy with the 106th Basic Session.

Boyd is picking up this leadership position from Major Keith Keesee, who is retiring effective Jan. 1, 2021. Keesee has served as the BCI Deputy Director since his appointment on Feb. 10, 2018. Keesee served with Virginia State Police for 30 years.

Prior to this promotion, Boyd was commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation Richmond Field Office where he ensured that the latest investigative tactics, extensive jurisdictional partnerships, and comprehensive and consistent training came together to produce positive outcomes while combating crime.

In addition, Boyd is a member of the Central Virginia Overdose Working Group, the Richmond Regional Human Tracking Collaborative and the Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia.

Boyd started his journey with Virginia State Police as a Trooper assigned to the Culpeper Division’s Area 5 Office in the Fredericksburg area.

From there, he continued to serve the Culpeper Division as a Special Agent where he investigated middle and upper level drug distributors and organizations on the state and federal level.

He was then promoted to Supervisory Special Agent coordinating the FBI Safe Streets Task Force where he led a multi-jurisdictional team of law enforcement agents.

In 2014, Boyd continued to serve the Culpeper Division as First Sergeant in the General Investigation Section (GIS) and then in 2016 as Lieutenant.

In 2017, he came to Headquarters in Richmond where he was Captain and Director of the Office of Internal Affairs.

Major Boyd has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Clemson University, a Master’s of Legal Studies Degree from American University and attended the 2017 FBI National Academy 270th Session.

Tuesday will be sunny and cool with a strong breeze turning into the occasional gust of wind.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 65. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 43.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 68.

In September, the Virginia Department of Transportation launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness about Virginia’s litter problem.

This campaign, entitled “Virginia is for Lovers, not Litter” encourages Virginians to commit to the No Love for Litter pledge to each do their part to keep Virginia litter free.

“This campaign is yet another important step in Virginia’s transportation sector to promote environmental stewardship,” said Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “Through Virginia is for Lovers, Not Litter, we are emphasizing the responsibility each of us has to respect and protect the public spaces we share.”

Virginia Litter Facts

• Nearly 3.5 million taxpayer dollars are spent each year to clean up litter on Virginia’s roadways
• More than half of roadway litter comes from motorists and another 25% is from pedestrians
• Significant roadway litter comes from vehicles with improperly covered loads
• Nearly three-fourths of litter comes from people consciously choosing to litter on Virginia’s roads

“VDOT and our partners across the state are committed to promoting ways to reduce litter throughout Virginia,” said Rob Cary, Virginia Department of Transportation Chief Deputy Commissioner and Chair of the newly-formed Environmental Subcommittee of the Commonwealth Transportation Board. “Having litter-free highways is something we should all be working toward. The first step is to ensure everyone recognizes the role they can play in preserving the beauty of our Commonwealth, which should change the mindset of littering on our roadways.”

The impact of litter is both environmental and economic.

Litter affects our quality of life, safety, economic development, and recruitment of businesses and families to the Commonwealth.

Virginia is for Lovers, Not Litter aims to remind drivers, passengers, and pedestrians that littering on our roadways is unacceptable. The effort is designed to encourage Virginians and visitors to keep the Commonwealth’s landscapes and roadways litter free and welcoming to all.

“Virginia Tourism is proud to partner with Virginia is for Lovers, Not Litter as keeping our state pristine is something we are all accountable for and something we all need,” said Virginia Tourism Brand Director Lindsey Norment. “Beautiful Virginia will remain a destination for travelers worldwide, but only if it is kept clean. Aligning our internationally-recognized brand with this effort directly connects with our sustainability values.”

Virginia Department of Transportation partner Keep Virginia Beautiful promotes the agency’s Adopt-a-Highway program through its website, social media platforms, and public relations channels as well as the organization’s many external partners.

“Keep Virginia Beautiful and VDOT enjoy a longstanding partnership rooted in a shared goal to protect and improve the natural beauty along our roadways and within our communities,” said Michael Baum, Executive Director of Keep Virginia Beautiful. “The Virginia is for Lovers, Not Litter campaign aligns beautifully with the work we do to promote a sense of shared responsibility to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify communities.”

Environmental stewardship is a focus for VDOT across the Commonwealth. The agency employs a comprehensive strategy for bettering the health and beauty of the state through Adopt-a-Highway, the new Beautify Virginia roadway sponsorships, Chesapeake Bay Watershed programs, and pollinator protection initiatives.

Stafford County continues efforts on transportation projects identified in the 2019 Transportation Bond Referendum.

Stafford County’s Department of Public Works has completed several road widening safety improvements and remains dedicated to securing funding and planning for the construction of the remaining projects identified in the bond referendum.

To date, roadway segments along Andrew Chapel Road, Decatur Road and Ramoth Church Road have been widened and repaved. Enon Road, one of the eight major Road Bond projects, is scheduled to begin next.

“Budget constraints at all levels have changed drastically since the voters approved the 2019 Transportation Bond Referendum,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Meg Bohmke, Falmouth District. “We remain committed to making our roadways safer for our residents and to moving forward with this program.”

Work is moving forward on Enon Road, and a variety of federal, state, and local funding sources secured so that design work can begin in October 2021. In addition to Enon Road, design work is scheduled to start on Shelton Shop and Leeland Road in 2022. These projects will widen the roadways by three lanes improving traffic flow by creating new capacity, improving safety, travel time reliability, reducing congestion and improving access to surrounding areas.

The County also recently submitted project applications for six bond referendum projects seeking approximately $92 million in SMART SCALE funding. Attaining this core funding is needed to allow the County to continue forward with the current design and construction schedule for Garrisonville Road, Onville Road Widening and Mountain View Road Improvements.

In addition to the road bond projects that remain a priority for the County, Stafford County’s Transportation Planners are working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to identify rural road segments needing additional safety improvements such as advance warning signs and guardrails or rumble strips.

While the Bond Referendum provides up to $50 million of bond financing, completing all eight major projects and 35 safety improvement projects is contingent on leveraging other funds.

One of the many side effects of the coronavirus pandemic is the decline in transportation funding on a local, state and federal level.

A decrease in driving is one factor that has had a significant impact on the County’s revenue streams dedicated to transportation, including gasoline sales tax, state recordation tax, interest earnings and transportation impact fees. County-level losses are only compounded by the decrease in funds from the state and federal government.

The bulk of federal funding comes from fuel tax, and since vehicle use and gasoline consumption have dropped nationwide, the federal government has less money to provide to states.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Governor Northam proposes changes to the state’s Six-Year Improvement Plan that would focus on funding current transportation projects to completion by reallocating funding for projects in the out years.

For more information on the County’s transportation projects, please visit this website.

Saturday will be sunny and cool, with areas of frost in the early morning.

Saturday
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 53. North wind around 6 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Light southeast wind.

Sunday
A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night
A chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 51.

Showers on Friday morning will clear up to mostly sunny skies and strong wind.

Friday
Showers likely, mainly before 8am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night
Areas of frost after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 36. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 53. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Thursday will cool with showers and strong wind.

Thursday
Rain. High near 66. East wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night
Rain. Low around 46. North wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday
Rain before 8am, then a chance of showers between 8am and 2pm. High near 53. North wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night
Areas of frost after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Saturday
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 52.

Wednesday will be mostly cloudy and mild with a strong breeze later in the day.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night
Rain, mainly after 2am. Low around 58. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain. High near 69. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Thursday Night
Rain. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday
A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Prince William Food Rescue needs Food Rescue Heroes as the program is busy delivering food to both ACTS and SERVE homebound senior citizens. Volunteers are needed county-wide! Home food deliveries are no contact and follow social distancing guidelines.

Prince William Food Rescue is an app-based program enabling volunteers to pick up viable, close to expiration food from supermarkets, restaurants, and food pantries, and then deliver it to a program that can immediately use the food. Just an hour of your time will do much to provide relief for food-insecure families in our community!

More info on Prince William Food Rescue may be found online at this website. Please contact Shirley at [email protected] or call (703) 441-8606 ext. 212 for more information.

Non-Coronavirus Volunteer Opportunities:

Mark your calendars for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Collection sites will be at both Novant medical centers in Manassas and Haymarket, along with Sentara Lake Ridge. This is a way to get those unused and expired meds safely out of your medicine cabinet where they could fall into the wrong hands. Please visit this website to learn more.

The staff at ACTS has a big need for volunteers to help sort and organize the donations received at their Thrift Donation Center. Families and groups of seven or less welcome. Sorted items will be placed for sale in the ACTS Thrift Store where proceeds directly fund ACTS programs. All volunteers must complete and submit the online volunteer registration form found at this website. Please email Lisa at [email protected] or Luke at [email protected] to learn more.

Halloween is almost here, and Historic Manassas is hosting a Mask-querade Ball on October 31 at Harris Pavilion. Volunteers are needed to work a four-hour shift as set up crew, thermometer readers, ticket sales and check-in, game attendants, and costume contest judging. Masks must be worn; volunteers can come in costume. Please email Historic Manassas at [email protected] for more information on this event.

Manassas Hunger & Homeless Outreach Ministries is holding a Virtual Food Drive through November 30 to benefit Manassas Mobile Home Park. Residents of this community have been severely impacted by the loss of jobs and income due to the coronavirus and your donation will help to replenish their community food pantry. Please visit this website to learn how you can help.

The Salvation Army is recruiting volunteers for their Red Kettle Campaign, a long-standing holiday tradition that raises funds to benefit local families and individuals in need. Volunteers choose their locations and time slots and then ring the Salvation Army Bell. All ages welcome; those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or up at all times. Great for groups, families, young children, and older adults. Coronavirus safety measures include a mask requirement and sanitizing supplies (provided) to keep the kettle and bell clean. Please visit this website to sign up, call (703) 580-8991, or email Angela at [email protected].

Save the date for the upcoming Semper K9 Hero Hike, being held virtually Veterans Day week. Run a 5K or walk a mile in honor or memory of a hero. Registration for ages 13 and up is $35, free for ages 12 and under. Please visit this website for more information.

Operation Turkey at SERVE is just around the corner. Volunteers aged 16 and up are needed from November 16 to 21 to help sort and organize food, assemble food packages, and unload surplus food at SERVE. Be prepared for prolonged standing and lifting up to 20 pounds. Hurry, slots fill up quickly. Visit this website to create your account and sign up. Please email SERVE at [email protected] to learn more.

Cold weather will be here soon and the staff at SERVE are looking for a self-starter volunteer Coat Closet & Donations Assistant to help with their upcoming coat drive. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and able to lift up to 15 pounds. Duties include sorting and organizing donations, assisting families with locating properly sized coats, ensuring rules are followed and ensuring the cleanliness of coat closet. Volunteers must wear a face mask, submit to a temperature check, and complete a health questionnaire at the start of each shift. Please contact Karen at [email protected] for more information.

Coronavirus Volunteer Opportunities:

Medical Reserve Corps support your local health department and your community during a public health emergency. Volunteers are needed to support several missions, including public health education and outreach, disease investigation, and vaccine clinics. Medical experience is not required; they have roles for everyone. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed. Volunteers must be 18 years of age, complete minimum training, and pass a state background check to serve. Please fill out an application at this website. Please email Amy at [email protected] for more information.

ACTS and the Community Feeding Taskforce are in need of Volunteer Delivery Drivers to deliver food daily from the Community Feeding Taskforce Warehouse in Manassas to multiple food distribution sites. Volunteers must be able to maneuver pallets using a pallet jack and assist with loading the truck from the Community Feeding Taskforce Warehouse and then unloading pallets at the destination. Volunteers should be able to lift 40 pounds. Must have a valid driver’s license. Background check required. All ACTS Volunteers must first complete and submit the online volunteer application found online. Please contact Shirley at [email protected] to learn more.

American Red Cross needs volunteers to be Shelter Service Associates in the event of a disaster during the coronavirus. Volunteers work in-person in a Red Cross shelter before, during and/or after a disaster event, completing tasks necessary for shelter operations and providing assistance for disaster clients. Duties include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information or other areas within a shelter. Please email [email protected] for more information.

If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call the team at Volunteer Prince William at (703) 369-5292. You can also visit the Volunteer Prince William website. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.