A deputy was called at 1:20 p.m. to investigate a car traveling on I-95 south at the Va. 630 exit in Stafford, after someone called 911 to report the car was swerving between lanes. The deputy stopped the car, smelled alcohol on the driver, noticed the driver’s speech was slurred, and later found marijuana inside the car, said Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.
The driver was also seen throwing objects from the car while on I-95, said Kennedy.
Quantico, Va. — What do you get when you mix a 500-pound bomb and just the right weather conditions? A big boom that was felt across the Potomac Communities on Thursday.
Marines on Quantico’s munitions range detonated a 500 – pound explosive device about 2:30 p.m. While there have been larger bombs detonated at the range before, officials say low-hanging clouds helped to compound the effects heard and felt by this particular explosive.
It’s that time of year again when we take a look back at the most compelling, most interesting stories we’ve covered this year at PotomacLocal.com. It’s been a big year for local news in our area, from floods, hurricanes, landslides, and even earthquakes. Those events caused by nature are just the tip of the iceberg as we’ve brought you stories about fascinating people who have impacted the community in ways large and small, and for better and for worse.
See our list below of PotomacLocal.com’s most interesting stories of 2011 and then vote for which story you think is the biggest story overall.
As the Potomac Communities continues to attract new houses and businesses, should Quantico still be allowed to continue munitions testing or should it be banned to avoid what happened Thursday afternoon?
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Quantico, Va. — What was that loud noise that rattles windows and nerves heard about 2:20 p.m.? Officials can’t say for sure, however, there was no reported emergency in the area, like a fire, that could have caused the boom.
Quantico reported they were conducting explosive munitions training between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., but officials there have not responded to a request for comment following the boom.
Woodbridge, Va. — There’s a new tool outside some post offices in the area that will soon allow you to ship and pick-up packages that the postal carrier could not leave at your doorstep.
“gopost” by the United States Postal Service is a series of kiosks being rolled out to various post offices in the Potomac Communities, including Woodbridge. While the gopost program is still in a testing phase, users will soon be able to use the computer terminal at the kiosk to ship or pick up packages, said Postal Service spokeswoman Patricia Licata. When the service is operating, users will be able to sign up to opt to participate in the gopost program.
After the North Stafford Rotary Club announced their Fitness Challenge 2012, we wanted to know if you would consider taking part in a weight loss contest. Vote and let’s see what the Potomac Communities have to say.
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Stafford, VA – On Wednesday December 28, 2011 at 9:16 PM, Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a reported structure fire at 371 Bethel Church Road. The first unit arrived on scene within 5 minutes, reporting fire throughout a single family dwelling. The firefighters initially operated in a defensive mode until the arrival of additional resources, at which time the attack mode transitioned to an offensive interior attack bringing the fire under control within 20 minutes. Firefighters conducted a search of the residence with negative results.
The home was not occupied and based on information obtained from the neighbors the home had been abandoned for several months. There were no injuries reported, the cause of the fire is under investigation and damage estimates are not available.
Paving work is being performed to improve the roadway surface on the bridge approaches in Stafford, as well as repair pothole patching on the bridge.
Work will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
