News

Honoring Heroes: First Responders Celebrated at Fredericksburg Convention Center

By Mike Salmon
Several police officers and fire and rescue crew were honored during the First Responders Appreciation Event on Wednesday, August 21, at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. [Photo: Fredericksburg Chamber Of Commerce]

The event covered first responders from the Fredericksburg and Caroline, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, filling the main ballroom at the Convention Center. There were 19 awards given out to local Virginia State Troopers and county police officers from all over the area. Included in the 19 awards was a lifetime achievement award given to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones, Caroline County Citizens Valor awards given to Shericka Twyner, Russell Trainer, and Desiree Dushane, and the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Citizens Valor Award went to Guillermo Shelton and Austin Leonard.

“We are a better region because of you,” added Steve Cox of Rappahannock Goodwill, one of the sponsors at this event, which the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce hosted.

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Dominion Performs Risky Line Work to Sustain Data Centers

By Uriah Kiser

E&E News By Politico: High up along a string of transmission towers leading into northern Virginia’s immense cluster of digital data centers, line crews are doing one of the scariest jobs in the energy world.

Dominion chose the rare “hot line” replacement. It simply couldn’t shut down existing power lines that feed 24/7 demand for power from the growing hub of data centers. “It’s absolutely essential that these projects are completed to serve the future growth that’s coming our way,” Gardner said in an interview.

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Vigil for Missing Manassas Park Woman Draws Hundreds Demanding Justice

By Alan Gloss
Hundreds of residents gathered at Signal Hill Park on Saturday, August 24, for a vigil to share their thoughts about the missing Manassas Park mother, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, who is believed to have been murdered in her home. [Photo: Alan Gloss]

Hundreds of residents gathered at Signal Hill Park on Saturday, August 24, for a vigil to share their thoughts about the missing Manassas Park mother, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, who is believed to have been murdered in her home.

The sound of children playing at the park was poignant as Kafle Bhatt disappeared just weeks before her daughter celebrated her first birthday. Speakers at the event highlighted that Mamta means “loving mother” in her native Nepal.

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Police Raise Alarm for Man Missing Since April

By Uriah Kiser
Beer

The Prince William County Police Department is urgently seeking public assistance to locate Caleb Anthony Beer, a missing endangered adult last contacted on April 6, known to frequent areas in Culpeper, Stafford, Woodbridge, and Dumfries, with his safety currently in question due to undisclosed reasons.

*MISSING ENDANGERED ADULT: The Prince William County Police Department is asking for the public’s help locating Caleb Anthony BEER who was reported missing by family members on April 19. Family members became concerned after not hearing from Caleb for several days with the last known contact with Caleb being on April 6. During the ongoing investigation, additional information was recently obtained by detectives leading to increased concern for Caleb’s wellbeing and has prompted him to now be considered endangered. Currently, it is undetermined if Caleb is missing due to voluntary reasons, or possible foul play. Caleb is unhoused and known to frequent Culpeper, Stafford, Woodbridge, and Dumfries, and unhoused encampment areas. Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of this person or information that can otherwise aid in the investigation is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or your local police department.

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ICE’s Struggle with Sanctuary Cities in Virginia Detailed in New Report

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Sfnewsfeed.us on Facebook]

Sanctuary jurisdictions typically have regulations that limit cooperation with ICE, impacting the enforcement of immigration laws. These measures may include refusing ICE detainers, restricting agency interactions with ICE, or hindering the sharing of information about incarcerated aliens.

ICE uses detainers as a key mechanism to detain aliens involved in criminal activities, ensuring their custody transfer for deportation. These detainers provide details about the individual’s criminal and immigration history, highlighting their public safety or security risk.

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Fredericksburg’s Drinking Water Unaffected Amid Rapidan River Investigation

By Uriah Kiser

The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water and the Rapidan Service Authority issued a continued “Do Not Use Water Advisory” for the Wilderness Water Treatment Plant. The advisory, first implemented on August 21, is still in effect following reports of an unknown odor in the drinking water.

Despite extensive testing and sampling by a VELAP-certified private lab, the cause of the odor has not been identified, and no harmful contaminants have been detected. The odor is noted to be dissipating, but the advisory will remain until it is sufficiently reduced or eliminated. The Rapidan Service Authority is actively working to address and mitigate the odor.

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Jackson Ulmer, 23, of Stafford County Joins VSP

By Uriah Kiser
[Photo: Virginie State Police]

Press release:

A resident of Stafford County, and a resident of Fauquier County, were among the 21 Virginia State Police Troopers who graduated from the 141st Basic Session on Friday, August 23, 2024, at the VSP Academy in North Chesterfield, Va. During the 141st Basic Session’s 30 weeks at the VSP Academy, trooper-trainees received instruction in more than 100 different subjects over the course of hundreds of hours. Academy training includes areas such as crime scene investigation, judicial procedures, self-defense, cultural diversity, and firearms.

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Stafford Sheriff Investigates Anti-Semitic Flyers Distributed in Stafford

By Kelly Sienkowski
White Oak Road

Several residents in Stafford County’s White Oak area woke up to anti-Semitic flyers strewed across their properties. Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reported several calls about the flyers, which were placed at residences. Detective S.M. Danyluk has obtained copies of the flyer and is actively investigating the incident, requesting any residents with video footage be submitted online.

Department spokesman Ryan Wilbur said while houses were not specifically targeted, the flyers were distributed randomly along sidewalks and driveways. The flyers were inside plastic bags weighed down by rice. Wilbur said the papers “were generalized flyers” and they “contained misinformation regarding religion, media, and conspiracies.”

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