The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has amended its By-laws to implement a new meeting schedule starting August 20, 2024, which includes three meeting days per month: A Day for business items, B-Day for work sessions and public hearings, and C Day for additional work sessions as needed. All meetings will begin at 5 p.m. to encourage greater public participation, and public comment opportunities will remain available on both A and B Days.
Press release:
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Motts Run Reservoir, which was established in 1974. The reservoir itself spans 160 acres, and is within a total of 860 acres of land. The reservoir was initially created to ensure a reliable water supply for the region. Over the years, it has become an important area for wildlife, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Callie Brown, Superintendent of Recreation for Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events, stated, “Motts has gone from being one of Fredericksburg’s hidden gems to being a family favorite park over the past 50 years.” She highlighted the reservoir’s diverse offerings, including hiking, biking, boating, and fishing, noting its role as a community asset.
The 2024 Arts Alive! Festival, a free and family-friendly event, will be held at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 14, featuring art, dance, music, and more. Organized by the Prince William County Arts Council, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Hylton Performing Arts Center, the event includes performances, activities, food, and craft vendors, and will take place rain or shine.
Press release:
Dumfries Vice Mayor Monae Nickerson is leading a renewed effort to attract more small businesses to the town as it prepares for the opening of The Rose, a 300-room gaming resort and hotel set to become the largest gaming destination in Northern Virginia. Town leaders are focused on creating a diverse mix of retail and service businesses to complement the expected influx of visitors with the resort’s opening.
Nickerson outlined the town’s strategy, which includes a year-long contract extension with Retail Strategies, a firm hired to identify and attract potential businesses to Dumfries. “We are hopeful that the Rose will serve as a beacon, an anchor, that will attract more businesses to Dumfries as a destination,” Nickerson said. The Rose, which will offer video slot machines but not table games, is expected to draw visitors from across the region.
Manassas City Police Chief turned Interim City Manager Douglas Keen is nearing the one-year mark as the city’s government’s chief employee. He stepped into the role following the resignation of former City Manager W. Patrick Pate. Despite the extended tenure, Keen has clarified that he does not wish to assume the position permanently.
Keen began serving as Interim City Manager in November 2023, after Pate left to become the City Manager of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After conducting interviews for the role, the Manassas City Council selected Keen for the interim position during a September 18, 2023, meeting.
Stafford County Schools is still working to resolve a transportation crisis.
On Monday, the first school day for kindergarten, 6th, and 9th-grade students, parents learned that some 3,000 children would not have bus transportation to school. All Stafford County students were scheduled to return to classes the following day, and the problems continued, with about 1,000 students still without a bus to carry them to school.
The Northern Virginia Veterans Association, in collaboration with the Freedom Museum, the Manassas Museum, and the Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William, is organizing an event to honor those impacted by September 11, 2001. The event will be held on the lawn of the Manassas Museum on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 3 p.m.
This gathering, titled “9/11 In Honoring Those Who Gave All,” is a free event open to the public. It aims to bring the community together to hear stories from individuals directly involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect and honor the memory of those who lost their lives on that day.
We first told you about this crash, which happened on Sunday night.
A 31-year-old Summerduck man, John Bruton III, faces multiple charges, including a felony, after a DUI-related head-on collision on Warrenton Road, resulting in severe injuries to himself and an adult passenger in the other vehicle. Bruton is being held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail pending his release from a hospital.
The Stafford County School Board met on Tuesday, August 6, to discuss several significant capital improvement projects, focusing on school replacements, renovations, and new facilities. Acting Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Chris Fulmer led the discussion, emphasizing the early stages of these projects and the need for careful planning.
One of the main topics was the replacement of Drew Middle School. The projected costs for this project have increased from the previously approved $96 million to an estimated $115 to $120 million. Fulmer noted that the increase is due to the higher square footage required, land costs, and off-site improvements requested by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “We’re anticipating having an architect on board in November,” Fulmer said, adding that the planning and design schedules are compressed due to the immediate needs of the school division.
Long-time friends Katie Baynard and Sara Hargrove have opened a storefront in Historic Manassas to host their businesses, Tilly & Teal Wedding and Events and Sarandipity Photography.
Eight years ago, the pair combined their collective talents and teamed up to make their mark on their respective industries. In 2016, Baynard launched Tilly & Teal out of her then-apartment above The Bone BBQ.
