As high pressure holds firm over the northeastern U.S., residents can expect generally fair weather conditions through Wednesday. However, the tranquility will be short-lived as a frontal system is poised to usher in unsettled weather by Thursday.
Today, temperatures will hover in the upper 40s to low 50s, with southerly winds picking up to around 5 to 10 mph. Tonight, expect clear skies and calm winds, with temperatures dipping into the mid-20s to low 30s.
Manassas City Public Works Director Steve Burke presented the annual report for the Public Works department to the Manassas City Council on February 13, 2024. The report highlighted the department’s achievements in 2023 and outlined plans for the future.
Burke, who started in his new role in January 2024, began by acknowledging the contributions of the department’s staff, including Scott Horan, assistant director Steve Schrank, fleet manager Mike Morgan, streets supervisor Doug McCauley, traffic control supervisor Glenn Martin, building and grounds manager Tim Fitzwater, and refuse and recycling coordinator Colleen Burroughs. He provided an overview of the department’s responsibilities, which include maintaining streets, fleets, buildings and grounds, solid waste, and traffic signals, with a total of 58 employees and a budget of approximately $24 million.
As a Virginia 501(c)(3), the Fredericksburg Free Press has set out with a noble mission: to deliver impartial and nonpartisan digital news coverage to educate and inform the residents of the Fredericksburg region.
Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Seth Silber, one of the founding members of the board of directors, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community. Silber, whose familial ties include the ownership of the Fredericksburg Nationals Baseball team, highlighted the communal spirit that drives endeavors like the Free Press, stating, “It’s incredible… when it comes together, and it sees a need, and it wants to do something, it does it.”
Scott Mayausky, Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue, has released the 2024 bi-annual property reassessment results, revealing significant changes in property values across various sectors. The comprehensive reassessment, aimed at ensuring equitable tax distribution, has led to noticeable increases in property assessments, reflective of the current market values.
Residential properties in the county have seen an average increase of 13% in assessments, indicating a substantial rise in home values. Commercial properties have experienced an even more significant jump, with assessments increasing by 23%, highlighting robust growth in the commercial sector. Agricultural properties are not far behind, with a 14% increase, while multi-family properties have seen a more modest rise of 9%.
Greetings, Prince William – Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Road, Manassas, is holding its next session of ESL from March 11 to May 22. They need volunteers age 18+ to help as Classroom Aides on Monday and/or Wednesday evenings, 7 pm-9 pm. No experience necessary, and you’ll enjoy working with students as they improve their English language skills! An orientation/training will be held on March 3 at 12:30 pm, and a light lunch will be provided. Please email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.
–Information submitted by Volunteer Prince William
The primary suspect, identified as Jaquan Mincy, 24, a resident of Fredericksburg, was apprehended at the scene. Mincy faces charges including possession, manufacture, or distribution of a weapon of terrorism containing fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana. He is currently being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
This successful raid was the culmination of an extensive investigation conducted by the Fredericksburg Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit. Police Brian Chief Layton emphasized the department’s commitment to combatting the distribution and usage of illegal drugs within the community. “The Fredericksburg Police Department is committed to actively investigating the distribution and use of illicit drugs and arresting those offenders,” stated Chief Layton in a press release. “I’m very proud of our detectives and officers for removing these dangerous drugs from our community.”
In the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office demonstrated remarkable proficiency in aerial search and rescue operations, using a drone to locate a missing hiker in distress.
The ordeal began at 1:17 a.m. when deputies received a call regarding a 36-year-old male hiker who had gone missing in the Civil War Park on Mount Hope Church Road. The sheriff’s office states that the hiker was separated from his companion and ill-equipped for the freezing temperatures.
Snowfall totals in Prince William and Stafford counties in Virginia reached up to 1.2 inches and 0.3 inches, respectively. These totals were part of a broader snowfall event across the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
Comparatively, Maryland saw higher accumulations, with Allegany County reporting up to 3.6 inches and Baltimore County measuring up to 4 inches.
Stafford County’s Animal Shelter is facing a dire situation as it grapples with an unprecedented number of dogs in its care. Animal Captain Joe Bice revealed that the shelter has far exceeded its capacity.
“Last year, we adopted or transferred 583 dogs, with an average stay of 21 days in the shelter,” stated Bice. “However, we’ve been over adoption capacity for most of 2023 and 2024.”
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance from the public in locating a suspect involved in an incident that resulted in injuries to a deputy following a crash on Thursday morning.
On February 15 at 1:34 a.m., Sergeant J.T. Forman observed a Scion disregarding a red traffic signal at the intersection of Butler Road and Chatham Heights Road. Forman attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect failed to yield and initiated a pursuit, police said.
