Deputies from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office intervened in a teen suicide attempt on Wednesday afternoon.
On January 17 at 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to a distress call from a teenager contacting the suicide crisis hotline. Rushing to an undisclosed school in south Stafford, they found the juvenile hanging from playground equipment with a belt around his neck.
Fredericksburg Battalion Chief Jack McGovern revealed an unconventional yet effective method employed by the city to measure snow accumulation. If you come across plywood adorned with orange markings in specific locations, rest assured that it’s not a random installation but a crucial part of reporting snow data to the National Weather Service.
These snow measuring boards, currently numbering four, were utilized during the recent snow event and have been strategically placed at Walker Grant Middle School, Dixon Park, Memorial Park, and the Ballfields/Community Garden across from Wicklow Drive.
“The Federal Highway Administration’s new rules for the road manual says highway signs should be simple, direct and avoid wording “intended to be humorous,” Axios’ Shauneen Miranda reports. States have two years to comply with the rules, reports Karri Peifer at Axios Richmond. “VDOT started using “themed messages” in April 2017, according to an agency report, and has given Virginians highway sign gems like Wakanda Driver are you? Safety is King. Awwww Snap! Your Seat Belt! Get Your Head out of Your Apps.”
“Ice that is formed during a continuous, hard freeze, typical of northern climates, is much stronger than ice formed during temperatures that repeatedly fluctuate above and below the freezing mark. Ice that forms where water levels change frequently, or where the water is moving, such as storm water ponds, rivers, and streams is especially dangerous because its thickness will vary with the conditions and may contain cracks.”
“Should an individual or animal fall into icy waters, moderate to severe hypothermia can occur in less than 10 minutes. The window of opportunity for a successful rescue closes rapidly beyond that time. Therefore, the primary challenge for rescuers is time.”
Stafford County Public Schools: “The Stafford County School Board selected its new chair and vice-chair during the January 18, 2024 annual organizational school board meeting. The 2024 school board chair is Ms. Maureen Siegmund and Ms. Maya Guy will serve in the vice-chair position.”
“Ms. Siegmund has served as the Garrisonville District Representative on the Stafford County School Board for two years. She presently serves on the board’s Technology and the Joint Schools Working Commission. Ms. Siegmund is a product parent of four children, three of whom attend schools across all three grade levels. Ms. Guy is also a parent to a student in the school district.”
Jurisdictions in our region spent a cumulative $280,000 to rename Route 1, formerly Jefferson Davis Highway. Fredericksburg spent $90,000, followed by Stafford County with a $51,500 investment, and Prince William County contributing the most at $137,800.
Legislation HB2075, pushed by Delegate Joshua Cole (D-65, Fredericksburg, Stafford) and signed by then Gov. Ralph Northam (D) in 2o21, ruled that “any section of U.S. Route 1 in Virginia that is designated as the ‘Jefferson Davis Highway’ shall on the effective date of this act be designated and shall hereafter be known as the “Emancipation Highway” as of January 1, 2022.
The National Weather Service states that today’s weather will feature mostly cloudy conditions with a high near 40 and a south wind of 3 to 6 mph. Tonight, there’s a chance of snow before 2 am, transitioning to a chance of rain and snow between 2 am and 4 am, followed by likely snow after 4 am. Cloudy skies are expected, with a low of around 31 and a light and variable wind.
The precipitation chance is 60%, and new snow accumulation could be less than a half inch, according to the National Weather Service.
Drugs
On 1/15, 7:34 p.m., Deputy E.T. Osborn responded to a disturbance at Walgreens, 50 White Oak Road. A male acting strangely was wanted out of Spotsylvania. During arrest, drug paraphernalia and a suspected controlled substance (claimed to be Viagra) were found. The suspect faced charges and was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: “A Stafford man was arrested on Friday for animal cruelty after a brandishing incident last month brought the animal abuse to light.”
“On December 29, 2023 deputies responded to Knollwood Court for a disturbance with a weapon. Deputy S.M. Eastman investigated the disturbance and learned Rickey Carr, 30, had been beating his pit bull named Demon with a stick. When other members of the home confronted Carr about the abuse, Carr brandished a handgun.”
