Prince William - Page 120 of 1270

Call to Action: New Volunteer Opportunities in Prince William

Published October 23, 2024 at 1:00PM

[Volunteer Prince William via Facebook]

Greetings, Prince William: We have a breaking volunteer opportunity that’s short notice but would be great for groups! KABOOM!, AWS In Communities and Prince William County Parks & Recreation invite you, your family and friends to help build a new playspace during Build Week from Wednesday to Saturday at Fairmont Park, 9805 Fairmont Ave., Manassas 20109.

Lots of volunteer help is needed to complete this important project since building an entire playground is no easy feat. The schedule is Wednesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ribbon cutting will be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. This would be a fabulous opportunity for offices, groups, clubs, etc. to bring smiles to the faces of children in this neighborhood! Visit the Prince William County events page for more information, which includes a link to the Eventbrite page where volunteers can sign up.

Homeless Man Found Sleeping Inside Manassas-area Home

By Aya Karouane

Published October 23, 2024 at 11:05AM

On October 21, officers responded to a burglary at a home near Manassas, where they found an unknown man sleeping inside. The man was charged with burglary and possession of illegal narcotics and is being held without bond.

Press Release from Prince William Police Department:

First-of-Its-Kind Crisis Center in Prince William to Open in 2025

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 22, 2024 at 3:27PM

Prince William County is poised to address the community’s mental health needs with the projected 2025 opening of its first Crisis Receiving Center (CRC), which will be located in the old Gander Mountain Store on Worth Avenue in Woodbridge.

Announced during the October 15 Board of County Supervisors meeting, the CRC will offer immediate, short-term care for individuals in mental health crises, following the Crisis Now model designed to reduce unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations and keep law enforcement focused on public safety.

Woodbridge Man Dies After Suffering Medical Emergency in Car

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 22, 2024 at 1:48PM | Updated October 23, 2024 at 10:54AM

Photo: Prince William County Police / Potomac Local

From Prince William police:

Fatal Crash Investigation – On October 8 at 7:58AM, crash investigators responded to the area of the Prince William Pkwy and Clover Hill Rd [near] Manassas (20110) to investigate a single vehicle crash. The investigation revealed the driver of a 1999 Ford Mustang was traveling westbound on the Prince William Pkwy when the vehicle left the roadway and proceeded up an embankment before coming to rest on top of a guardrail. The driver is believed to have suffered a medical emergency and was transported to an area hospital where he later died on October 16. No other occupants were in the vehicle.

Emergency Housing Program Receives Over 500 Applications in One Week

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 22, 2024 at 1:38PM

At the October 15, 2024, Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting, pressing housing issues took center stage as the county faces an unprecedented demand for emergency housing assistance and a growing crisis of affordability for senior citizens.

The county’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program received an overwhelming number of applications in just one week, with over 500 households seeking support. Joan Duckett, Director of the Office of Housing, reported that this surge in applications reflects the mounting challenges faced by low-income and at-risk populations, including those threatened with homelessness. This rapid influx underscores the urgency of the housing crisis in Prince William, where increasing rent prices have made stable housing out of reach for many residents.

Prince William County Supervisors Address Panhandling Concerns with New Communication Strategy

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 22, 2024 at 12:30PM

In its October 15, 2024, meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors announced a new initiative to improve community engagement and communication regarding panhandling. The board issued a directive to the county’s communications office, asking for a comprehensive plan to address the growing concerns about panhandling across the region.

Panhandling has been an ongoing topic in Prince William County, with residents expressing concerns over safety and the visibility of people asking for money at busy intersections. Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry raised the issue during the meeting, emphasizing the need for a clear communication strategy to educate the public about the county’s response to the problem.

Prince William County Schools Grapple with Overcrowding: Covington-Harper Elementary Faces Redistricting Proposal

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 22, 2024 at 10:00AM

Prince William County School Board is addressing a growing concern about student overcrowding, particularly at Covington-Harper Elementary School near Dumfries, where eight trailers are being used to accommodate the rising number of students. During the October 16, 2024, school board meeting, board member Justin Wilk proposed beginning the redistricting process to manage the school’s overflow of students, but the motion failed to gain unanimous support.

Covington-Harper Elementary, located in the rapidly expanding Potomac Shores development, is already facing significant capacity challenges. The growth continues to grow, with an estimated 300 additional housing units expected to be completed within the next year, adding further pressure on the school’s resources.

Prince William Police Investigate 3 Separate Armed Robberies

By Aya Karouane

Published October 22, 2024 at 8:59AM

Several armed robberies occurred recently in Prince William. On October 20, a 27-year-old man was assaulted and robbed in Gainesville, resulting in injuries and property loss. The day before, a 56-year-old man was threatened with a firearm at a Motel 6, and on October 18, two 17-year-old boys were approached by three armed suspects near Woodbridge.

House Explosion: Dog Rescue from Debris 5 Days Later

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 21, 2024 at 1:25PM | Updated October 23, 2024 at 10:50AM

From Prince William fire and rescue:

The family dog has been rescued. Earlier this morning, units were dispatched back to the scene of last week’s horrific house explosion for a report of a barking dog in the debris. Crews arrived to hear the dog under a portion of the collapsed structure. Firefighters were able to free the animal after about 20 minutes of deploying structure collapse stabilization shoring techniques and some good old coaxing by the home’s owner. She appeared to be in good shape and showed her happiness of being freed by rapid tail wagging.

58th Session of Criminal Justice Academy Graduates 17

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published October 21, 2024 at 1:00PM

The 58th session of the Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy Basic Law Enforcement graduated on Oct. 17. [Photo courtesy of Prince William County]

Following a 24-week course of training, the 16 police officers and sheriff’s deputy attended a graduation ceremony at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas to celebrate their achievements.

The course included training in all aspects of police work, including classes in firearms, use-of-force decision-making, driver training, legal training, patrol techniques and investigative work.