Spotsylvania

VRE Advances Station Upgrades in Manassas Park, Completes Spotsylvania Property Transfer

By Uriah Kiser

Virginia Railway Express is moving forward with improvements at two of its stations, one marking a long-awaited property transfer in Spotsylvania County and the other preparing for a major new parking facility in Manassas Park.

At its July meeting, the VRE Operations Board approved a contract with Espina Paving, Inc. of Woodbridge to mill and pave the Manassas Park Station parking lot. The work, set to finish before winter, aims to improve the lot’s appearance and safety after recent construction left it looking, as one board member put it, “like a war zone.”

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First Responders, Citizens Celebrated for Acts of Heroism in Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser
Major Shawn Kimmitz of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 31 years of exemplary service, leadership, and innovation in law enforcement and community engagement. His visionary approach to public communication and steadfast commitment set a high standard for future generations.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The folks at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber just wrapped up their annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast, and it was a big one. Held August 13 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center, the event spotlighted local heroes across law enforcement, fire, and EMS for their life-saving efforts and long-term service.

From snowy highway rescues to swift water saves and daring house fire rescues by everyday citizens, the awards covered a wide range of heroic acts. Citizen Valor Awards went to locals who jumped in to help during life-threatening situations, while police officers and EMTs were recognized for bravery, teamwork, and quick action in high-stakes emergencies.

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Arlington Woman, 19, Drowns in Lake Anna

By Uriah Kiser
Lake Anna (Photo: Virginia State Parks)

InsideNoVa — A 19-year-old Arlington woman drowned in Lake Anna over the weekend. Deputies were called to Sandy Point Drive in Bumpass at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, where witnesses reported seeing the victim, 19-year-old Sally Bedell, jump from a structure into the water, resurface, and then go missing, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. More from InsideNoVa.

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Man Shot on Bancroft Road in Spotsylvania; Shooter Still at Large

By Potomac Local Sponsor
[Courtesy of Northern Virginia Police Cars via Instagram]

A man is recovering after being shot late Thursday night in Spotsylvania County.

Deputies were called to the 4500 block of Bancroft Road around 11:17 p.m. on August 7, 2025. They found the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. Deputies provided medical aid until rescue crews arrived, and the man was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

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Roadwork Watch: Major Lane Closures Coming This Week in Fredericksburg, Stafford & Spotsy

By Potomac Local News

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The folks at VDOT just gave Potomac Local News the heads-up: expect plenty of overnight lane closures and daytime work zones in Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, and the City of Fredericksburg from Sunday, Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 16.

On I-95, crews will be milling and paving northbound between Thornburg (Exit 118) and Spotsylvania (Exit 126) and southbound between Courthouse Road (Exit 140) and Centreport Parkway (Exit 136). Police will direct traffic during the mobile paving operations.

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Expect Overnight Lane Closures This Week in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania

By Potomac Local News

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Drivers in the Fredericksburg region should prepare for overnight lane closures this week as road crews carry out maintenance and construction along major corridors in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties and the City of Fredericksburg.

On I-95, paving and bridge inspections will cause single or alternating lane closures overnight between Exit 118 (Thornburg) and Exit 148 (Quantico). Route 1 and Route 3 in both counties will see daytime and nighttime closures for pavement marking, utility work, and intersection improvements. Fredericksburg’s Route 1 at Fall Hill Avenue and Princess Anne Street will continue to experience intermittent lane closures as part of long-term construction projects.

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Kaine and Vindman Push to Restore Disability Program Funding Cut from Spotsy Schools

By Potomac Local News

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. – A new bill from Senator Tim Kaine and Congressman Eugene Vindman aims to restore federal funding cut earlier this year from a program that supported high school students with disabilities in Spotsylvania County and across the country.

The “Charting My Path for Future Success” program—launched in 2019—was canceled by the U.S. Department of Education in February 2025, halting services like tutoring and mentoring for more than 1,600 students nationwide. Spotsylvania schools say the funding loss put them in a $2 million bind, threatening over a dozen staff positions and programs for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

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VRE Proposes 5% Fare Hike for FY2027 Amid Rising Costs and Slower Ridership Recovery

By Uriah Kiser
A Virginia Railway Express train pulls into the Fredericksburg train station. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

The VRE Operations Board is expected to review the proposal in September 2025 as part of the draft FY2027 budget. The plan would trigger a public participation process in fall 2025 before any final vote.

Current Fares and Impact

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Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center Celebrates 5 Years in Fredericksburg, 10 Years in Virginia

By Uriah Kiser

The practice is celebrating 10 years of serving patients across Virginia and five years at its Fredericksburg-area office, located on Lafayette Boulevard in Spotsylvania County. Founder Dr. Danielle VonDerLinden shared that her team has helped more than 16,000 patients over the past decade — totaling nearly 60,000 visits. “We think of our mission — exceeding our patients’ expectations when they choose us to be part of their health care team,” she said during the ceremony.

In a Facebook video, Chamber President and CEO Susan Spears praised the clinic for opening its Fredericksburg office in 2020 — during the height of the pandemic — and continuing to grow. “They are doing fantastic work helping our community with all needs, foot and ankle,” she said.

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Widening of Route 2/17 in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Aims to Ease Traffic, Improve Safety by 2029

By Uriah Kiser
Route 2/17 (Dixon Street) near Dixon Park in Fredericksburg, where VDOT plans to widen the road to four lanes and add a shared-use path as part of a $70.6 million improvement project. [Photo: VDOT]

The proposed $70.6 million project would expand Dixon Street (Route 2) and Tidewater Trail (Route 17) from two to four lanes between Dixon Park and Imboden Street, just south of Shannon Airport. Funded through Virginia’s SMART SCALE program and local contributions, the project combines two separate applications from Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania into one construction contract.

What’s included in the project?

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