FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Starting Memorial Day weekend, visitors heading to the Rappahannock River will notice something familiar at two popular parks: entrance and parking fees are back for the summer season.

At Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg, fees will be collected Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., now through Labor Day. Non-residents—those who live outside the City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County—will pay $15 per car or $5 per walk-in visitor aged 12 and up. City and county residents can enter for free with valid ID. The park remains open daily but closes from dusk to dawn.


STAFFORD, Va. – The FBI is reviewing the actions of one of its off-duty agents involved in a fatal shooting earlier this year in a Stafford County neighborhood. That agent now faces four separate criminal charges stemming from unrelated firearm incidents.

The shooting occurred on February 28, 2025, in the Stratford Place subdivision. Deputies from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a reckless off-road motorcyclist. Authorities say the rider fled after being confronted by Benjamin Spinale, a 43-year-old off-duty FBI agent. The motorcyclist later returned with several family members, prompting deputies to initiate a traffic stop.


STAFFORD, Va. – A surge of public opposition to large-scale data center development dominated the May 20, 2025, Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, leading county leaders to unanimously order a full review of the rules governing these rapidly expanding facilities.

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STAFFORD, Va. – Virginia State Police are investigating a serious three-vehicle crash that shut down local northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near the Rappahannock River Bridge on Saturday night.

The crash happened at 8:25 p.m. on May 17 at mile marker 132, just north of Fredericksburg. According to police, a 2007 Mazda Speed 3 was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver attempted to squeeze between two vehicles—a Hyundai Palisade in the left lane and an unknown vehicle in the middle lane. The Mazda collided with the Hyundai, causing it to flip onto the guardrail.


Updated 2:50 p.m. – Stafford County Public Schools is alerting families to expect afternoon bus delays after a portion of Interstate 95 near Garrisonville Road was unexpectedly shut down Monday.

In a message sent to parents, school officials said all bus routes passing through the area will be delayed. Families are encouraged to check the MyRide K-12 app for real-time updates on their child’s bus status.


STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – Newly added brewing equipment at Highmark Brewery in Stafford County takes this already-established name in local beer to another level. Moving beyond its menu of eight standards and a few rotating beer types, Highmark is setting a new note on the brew scene with the recent installation of three new fermentation tanks, three extractors, and a modern keg washer.

“To continue to expand, we needed to update,” said brewmaster Josh Alley whose been with them a few years as they waded through the ups and downs. With the new equipment, “we’ll be able to put new rotating styles out and possibly get back into canning,” Alley said.


STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County will honor America’s fallen heroes with a special Memorial Day Ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 10 a.m. The event will be held at the Armed Services Memorial on the campus of the George L. Gordon, Jr., Government Center, located at 1300 Courthouse Road in Stafford.

This year’s program will feature a special appearance by The Old Guard, the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Regiment. Known as the Army’s official ceremonial unit and the escort to the president, The Old Guard performs military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, guards the Tomb of the Unknowns around the clock, and represents the Army at ceremonies in the nation’s capital and beyond.


STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors will consider a sweeping proposal on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, that could dramatically change how and where data centers operate. The proposed changes, which the county planning commission will first review, include stricter zoning rules, expanded development standards, and long-term operational oversight to reduce impacts on nearby communities.

Data Centers May Lose “By-Right” Status in Three Zones


STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County Fire and Rescue says all northbound lanes of Interstate 95 were shut down around 8:45 p.m. Saturday in the area of mile marker 132.9/133, just north of the Rappahannock River bridge, following a traffic crash. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

About 15 minutes later, the Virginia Department of Transportation clarified that the closure affected the local lanes of I-95 northbound. In a social media post just before 9 p.m., VDOT said the entrance ramps to I-95 northbound from Exit 130 (Route 3) in Fredericksburg were closed due to the crash near mile marker 132.


DOSWELL, Va. – Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) lineworkers are among hundreds of utility professionals heading to Meadow Event Park this weekend for the 21st annual Gaff-n-Go Rodeo, one of the largest events of its kind in the U.S.

According to the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, which hosts the event, this year’s rodeo will feature more than 350 competitors from 12 states — including teams from as far away as Hawaii — making it the biggest turnout in event history. NOVEC crews will join linemen from across the region to showcase their safety skills, speed, and teamwork in events that simulate real-life challenges, including pole-top rescues and equipment operations.


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