[Updated 2:15 p.m.] Police identified a Manassas Park High School student as the culprit after school administrators closed school buildings today after learning about a “potential threat” against students.
Police identified the suspect as a juvenile in a post on the department Facebook page. Authorities did not list any charges for the juvenile.
State Senator Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford) told PLN he would introduce legislation that aims to fund $11 million in improvements to Leesylvania State Park, at 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive in Woodbridge.
During the summer months, families flock to the 556-acre park on the banks of the Potomac River to hike, fish, picnic, and boat on the river. So many families flock to the park on weekends, the entrance is often closed to additional visitors as the park quickly fills to its occupancy limit.
[Updated 12:30 p.m.] A seventh-grade teacher who taught in Stafford County faces charges after authorities said he inappropriately touched a child.
Stafford County sheriff’s deputies arrested the suspect at his home in Spotsylvania County on Tuesday, December 7, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Sarah Maroney.
A summertime hot spot, families from all over the region pack the park, featuring a beach on the bank of the Rappahannock River. According to county officials, there is a rash of illegal parking at this park and other county-owned properties.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 14, to consider changing a county ordinance to allow the County Administrator to order illegally-parked or abandoned cars removed. The meeting at 1300 Courthouse Road will begin at 3 p.m.
Baseball team announces new front office staff: The FredNats have hired Adam Flock as their new Community Relations Manager as a part of the creative services team and Brian Lehman as their new Ticket Sales Account Executive on their sales team. Long-time franchise employee Rich Crosslin has been promoted to Box Office Manager for the organization. [Fredericksburg Nationals]
Dumfries area toy collection: We Back Blue, Virginia State Police, and the Virginia Department of Transportation will collect toys for children in need Saturday, December 11, from noon to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Target store near Dumfries. Collections will go to Toys for Tots, and some toys will also be donated to the Town of Dumfries Police Department for “Christmas in Dumfries.” [We Back Blue]
[Updated 7 p.m.] Voters and elected leaders in our region woke up today with a glimpse of a possible new political reality.
According to new political maps drawn by court-appointed Special Masters, nearly all elected incumbents in Prince William and Stafford counties, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg cities were “re-districted” out of their seats Masters from the Democratic and Republican parties. The new maps, or similar versions of them, will likely be approved by the Virginia Supreme Court later this month.
Local government school leaders unveiled a mural at Edward E. Drew Jr. Middle School in Stafford commemorating an attempt at integrating county schools in 1960.
Officials held an event to honor five students who tried to enroll in Stafford High School, where Drew Middle currently sits but was denied entry. Over 70 students, teachers, and onlookers watched a presentation made by some of those students, now seniors who attempted to integrate.
