Opinion

Letter: Stafford superintendent on school facilities and the November referendum

By Potomac Local News
Letters to the Editor graphic
Photo: Potomac Local News

EDITOR’S NOTE: The commentary below is from Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Daniel W. Smith. Stafford supervisors have raised taxes on homeowners by a cumulative 56 percent since 2021 and failed to pass a new BPOL tax on businesses this week after overwhelming community opposition. The views in the letter are the writer’s. 

National Voter Registration Day, observed September 15, offered a reminder that civic participation begins well before Election Day. This November, Stafford County voters will consider a referendum on whether the Board of Supervisors should have the authority to levy an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1% for eligible school capital projects.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Bristow Fatal Crash; Man Charged With Rape

By PLN News
[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

Prince William County police said a 21-year-old Manassas Park man died Sept. 17 after a crash on Hansen Farm Road in Bristow. Officers identified the driver as Sayed Mohammad Hamed Shams and said he crossed double yellow lines while trying to pass a vehicle turning onto Wellingford Road, lost control and struck a parked, unoccupied tractor-trailer. Speed is believed to be a factor.

The same day’s county report said detectives arrested Edgar Jose Mendoza, 34, of Manassas, on a rape charge after investigating a March 15 sexual assault on Breeden Hall Court in Bristow involving a victim who was 16 at the time.

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Stafford

Stafford splits 5–2 on Stafford One industrial site, extends Potomac Creek clock

By PLN News
Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway. Stafford County Planning Commission memorandum, June 24, 2026, in the Sept. 15 Board packet.Aerial view of Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway.
Stafford One Industrial site outlined in red at Interstate 95, Centreport Parkway and Richmond Highway. Stafford County Planning Commission memorandum, June 24, 2026, in the Sept. 15 Board packet.

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rezoned about 38.6 acres at Stafford One Industrial to heavy industrial on a 5–2 vote, unanimously approved a small Telegraph Road office rezoning, extended the Potomac Creek Campus application clock to Dec. 4, and cleared temporary construction access for a Hartwood Elementary School replacement.

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Event

Centennial Celebration BBQ

Event location

American Legion Post #28, Buck Keyes

17934 Liming LANE

Triangle, Virginia 22172

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Good Afternoon

The American Legion Post #28 (Buck Keyes) in Triangle, Virginia is celebrating 100 years of comradery and community service to the state of Virginia and the United States of America. The Post will be hosting a Centennial celebration on October 10th, 2026, from 12 noon until 6 pm. Free food and fun for all! Please publish our invitation to the public as you possibly can. Thank you. The address and the Point of Contact are as follows:

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg marks Kathmandu sister-city night with lecture and indoor vigil

By Potomac Local News

Rain kept Fredericksburg’s Kathmandu sister-city vigil off the Downtown Library steps Thursday night and moved the candlelight gathering inside, where tea lights closed a VA250 sister-city program built around Nepal’s floods and a long diplomatic friendship.

Sue Henderson, a Stafford County resident and founding member of the Fredericksburg Sister City Association, put the night’s meaning plainly after the lectures and indoor vigil.

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Fredericksburg

City ED seeks EDA feedback on $100k strategic plan update

By PLN News
Josh Summits, director of Economic Development and Tourism. Photo: City of Fredericksburg / file
Josh Summits, director of Economic Development and Tourism. Photo: City of Fredericksburg / file

Fredericksburg’s economic development director asked the city Economic Development Authority on Sept. 14 for a fast read on a new department strategic plan, funded at about $100,000 this year, that would replace the 10-point plan City Council adopted in 2023.

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Newslinks

News Links: Bhatt Murder Trial Stays on Oct. 5; Dumfries Hotel Operator Gets 11 Years

By Potomac Local News
News Links
News Links

A Prince William judge refused another delay in the Naresh Bhatt murder trial, a Dumfries motel operator was sentenced in a federal fentanyl and commercial-sex case, Manassas is asking the public how First Friday should change, and early voting for the Nov. 3 election opens Friday.

According to InsideNoVa, Prince William Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving on Thursday denied a defense motion to postpone the trial of Naresh Bhatt, the Manassas Park man charged with first-degree murder in the 2024 disappearance and presumed death of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt. Chief Public Defender Tracey Lenox argued the case is too complex and that the defense needed more time to review evidence; Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Sarah Sami said further delay would keep Mamta’s family, including relatives traveling from Nepal, in limbo.

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Weather

Front moves through Friday; most of the region stays dry

By Potomac Local News

A slow-moving cold front is sliding south across the Baltimore-Washington region this morning. Winds are turning north. That should pull in slightly cooler and less sticky air through the day.

Most of the area stays dry. Highs still reach the 80s at lower elevations under a mix of sun and clouds. Dew points should drop from the lower 70s this morning into the 60s later this afternoon. Isolated showers are possible farther north, but coverage should stay thin.

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Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Man Charged After Fredericksburg Domestic Assault

By PLN News
[Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash]

Fredericksburg police said they arrested Jose Caal Choc, 38, of Fredericksburg, after a Sept. 16 morning assault on Ivanhoe Court. Officers said a woman was taken to a hospital in serious condition. Detectives charged Caal Choc with aggravated malicious wounding, abduction, entering a dwelling at night to commit assault, destruction of property and domestic assault and battery. He was held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Prince William County police are seeking a suspect after a Sept. 14 aggravated assault at Almita’s Restaurant in Woodbridge, in which officers said a 30-year-old man was struck with a belt buckle and taken to a hospital. The same county report listed an indecent-exposure complaint in Gainesville and an attempted residential burglary in Nokesville.

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Manassas

ARTfactory’s No Exit opens Friday in Manassas

By PLN News
ARTfactory show bill for No Exit in Manassas
Show bill for No Exit at the ARTfactory in Manassas. (Courtesy ARTfactory)

ARTfactory’s production of Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit opens Friday, Sept. 18, at the ARTfactory in Manassas.

The four-actor existentialist drama follows three souls — Vincent (Andrew Chi), Inez (Becca Parsons) and Estelle (Amantha Peterson) — ushered into a single room in the afterlife by a mysterious Valet. Expecting the physical torment of damnation, they instead find they are destined to become one another’s eternal tormentors, according to ARTfactory press materials. Ned Kieloch plays the Valet for performances Sept. 18–20, and Brendan Banner plays the role Sept. 25–27.

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