Prince William County leaders have concerns and little information about a 305-room gaming resort that could be built in Dumfries.
The resort, The Rose, would be entirely within the town, leaving the decision to approve the resort solely with the town council. However, county leaders sent a letter to Dumfries Town officials ringing the alarm bell over several key issues concerning the project.
Toping the list is traffic improvements needed for when the resort opens, possibly in 2023. The resort will generate 24,500 new vehicle trips on county roads, with the majority of those drivers using the already congested routes Interstate 95 and Route 234 to get to the town.
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From the Prince William County Police Department:Â
String of robberies reported across county
Armed Robbery – On September 18 at 9:09PM, officers responded to the Dunkin Donuts located at 8525 Rolling Rd. in Manassas (20110) to investigate a robbery. An employee of the business reported to police that as he reentered the store via the side door, an unknown man followed him inside. Once inside, the man brandished a firearm and demanded money from the cash registers. The suspect then fled out the side door. A police K-9 searched the area for the suspect who was not located.
Suspect Description:
A black male, approximately 5’7”, with a thin build
Last seen wearing a black mask, a black hooded sweatshirt with a dark-blue colored shirt over the top, dark colored pants, blue gloves, and white shoesArmed Robbery – On September 17 at 9:42PM, officers responded to the 2700 block of Potomac Mills Cl. in Woodbridge (22192) to investigate a robbery. The victim, a 16-year-old male juvenile, reported to police that while on the sidewalk in the above area, he was approached by two unknown men asking for money. When the victim refused, one of the men implied he had a weapon before both men grabbed the victim and took his property. The suspects fled when an acquaintance of the victim, who was nearby, began to call for help. One of the suspects got into a blue sedan, while the other suspect fled the area on foot. A police K-9 searched the area for the suspect who was not located. An undisclosed amount of money was reported missing.
Suspect Description:
A black male, approximately 5’10”, 200lbs.
Last seen wearing a black bubble-style jacket, a black face mask, and black pantsA black male, approximately 6’00”, with a skinny build
Last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, and light-colored blue jeans
Strong-Arm Robbery – On September 18 at 1:51PM, officers responded to the 8300 block of Sudley Rd. in Manassas (20109) to investigate a robbery. The victim, a 37-year-old man, reported to police that while near a business in the above area, he was approached by three unknown men. The men demanded money from the victim. When the victim refused, the suspects began to strike him before taking money and fleeing in a grey 4-door Honda sedan. The victim reported minor injuries. The suspects were only described as late teen-aged Hispanic males.
Attempted Armed Robbery – On September 17 at 6:37PM, officers responded to the 13900 block of Jefferson Davis Hwy. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate an assault. The victim, a 40-year-old man, reported to police that he was behind a local business when he was struck from behind. Upon turning around, the victim observed an unknown woman and two unknown men, one of which was brandishing a knife towards him. During the altercation, the suspects attempted to take the victim’s property before bystanders intervened. The suspects fled prior to police arriving in the area. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. No property was reported missing.
Suspect Descriptions:
A black male, possibly between 30-40 years of age, approximately 5’9” Last seen wearing a grey shirt and blue jeans
A black male, possibly between 30-40 years of age Last seen wearing a blue shirt and black pants
A black female, approximately 60 years of age Last seen wearing a yellow shirt
From the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:
Walmart customer pepper-sprayed
Walmart 125 Washington Square Plaza, 9/18, 2:33 p.m. Deputies responded to the Walmart for a fight in progress. They learned the victim exchanged words with another customer in an aisle of the store. The suspect sprayed the victim in the face with pepper spray and fled the store. Camera footage is being used to create a wanted poster of the suspect.
Attempted car theft
1500 Block of Garrisonville Road, 9/19, 4:23 a.m. A resident contacted the Emergency Communications Center to report a stranger on her property attempting to enter vehicles in the driveway. Deputies B.M. Taylor and K.P. Hall located Edwin Villegas, 22, of Spotsylvania on the property when they arrived. Villegas appeared intoxicated and was arrested for trespass, tampering with a vehicle and public intoxication. He was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on an unsecure bond until sober.
Multiple vandalisms, including tires slashed
Cliff Circle, 9/18, 5:44 a.m. Resident advised two tires on his vehicle were slashed overnight while parked at this location.
300 Block of Ferry Road, 9/18, 12:20 p.m. Resident reported the glass in his storm door was shattered overnight.
Jousting Court, 9/18, 6:36 p.m. Resident reported a utility trailer was moved to a different location in the parking lot. There was damage to the lower back end of the trailer and the pin lock.
From Haymarket police:
23-year-old charged with assault and batteryÂ
On Sunday September 19, 2021, Haymarket Police Department received a call for a domestic-related dispute in the 14800 block of Jordan Lane in Haymarket. The investigation revealed that an adult female had been assaulted by a domestic partner. Injuries sustained were visible, but required no immediate treatment. Â
Arrested at the scene was Ramon Reyes-Marquez, 23 years of age. Charges were Assault and Battery (domestic-related) and Strangulation. Mr. Reyes-Marquez was held at the PW-Manassas Adult Detention Center in lieu of bond. Court date is November 10, 2021 in the Juvenile-Domestic Relations Court
Republican Ben Baldwin wants to debate incumbent Elizabeth Guzman (D), whose represented portions of Prince William and Fauquier counties since 2017.
A press release from the Baldwin campaign states:
31st District Delegate Candidate, Ben Baldwin has challenged Delegate Elizabeth Guzman to two debates ahead of the upcoming November 2nd general elections.
The first of these debates would include the League of Women Voters Forum on October 6th. Baldwin and Delegate Guzman have accepted their invite to participate.
“It is important that voters see their candidates and learn more about their policies. I appreciate this opportunity and I am glad that Delegate Guzman has accepted as well,” Ben Baldwin said.
Baldwin hopes that a mutually agreeable host could sponsor the second.
“Voters deserve opportunities to hear from their candidates and I hope that here in Virginia’s 31st, we can provide that type of transparency,” said Baldwin.
Ben Baldwin is a graduate of Virginia Tech, Marine Veteran, and financial advisor. He is currently the Republican nominee for Virginia’s 31st House of Delegates district.
Over the summer, statewide campaign issues have become vaccination mandates, and the debate over teaching critical race theory in public schools.
Guzman has held the 31st District seat since 2017, when she unseated incumbent Scott Lingamfelter who held the seat for 15 years. The 31st District currently includes portions of eastern Prince William and western Fauquier counties.
However a state commission is redrawing district boundaries across Virignia. Those boundaries should take effect new year.
There’s no word yet on whether or not Guzman will agree to debate.
The tennis courts at one area high school are looking better than they did six months ago.
This past spring, Potomac Local News told you about concerns parents and students at Forest Park High School near Dumfries had about the safety of the school's tennis courts.
The courts had been falling into disrepair for almost a decade. Large cracks appeared, and uneven surfaces formed, interfering with play and proving a hazard for players. At one point, the damage was so bad teams were playing at other schools.
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I-95 Southbound
Exit 148 (Quantico) to Exit 143 (Route 610/Garrisonville)
Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. Single lane closure for work associated with Improve95 project construction.
Wednesday – Thursday, 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Double lane closure between the interchanges for Improve95 project construction.
Exit 140 (Stafford) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway)
Tuesday – Wednesday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. Single lane closure; 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Double lane closure. Lane closures are associated with the Improve95 project construction.
Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) to Exit 133 (Route 17)
Sunday, 10 p.m. – 10 a.m., Monday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. and Thursday, 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. Friday. Double lane closures at 10 p.m. between these interchanges for Improve95 project construction, with single lane closures only after 4:30 a.m. Between midnight and 3 a.m., crews will intermittently stop all southbound traffic for up to 30 minutes at a time for Improve 95 project construction.
Exit 133 (Route 17/Falmouth) to Exit 130 (Route 3/Fredericksburg)
Monday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. – 7 a.m. Saturday. Single lane closure for work associated with the Improve95 project construction.
Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) and Exit 118 (Thornburg)
Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single mobile lane closures for bridge inspections.
I-95 Northbound
Exit 104 (Carmel Church) to Exit 110 (Ladysmith)
Sunday – Tuesday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Mobile operation with double lane closures for milling and paving the travel lanes at mile markers 106 to 108.
Exit 118 (Thornburg) and Exit 126 (Spotsylvania)
Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane mobile lane closures for bridge inspections.
Exit 130 (Route 3) to Exit 133 (Route 17)
Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closures at 10 p.m. Between midnight and 3 a.m., crews will intermittently stop all northbound traffic up to 30 minutes at a time for Improve 95 project construction. All northbound lanes will be open by 4:30 a.m.
Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Single lane closure between interchanges for Improve95 project construction.
Exit 133 (Route 17) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway)
Wednesday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure between interchanges for Improve95 project construction.
Exit 143 (Garrisonville Road to Exit 148 (Quantico)
Wednesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. Single lane closure between the interchanges for Improve95 project construction.
Stafford County
Route 1 Southbound
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Single southbound lane closure for Potomac Creek bridge replacement, between Potomac Creek Lane and Centreport Parkway intersection.
Route 17 Northbound
Sunday – Saturday, 8 p.m. – 6 a.m. Mobile single lane closures between Stafford Lakes Parkway and the Fauquier County line for paving and pavement marking.
Route 218 (Butler Road)
Sunday, 8 p.m. – 5 a.m. Monday. Single lane closure near Winterberry Drive. Final paving work for emergency drainage pipe replacement project. One-way, alternating traffic in work zone, directed by a flagging crew.
Route 612 (Hartwood Road)
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating, one-way traffic on Hartwood Road between Spotted Tavern Road and Poplar Road, and near Skyline Drive for milling and paving.
Route 614 (Spotted Tavern Road)
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating, one-way traffic on Spotted Tavern Road between Hartwood Road and Cropp Road for milling and paving.
Route 614 (Cropp Road)
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating, one-way traffic on Cropp Drive between Spotted Tavern Road and Skyline Drive milling and paving.
Route 615 (Skyline Drive)
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating, one-way traffic on Skyline Drive between Cropp Road and Hartwood Road for milling and paving.
Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer narrowly defeated his Democratic opponent by 12 votes when he won back his seat on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors in 2017.
After serving two non-consecutive terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing portions of Stafford and Prince William counties, it was clear that the Republican wanted to return to local government.
Fast forward three years and Dudenhefer isn't seeking reelection. He's set to retire from the Board of Supervisors on December 31.
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The Prince William County Police beat their Fairfax County counterparts 26 – 15 in a friendly game of softball in Woodbridge.
The first pitch was thrown shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Richard G. Pfitzner Stadium, the former home of the team now known as the Fredericksburg Nationals.
Organized by We Back Blue, a national advocacy group supporting local law enforcement, the game was an opportunity for officers to play while the community cheered them on. Officers from Prince William County Police, Prince William County Sheriff’s Office, and Fairfax County Police all participated in this non-sanctioned event.
The past year has been very challenging and exhausting for many officers and their families, allowing few opportunities for officers to build camaraderie or enjoy free time, said Melissa Robey, founder of We Back Blue:
“We Back Blue will give these brave men and women a night of fun and support with their communities, families, and peers. Everyone from the umpire to the owner of the food trucks are either current or former officers.”
Prince William County Sheriff Glendell Hill was slated to throw out the first pitch, while the Chiefs of police are slated to play will be playing with their respective teams. A sworn officer sang the National Anthem.
Profits from this event will go to the charity choice of each team.
Robey added:
“We Back Blue will never stop encouraging our police. Our aim is to remind our family, friends, and neighbors who serve in law enforcement of the love and support they have from their community because of the good they do for us each day. Events like this help bring the community together to support a great cause.”
Six occupants of a home in North Stafford were displaced today by fire.
The Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department was called to the scene for a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Northampton Boulevard.
Crews arrived within five minutes of the call to 911 and reported fire showing from the front and side of a two-story, single-family home, a fire and rescue spokeswoman said.
Crews found the fire had extended into the attic of the home. The fire was marked under control approximately 20 minutes later, she added.
All occupants were able to get out before crews arrived, and no one was injured.
The home sustained substantial damage, and the six occupants were temporarily displaced as a result but denied the assistance of the American Red Cross. Smoke alarms were present in the home and alerted the occupants.
The fire is under investigation by the Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office.
Crews assisted Stafford County firefighters from Quantico, Prince William Fairfax, and Fauquier counties.
A Woodbridge High School varsity football coach and math teacher collapsed on the sidelines during Friday’s home game and later died, the principal has confirmed.
