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October 25, 1939 August 24, 2020
On August 24, 2020, God called his last Angel of the Johnson family to eternal rest. Joyce was the tenth child, born October 25, 1939, to Lloyd M. and Annie M. Johnson, whom preceded her in death. She received her education in…
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The rules for newly-built cemeteries in Stafford County changed this week, just as the county finds itself embroiled in a federal lawsuit claiming it denied Muslims a chance to build their own.
A new ordinance passed by Supervisors on Tuesday night now requires cemeteries to be built 656 feet from wells, or other sources of groundwater used to supply water to nearby homes. Under the old county rules, cemeteries had to be set back 900 feet from water sources.
It had been the strictest requirement in the state, while Virginia state regulations require only a 100-foot setback.
The change in regulations comes in the midst of a lawsuit against the county filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the All Muslim American Association. The association in June 2015 purchased 29 acres of land off of Garrisonville Road, across from the home of elected Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch, who was a member of the county’s Planning Commission at the time of the purchase. for use as a cemetery.
However, the association was stymied by the county, and a cemetery has yet to be built. In 2016, the county reset its setback regulations to 900 feet which became the largest setback regulation in the state. This put the Muslim association’s planned cemetery out of compliance with the new rules after they had been within the parameters of the old rules.
As a result, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Stafford County claiming a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act which is ongoing.
During the public hearing, letters from both the DOJ and the Muslim association were read, and both stated that this change in regulations wouldn’t alleviate the issues which brought about the lawsuit. The AMAA’s letter went further, stating that nothing less than full restoration of the previous rules they had been in compliance with would be satisfactory.
Vaunch supported the study and the new regulations claiming that it addressed water contamination issues, rural community concerns, and coronavirus fears. George Washington District Supervisor Tom Coen expressed similar concerns as well as potentially stricter rules coming from the Chesapeake Bay Act that could negatively affect rural farmers and landowners.
Hartwood District Supervisor Gary Snellings and Garrisonville District Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer both expressed that they would vote against these changes. Dudenhefer in particular expressed his disapproval of the new regulations.
“The citizens of Stafford County are going to be the ones to suffer when the DOJ takes us to the cleaners,” stated Supervisor Dudenhefer during the public hearing. Aside from Dudenhefer’s comments, elected leaders have been tight-lipped about the pending litigation.
The Board of Supervisors passed a version of the regulations by a five to two vote. The Muslim association also operates an existing cemetery at 1112 Brooke Road in Stafford County.
Manassas will give nearly a half-million dollars to help residents find a new job or train for a new one.
More in a press release:
The City of Manassas is dedicating $400,000 to expanding its long-standing partnerships with SkillSource and Northern Virginia Community College. The funds will directly help residents who have been furloughed or are unemployed as a result of the pandemic.
“We will be using CARES Act funds to help people get the skills and support services they need to land the jobs they want,” said City Manager Pat Pate. “Manassas has a resilient and diversified economy. Almost all of our businesses will weather this storm, but too many of our residents are out of work and we need to address that.”
Using SkillSource as the lead agency, the city is working with NOVA and its own Department of Social Services to provide jobseeker and employer services focused on the needs of individuals. The $400,000 will go towards occupational training, subsidized work experiences, job fairs and worker training. The money will also fund much needed supportive services like transportation, child care, and providing work-related equipment. The Jobseeker Services programs run by SkillSource and the training provided by NOVA already receive federal or state funding that reduces these costs.
The city is allocating additional funding of up to $5,000 per participant that, in most cases, eliminates the cost altogether.
“By removing cost as a barrier and adding supportive services, the City can best help residents get jobs,” said Economic Development Director Patrick Small. “By helping people get jobs we help businesses meet their workforce needs.”
Trespassing is a problem at Abel Lake, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s office.
Deputies have written 25 summons for trespassing during the summer months, said Maj. Shawn Kimmtiz. They’ve also stepped up patrols in and around the area of the lake, which serves as one of three of the county’s drinking water reservoirs.
The tickets and increased patrols come following the death of 20-year-old Bernard Otoo, of Stafford. Otto was swimming in the lake on June 9 when he was reported missing later that evening. Divers later found his body the lake.
Stafford sheriff David Decatur briefed the Board of Supervisors on the incrased patrols on the lake its meeting today.
Abel Lake is located in the center of the county. Boaters can use a public boat ramp just off Kellogg Mill Road to access the water.
The lake is surrounded by homes and private properties.
The county’s two other drinking water reservoirs are Smith Lake in North Stafford and Mooney Lake Reservoir in the southern portion of the county.
As Stafford County prepares to send its public school students back to class virtually, county leaders must decide whether to use federal money to subsidize child daycare.
The Board of Supervisors tonight will hold a public hearing to discuss the allocation federal CARES Act funding, some $600,000 of which could go to the Massad Family YMCA which would provide daycare in its new virtual learning center at one of six locations in the area. For $113 per week, children who cannot attend classes in public schools will be allowed to come to the Massad Family YMCA on Butler Road, with a laptop in hand, to attend virtual classes.
Under the proposal, daycare for the children of county employees, including public safety personnel, would be fully subsidized. According to a discussion had today by supervisors, the YMCA initially advertised it would use county school buildings as daycare sites, but they later said the community center did an about-face and said it was not using the schools as daycare sites.
A representative from YMCA did not return a request for comment or this story.
A total of 75% of they county’s workforce would be elgible for the stipends, as they have chidlren between the ages of five and twelve. The stipends would be given directly to the YMCA.
Stafford County school students will head back to class, virtually, on August 30.
Area residents are also eligible to place their children in the YMCA’s daycare program at a higher rate — $130 per child per week for existing YMCA members, $175 per week for non-members.
Garrisonville District Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer questioned whether the county should be handing out these stipends for fear that they may become expected later on describing the scenario as a “gravy train” and was concerned by what he described as some “outrageous things that need to be worked out” in the resolution.
Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vaunch sympathized with Federal Government employees, who don’t enjoy a similar daycare subsidy. “If the schools are closed but its OK for your kids to go to the virtual learning center, and if you have to be on web ex calls all day, or you need to go into the office, you have to foot the bill for childcare,” said Vanuch.
Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania King George are also participating in the daycare program provided by the YMCA, said county administrator Fred Pressley.
George Washington District Supervisor Tom Coen, a high school teacher, went to bat for the resolution, saying the funds would be for employees such as bus drivers and teachers whose attention would be on children in their care rather than their own.
It’s unclear how many sites the YMCA will use to host the daycare program. Falmouth District Supervisor Meg Bohmke said it would be “humanly impossible” to house all of the anticipated daycare participants, estimated to be 375 children, at the Massad Family YMCA.
Stafford officials later told Potoamc Local News that children will be housed in six county schools.
The public hearing for the CARES Act funds allocation will take place at the 7 p.m. meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Social distancing rules are still in effect but the meeting will be live-streamed through the county’s website. The meeting will also be broadcasted live on Comcast channel 23, Cox channel 90, and Verizon channel 39.
This story has been corrected to reflect the Massad Family YMCA will be hosting child daycare, not the Rappahannock United Way.
Rich Anderson issued his first statement as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.
He called for the resignation of Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas, of Hampton Roads, after she was charged with a felony following the toppling of a statue in downtown Portsmouth on June 10 that severely injured a fellow protestor.
“Virginians demand leadership from their elected officials. Senator Lucas’s behavior is far from what leaders of our Commonwealth should strive for. Felony charges leveled against a sitting State Senator are to be taken seriously, and should not be sought out for political gain. It is for that reason that the Republican Party of Virginia calls for Senator Lucas to turn herself in. Immediately.”
The state senator whose been in office since 1992 has issued no public statement via Twitter in response to the call for her resignation.
Anderson was elected chairman in a statewide party canvass on Saturday. He replaces Jack Wilson, defeating him and Michael Schoelwer in a three-way race.
The retired Air Force Colonel served in the Virginia General Assembly from 2010 to 2017, representing the 51st House District, which encompasses the majority of Prince William County. In an interview with PLN on July 29, he outlined a plan to level the political playing field in the Democrat-controlled state.
Anderson issued this statement following his win:
“I thank the delegates to the 2020 Republican Party of Virginia State Convention for placing their trust in me to serve as their state chairman. On behalf of RPV and our 126 local Republican units, I also express our appreciation to Chairman Jack Wilson for his devoted service in multiple leadership positions at the unit, district, state, and national levels.
I am especially grateful to those who offered themselves as candidates and congratulate those who were today elected to positions of senior leadership in our party. With party elections behind us, we now turn our full energies to re-electing President Trump, electing Daniel Gade to the U.S. Senate, and electing 11 great Republicans to the U.S. House. We are at a critical crossroads in the life of our Commonwealth and country, and it is imperative that Virginia Republicans elect and send these outstanding leaders to Washington next January.”
Cynthia Maureen Johnson departed this earthly life on August 18, 2020 at Prince William Hospital at the age of 61. She was born to the late William “Billy” Jackson and Irene Johnson Kendall on October 23, 1958 at the Manassas Clinic in Manassas, VA. She graduated from Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge, VA in June 1977.
Cynthia dedicated her life to the Lord at an early age and was baptized by Reverend Augustus T. Gaskins at First Mount…
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Starting today, a new round of Staford County businesses can apply for financial relief from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
More in a press release:
The Stafford Economic Development Authority (EDA) CARES Act funded grant applications open today. John Holden, Director of Economic Development & Tourism, notes that “this is ‘Round Three’ of grants for Stafford businesses impacted by the Coronavirus.”
In mid-March, the Stafford EDA immediately went into action after anticipating local business impact due to the health crisis, and assembled a COVID-19 Grant program using EDA funding. The demand was tremendous, and the EDA issued a “Round Two” of grants soon after, adjusting the grant eligibility and criteria based on what was learned in Round One.
In total, over $450,000 of limited EDA funds were granted to over 120 Stafford businesses.
“I think it is important to understand,” said Holden, “those first round of grants were funded through the Stafford EDA, using limited funds it has to support economic development in Stafford.” Rounds One and Two were based on the maintenance of employment and payroll levels. The EDA had a rigorous application grant review process developed in conjunction with the EDA Board and staff.
The grants that launch today are designed to broaden eligibility for critically impacted business sectors and includes grants for nonprofits. The funds for these grants were provided to the EDA by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors CARES Act allocation.
These new grant programs, while available to a broader range of operations, still require documentation by the business showing their impact by the Coronavirus documenting eligible expenses, as per the CARES Act.
Holden said, “The bottom line is, Stafford County and the EDA, want to support our local business community. While we must follow a process, we have had the opportunity to fine-tune our process so that we can get assistance to our business community as efficiently and effectively as possible”.
Grant applications will be reviewed for completeness and in the order received. A committee of the EDA will then review them for approval.
Information and applications are online.
Jury trials will begin again in Stafford County.
The Virginia Supreme Court approved a plan to allow court officials and defense attorneys to resume their pursuit of justice following a temporary halt of jury trials that began in with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March.
One of the three courtrooms has been converted in order to allow trails to continue. Plexiglass is now installed in the jury box, creating safe barriers between the 12 seated jurors for felony cases, and seven jurors for misdemeanors.
Plexiglass also now separates the judge from the person sitting on the witness stand. The modifications to the courtroom come with increased safety precautions at the court entrance, where everyone has their temperature taken to ensure they’re not running a fever, and where everyone is checked to ensure they’re wearing a facemask.
Representatives from the Stafford County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the public defender’s office, and the clerk of the circuit court four weeks ago devised a plan for the modifications that would allow for trials to resume. That plan was submitted to the Virginia State Supreme Court in Richmond and later approved this past week.
The Stafford County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office remained open during the pandemic, so people could access court records, real estate transactions, wills, marriage certificates, and other documents.
“In the beginning, we tried to set appointments to meet with everyone one-on-one, but we couldn’t set enough appointments, so we opened everything back up to the public,” said Stafford County Circuit Court Clerk Kathy Sterne.
Stafford County never stopped mailing jury duty notifications despite the pandemic and the fact that no trials were occurring. Potential jurors were asked to call into an automated recording to learn if their case was proceeding to trial or not.
“It kept us in practice,” said Sterne.
In the General District Court, all cases between March 17 and May 17 were continued, with the exceptions of arraignments, video bond hearings, and protective orders.
The Stafford County Courthouse is located at 1300 Courthouse Road and is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.