Prince Willian County Police Department: It is time for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, and the Police Department would love to have the public cheer on the runners.

The Torch that symbolizes the beginning of the Special Olympics Games in Richmond, is lit in Arlington and is carried by police officers and Special Olympians to Richmond on June 7, 2024.

This year, runners and supporters will gather at the Charlie T. Deane Central District Station, 5036 Davis Ford Road, Woodbridge on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. The runners will be transported at 9 a.m. from the Police Association Hall, 14288 Independent Hill Drive, Manassas to the Central District Station.

Runners will begin here and follow the route from Davis Ford Road to Hoadly Road, then to Dumfries Road (Route 234) to Independent Hill Drive and down the driveway to the Police Association Hall.

Any Special Athletes who choose to run will start at the driveway and run to the Association Hall building to complete the race. The route is 6 miles.

For more information on joining Team Prince William visit: https://impact.specialolympicsva.org/team/569457.

The Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk's Historical Online Portal (HOP) now includes marriage licenses from the Civil War era to the early 1900s, making historical documents more accessible for research. Funded by a technology grant, this initiative provides genealogists, academics, and residents worldwide with access to pre-20th century court records at no cost to taxpayers.

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A Woodbridge man, Russel Guye Dadzie, was convicted on May 24 for falsely impersonating a federal officer. Despite being a security guard with limited authority, Dadzie repeatedly misrepresented himself as a federal officer to local police, using federal identification cards, and now faces up to three years in prison.

From the U.S. Department of Justice: 

A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man on May 24 on charges of false impersonation of an officer or employee of the United States.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Russel Guye Dadzie, 50, was a third-party contractor security guard for federal buildings since at least 2013. Dadzie received training that his authority was limited to the immediate area of the building he was assigned to guard and only during his assigned shift.

That training also explains that he is not a federal employee, federal agent, or federal officer, that he should not identify himself as such in any context, and that engaging in this type of misrepresentation could result in criminal charges.

Dadzie received this training on multiple occasions, including in January 2023. Access to the buildings to which Dadzie was assigned required Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards. Dadzie signed agreements with both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that he would not use the PIV cards for non-employment-related purposes, that he would not display them to others outside of work, and that he would not use them to coerce, intimidate, deceive, or obtain any privilege, favor, preferential treatment, reward, or personal gain. He signed agreements acknowledging that noncompliance with these requirements might subject him to criminal penalties.

On Sept. 15, 2023, officers with the Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) approached Dadzie’s vehicle in Woodbridge. Dadzie stated multiple times that he was “with DHS” and that he was a “DHS officer” and a “federal officer.” In lieu of a driver license, Dadzie presented officers with a DHS PIV card to bolster his claims that he was a federal officer. When asked about his vehicle, he challenged police, “You’re asking a federal officer if there’s anything illegal in his vehicle?”

On Nov. 9, 2023, a PWCPD officer encountered Dadzie, noting that the inspection sticker on the windshield of Dadzie’s vehicle was expired. When the officer requested to see Dadzie’s driver license, Dadzie instead showed the officer multiple federal PIV cards he possessed, handed the officer a USAID PIV card, and claimed to be a “federal officer” with USAID.

Dadzie faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 12. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the verdict.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Lipkowitz are prosecuting the case.

I-95 Northbound and Southbound: Bridge Washing: Tuesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure starting at 9 p.m., followed by double lane closures starting at 10 p.m. for bridge washing at the following locations:

• Between Exit 118 (Thornburg) and Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) at mile marker 119 bridge over the Po River and mile marker 121 bridge over the Ni River.
• Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) bridge over Route 1 overpass.
• Between Exit 130 (Route 3) and Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton) at mile marker 132 bridge over the Rappahannock River.
• Exit 140 (Courthouse Road) bridges over Route 630.
• Between Exit 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville) and Exit 148 (Quantico) at mile marker 145 bridge over Aquia Creek.
• Exit 104 (Carmel Church): Saturday – Sunday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Static lane closures at mile markers 104-103 for bridge inspection at CSX railroad crossing.

I-95 Northbound: Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway): Tuesday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. and Friday – Saturday, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure starting at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closure at 10 p.m. on I-95 northbound at mile markers 133-135 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension work.

• Exit 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville) to Exit 148 (Quantico): Tuesday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. and Friday – Saturday, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closure at 10 p.m. on I-95 northbound at mile markers 146-148 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension work.

I-95 Southbound: Exit 148 (Quantico) to Exit 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville)
Tuesday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. and Friday – Saturday, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closure at 10 p.m. on I-95 northbound at mile markers 148-146 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension work. Double lane closure is permitted until 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure continues from 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday.

• Exit 140 (Courthouse Road) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway): Tuesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. and Thursday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure at mile markers 139-137 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension work.
• Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) to Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton): Tuesday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. and Friday – Saturday, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closure at 10 p.m. for paving and other construction activities for the 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension at mile markers 136-134. Double lane closure is permitted until 4:30 a.m. Single lane closure continues from 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday – Thursday.
• Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) to Exit 118 (Thornburg): Tuesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Milling and paving. Single lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closure at 10 p.m. between mile markers 125-120. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m.
• Tuesday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. Bridge work. Single lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closure at 10 p.m. between mile markers 125-126. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Construction of a new overpass of I-95 at Route 17 (Mills Drive).

Spotsylvania County: Route 1 Northbound at Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road): Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Single lane closure for Route 606 widening project. The northbound right turn lane to eastbound Mudd Tavern Road will be closed.

• Route 3 (Plank Road) at Route 621 (Orange Plank Road): Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Single lane closure for intersection reconstruction project.
• Route 208 (Courthouse Road) Eastbound and Westbound: Tuesday – Wednesday, 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. Single lane closures between Hood Drive and I-95 for Route 208 and Hood Drive project.
• Route 601 (Lewiston Road): Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating lane closures with flagging. Installation of high-friction surface treatment and pavement marking work near Mica Mine Road.
• Route 601 (Arrit Road): Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating lane closures with flagging. Installation of high-friction surface treatment and pavement marking work near Greenes Corner Road.
• Route 638 (Landsdowne Road): Wednesday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closure with flagging for guardrail work near Teton Drive.
• Route 646 (Stanfield Road): Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating lane closures with flagging. Installation of high-friction surface treatment and pavement marking work near White Angel Lane and Long Acres Lane.
• Route 674 (Chancellor Road): Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Paving. One-way, alternating traffic directed by a flagging crew between Old Plank Road and Gordon Road.
• I-95 Southbound Exit 126 Off-Ramp and Route 1 Southbound: A second right turn lane is under construction from the I-95 southbound off-ramp at exit 126 onto Route 1 southbound. Route 1 southbound is being widened from the off-ramp to Southpoint Parkway with an additional turn lane. A second right turn lane is being added from Route 1 southbound to Southpoint Parkway. Traffic islands will be installed along Southpoint Parkway as a safety improvement to allow left turns into driveways but restrict through and left-turning traffic exiting from side streets. Additional right turn lane added to Southpoint Parkway to Route 1 southbound. Project completion in Aug. 2025.
• Route 3 and Orange Plank Road: Construction started Wednesday, May 8 to modify the intersection of Route 3 and Orange Plank Rd. to a new traffic pattern to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and reduce conflict points. Project completion in summer 2024.
• Route 17 (Mills Drive) Overpass Replacement and Widening: Construction started in Dec. 2020 to replace the existing two-lane interstate overpass on Route 17 with a four-lane bridge. Route 17 is being widened to four lanes until just east of the Hospital Boulevard/Germanna Point Drive intersection. A shared-use path, sidewalk, and pedestrian crossing equipment will be added as part of the project. Project completion was scheduled for late Feb. 2024. The project is now anticipated to be completed in summer 2024.
• Route 208 (Courthouse Road) and Hood Drive: Hood Drive is reduced to a single lane between Route 1 and Route 208 (Courthouse Road), carrying only northbound traffic. Southbound traffic should follow the posted detour along Courthouse Road and Route 1 southbound. New right and left turn lanes are under construction at an entrance to a future Veterans Health Administration clinic. Additional turn lanes will be built on northbound Hood Drive approaching Courthouse Road. A raised median on Hood Drive will separate northbound and southbound traffic between Courthouse Road and McGowan Drive. Additional sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian crossing equipment will be installed at the intersection. Project completion in June 2024.
• Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road) Widening: Mudd Tavern Road is being widened to four lanes between I-95 and Route 1. A new secondary access route, Route 2092, will be built parallel to Mudd Tavern Road, and will connect with South Roxbury Mill Road and Dan Bell Lane. Project completion in May 2025.

Stafford County: Augustine North Subdivision: Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Milling and paving on various routes throughout Augustine North subdivision between Courthouse Road and Mountain View Road. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.

• Berea Church Road: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closures with flagging between Truslow Road and Warrenton Road for utility work for the Berea Church Road construction project.
• Route 635 (Decatur Road): Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Alternating one-way traffic on Decatur Road for cape seal surface treatment between Indian View Road and Norman Road. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.
• Tuesday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Alternating lane closures for shoulder widening project between Norman Road and the back gate of Aquia Harbor. Flaggers and pilot truck will direct traffic through the work zone.
• Route 658 (Brent Point Road): Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Alternating mobile lane closures with flagging for pavement markings work between Route 633 (Arkendale Road) and end-of-state maintenance.
• Route 649 (Richland Road): Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Alternating mobile lane closures with flagging on Richland Road for pavement markings work between Route 17 and Hartwood Road.

—Virginia Department of Transportation

Stafford County Public Schools: Stafford County Public Schools proudly bids farewell to 80 esteemed educators and service staff members who are retiring after 1,535 collective years of dedicated service with Stafford Schools at the annual Retirement Dinner on Monday, May 20, 2024.

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Stafford County's third Panera restaurant will open at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29. The first 50 guests will receive a year's free "You Pick Two" meals.

"You Pick Two" meals will allow rewarded guests to select any combination of two half-size entrees from the Panera Bread menu.

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Allie Medina, a junior at Colonial Forge High School, has been selected to represent Stafford as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2024 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University.

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Prince William County Schools: The National Merit® Scholarship Corporation named Skye Auger, a senior at Osbourn Park High School, a 2024 National Merit Scholarship winner. Auger was selected from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists and is one of 2,500 students nationwide to win the National Merit $2,500 scholarship.

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Memorial Day Events

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