The Wildcat Battalion Marksmanship Team at Mountain View High School has secured a spot in the All-Service Championship—and they’re not stopping there.

Cadets Wallace Hogan, Brooke Hartkopf, Marisa McDonough, Elizabeth Gunn, and Caeleigh Brown, under the guidance of Sergeant Major Allen Tanner, are sharpening their skills as part of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). Their hard work and dedication have propelled them to this impressive milestone.

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The Prince William Mounted Patrol Unit has become a fixture within the police department. Serving on horseback, they go where regular officers cannot. 

We spoke with Sergeant Jeramy Ramos, one of the officers on the Mounted Patrol Unit, to learn more about their role within the community. 

The Mounted Patrol Unit was established in 2006 as a part-time unit. Taking inspiration from a similar unit within Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, the mounted patrol unit, the Prince William Police Department partnered with the National Parks Service at the Manassas National Battlefield Park to load the horses. 

To join the Mounted Patrol Unit, an officer must be in good standing and no longer be on academy probation. The application is competitive since officers must have prior riding experience. If chosen, they attend a ten-week training school to learn how to perform their duties on horseback. The Prince William Police Department is working on creating its certification process to simplify the process. 

Since the unit is part-time, officers have full-time jobs elsewhere in the department. The unit has seven members, including detectives, officers, and administrative staff. Ramos was one of the earliest members of the unit, joining in 2010 and serving as the Community Engagement Officer.  

Mounted Patrol officers have similar duties to regular officers: patrolling communities, investigating suspicious activity, and engaging with local community members. One of the most significant benefits of the Mounted Patrol Unit is its visibility.

The horses draw much attention and increase neighborhood engagement with the officers; an aspect Ramos said he found surprising. The horses make it easier to navigate crowded or narrow streets and give the officer a wider field of view, enhancing their surveillance capabilities.  

The Prince William Police Department owns no horses. Instead, it uses four horses on loan from Manassas National Battlefield Park.

The horses are well trained; the Mounted Patrol Unit has dedicated training days each month. The training ensures that the horses’ skills remain fresh and desensitizes them to any possible triggers, such as noise or crowded spaces. 

Other than patrols, the Mounted Patrol Unit attends community events, visits schools, and participates in engagements such as the National Police Week Ceremonies in Washington, D.C.

Winter Break is almost here in the Potomac region, here are the dates for the schools in our area.

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Stafford County Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Thursday, December 19th, students will return Wednesday, January 8th

Fredericksburg City Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Tuesday, January 7th.

Spotsylvania County Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Monday, January 6th.

Prince William County Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Monday, January 6th.

Manassas City Public Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday December 20th, students will return Monday, January 6th.

Manassas Park City Schools: 

Last day of school is Friday, December 20th, students will return Monday, December 30th.

Santa will visit the Fredericksburg Visitor Center on select dates for Pictures With Santa 2024, offering families a chance to meet him and take photos. Tickets are $5 per family, with each visit lasting 5 minutes.

Press Release from the City of Fredericksburg:

Guess who is coming to the Fredericksburg Visitor Center?

If you guessed our favorite holly jolly, red-suited fellow, you would be correct! Over the next month and a half, Santa will be making his yearly rounds to visit all of the children of Fredericksburg during Pictures With Santa 2024! If your family would like a chance to meet Santa, tell him your Christmas wishes, and snap a few photos, book your tickets to visit Santa at the new Fredericksburg Visitor Center at 601 Caroline Street on any of the following four dates:

• Saturday, November 9 – 12pm to 4pm (Get Tickets Here)
• Saturday, November 30 – 10am to 4pm (Get Tickets Here)
• Friday, December 6 – 3pm to 7:30pm (Get Tickets Here)
• Sunday, December 15 – 10am to 3pm (Get Tickets Here)

Tickets: $5 per family
Each family will have 5 minutes with Santa during their reserved time.

Make sure to reserve your spot early—we sell out every year!

This event is bring your own camera! Volunteers will be on hand to assist with photos, and kids can enjoy a special chat with Santa.

Check out our events page for more family fun for this holiday season!

From Dec. 8 to Dec. 10, multiple I-66 ramps will be closed overnight, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for drainage work as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Drivers should follow signed detours, and all work is weather and schedule dependent.

Press Release from the Virginia Department of Transportation:

The following ramps are scheduled to be closed multiple nights next week, Sunday, Dec. 8, through Tuesday, Dec. 10, generally from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for drainage work as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Drivers are advised to follow the signed detours.

I-66 Ramps:

• Ramp from Route 29 North (Gainesville) to I-66 West
• Ramp from Route 29 South (Centreville) to Route 28 North
• Ramp from I-66 West to Route 28 South
• Ramp from Braddock Road East and West to I-66 West
• Ramp from Route 286 (Fairfax County Parkway) North to I-66 East
• Ramp from I-66 East to Route 50 East and West
• Ramp from I-66 West to Route 50 West

All work is weather and schedule dependent and may be rescheduled if necessary.

Construction and lane closure updates are available?on the?project website?and on X?@VaDOTNOVA.

Starting Dec. 9, lane closures will occur on both southbound and northbound I-95 near Neabsco Creek for bridge-related geotechnical work, with closures scheduled intermittently until late winter. The closures are part of preparations for the I-95 bridge replacement project, which will begin in 2027, and drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes.

Press Release from the Virginia Department of Transportation:

Beginning Monday, Dec. 9, weather permitting, the southbound and northbound I-95 general purpose lanes near the bridges over Neabsco Creek (approximately mile marker 155.7) will have lane closures for bridge-related geotechnical work, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The bridges are located between Route 234 (Exit 152) and Dale Boulevard/Route 786 (Exit 156); more specifically, they’re located between Cardinal Drive and the Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Areas.

The lane closures are scheduled to occur until late this winter. Drivers can expect the lane closures to occur intermittently within the following timeframes (please note that these are just the days and time windows in which the lane closures are allowed; the lane closures will not be occurring every single day during every single time window listed):

Southbound I-95 General Purpose Lanes

One Lane Closed

• Mondays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 12 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 12 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Thursdays: 12 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Fridays: 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. to noon
• Sundays: 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Two Lanes Closed

• Mondays: 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Thursdays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Fridays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• Sundays: 11 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Northbound I-95 General Purpose Lanes

One Lane Closed

• Mondays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Thursdays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Fridays: 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to noon
• Sundays: 11 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Right Lane Closed and Rest Area Exit Lane Partially Closed (drivers will still be able to access the rest area during these time windows)

• Mondays: 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Thursdays: 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Fridays: 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
• Sundays: 11 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

At least one southbound general purpose lane and at least two northbound general purpose lanes will remain open at all times.

Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes.

The geotechnical work is part of preparations for the I-95 southbound over Neabsco Creek bridge replacement project. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2027.

Drivers are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones. Be alert to new traffic patterns and limit distractions.

You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, via the free mobile 511Virginia app, or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.

View this release online.

Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova

Emergency repairs are underway on the northbound Route 1 lane at the Falmouth Bridge, with delays expected during peak times. Various construction and maintenance projects are ongoing throughout the Fredericksburg District, including road closures, lane restrictions, and bridge repairs across multiple counties, with some projects set to be completed in the coming years.

Press Release from the Virginia Department of Transportation:

City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County

Route 1 Northbound at Falmouth Bridge

The northbound Route 1 lane is closed on the bridge for an emergency repair project. Two southbound lanes and a single northbound lane remain open. The sidewalk along the Route 1 northbound right lane at the Falmouth Bridge is closed to pedestrians and bicyclists as of Dec. 3, 2024, while emergency repairs are under design. Northbound Route 1 delays at peak times are likely. A vehicle weight limit is posted for this bridge, at 16 tons for single-unit vehicles and 24 tons for tractor-trailers.

 

City of Fredericksburg

Intersection Improvement Projects

Construction to improve the intersections of Route 1 and Fall Hill Avenue and Route 1, Hanson Avenue and Princess Anne Street in the City of Fredericksburg will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 10. During the first week of construction, crews will install work zone signs. Read the news release here.

Fall Hill Avenue

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closures at the Carl D. Silver Parkway intersection with Fall Hill Avenue. Work on pedestrian crossing signal equipment.

 

King George County

Route 218

Sunday – Thursday, 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Flagging operation at the bridge over railroad tracks near Route 206 for repairs. Flaggers will alternate, one-way traffic through the work zone.

 

King and Queen County

Route 360 (Richmond/Tappahannock Highway)

Sunday – Thursday, 7 p.m.- 6 a.m. and Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closures for bridge repairs on Route 360 between King William County line and King and Queen County line.

 

King William County

Eltham Bridge

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Single eastbound and westbound lane closures on Route 33 over the Pamunkey River for bridge inspection.

Route 360 (Richmond/Tappahannock Highway)

Sunday – Thursday, 7 p.m.- 6 a.m. and Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closures for bridge repairs on Route 360 between Route 30 and Hanover County line.

 

Spotsylvania County

Route 1 Northbound and Southbound

Sunday – Friday, 7 p.m.-10 a.m. Alternating single and double lane closures between I-95 southbound off-ramp and Southpoint Parkway. Single lane closures starting at 7 p.m. and double lane closures starting at 9 p.m.

Monday – Friday, 7 p.m.- 10 a.m. on Single lane closures between the I-95 southbound off-ramp and Southpoint Parkway.

Route 1

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. All travel lanes will remain open, but the alignment of the Route 1 travel lanes has shifted slightly between Arcadia Road and Mudd Tavern Road for road improvement work connected with the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions development. Permit work. Construction will also be underway along the road shoulder.

Route 3

Monday – Thursday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Single lane closures between Spotswood Furnace Road and Corter Avenue for permit work.

Harrison Road

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Single lane closure between Kingswood Boulevard and Salem Church Road/Leavells Road with one-way, alternating traffic. Installation of water main under permit.

Millsgarden South Subdivision

Monday – Wednesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mobile lane closures for road resurfacing on various routes in the Millsgarden South subdivision.

Shirleys Hill Road

Monday – Wednesday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Pipe replacement near Ashcraft Way. Road will close with a daily detour. Crews will reopen the road at the end of each shift to allow accessibility overnight.

Southpoint Parkway

Sunday – Friday, 7:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m., and Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Single lane closures between Pacific Drive and Route 1.

Spotsylvania Parkway

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Single lane closures between Deep Creek Drive/New Berne Road and Holley Oak Drive/Yellow Brinch Drive for signal work.

Summers Landing Subdivision

Monday –Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mobile lane closures for road resurfacing on various routes in the Summers Landing subdivision.

 

Stafford County

Route 1 Northbound and Southbound

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Single lane closure between South Campus Boulevard and the Potomac Creek bridge. Fiber installation. Permit work.

Route 1 Northbound

Thursday – Friday, 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Single lane closure between Perchwood Drive and Eskimo Hill Road for soil sampling work under permit.

Route 1 Southbound

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Single lane closure between Layhill Road and Potomac Creek Drive. Utility installation. Permit work.

Route 3 (Kings Highway)

Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m.-6 a.m. Alternating lane closures on Route 3 at the bridge over CSX railroad tracks, which is between Cool Springs Road and Chatham Heights Road. Bridge repairs.

Route 17 Southbound

Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Single lane closure between Village Parkway and Hartwood Church Road for waterline and sewer line installation under permit.

Route 17 Northbound

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Right lane closure between Poplar Road and Hartwood Church Road. Fiber installation. Permit work.

Route 610 (Garrisonville Road)

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Single lane closure on Route 610 between Algrace Boulevard and Ripley Road. Construction for turn lane extension. Permit work.

Berea Church Road CLOSURE

Berea Church Road is closed from Berea Knolls Drive to Theresa Garden Place, and northbound access is closed from Route 17 to Berea Knolls Drive. Construction for a Stafford County project to improve Berea Church Road. View the project page.

 

Additional Projects in Fredericksburg District

City of Fredericksburg

Lafayette Boulevard at Twin Lakes/Kensington

Construction is underway on the $2.4 million bicycle and pedestrian connector project. Most of the construction will be on the shoulders and outside of the travel lanes. The project will be complete by Nov. 2025.

 

Caroline County

Route 638 (South River Road) Bridge Replacement

Construction is underway to replace the Route 638 (South River Road) bridge over South River. A portion of South River Road is closed with a detour in place. The project will be complete by Sept. 2025.

 

Gloucester County and Mathews County

Route 3/14 Westbound Bridge Rehabilitation

A major bridge rehabilitation project is underway on the Route 3/Route 14 westbound bridge over Burke Mill Stream, which is located at the Mathews and Gloucester line. Crews are improving the 76-year-old structure by replacing the bridge deck, beams, bridge railings, and guardrails. The westbound Route 3/14 travel lanes are closed at Windsor Road. Eastbound and westbound Route 3/14 traffic is crossing the eastbound bridge, with one lane open in each direction. Left turns from Windsor Road to Route 14 eastbound are prohibited. Project completion in Nov. 2025.

 

King and Queen County and King William County

Route 628 (Dorrell Road/Spring Cottage Road) Bridge Closure

Dorrell Road/Spring Cottage Road is closed at the bridge over the Mattaponi River, located at the King and Queen and King William county line. A detour route is posted. Construction is underway on a major bridge rehabilitation project. The road will remain closed until early June 2025. The bridge closed for motorist safety in March 2023 after a routine inspection found significant deterioration in key bridge elements.

 

King George County and Westmoreland County

Route 205 (Ridge Road) Bridge Repairs

Ridge Road is reduced to one lane beginning at the bridge over Rosier Creek for repairs. A temporary traffic signal directs one-way, alternating traffic on Route 205. This traffic pattern is in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Route 205 will be reduced to a single lane at Rosier Creek for approximately three months, through late Jan. 2025.

 

Spotsylvania County

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. Project completion in Aug. 2025.

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, is under construction parallel to Mudd Tavern Road and will connect with South Roxbury Mill Road and Dan Bell Lane. Project completion in May 2025.

Route 620 (Harrison Road) Reconstruction and Widening

Harrison Road is being widened to four lanes between Gordon Road and Old Plank Road. The project will build a center turn lane along Harrison Road and additional through travel lanes at the Old Plank Road and Gordon Road intersections, and extend the current turn lanes at these intersections. Sidewalks will be built along Harrison Road, and pedestrian crossing signal equipment and crosswalks will be added at the Old Plank Road and Gordon Road intersections. Project completion late summer 2026.

 

Westmoreland County

Route 658 (Monroe Bay Circle)

Monroe Bay Circle is closed at the bridge over Monroe Creek, as construction begins to build a new bridge over Monroe Creek. Motorists are to follow the posted detour. Monroe Bay Circle will be closed until the new bridge opens in Sept. 2025.

 

Commuting and Ridesharing Information

GWRideConnect is a free ridesharing information and matching service for the Fredericksburg area, and is part of the George Washington Regional Commission.

Let GWRideConnect help you discover your commuting options, such as carpools, vanpools, and transit. Visit www.gwrideconnect.org or call (540) 373-7665.

On December 5, 2024, deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash on Patriot Highway, involving a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado and a 2005 International flatbed truck. The driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced dead at the scene, and the incident is under investigation by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit.

Press Release from Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office:

On December 5, 2024, at approximately 1:40 pm, deputies with the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Patriot Highway and Orchard Ridge Drive for a report of a motor vehicle crash. Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit responded to the crash scene. Preliminary investigation shows that a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado operated by William Aimino was traveling north on Patriot Highway, and crossed over the centerline of the roadway into opposing lanes of traffic, causing a head-on crash with a 2005 International flatbed truck. Mr. Aimino was pronounced deceased on the scene and was found to be wearing his seatbelt. Mr. Aimino’s next of kin has been notified. The case is still under investigation by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Traffic Reconstruction Unit. Sheriff Roger Harris and the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office extend their condolences to Mr. Aimino’s family and friends for their loss.

Press Release from Prince William County Public Schools:

Juliocesar Flores, a senior at Potomac High School, has achieved significant success by participating in conferences offered by the world’s largest business career and technical student organization, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). As a junior, Flores won in accounting at both the regional and state levels, which led him to the FBLA’s National Leadership Conference, where he placed second.

“After placing first at regionals and at states respectively, I qualified as one of four students to represent the state of Virginia at nationals” Juliocesar stated. “With hard work, support from family and my school, I competed and placed second out of over 200 competitors from all 50 states in the country. In addition, Canada and China were also represented.”

Flores credits his passion for accounting to his sophomore year teacher and mentor, Felix Sandy. In Sandy’s class, Flores gained knowledge about the fundamentals of accounting and their impact on businesses, society, and the world.

The following year, Flores continued his passion and enrolled in the Advanced Accounting course offered at Potomac High. This course not only provided additional instruction and exposure in the field of accounting but also allowed Flores to become a trusted advisor to his peers, further developing his leadership skills.

Flores credits the FBLA with teaching him valuable skills “such as organization and reasoning.” The FBLA aims to arm students with the ability to leave the educational system and be better equipped for the professional world. Their mission is to “inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.”

Flores aspires to further his knowledge to pursue opportunities in the business realm, and therefore, striving to leave his mark on the world. He believes that “success is never-ending, nor is failure ever final.”

Read more about the participation of other PWCS students at the FBLA national conference.