The Fredericksburg Police Department has been awarded an $81,000 grant to support the FXBG Steering Committee on Teen Violence in creating a five-year strategic plan to address rising teenage violence in the community. This grant is part of a larger $475,000 funding initiative spread over two years, aimed at enhancing staffing, strategic planning, and acquiring new technologies to curb violence.
This initiative follows the establishment of a regional gang task force last year by Police Chief Layton in response to escalating gang activity in local schools and the community. The task force, which includes partnerships with neighboring counties and the Rappahannock Regional Jail, meets monthly to share information and coordinate efforts across jurisdictions.
The grant will be presented to the City Council for approval on August 27. Upon approval, a consultant will be hired to lead the strategic planning process, with the Steering Committee set to reconvene in October.
Recent efforts by the Committee include collaboration with Mary Washington Healthcare, local government agencies, churches, and sports programs. Fredericksburg’s Parks and Recreation launched additional summer recreation programs for youth, and the James Farmer Scholar Program has been expanded to younger students. Additionally, the “We Are One 22401” video series will be shown at James Monroe High School this fall.
The FXBG Steering Committee on Teen Violence, active since June 2023, is committed to finding proactive solutions to gun violence and gang activity while empowering Fredericksburg’s youth.
Stafford County voters will receive a new, unique “I Voted” sticker this year. Ellie Brewer, a senior at Mountain View High School, created the hand-drawn design of a cardinal perched on a dogwood branch, symbolizing the pride and beauty of Virginia.
Brewer’s design will be featured on the official 2024 “I Voted” stickers distributed at polling stations throughout Stafford County. Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) collaborated with Stafford County Government and the Office of Elections to host the 2024 sticker design contest. Students were asked to create designs to inspire voter participation.
Noah Hoover, also a senior at Mountain View High School, claimed second place with his vibrant design, “Stafford County, Your Vote Matters! I Voted!” His work emphasizes the significance of every vote and the collective voice of Stafford County residents. Ava Frizzell, a sophomore at Mountain View High School, earned third place for her inspiring design titled “I Voted, Make a Change.” Ava’s artwork captures the power and impact of every vote, encouraging citizens to actively shape their community’s future.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the artistic talent of our students and their commitment to civic responsibility,” said Acting Superintendent Chris Fulmer, Acting Superintendent. “These designs not only showcase the creativity of our young people but also serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of voting in our community.”
Early voting for this year’s general election begins Sept. 20 at your local registrar’s office. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
Hyperion fans, take a deep breath - new owner Jack Scholl says your "iconic coffee shop isn't going anywhere."Â Hyperion, a beloved staple in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, is under new ownership for the first time in its 30-year history. Jack Scholl, a coffee industry professional with deep roots in Virginia, has taken over the reins from Dan and Anna, the original owners, who are moving on to the next chapter of their lives.
Scholl, who has been involved with his family’s 34-year-old roasting business in Rockbridge County for the past few years, expressed his admiration for what the former owners have accomplished. "What they've done is legitimately special," Scholl said. "Thirty years in coffee is pretty unheard of, and they are easily in the top one percent of all coffee shops in terms of success."
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“A Stafford man who killed another man in 2022 outside a county motel following a multiday drug binge was ordered Monday to serve 49 years in prison. George Lee Pearson III, 47, was sentenced in Stafford Circuit Court to a total of 68 years with 19 years suspended. He shot and killed 47-year-old Leo D. Franklin of Oxon Hill, Maryland, for reasons that remain unclear.” Read more from The Free Lance-Star. Â
On Sunday morning, June 19, deputies found a man suffering a gunshot wound to the chest in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn, 386 Warrenton Road in Stafford County. Three deputies provided first aid to the victim until medics arrived on the scene to treat and take the victim to a hospital where he later died. Pearson fled the scene armed with a handgun. Deputies were able to speak with him through FaceTime on his phone. Pearson eventually stopped on an exit ramp of I-95 and surrendered at 11:30 a.m.
The Zoe Freedom Center is gearing up for its fourth annual 5K run, a fundraising event supporting its mission to assist those struggling with addiction. The event on Aug. 24, 2024, will begin and end at the University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center, with participants running a course that stretches to the halfway point near Lafayette and Blue & Gray Parkway before looping back.
Founded by Dana and Mark Brown in March 2020, the Zoe Freedom Center launched the same day widespread shutdowns were announced for the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were surprised by the happenings, but we knew we were called to open this organization,” said Dana, “It proved to be the perfect time to open.” As other addiction services were forced to close or transition to virtual operations, the Zoe Freedom Center remained an in-person resource for those in need.
Driven by their personal experiences with addiction, the Browns established the center as a nonprofit organization offering free services to eliminate barriers for those seeking help. “I personally have 21 years free from addiction, and it was through my lived experience and my husband’s experience with a parent in addiction that led us to open this organization,” Dana shared. The center provides a wide range of services, including Peer Support, Counseling Services, Group Support, Family Support, and Grief Support for those grieving a substance-related loss.
In 2023, the Zoe Freedom Center served approximately 40 people per week and distributed 2,000 boxes of Narcan within the community. The organization also benefited from the efforts of 145 volunteers throughout the year. A key aspect of their work is a mobile unit that brings free Narcan—a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug—directly to those in need.
Looking ahead, the Browns are working toward establishing Zoe Residential, a free-of-charge residential restorative care home for women trapped in cycles of addiction often linked with sex trafficking, domestic violence, and childhood trauma. Dana said this long-term residence will be a private, multi-acre property offering a supportive, Christ-centered, trauma-informed environment. Women participating in the program will have opportunities to pursue education, internships, and apprenticeships, and engage in community service projects, helping them rebuild their lives and pursue their dreams.
The 5K race is not just a fundraiser but is also a symbol of the Zoe Freedom Center’s commitment to walking alongside individuals and families throughout their recovery journey. “We understand this is a journey, and we will walk with people every step of the way,” said Dana.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) website says 79% of drug overdose deaths in Virginia in 2022 involved fentanyl or related substances. The overall state rate of drug overdose deaths decreased slightly by 5% from the previous year, reflecting ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis. However, the challenge remains significant, with emergency department visits due to overdoses rising by 5% in the same period.
The race begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Jepson Alumni Center. Participants can run or walk, and packets may be picked up Thursday and Friday at the Zoe Freedom Center, or 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the starting area.
The University of Mary Washington will conduct a test of its UMW Alert system on Monday, August 19 at 1 p.m., with sirens and test messages audible on and near the Fredericksburg campus.
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Acting Superintendent Chris Fulmer said 99% of Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) students have now been assigned bus routes, but “despite our best efforts, there are students without confirmed routes.”
SCPS began the year with significant transportation issues, with almost 3,000 students who had no assigned bus route. Parents were notified the night before school began for Kindergarteners, Sixth and Ninth graders. The issues continued throughout the first week. According to Fulmer, the issues were due to a software issue with the new transportation app.
Parents are encouraged to keep refreshing the My Ride K-12 App regularly for updates to their routes.
Dear Stafford Families,
I am writing to provide you with an update to our routing issues. Our teams worked diligently over the weekend and successfully routed nearly 99 percent of our students. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are students without confirmed routes. Our team will continue to improve our bus routes and ensure any remaining students without a route are placed as soon as possible.
I understand that many of you are feeling frustrated and upset by the ongoing transportation issues. We remain committed to resolving these issues and ensuring that your child has a safe and reliable route to school as soon as possible.
In the meantime, we ask that you continue to refresh the MyRide K-12 app regularly for the most current updates.
Again, I apologize that this issue has not been resolved for some of our families. Thank you for bearing with us during this time.
Sincerely,
Chris R. Fulmer
Acting Superintendent
Stafford County’s fourth annual Via Colori will return the weekend of Sept. 28-29, 2024. The annual street painting festival is a free family-friendly event where artists create large-scale chalk drawings, attracting thousands of spectators each year. while food, vendors, and live music add more activity.
Discover Stafford, formerly known as the Stafford County Museum & Cultural Center, established Via Colori Stafford, an annual signature fundraising event. Funds raised through sponsorships of Via Colori Stafford go back to the county through the Museum and local efforts of the Rotary Club of North Stafford and the Rotary Club of Stafford.
Stafford County Public Schools has been selected as the 2024 beneficiary. The funds raised will support Stafford in Action Week, a community initiative to provide nutritious meals to students, culminating at Via Colori. This initiative aims to ensure all students have the resources needed to succeed academically.
Artists can sign up online to participate in the chalk drawing; artists can pick up their materials at an Artists’ Reception on Friday, Sept. 27.
The event will take place at the Stafford Regional Airport, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Fredericksburg City has announced that Duck Donuts will be moving into Central Park. The new location will be near Peter Chang's and Bonefish Grill.
Duck Donuts previously opened a location in Eagle Village, near the University of Mary Washington, in 2017. That location closed, and has since been replaced by a tobacco and vape shop. In 2020, Duck Donuts closed their North Stafford location.
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