Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Motts Run Reservoir, which was established in 1974. The reservoir itself spans 160 acres, and is within a total of 860 acres of land. The reservoir was initially created to ensure a reliable water supply for the region. Over the years, it has become an important area for wildlife, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Callie Brown, Superintendent of Recreation for Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events, stated, “Motts has gone from being one of Fredericksburg’s hidden gems to being a family favorite park over the past 50 years.” She highlighted the reservoir’s diverse offerings, including hiking, biking, boating, and fishing, noting its role as a community asset.
The fiftieth anniversary celebrations will kick off on September 4 with a series of “Concert by Canoe” events. Each Wednesday in September at 6 p.m., visitors can enjoy live music from local bands while paddling on the reservoir. The festivities will culminate in a grand Anniversary Celebration on September 28 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., featuring an opening ceremony, live music, food trucks, and various recreational activities.
Stafford County Schools is still working to resolve a transportation crisis.
On Monday, the first school day for kindergarten, 6th, and 9th-grade students, parents learned that some 3,000 children would not have bus transportation to school. All Stafford County students were scheduled to return to classes the following day, and the problems continued, with about 1,000 students still without a bus to carry them to school.
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The City of Fredericksburg is mourning the death of former Mayor Lawrence A. Davies, who served as Mayor for 20 years. Davies, Fredericksburg’s first African American elected official, served as a Councilmember starting in 1966 and as Mayor from 1976 to 1996. Davies passed on Sunday, Aug. 11 at the age of 94.
The city has lowered flags to half-mast to mark Davies’ passing.
Born in Houston, Texas, Davies graduated from Prairie View A & M University in 1949, then served in the Army where he was inspired to pursue ministry. After studying divinity and serving in Washington, D.C., Davies moved to Fredericksburg and was a pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site). Davies ran for City Council in 1966 and served for 10 years before becoming Mayor.
Virginia Changemakers describes Davies was an advocate for expanded mental health services and was instrumental in securing the construction of a new hospital within city limits in the 1990s. After retiring from his role as pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in 2012, where he served for 50 years, Davies continued his community activism. In 2016, he was recognized by Leadership Fredericksburg for his integrity and visionary contributions. Davies and his wife Janice founded the Fredericksburg Sickle Cell Association in 1972 after their daughter Lauren’s diagnosis at 7 months old. Lauren, a poet, passed in 1993. His daughter Karen passed away in 2020, and Sharron still resides in Fredericksburg.
During his two-decade tenure as Mayor, Davies was known for his efforts to improve community wellness, including championing mental health services, expanding low-income housing, and creating an affordable bus system. Mayor Kerry Devine said Davies’ leadership helped establish the Fredericksburg Regional Transit, now FXBGO!, and his influence earned him the title “Father of Fred.” She said Davies’ legacy is marked by his dedication to social justice and community improvement.
Devine said, “Mayor Davies was a true trailblazer for our city. As we grieve his loss, we also celebrate his extraordinary life and the lasting impact he has made.” Former Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw called Davies “truly a ‘Mayor for Life.’ His presence was felt and his leadership continued to make our city a better place to live. He was admired and respected across Commonwealth of Virginia. His ability to understand the needs of the community and build consensus on important decisions is legend. His steady hand and personal integrity brought the city through times of significant change and growth in the city.”
In a 2000 interview with The Freelance Star, Davies said ““You can either curse the darkness or light a candle. I choose to do the latter.”
Mary Washington Healthcare has launched a new midwifery program, the largest of its kind in the region. The program offers both inpatient and outpatient care, supported by a team of seven certified nurse midwives.
Expecting mothers can receive prenatal care at two locations in Stafford and Spotsylvania, with deliveries at Stafford Hospital. The program aims to provide personalized, low-intervention care from prenatal visits through postpartum support. Â Patients will have access to prenatal education, labor and delivery support, lactation services, and postpartum care.
The midwives at the Spotsylvania location recently joined Mary Washington Healthcare after leaving Elite Women’s Health and Wellness. The Fredericksburg area has seen several women’s healthcare offices, like Women’s Health and Surgery Center and Rappahannock Women’s Health, close. Elite Women’s Health and Wellness is no longer seeing obstetric patients but is now open as  Elite Gynecology and Wellness with Dr. Zeenat Patel.
Drivers on Kings Highway may wonder what happened to the long-standing sign for Fredericksburg Motor Sports.
On Aug. 9, a male driver in a pick-up truck attempted to turn right into the entrance between Sheetz and Burger King. Stafford County Sheriff’s office said the vehicle was traveling too fast, and struck the sign. The driver sustained minor injuries, and no other vehicles were involved. Both fire and police responded to the scene within minutes.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s office said no charges were filed.
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A 225-year-old family-run farm in Spotsylvania will open a winery.Â
Willow Oak Farm and Vineyards, owned and operated by the Smith family: Lee, Jeffrey, and Kenny, is currently in the design phase for its winery and production facility. The farm is located on Mill Pond Road.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch in effect from 6:19 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9. The watch follows multiple reports of a tornado touching down in Caroline County yesterday evening.
The storm is predicted to bring significant rainfall to the area, with risks of flooding possible. The Rappahannock River last flooded downtown Fredericksburg on Jan. 10, 2024. It crested at 19.1 feet at 5:30pm, impacting Old Mill Park and encroaching trails along Fall Hill Avenue. Fredericksburg has already closed Old Mill Park in anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby.
Fredericksburg: Tropical Storm Debby’s main system is moving north into Virginia from North Carolina. The current forecast track is that the main part of the storm will remain to our west, generally travelling from south to north along the Interstate 81 corridor. That said, the Fredericksburg area will see significant rainfall, with rain bands that could be heavy at times beginning mid-afternoon today, Thursday, through the overnight hours, and decreasing sometime around mid-afternoon tomorrow. This system has also spawned thunderstorm and tornado activity, so please stay alert and continue to monitor conditions in case those develop.
Here are some updates from the City of Fredericksburg, along with some tips and updates as the storm moves through Virginia:
- Old Mill Park, Alum Spring Park and the Dog Park are now closed due to wet conditions. Park staff is monitoring water levels and other parks could be closed due to high water levels or adverse conditions.
- Heavy rain to the west of Fredericksburg may lead to flood conditions for the Rappahannock River, even after the storm passes. Continue to monitor FredericksburgAlert.com or the City’s website at www.fredericksburgva.gov for the latest river conditions.
- City Staff from all departments have been preparing for Tropical Storm Debby and our Public Safety and Public Works teams are ready to respond.
- FXBGO! Transit operations are still on schedule at this time.
- City Government offices are open and will remain open as regularly scheduled.
In July, Fredericksburg City Mayor Kerry Devine encouraged the City Council to explore the possibility of data centers in Fredericksburg, suggesting the Celebrate Virginia South area near the Fredericksburg Nationals Stadium and the Rappahannock River.
“However, it appears that the city’s first serious, server-laden suitor wishes to put down fiberoptic roots in a different location — 83.5 acres straddling the Cowan Boulevard corridor near Interstate 95. On Thursday morning, city staff from several different departments will consider a pre-application from southern Maryland-based developer Penzance to construct a data center campus on four parcels that were once under consideration for a Veteran’s Affairs clinic,” reports the Fredericksburg Free Press.
Penzance is a Washington, D.C.-based real estate developer, and recently partnered with EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure to expand its presence in Northern Virginia. EdgeCore plans to build data centers in Ashburn and Culpeper in Virginia. The company has already built data centers in Phoenix, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; and California’s Silicon Valley.
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Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that the Virginia Lottery's fiscal year 2024 profits exceeded $934 million, the highest in its 36-year history. All profits from the Lottery go towards supporting K-12 public education in the Commonwealth.
Since 1999, Virginia Lottery profits have generated over $12 billion for Virginia's K-12 public schools. 10% of the Virginia K-12 education budget comes from the Lottery. The record profits in FY24 were driven by over $5.5 billion in sales, the highest ever. Tickets were purchased at over 5,300 businesses and online, and retailers earned $142 million in commissions and bonuses. Of that $5.5 billion, players received $4.2 billion in prizes, with 77 cents returned for every dollar spent. The Lottery also recorded a low administrative cost rate of 3.8%, which will be finalized after a standard audit by the Auditor of Public Accounts.
