Stafford County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is hosting its annual Candy Cane Hunt on Government Island on December 14. The family-friendly event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and registration is required in order to receive the activities bag, which contains the scavenger hunt information.

Giant candy canes will be hidden in the woods throughout the island. Participants can use a scavenger hunt map provided by Stafford Tourism to mark off their finds.

Stafford’s Community Engagement Program Manager Shannon Eubanks said the event began in 2018, when staff created the event as a way to promote health and wellness in one of Stafford’s parks in a fun hiking activity. There are seven sessions throughout the day, and each one lasts one hour. Stafford County employees will be on-site to assist the activities.

Registration is available online at the Stafford County Parks and Recreation website.  The hunt is $11 per person, ages 3 to 15. As of December 6, several sessions have sold out.

Government Island is located at 191 Coal Landing Road. The 17-acre park is a historic 18th and 19th-century quarry site provided Aquia sandstone for the construction of the U.S. Capitol and the White House and other historic buildings in Washington, D.C.

We'll be featuring local businesses in our holiday gift-giving series. We've asked local businesses to tell us about their holidays, and to suggest gift ideas for a wide range of people.

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The Fredericksburg Free Press reports a developer plans to demolish a portion of the Greenbrier Shopping Center and put in mixed-use buildings.

The shopping center was formerly home to Burlington Coat Factory, now in Central Park, and Big Lots, which closed and has not been replaced. Several small businesses, including Taj Indian and Two Times New, still reside there. In March, Taj owner Sandeep Singh said he was not aware of any plans to develop the center that would affect the long-standing restaurant, and as of November 13, he had not been notified of any plans.

The center is located on Plank Road. Metro Diner, Royal Farms, CookOut, and M&T Bank are all located in the parking lot along the road. Decatur’s Crabs also uses some of the parking lot.

The plan would put 173 townhouses of two sizes on just over 16 acres.

In January 2024, the City Council discussed forming a committee to explore revitalizing or encouraging redevelopment of shopping centers. The idea was to explore how to encourage developers to shift one level shopping centers into multi-story, mixed-use developments that would allow more residents and attract more commercial businesses.

Councilman Jason Graham explained in a January email that “Currently [shopping centers] provide retail options, which I want to maintain, but I think there’s an opportunity to make the areas more economically productive. We received a report from our staff that showed us the tax revenue per acre across the city, and downtown outpaced every other area of town, including Central Park, by a wide margin. I’m not saying we can recreate downtown along Routes 1 and 3, but because we’re a city of only 10.4 square miles we need to get creative about how we’re going to fund our growing need for public services.”

Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Fredericksburg area Communications Manager Kelly Hannon said the development was not included in the plans to improve the areas where Route 3 reaches I-95, which was designed and initiated before the development was proposed. The development will not change VDOT’s plan, but Hannon said the improvements were based on traffic projections of what traffic volume may be in 2049.

Hannon explained that, unlike nearby counties where VDOT handles permits for state road projects, in Fredericksburg, the city reviews and approves land development projects and issues permits. The city follows VDOT’s roadway design standards and works with VDOT on major projects, like the proposed Greenbrier development, to evaluate traffic and road impacts.

NVR Inc. submitted the plans to Fredericksburg; the company is the parent company of Ryan Homes and other residential brands, and also offers mortgage banking services. The company is headquartered in Reston and builds homes in 16 states.

On December 1st, Stafford deputies pursued and apprehended two suspects connected to an armed robbery in Fredericksburg. A red pickup truck, identified in a BOLO alert, was spotted by Deputy D.S. Jett. The driver refused to stop, leading to a chase through multiple roads until the truck was cornered in a residential area. The driver, Jermaine Koonce, 32, was detained after deputies deployed pepper balls. He admitted to driving under the influence and resisting arrest to smoke a cigarette.

The passenger, Dion Parker, 24, fled on foot but was tracked by K-9 Titan and located using a drone. He was apprehended in nearby woods. Both suspects were confirmed as those suspected to be involved in the robbery. Koonce faces multiple charges, including felony eluding and DUI, while Parker is charged with eluding, property destruction, and public intoxication. Additional robbery charges will be filed in Fredericksburg. Both are held without bond.

Stafford County Sheriff: 

On December 1st, at approximately 8:08 p.m., Stafford deputies received a be on the lookout report. It was advised an armed robbery just occurred in the City of Fredericksburg and the suspects fled in a red pickup truck. Less than a minute after the BOLO, Deputy D.S. Jett, who was traveling on Morton Road in the area of Forbes Street, observed a red pickup truck coming towards him as it was failing to maintain the lane of travel. Due to the traffic lane violation and potentially being connected to an armed robbery, Deputy Jett turned around and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. When the truck did not stop, a pursuit was initiated.

The truck would accelerate as it fled on Primmer House Road, Riggs Road, and eventually Birney Court with Deputy Jett closely behind. As the truck entered onto Birney Court it slowed to a stop. Deputy Jett gave commands to both the driver and the passenger. Instead of complying, the passenger fled on foot as the driver threw his vehicle into reverse and accelerated away. Deputy Jett pursued the truck as it fled again with the help of Deputy I.E. Baldi. Nearby units were informed of the passenger fleeing on foot.

Deputy Jett and Deputy Baldi followed the fleeing vehicle as it entered the cul-de-sac of Orange Blossom Court. The fleeing vehicle would jump the curb and drove in-between two residences where its journey ended. Deputies blocked any further fleeing attempts and gave the driver commands to exit the vehicle. When he refused, Sergeant J.T. Forman deployed pepper balls into the vehicle, which had the intended effect. The driver exited the vehicle and was detained. The driver spontaneously admitted to driving under the influence and advised he didn’t want to stop because he “wanted to smoke my cigarette before I went to jail.”

As the driver was detained, additional deputies established a perimeter around the area the passenger fled from. Sergeant B.U. Demirci deployed his K-9 partner, Titan, where the passenger was last seen. Titan displayed strong tracking behaviors all the way to nearby railroad tracks. Throughout the track, deputies located items belonging to the passenger and damages to residential fences during the passengers fleeing attempt.

As Sergeant Demirci conducted his ground search, Detective W.J. McWaters conducted his aerial search using the drone. With it, he was able to locate the suspect hiding in the woods behind the 200 block of Anderson Drive. With Detective McWaters guiding them from the sky, Sergeant Demirci was able to deploy K-9 Titan, where he completed an apprehension. The passenger was detained shortly after the K-9 apprehension.

The Fredericksburg Police Department was able to confirm both detained suspects were the suspects in the armed robbery in their jurisdiction. The driver, Jermaine Koonce, 32, of Callao, was charged with felony eluding, third offense driving under the influence within ten years, revocation of his license after multiple DUI convictions, two counts of reckless driving, driving while revoked, two counts of refusal, and failure to maintain the lane of travel. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Additional charges related to the robbery will be handled by the City of Fredericksburg. The passenger, Dion Parker, 24, of Burgess, was treated for his K-9 bite and charged with eluding, destruction of property, and public intoxication. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Additional charges related to the robbery will be handled by the City of Fredericksburg.

 

The George Washington Foundation’s (GWF) 38th annual Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit returns to the Visitor Center at Ferry Farm this December, inviting creative confections with the theme “Holidays: Past, Present, & Future”. 

GWF Public Programs Manager Allison Ellis said the event began at Historic Kenmore, the foundation’s first historic property, in the 1930s after the Kenmore Association and the Washington-Lewis Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution found Mary Washington’s gingerbread recipe. The pair collaborated with the Dromedary Cake Mix Company to produce mixes based on the original recipe, with a portion of the proceeds returning to the Kenmore Association and its efforts to preserve Historic Kenmore. 

When Historic Kenmore acquired Ferry Farm in the 1990s and became the GWF, the contest moved to Ferry Farm’s Visitor Center to allow for more space.

Ellis said, “The idea is that the creators of the houses should use their imagination to dream up whatever they would like. I found inspiration in the Classic Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol in conjunction with the idea of our museums combining themes from the past, present, and future to tell the story of George Washington, the Washington and Lewis Families, and American History.” 

In years past, the event has featured between 20 and 60 gingerbread structures. Ellis said she anticipates a strong turnout this year based on the number of entries already submitted. 

Entries may be submitted until November 30 at 4 p.m. Entry forms, and a full list of the age categories are available online.

Judging will take place on December 2, with GWF’s Cessie Howell joining a judging panel with B101.5’s Ted Schubel and Jeff Rouse of Burke & Herbert Bank, which is sponsoring the event. Winning entries will have ribbons displayed on their houses. Visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite entry, with the People’s Choice award announced on December 30.

Proceeds from the event support the George Washington Foundation’s efforts to preserve Historic Kenmore and Ferry Farm, while introducing new audiences to the museum spaces.

The exhibit is open from December 1 to December 30, but closed on Dec. 24 and 25. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students, and free for children under 6.

Ferry Farm is located at 268 Kings Highway in Stafford County.

Several Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS) bus drivers noticed a regular visitor with a shabby coat. The team saw a fox that seemed to be missing a lot of fur and sent a video to FoxTales Wildlife Rehab. CEO and Founder Elizabeth Negron said the video confirmed the fox was in moderately bad condition, so her team helped set up a trap and coordinated with the transportation crew to make sure the trap was checked regularly. 

After weeks of waiting, the Spotsylvania bus team let Negron know the fox was trapped around 7 a.m. on Nov. 18. She had just finished a 12-hour overnight shift as a hospital imaging technician and drove straight to the trap by 9 a.m.  Spotsylvania County Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment.

Negron said the fox had a decent amount of hair loss and scabbing, with sores around its hip. It was also slightly underweight. The fox received prescription medication to treat the mange and wound care for its scabs and sores. Negron expects the fox to be released within two to three weeks of care once its weight is more appropriate.

Negron said one of the biggest challenges in rescuing injured wildlife is the actual capture. Wild animals don’t trust new elements in their environment, so a large trap can make them nervous. In some cases, she said, it can take weeks for a fox to trust a trap enough to enter it, usually from desperation and hunger. Sometimes, that delay can worsen the animal’s condition – the mange can create secondary infections. In more severe cases, they find that if the fox can be treated and survives the first 48 hours in care, its chances of survival increase dramatically.

Negron said she’s never had a healthy fox enter a trap. 

FoxTales Wildlife Rehab is a 501(3)(c) non-profit located in Midland, Virginia. The organization was founded in 2023, but Negron has been helping care for wildlife for over 20 years since she was 13 years old. Negron is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator – in Virginia, it is illegal to handle wildlife, although Good Samaritan laws do allow the capture of orphaned, injured, or sick wildlife to take it directly to a wildlife veterinarian or rehabilitator.

Negron is also licensed to handle Rabies Vector Species (RVS), which are animals that may have a higher chance of contracting rabies. RVS include raccoons, foxes, and skunks.

When wildlife comes into FoxTales, Negron explained she will “keep contact with the animals to an absolute minimum.” Aside from feeding, cleaning, and quick exams twice a day, the goal is to keep the animal as wild as possible and not create a relationship between humans and food.

Negron warned “we never want the public to handle the wildlife without proper protection nd training. Hurt wildlife can be unrpredictable, and even if they appear to be injured…[if they feel trapped] they will try to fight for their lives.”

FoxTales is always in need of volunteers, who must be permitted by the state. The permit requires education hours and rabies vaccinations. For supporters who cannot volunteer, the group’s website lists ways to donate. Negron said the organization is not funded by state or government agencies, and instead relies on donations and self-funding to care for the animals.

The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office arrested Ashley Kriesten following a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding suspected child sexual abuse material. Investigators executed a search warrant at Kriesten’s residence, seizing electronic devices, and charging her with multiple counts of child pornography possession, distribution, and aggravated sexual battery. The investigation is part of the office’s collaboration with the NOVA-DC Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.

Spotsylvania County Sheriff:

On November 18, 2024, the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Child Victim Unit members received an online cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding an online account where images of child sexual abuse were being uploaded, stored, and the potential sharing of these images.  NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

After conducting an investigation and reviewing the reported items, a search warrant was obtained on the residence of Ashley Kriesten, 9600 block of Leaf Lane, Spotsylvania County. Multiple electric devices were seized during the search warrant.  Ashley Kriesten, was arrested and charged with five counts of 18.2-374.1:1(A) Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography, five counts of 18.2-374.1:1.(C) Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography, and two counts of 18.2-67.3(A1) Aggravated Sexual Battery.

The identity and relationship of the juveniles are being withheld for their protection.

Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is a member of the NOVA-DC Internet Crimes Against Children Virginia State Police Taskforce (NOVA-DC ICAC). ICAC which is a national network of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies that helps state and local agencies respond to online child exploitation of other crimes.

If you believe a child is being abused, please contact the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office at the numbers below, the Spotsylvania County Department of Social Services at 540-507-7898, Virginia CPS State Hotline at (804) 786-8536/Out-of-state: (800) 552-7096, or The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Stafford residents, led by former Hartwood District Supervisor Joe Brito, are rallying ahead of tonight’s Board of Supervisors meeting to advocate for transforming the closed Cannon Ridge Golf Course into a regional historical riverfront park and for transportation impact fees on developers. Brito served as the Hartwood District’s Supervisor from 2006 to 2009.

Tonight’s Board of Supervisors meeting will discuss the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), and proposed Transportation Impact Fees for developers. The board will discuss amending the Capital Improvement Plan to add the TMP as an appendix. The TMP includes projects already in process, like road repairs and safety fixes; short-term projects designed to improve safety and flow, like bike paths and pedestrian walkways; and long-term plans like a new river crossing route. The plan includes just over $1 billion in road projects.

The transportation impact fees were last updated in 2014. The supervisors will discuss amending the fees to include new service areas, update regulations, and adopt new fees. Brito encouraged public comments in favor of transportation impact fees to slow development and offset the burdens created by adding more housing. 

Brito has proposed plans for a regional park and an alternative river crossing for traffic. His  online petition for the park plans has collected over 5,000 signatures supporting the idea of turning the closed Cannon Ridge Golf Course on Route 17 into a regional park that will allow visitors to access the area’s only waterfall, which currently has no public access. Brito noted some local elected  representatives, like Delegate Joshua Cole and Stafford Supervisors Monica Gary, and Deuntay Diggs, have also signed the petition.

Brito’s proposed park plans show the existing paved golf cart trails creating a path that will pass by the waterfall, Hunter’s Iron Works, Hunter’s Island, the Rappahnnock Canal locks, and other historic sites where Civil War soldiers camped, Native Americans resided, and paths along the Underground Railroad. 

He has also drafted a new river crossing proposal, as a means to alleviate traffic congestion and reshape the entrance to Stafford County. The petition for this route has over 4,000 signatures. Brito suggests that having a strategically placed route over the Rappahannock will provide residents alternative routes to avoid heavy traffic on I-95 and Route 1, and will also improve emergency response times by providing a more direct route to Mary Washington Hospital. 

The Cannon Ridge Golf Course property is 193 acres owned by Silver Companies, which was founded in 1941 by Carl D. Silver. Although the company is now headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, it began in the Fredericksburg area developed many of the region’s largest shopping and residential centers: Central Park, Cosner’s Corner, Harrison Crossing, Quantico Corporate Center, and Celebrate Virginia North and South. 

Silver Companies owns the Celebrate Virginia subdivision, which includes the Golf Course, which has been closed since 2018. According to the Stafford’s Active Residential Projects list, another 113 homes are approved but not yet built in the development. The golf course property, 193 acres, is currently assessed at $1.4 million; in 2012, the property was assessed at $2.7 million. Stafford County assessor Bart Stevenson said the golf course is not valued as buildable land, just as open space. Stevenson said if the company submits an application to develop the land, the property can be reassessed.

Brito explained his motivation for preserving more of the area’s history and historical sites comes from watching a nearby property be demolished after a fire. The ruined home was made with stones, and had hidden passageways, a spiral staircase, and even a small moat. Brito said “the demolition of this historic home motivated me to be an advocate for historic preservation and conservation.”

Brito’s proposed park will not only help preserve historical sites, and give the public access to visit them, but will also allow space for events and festivals. He noted the Renaissance Festival has indicated they would like to host their event in the area, but currently there are no grounds large enough. The potential park would preserve Stafford’s rich historical and natural heritage while creating a recreational space for the community.

As the Board of Supervisors considers its priorities, Brito and his supporters hope to show their strong public support for less development, less traffic, and more parks.