On Monday, November 4, Senator Tim Kaine (D) and Eugene Vindman spoke briefly to a small gathering in downtown Fredericksburg. Kaine is running again for Virginia Senate, and Vindman, a Democrat, is for the 7th Congressional District.

Kaine said, “Virginia is going to send a message,” noting that the state is often among the first to report election results and saying, “Virginia’s looking solid for Kamala.” Kaine noted that his campaign has held around 220 events this season, not including interviews, fundraisers, and Senate duties.

Kaine shared he first met Vindman when Vindman asked Kaine to perform his U.S. Army promotion ceremony after his superiors, U.S. Army Generals, were afraid to perform the ceremony for fear of angering then-President Donald Trump.

Vindman noted that he and his campaign have knocked on over 100,000 doors and crossed all areas of the district multiple times. He said, “People know what the stakes are in this election. They know that this country gets to choose what our path will be.”

Vindman did not stay after his remarks to speak to the press or the volunteers.

Early Monday morning, Fredericksburg Police responded to reports of a break-in at Hyperion Espresso, where a man allegedly smashed windows to enter the coffee shop.

According to the report, 66-year-old Roger Ruffner, dressed in a trash bag and armed with a plastic pole and broomstick, claimed he needed to make himself a cup of coffee and broke the window to protect himself,  believing he was being followed. Ruffner was taken into custody on charges of breaking and entering to commit larceny and felony vandalism and is currently held without bond.

Fredericksburg Police: 

On November 4, 2024, at 2:57 a.m., our E-911 Communications Center received a call about a white male wearing a trash bag who was breaking the windows of Hyperion Espresso.

Officer Funez arrived at the scene and found Roger Ruffner standing in front of the business, wearing a trash bag and holding a plastic pole and a broomstick. Ruffner explained that he had broken the glass to protect himself, believing he was being followed. He later told Officer Funez that he intended to enter Hyperion Espresso to make himself a cup of coffee.

Roger Ruffner, 66, of Fredericksburg was arrested and held without bond on the following charges:

18.2-91 Breaking & Entering to commit larceny

18.2-137 Felony Vandalism

Update Nov. 02, 9 p.m.:  Sarah and Tony Lopez were among the first to drive by the scene of the accident. Sarah said she and her husband pulled up at the intersection on a motorcycle and ” I immediately saw a motionless body on the ground in the middle of the intersection, a very damaged shopping cart nearby, and broken glass. It was a really dark scene. I could immediately see that his limbs didn’t look uninjured but I had no idea how extensive it was.”

They called 911, and Tony immediately ran over to start rendering aid and CPR to the victim. As he did, the other victim approached and started crying, praying, and “begging for his friend to wake up.” Sarah stayed on the line with 911 while Tony began CPR and helped resuscitate the first victim.

On November 1, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded to Mine Road and Greenspring Drive for a hit-and-run involving two pedestrians. The accident happened around 10:14 p.m.

A dark 2024 Volkswagen GTI is believed to have struck two pedestrians and then fled on Garrisonville Road. The vehicle likely has extensive front end damage and a broken windshield. Both pedestrians were seriously injured, with one flown from the scene with life-threatening injuries.

Stafford Sheriff’s Office: 

Update: This hit and run occurred at 10:14 p.m. and we ask anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact Sgt. Ron Jones at 540-658-4400. The suspect vehicle is described as a black or blue sedan with extensive front end damage and possibly a broken windshield. The suspect vehicle fled onto Garrisonville Road after striking two pedestrians.

One pedestrian was flown from the scene with life-threatening injuries and the other pedestrian was transported by ambulance with serious injuries.

Traffic Alert: Deputies are on scene of a serious hit and run accident at the intersection of Mine Road and Greenspring Drive. Mine Road will be closed in both directions for an extended time, so please use an alternate route.

Stafford County’s Sheriffs will host Coffee with a Cop on October 30 at The Grounds Coffeehouse from 9 – 11 a.m.

The Coffee with a Cop program is a free, public event that allows community members to ask questions or have casual conversations with deputies. Spokesperson Ryan Wilbur said, “The goal has been and will always be to build a meaningful relationship with deputies and community members.”

The program provides a neutral space for the community to interact with law enforcement outside of active incidents and helps build positive connections. All deputies are welcome to attend, with Crime Prevention officers often present, but others, like School Resource Officers and K-9 deputies, participate when available.

The department typically holds the event once a month, depending on other scheduled activities. Common concerns raised during the events include traffic and roadway safety, which are passed on to the Traffic Safety Unit for investigation. The events are also opportunities to ask questions about jobs and the hiring process, or learn more about recent community incidents.

Stafford’s Coffee with a Cop program began in October 2017 as part of National Coffee with a Cop Day. Initially held once a year, the program was expanded to monthly events about three years ago when Deputy F.C. Shannon Jr. took charge. Locations are chosen randomly with the permission of local businesses, and the department tries to offer events in all areas of the county.

Wilbur said children seem to have the most fun at the events and enjoy learning about what deputies do. He added some community members just visit for the chance to chat, “almost like old friends meeting up.”

The Grounds Coffeehouse is located at 50 North Stafford Complex Center.

Fredericksburg City Police are investigating a shooting yesterday, October 28 near the Commons apartment complex located on Cowan Boulevard. Several callers reported hearing gunshots at the same time a man walked into the Fredericksburg Police Department and advised officers he’d been shot.

Fredericksburg City Police:

Yesterday, October 28, 2024 at approximately 7:00 p.m., an individual entered the Fredericksburg Police Department lobby and notified the E-911 center that he had been shot. Officers responded to the lobby and immediately provided lifesaving measures until EMS arrived and transported the male to a nearby hospital.

        Around the same time, the Fredericksburg E-911 Center received several phone calls reporting shots fired in the area of the Commons apartment complex. Officers and Detectives responded to the area to conduct interviews and collect evidence.

       Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident.

Fredericksburg’s streets were full of costumed children (and adults) for the annual Treats in the Streets.

Fredericksburg has hosted this event since 2016, where families are invited to dress up in Halloween costumes and stroll downtown, stopping at participating businesses to collect treats, toys, books, and gifts.

Volunteer crossing guards helped man intersections without traffic lights.

The city’s Scarecrow Fest, where participants are given a map and asked to find all scarecrows downtown, continues until October 31. Participating businesses have ballots for visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrow. Ballots are also available on the Scarecrow Fest website.

From chisels to chills, Stafford High School’s (SHS) carpentry students have found a new way to haunt locals with their talent.

The Fredericksburg Fairgrounds’ upcoming Dead Whispers Haunted Attraction will feature a haunted maze, which is entirely the work of these budding carpenters. Led by carpentry teacher Dan Harding, the students have spent weeks constructing the maze, which adds a new element of scare and excitement to the Halloween event. 

The SHS Carpentry Program is part of the BOOTS program (Bringing Occupational Opportunities to Students). Students learn about Residential Construction and various parts of Commercial Construction. The BOOTS program allows students to learn Construction trades off-site while building a house to be sold upon completion. Harding said this is a non-profit organization.

Harding, a residential carpenter for 25 years before joining Stafford High School 16 years ago, said he thought the project would be a good opportunity for first-year carpentry students. When he met with the Fairgrounds team, he learned the initial plans involved 180 framed panels and covered an area 50” by 80”. Harding asked if his students could build the panels and install them according to the plan. His second and third-year carpentry students enthusiastically signed off on the project.

Harding said the structure’s temporary nature provided a challenge.

“Students needed a way of connecting these panels in a way that they were rigid, yet easy to dismantle and store for future functions. These panels couldn’t be fastened to the floor, and with them having plywood on both sides, were not easy to connect.” The project also needed to follow strict Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications, so the group had to revisit plans to make sure accessibility wasn’t blocked by some of the support posts.

Harding added, “We discussed options as a group and made it work.”

In the carpentry program, Harding said students learn workplace skills that will translate to any profession. If a student chooses carpentry, the hands-on, live construction experience from the BOOTS program enhances their chances for success and advancement.

Harding said visitors to Dead Whispers will notice the size and design of the maze. He said, “The students were walking the maze after completion…and it literally took us about 20 minutes.”

He said that was when students realized the scope of the work they just completed. Harding said, “The themes of the rooms and passageways are going to be scary and fun; I can’t wait to see reactions from the community.” He also added, “The folks we worked with at the Fredericksburg Fairgrounds were great to work with, and I welcome any chance to work with them in the future.”

The maze is part of Dead Whispers, an attraction that features live actors and effects designed to make visitors feel like they’re in a horror movie. Funds raised through ticket purchases will support musicians and veterans with disabilities through the Bill Carroll Foundation . The event website notes “Our Foundation’s built-in Design and Production Team has developed our Haunted Attraction with the help from people with all levels of disabilities.”

Dead Whispers will run October 25 through November 2, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night. On Oct. 27, a Family Day will run from noon to 4 p.m., before the evening hours.

The Fredericksburg Fairgrounds are located at 2400 Airport Avenue. Parking and the hayride are free, while food, beverages, and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase.

The annual Stafford County Agricultural and Homemaking Fair is this weekend, October 17 through 20.  The fair is located at University of Mary Washington’s Stafford Campus, 121 University Boulevard.  The fair is open Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 7 p.m. In addition to vendors, rides, and carnival treats, Saturday and Sunday will feature Children’s Power Wheel Derbies and  Pedal Tractor Pulls.

Next week, the Fredericksburg Nationals will host FredNats Fall Fest on Oct. 25. The family event is free to attend, but parking is $6 per vehicle. In addition to a pumpkin carving contest, the stadium will feature arts and crafts, fall-themed foods, goats, and trick or treating on the concourse. Pumpkins must be labeled with contact information, carved and dropped off during the week for the competition. Costumes are encouraged. FredNats Fall Fest is open from 6 to 9 p.m.