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.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) is offering a professional development opportunity for local teachers through its Nights at the Museum program. This innovative series, led by the Museum’s Teachers in Residence, Katie Malec of Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) and Christine Russ of Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS), aims to deepen educators’ understanding of the United States Marine Corps history and its role in shaping America.

Malec said these quarterly evening events “provide a rewarding experience that brings history to life.” Malec is in her second year as a Teacher in Residence after 17 years of teaching 7th-grade U.S. history. Russ has over 23 years of teaching preschool through sixth grade and this is her first year as Teacher in Residence. Malec said the two work as a team to “empower educators with tools and primary sources that make history relevant and engaging for their students.” The program’s goal is to “promote United States Marine Corps history and its contributions in creating, developing, and defending our country.”

The Nights at the Museum program supports the Museum’s mission: “Preserving the past, influencing the present, and inspiring the future.” Each session, free to educators, includes a private experience in the Museum after hours, complete with refreshments, presentations by NMMC staff and docents, and hands-on materials.  Many of the docents are veterans, who provide personal insights and stories to complement the historical exhibits. 

Teachers can earn five professional development points while gaining ideas to incorporate Marine Corps history into their Standards of Learning (SOL)-based lessons.

In the program, the Teachers in Residence partner with various Museum experts to enhance content knowledge and improve classroom practices for local K-12 public school teachers. Malec said, “We cover the SOL content taught in schools in a way that brings the content to life for teachers with primary sources. Which in turn, the teachers can bring back to their classrooms to share with their students.“ 

Participants also gain access to behind-the-scenes areas and exclusive insights into the exhibits, offering a depth of understanding beyond a regular museum visit. “We tailor each evening to cover specific historical events involving the Marine Corps, while also demonstrating how teachers can incorporate this knowledge into their classrooms,” said Russ.

The series currently welcomes about 30 educators per session from PWCS and SCPS but is open to teachers from surrounding school districts. In addition to the evening events, the program opens doors for educators to learn about trunk programs to be brought into classrooms and customized field trips for students.

The next Night at the Museum is December 5, followed by February 20 and April 3, 2025. Educators can contact the program directors online.

Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, November 19, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online. To provide the public with more information about the board meetings, we’ve assembled a list of some of the items on the agenda.

On the agenda:

Stafford County Public Schools

• The school board is asking for $7,092,000 to start the first phase of replacing Drew Middle School. This phase includes buying land, planning the design, and setting aside extra funds for unexpected costs. While the projected cost of planning and design has decreased $1.9 million, construction and contingency costs are projected to increase by $16 million. The school board increased their expected costs of the Drew Middle School project by 17% to $113 million.

County Administration

• A 2021 Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) rule allows DEA registrants with brick-and-mortar locations that provide medication assisted treatment to choose to offer a mobile component to their services. The regulations are already federal law, and the Commonwealth of Virginia is fast-tracking state regulations to ensure these regulations are explicitly authorized by both state and federal law. The state has a comment period currently open until November 20, 2024, and then intends to implement the regulations on December 4, 2024. In the event a provider wishes to offer mobile services, a 30-day comment period for the locality is required. The provider must also provide physical security and strict record-keeping. The demand for mobile services is expected to be low due to the cost of obtaining and customizing a vehicle for the task.

Public Safety

• The Sheriff’s office is asking to apply for recognition as a Certified Crime Prevention Community. According to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), “the goal of the program is to publicly recognize and certify localities that have implemented a defined set of community safety strategies as part of a comprehensive community safety/crime prevention effort.” DCJS suggests the designation can be a marketing tool to attract families and businesses, and may help lower insurance costs for those residing in the community.

Virginia Public Schools

• On November 6, the day after the presidential election, the county’s financial advisors (PFM) noticed that the market had become unstable. Government bond rates went up by over 10 basis points (a measure of interest rate changes). Since the market was unpredictable, the County has decided to wait before borrowing money to ensure better interest rates. Over the next few weeks, they plan to monitor the market and changing rates.
• Due to the changes in the market, the county has earned more than the allowed amount on its investments in funds borrowed through Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA). The excess earnings will be returned to the IRS, and will not have a negative effect on the county as they were unanticipated and not marked for any projects.

Utilities

• Utilities has requested an ordinance to allow wastewater treatment plants to stop accepting septic waste from areas outside the county. Nearly half of the septic waste being brought in comes from outside the County. No other local areas accept waste from outside their borders, and upcoming work on the plants will limit capacity further. The change also allows the Board to consider adjusting the charged rate for septage disposal at the same rate as sewer rate changes in the future.

From glistening trees and jolly Saint Nicholas to a mischievous Grinch and festive Pokemon,  downtown Fredericksburg’s storefronts have transformed their windows into a wonderland.

The city’s annual Window Wonderland event started November 9 and will continue through December 31, 2024. Participating businesses have transformed their storefronts into festive works of art, each accompanied by a nearby riddle for visitors to solve.

Guests can vote for their favorite window display, and those who solve the riddles can submit their completed riddle forms at the Visitor Center, located at 601 Caroline Street, or send them by mail.

Prizes include $1,000 in downtown gift cards and 50 additional prizes provided by the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority and participating businesses. Winners will be notified by phone by January 6, 2025.