From Virignia State Police:
On Wednesday (Nov. 13), Virginia State Police located and arrested the driver involved in the fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred on Friday (Nov. 8), in Fauquier County. The driver, Dennis D. Dunning, 54, of Catlett, Va., was located at his residence on the 8000 block of Burwell Road in Fauquier and taken into custody without incident.
Dunning was charged with felony hit-and-run, involuntary manslaughter, and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock. Dunning was transported to the Fauquier Adult Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
Initial Press Release:
Virginia State Police is seeking the public’s help with identifying two vehicles that struck a pedestrian Friday (Nov. 8), in Fauquier County.
The hit-and-run crash occurred at 5:47 p.m. on Route 806 (Elk Run Road) at Flippo Lane.
A male pedestrian was walking eastbound across Route 806 when he was struck by a northbound SUV. The pedestrian was then struck by an unknown southbound vehicle. Neither vehicle stopped at the scene.
The pedestrian, Garland J. Heddings, 73, of Catlett, Va., died at the scene.The initial striking vehicle is believed to be a 2001 – 2003 Nissan Frontier, silver in color. The Nissan will have damage to its front end and driver side.
The unknown vehicle may have damage to the front end.
From Prince William Times:
Timothy Sean Hickerson, a Nokesville native who has been charged with murder in the 2010 disappearance of Shane Ryan Donahue, was granted permission to leave jail on a $50,000 bond Wednesday after his attorney called the case “stale” and alleged police have no new evidence to prove his guilt.
I like this one.
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby”
Have a great day.
— Uriah
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association gathered at Paradise Diner in Stafford County to hear Liz Barber, Stafford County’s Economic Development Director, provide an update on local business conditions, development priorities, and support initiatives for Stafford’s growing economy.
Barber discussed the county's focus on addressing key challenges for business owners, including financing, marketing, and strategic business planning. Stafford’s Economic Development Office, she noted, aims to foster a supportive environment to help local businesses thrive.
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At its November 12 meeting, the Stafford County School Board approved the launch of a new Business and Information Technology Center at Colonial Forge High School.
This center is designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in fields like cybersecurity, business administration, and data analytics. This center marks the latest in Stafford’s growing network of specialty programs to give students a head start in career-focused education and advanced fields of study.
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On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Fredericksburg City Council approved a resolution to continue exploring data center development, particularly in the Celebrate Virginia South area.
The city aims to classify data-center development in the area as by-right, meaning the city council would require no public hearing before a data center could be built. The vote intensified public discourse over data centers' potential economic benefits and environmental concerns.
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Stafford County Sheriff’s Office:
Why did the chickens cross the road? Because they were seized by detectives and Animal Control Officers. An illegal cockfighting ring was uncovered earlier this month resulting in several felony warrants.
On November 7th at approximately 10:00 a.m. members of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office took flight to execute a search warrant on a residence on Norman Road [about a mile from Potomac Point Winery]. While this search warrant was related to a previous stolen property report, members of the Special Problems Unit had also received information regarding the same address hosting cockfight events.
During the original search warrant, a large number of chickens were located. Due to this, a plan was hatched to obtain a second search warrant, this one related to the allegations of cockfighting. As a result, exactly 80 Game Fowl Chickens were collected pending a seizure hearing. Additionally, controlled substances, equipment, and weapons directly related to cockfighting were located.
On the morning of November 13th, the seizure hearing was conducted. Animal Control was granted custody of all the chickens. Additionally, the suspect, Sergio Munoz, 47, of Stafford, was taken into custody by Sergeant A.J. McCall shortly following the hearing. Due to the fowl investigation, Munoz was charged with five counts of felony animal fighting. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,000 secured bond. Munoz was not the subject in question for the original search warrant.
All 80 chickens are currently being housed and cared for at the Stafford County Animal Shelter and are scheduled to be seen by a vet. The Stafford County Animal Shelter is currently exploring long-term solutions for their future.
Great work to all Animal Control Officers, Animal Shelter staff, and detectives for going above and beyond to ensure the safe rescue and care of each animal. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be sought.
A booking photo for Munoz is not yet available.
Opitz Boulevard Ramp Ribbon Cutting
On Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 11 a.m. to noon, local leaders will officially open the Opitz Boulevard ramp on the 95 Express Lanes. This $70 million project, funded by Transurban and executed in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Shirley Contracting Company, provides a dedicated northbound access point for morning commuters, connecting directly to a busy area that includes Sentara Medical Center, Potomac Mills, and the new Neabsco-Potomac Commuter Garage. This new entry to the Express Lanes is the first stand-alone ramp integrated into the 95/395 Express Lanes network, and it is expected to relieve congestion for drivers heading northbound during peak hours.
Attendees include VDOT Northern Virginia District Engineer Bill Cuttler, Transurban North America President Beau Memory, and Prince William County Supervisors Margaret Angela Franklin and Andrea Bailey.
Neabsco-Potomac Commuter Garage Ribbon Cutting
The following day, Friday, November 15, 2024, at 1 p.m., the county will host a ribbon cutting for the Neabsco-Potomac Commuter Garage, located between Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and Wegmans grocery store, at 2450 Neabsco Stream Drive, on the third level of the garage.
This 1,400-space facility, a $55 million project funded with a combination of federal, regional, and state resources, will serve as a significant park-and-ride hub, offering convenient access to OmniRide transit services and relieving pressure on existing park-and-ride locations along Routes 1 and 234.
In addition to offering increased parking capacity, the new garage provides 70 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, six OmniRide routes (both local and commuter), and pedestrian access along River Rock Way. This facility will serve daily commuters and those visiting nearby healthcare, retail, and hospitality businesses, further enhancing the area’s accessibility and convenience, officials said.
Initially, the garage was going to double as parking for a Minor League Baseball stadium. However, the Potomac Nationals moved their team from Woodbridge to Fredericksburg in 2020 and became the Fredericksburg Nationals.
At the November 6, 2024, Prince William County School Board meeting, multiple parents addressed the board with concerns and feedback about the district's pilot cell phone policy, which restricts student phone use during school hours.
The policy, which affects both middle and high schools, allows limited cell phone use for high school students during lunch and hallway transitions, while middle school students follow a stricter "off and away for the day" rule.
