Join

Latoya Crabbe shares an embrace with her three children ages 5, 4 and 2. (Photo by Alan Gloss)

Latoya Crabbe, the Manasas woman accused of shooting and killing her estranged husband, Curtis Crabbed,  was released from jail on Friday, February 21, 2025. At the county jail, she had an emotional reunion with her mother, Marilyn Martin, who patiently waited for officials to release her from the lockup she’d been in since being charged on October 21, 2024. 

A short time later, at home, Crabbe waited anxiously for her three children, whom she had not seen in four months, to come home from school. "I’m relieved to be back home, but I’m still anxious about the pending trial," she said. "The most important thing for me is to hug and kiss my babies right now."

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!

0 Comments

Updated 11 a.m. – Less than two months after announcing she would not seek another term, Stafford County Supervisor Monica Gary has reversed her decision. She will run for re-election as an independent candidate.

Gary, who represents the Aquia District on the Board of Supervisors, posted on Facebook on February 20, 2025, citing encouragement from her community and family as the driving force behind her change of heart.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

0 Comments
Happy Friday, Manassas! Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Feb. 24 regular meeting. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.

Sign up for our FREE news email and never hesitate to email me at [email protected] with comments, questions and/or news tips.

Important links

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

0 Comments
The James McCoart Building at the Prince William County Government Center. [Photo by Uriah Kiser/Potomac Local News]
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the existing noise ordinance on Tuesday. The noise ordinance has been in place for many years but has been undergoing review since July 2022. According to county documents, in January 2023, county staff recommended the Board reconsider County Code Section 14-4(b), which places fewer restrictions on residential heating and cooling systems (HVAC) at night. This was approved in February 2023. The code's text ensures HVAC systems serving a residential building will not be subject to maximum nighttime sound level limits. This is meant to prevent non-residential buildings from doing the same. The staff recommendation also included a "sunset clause" that was set to expire on Feb. 28, 2024, but was delayed until Tuesday in a January 2024 decision. The Board again extended the clause and its impacts until Feb. 18, 2026, at the recent meeting. A sunset clause stipulates that a law is no longer effective after a specified date unless a legislative body takes further action. "The extension of the sunset clause will provide county staff the time needed to assess the noise impacts associated with data centers and develop recommended changes to the noise ordinance for the Board's consideration," county documents state. Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy thanked Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir at the Board's Feb. 4 meeting for leading the charge with this amendment. "We've been having some issues in the Brentsville District with [construction] starting at 6 a.m. in areas near neighborhoods," Gordy said. "I really appreciate the county staff working to get this done in an expedited manner to help protect our citizens from what is becoming an almost incessant construction of both data centers and residential areas in [my district]." Gordy also expressed interest in amending the code further. Section 14-4(c) of the county code states construction can begin at 6 a.m. on weekdays.

"This is something that brings us in alignment with many other localities to move the start time for construction from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.," he said on Feb. 4.

0 Comments

Latoya Crabbe

Prince William County Assistant prosecutor D. Burke Walker told Circuit Court Judge Angela Horan that his office would file a motion on the first day of trial not to prosecute Latoya Crabbe on her 2nd-degree murder charge but instead will move to indict her on 1st-degree murder charge.

Crabbe is accused of murder in the death of her estranged husband, Curtis Crabbe. Curtis had made threats over text messages in the days leading to the shooting, police said. In evidence presented at a preliminary hearing in December, officers admitted they found an unsheathed and extended Italian Stiletto knife that Crabbe’s defense attorney, David Daughtery, argued showed Crabbe was in imminent fear for her life. Such knives were illegal in Virginia until a law changed in 2023. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 3, but Walker's admission questions the timeline.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

0 Comments

As Stafford County prepares its fiscal plan for 2026, officials are bracing for both financial opportunities and challenges. Expected increases in education funding and mounting concerns over the rising costs of tax exemptions for disabled veterans are heating up budget discussions among county leaders.

At the latest Board of Supervisors meeting, many residents expressed frustration over rising property taxes, urging officials to find alternative funding sources instead of raising taxes again.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

0 Comments

Big Fat Daddy with Meri Schaefer, Brian Curtiss, and John David Coppola with the peace sign. [Photo: Mike Salmon]
To set the mood for Valentine's night, rockers of two local bands jammed the stage at Madigan's in Occoquan to hammer out tunes for all the lovebirds or the singles keeping their eyes peeled for their special someone. While we’re not sure if anyone found "the one," the music was a constant for everyone in the party mood.

This combination of musicians is called "Big Fat Doug Belford Experience," they rocked out a healthy list of covers for the appreciative crowd. The band was a combo of three members of a band called “Big Fat Daddy,” featuring Meri Schaefer, Brian Curtiss, John David Coppola on bass, and three others from Doug Belford Experience, which featured Doug Belford, Meri Schaefer, and Brian Curtiss. Meri Schaefer and Brian Curtiss play in both bands.

Sure, some of the songs are well-known covers from the heyday of rock and roll, but people dig those songs anyway. A beer or two feeds that love the staples in their rock list, including “Maneater” from Hall and Oates, “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads, and “Cinnamon Girl” by Neil Young. The tempo of the night stretched far and wide.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!

0 Comments

The City of Fredericksburg Planning Commission invites residents to participate in a Comprehensive Plan Community Meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Walker-Grant Center at 210 Ferdinand Street.

This meeting provides an essential opportunity for the community to review and offer feedback on the draft Comprehensive Plan. The plan outlines the city’s long-term guiding policies and vision for the future, focusing on key areas such as housing, transportation, environmental stewardship, and quality-of-life issues that will shape the built environment over the next two decades.

Residents can engage directly with Planning Commission members, City staff, and consultants working on the update. This meeting aims to ensure that community input is central to guiding Fredericksburg’s development.

A recent survey conducted for the Fredericksburg Forward Comprehensive Plan gathered input from over 580 residents and revealed several key insights that will shape the city’s future. Among the most prominent concerns expressed were traffic congestion, the cost of housing, and the city’s ability to manage growth. Many respondents emphasized preserving Fredericksburg’s historic charm while addressing modern needs, including improving public transportation and infrastructure.

Many respondents rated the quality of life in the city favorably, with nearly half rating it four out of five. However, respondents pointed out that walkability, mobility, and traffic management improvements are crucial for the city’s continued growth. The survey revealed a strong desire for more pedestrian-friendly streets, bike lanes, and improved public transit to reduce car dependency.

Additionally, Fredericksburg residents desired more sustainable practices, such as increased green spaces, enhanced stormwater management, and initiatives to reduce energy consumption. There was also significant support for making the city more accessible to the Rappahannock River, with recommendations for better trails and recreational facilities near the water.

 

0 Comments

Schools across the region will be closed on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, as a winter storm moves through the area, bringing snow and hazardous travel conditions.

King George County Schools will be closed and have designated the day as an Asynchronous Learning Day. 12-month employees are expected to report to work on time.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

0 Comments
×

Subscribe to our mailing list