In a press release, Haymarket officials said they accepted the resignation of Police Chief Kevin Lands.

"Former Chief of Police Kevin Lands was deeply appreciated by many here in the Town of Haymarket. He greatly expanded the Town's social media presence and built community through events, outreach to businesses, and personal charm," reads the press release made by the Haymarket Town Council.

"The Town Council's recent performance evaluation of the Chief, however, noted some problems in the areas of communication, leadership/collaboration/teamwork, problem solving, scheduling, and judgment. Of particular note, questions have arisen regarding the Chief working DMV grant details for extra pay, which has led to the suspension of Town participation in DMV safety grants and a risk that the Town may not be eligible for future DMV grant opportunities."

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Units were called to the 5000 block of Fishers Hill Way (Haymarket) when an occupant smelled smoke and observed flames from his attic.

Crews arrived with a working fire in the attic. Within 10 minutes the fire was under control. The home sustained moderate damage and no injuries were reported.

The Building Official declared the home unsafe to occupy displacing 2 adults.

The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the cause of the fire to be accidental originating from an HVAC unit in the attic.

After the Emancipation Act and the end of the Civil War, many freed slaves built communities across Prince William County.

One of those communities, known as “The Settlement,” within the triangle of Old Carolina, Carver Road and Lee Highway in Gainesville, remains, to this day, home to many descendants of those early County residents.

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, founded in 1877, anchors “The Settlement” and has been the center of the community’s life for more than a century hosting religious services, community events and its annual “homecoming,” which is typically held in August to reunite friends and family.

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church is recorded as a Virginia Historical Landmark and is nominated for listing on the National Register for Historic Places.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently recognized “The Settlement,” with its stories and structures, as a historic African American Community in Western Prince William County.

A 13-year-old boy was killed after he was twice struck Sunday night by two oncoming cars.

The boy, who lived in Haymarket, was crossing Route 15 at Dominion Valley Drive near Battlefield High School when he was struck. The child was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The drivers of the two striking vehicles stopped on the scene and spoke with police.

Four lanes of Route 15 run through the area, a north-south corridor linking drivers to Route 29 in Gainesville.

Here’s the full police press release:

Fatal Crash Investigation – On January 17 at 11:18PM, investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit responded to the area of James Madison Hwy and Dominion Valley Dr in Haymarket (20169) to investigate a crash involving a pedestrian. The investigation revealed that the driver of a 2007 Toyota Camry was traveling southbound on James Madison Hwy approaching Dominion Valley Dr when the vehicle struck a pedestrian who was present in the lane of travel, outside of a crosswalk. A short time later, second driver operating a 1995 Chevrolet Silverado traveling in the same travel lane on James Madison Hwy appears to have also struck the pedestrian who was still in the roadway. Both drivers stopped nearby and contacted police after determining they had struck a person. The pedestrian was preliminarily identified as a juvenile and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the pedestrian may have already been on the ground and in the roadway, prior to being struck by the initial vehicle. It is currently unknown if the pedestrian was struck by another vehicle. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. Due to a 2017 law change, the identity of the deceased is not being released. Additional information about the incident will be released when it becomes available. The investigation continues.
Identified:
The deceased was identified as a 13-year-old male juvenile of Haymarket
The driver of the 2007 Toyota Camry was identified as an 18-year-old man of Culpeper
The driver of the 1995 Chevrolet Silverado was identified as a 60-year-old man of Aldie

On Sunday, September 20, family, friends, princesses, superheroes, first responders, and volunteers with The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation gathered for a celebration parade. Cars were decorated with balloons and signs of support.

The event was all for three-year-old Matthew who, in 2019, was diagnosed with cancer. Mathew has endured 13 rounds of chemotherapy, four surgeries, three serious bacterial infections, two bone marrow transplants, and six months of immunotherapy. In early September, after a week of scans, blood work, biopsies, and tests, he was declared free of the disease.

Parde viewers looked on from the intersection of Routes 29 and 15 in Haymarket and smiled when the perfectly dressed princesses from “The Princess Performer” rested on the top of a privately owned fire truck, driven by Mark Olsen, of Nokesville. The parade began with Prince William County Police’s B-Squad Western District, with sirens and lights leading the way down the street to Mathew’s family home.

Mathew and his family sat in their yard, next to a sign stating “Way to Go Matthew” from SignGypsies, of Bristow, and a surprise moon bounce from Bruno’s Bounce House. About 30 cars paraded past as their occupants shouted, hoked horns, and waived from windows and sunroofs. Storm Troopers and Imperial Pilots from Star Wars, Spiderman, and Deadpool, marched too.

The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation had been by the family’s side since their lives were upended with Mathew’s diagnosis. The needs for a family in this situation can be overwhelming,” said foundation founder Sara Knight. The foundation provided the family with their mortgage, utilities, and groceries. When Mathew’s father had to work and his mom had to take Mathew to treatments, the foundation helped coordinate child care for Mathew’s siblings.

The family expresses their for Knight, calling her “wonder woman” and saying that the foundation has a magical wand. Knight’s ability to know what a family needs and how to support them through a medical crisis comes from personal experience. The foundation, based in Bristow, was founded by Knight in honor of her daughter Julia, who passed away in 2013 at age 12, due to complications of a rare disease.

The foundation serves families in Northern Virginia and in some areas of West Virginia with children who are seriously ill, have special needs, or are currently facing a medical crisis. The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation’s mission is to grant wishes that bring joy and change lives, fill in gaps other services are unable to fill and provide support with day-to-day needs for families going through the unimaginable with their child.

The children blessed in honor of Julia Grace are lovingly called “Raindancers” because, despite the storms they face every day, they have learned to “Dance in the Rain” just like Julia Grace.

The foundation builds ramps, purchases iPads to keep children entertained while they are in the hospital, modifies homes to give children with special needs more independence, creates outdoor spaces for children to enjoy, provides room makeovers, contributes therapy-related gifts, throws parties to celebrate ‘end of chemo’ and so much more! SJGF also helps Raindancer families with house payments, utilities, groceries, and crisis-related needs that have arisen in 2020.

Police are investigating a fatal crash in Prince William County that took the life of a 73-year-old man.

Police tell us:

Fatal Crash Investigation – On September 7 at 9:59PM, investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit responded to the area of James Madison Hwy and Lee Hwy in Gainesville (20155) to investigate a crash.

The investigation revealed that the driver of a 1989 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck was traveling southbound on Lee Hwy while the driver of a 2018 Hyundai Elantra was traveling eastbound on James Madison Hwy.

Both vehicles collided at the above intersection as the driver of the Elantra attempted a left turn onto Lee Hwy, crossing paths with the driver of the Chevrolet. Both drivers were transported to area hospitals where the driver of the Chevrolet died as a result of his injuries sustained during the collision.

The driver of the Elantra sustained life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized. Investigators are currently working to determine which vehicle had the right-of-way at the time of the collision.

Investigators are seeking to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the crash. Additional information will be released when available. The investigation continues.

Identified:

The deceased driver of the 1989 Chevrolet 1500 was identified as Kelly Wayne SMITH, 73, of Mineral, VA

The driver of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra was identified as a 45-year-old woman of Haymarket

Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department tipline at 703.792.7000or submit a webtip to: www.pwcgov.org/policetip.

Prince William police will participate in a prescription drug takeback day.

More from Prince Wiliam police:

On Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – the Prince William County Police Department and the Manassas City Police Department will join with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community groups to provide you with a safe and legal way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Simply bring them to the collection sites at Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center, Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center, or Sentara Lake Ridge.

This nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft. Did you know? (Source: DEA)

• Unused or expired prescription medications are a public-safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
• Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
• The majority of those abusing prescription drugs, including teens, get them from family and friends or the home medicine cabinet.
• Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused, or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed can contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
• Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. But if a program is not available take the meds out of their bottles, mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds and seal them in a bag or disposable container and throw it away.

During this initiative, prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications (i.e. tablets and capsules) will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables, needles, hydrogen peroxide, compressed cylinders (asthma inhalers, for example), iodine-containing medications and thermometers will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will also not be accepted during National Take-Back Day. To protect your privacy, you can use a permanent marker to blacken out your personal information on the labels, if you are unable to peel them off, prior to turning them in.

For more information, please call the Crime Prevention Unit at 703-792-7270.

Back in March, Novant Health UVA Health System suspended visitation for the majority of patients due to the new coronavirus. Now, patients will be allotted one healthy adult visitor who will go through a mandatory health screening.

More in a press release:

Novant Health UVA Health System, an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient services and medical centers in northern and central Virginia, recently expanded its visitor policy to allow for limited visitation in its emergency departments, inpatient areas and surgical areas.

Effective immediately, each patient will be allowed one healthy visitor over the age of 18. Visitors will need to get their temperature taken and pass COVID-19 screening questions each time they enter a Novant Health UVA Health System facility. Additionally, approved visitors will be required to wear a mask and a wristband given to them during screening.

“While the safety of our team members, patients and community remains our top priority, we recognize the important role friends and family play in supporting the health of our patients,” said Al Pilong, chief executive officer, Novant Health UVA Health System.

The updated visitation policy applies to the health system’s three acute care facilities: Novant Health UVA Health System Culpeper Medical Center, Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center and Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center.

Visitors should remain with the patient while in the facility. If the patient leaves the department for medical imaging or other testing, the visitor should remain in the patient’s assigned room or return to their vehicle until the patient returns. Common areas and waiting areas should be avoided, and cafeterias are currently closed to visitors.

Pilong shared that the decision to expand visitation is in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.

“While Novant Health UVA Health System is currently safe and open to provide patients with the care they need, we will continue to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities, the census at our medical centers and our health system’s supply of personal protective equipment to ensure that we are prepared for any potential surge in positive cases,” Pilong said. “We will adjust visitation restrictions as needed in the future.”

Visiting hours for hospitals’ inpatient care areas are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Visiting hour restrictions do not apply to the one healthy adult laboring mothers designate to accompany them for the entirety of their stay or visitors appointed as designated guardians of minors or adults requiring guardianship. Visiting hour restrictions also do not apply to Emergency Department visitors; however, if a patient is transferred to an inpatient area, visitation will be limited to 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

The Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit at Prince William Medical Center remains closed to visitors. Visitors are also not allowed in outpatient areas with the following exceptions:

Minors or adults requiring guardianship can be accompanied by one designated adult.

With approval of the care teams, patients may bring one healthy adult support person for special circumstances (e.g., appointments with provider to discuss test results or plan of care in provider-based clinics or outpatient clinics).

Expectant mothers may bring one healthy adult support person with them to obstetrical ultrasound appointments.

For more information about Novant Health UVA Health System and the heightened safety measures it has added for in-person visits, visit NovantHealthUVA.org/WelcomeBack

The Haymarket museum is reopening later this month under a public-private partnership between the town and Haymarket Coffee Company.

According to the town planner and zoning administrator, Emily Lockhart, the town had been looking for opportunities to reopen the museum in a more cost-effective manner.

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