From the Stafford sheriff's office:
ASSAULT:
Rappahannock Regional Jail, 1745 Richmond Highway, 4:14 p.m. Deputy S. Waheed was assisting in processing a suspect at the jail for a domestic incident. The suspect, unhappy about the situation he created, made things worse when he kicked off one of his crocs and it struck a jail officer. He was charged with assault and battery of a jail officer and was held without bond.
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Stafford County Fire and Rescue unveiled Fire Boat 1500 today at a christening ceremony held at Hope Springs Marina on Aquia Creek.
The new fireboat represents a significant upgrade in the county’s ability to respond to water-related emergencies and enhance public safety along the Potomac River and its tributaries.
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Noon update — From Virignia State Police:
At 4:05 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 16), Virginia State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 95 at the 146 mile-marker in Stafford County. A Volvo SUV was traveling in the wrong direction on I95 when it collided head-on with a southbound Chevrolet sedan. There was one fatality and two serious injuries as a result of the crash. All southbound travel lanes were closed for approximately 5 hours for the investigation and cleanup. VDOT assisted with the roadway closure and detour.
More as we have it.
Update 11 a.m — From VDOT:Â
All lanes of Interstate 95 southbound have reopened at mile marker 146 in Stafford County. An earlier vehicle crash has been cleared. The detour at exit 148 (Quantico) has been lifted.
Motorists should expect residual delays on I-95 southbound approaching the exit 148 (Quantico) area and along Route 1 southbound between Russell Road in the Quantico area and Route 610 (Garrisonville Road) in Stafford.
Original post 7:13 a.m. — A vehicle crash early this morning has closed all southbound lanes on Interstate 95 near mile marker 146, just south of exit 148 (Quantico). The crash occurred shortly before dawn, and emergency response crews swiftly closed the highway to address the incident.
Southbound traffic is being diverted at exit 148 onto Route 1 southbound, where motorists can re-enter I-95 at exit 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville) in Stafford County. To ease congestion on the detour route, traffic signals along Route 1 have been retimed to accommodate the increased volume of vehicles. As of 5:47 a.m., delays on I-95 southbound before exit 148 were one mile.
At 6:52 a.m., officials announced that a single southbound lane would be temporarily opened to allow motorists caught between the crash site and Exit 148 to clear the area. All other traffic remains detoured.
Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays and are encouraged to seek alternate routes. We will provide updates on the situation as they become available.
Do you have questions for your local law enforcement? Just want to say hello? Here’s your chance.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Coffee with a Cop event on Wednesday, November 20, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Black Rifle Coffee Company at 591 Warrenton Road.
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A suspect in an armed robbery at a 7-Eleven in Fredericksburg has been apprehended. In the early hours of November 13, 2024, a masked individual presented a firearm and demanded cash from a 7-Eleven cashier at 340 Amaret Street before fleeing on foot. Fredericksburg police shared surveillance footage details with Stafford County authorities, who located and arrested Marquis Harrell, 30, at a different 7-Eleven. Harrell faces multiple charges, including using a firearm in a felony, robbery, and brandishing a weapon. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be filed across jurisdictions.
On November 13, 2024, at 1:33 a.m., our E-911 Communications Center received a call about an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven located at 340 Amaret Street.
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North Stafford High School students will perform "The Brothers Grimm Spectacularthon" on November 14 and 16, packing 209 dark fairy tales into one farcical show.
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known as the "Brothers Grimm," were German academics who collected and published folklore in the early 19th century. While many of their tales have become light and family-friendly through modern-day adaptations, like Disney movies, the original works were darker with moral lessons and often tragic or gruesome endings.
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Edge Carwash is set to open a new facility at the intersection of Garrisonville Road and Staffordboro Boulevard in North Stafford. It will replace the former TJ's Carwash, which opened in 2006 and has already been demolished.
According to public documents from the Stafford County Government, the new facility will feature a 2,054-square-foot car wash tunnel and supporting areas totaling 3,915 square feet, including office spaces and an equipment room. EDXP Stafford LLC purchased the property for $3.1 million in September 2024.
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In an unexpected email to his team, Johnson explained that family obligations were leading him back to South Carolina. This Friday, November 15, 2024, will be his final day. He was hired August 28, 2023.
Stafford County Public Schools’ transportation woes have been the source of significant disruption, frustration, and, frankly, a lot of unanswered questions. The division notified parents of the transportation breakdown hours before school resumed, leaving families scrambling. Despite an August meeting in which the school board addressed these issues, parents are still waiting to see what corrective actions have been implemented.
Johnson’s Departure and His Message to the Team
In his farewell letter, Johnson thanked his team, regretted not sharing the news in person, and affirmed his commitment to family responsibilities. He highlighted his pride in the department’s achievements but noted that sometimes, family must come first.
While Johnson’s departure may be due to personal reasons, it also comes at a time of intense scrutiny on Stafford County’s transportation department. Under his leadership, the department had ambitious goals: implementing new routing software, hiring and training new staff, and optimizing routes to better serve students. Unfortunately, a rocky rollout of new technology, compounded by staffing shortages, has led to significant setbacks that still impact students and families.
What Went Wrong?
The core of Stafford County’s transportation issues seems rooted in systemic problems within the planning and execution of new technology, along with staffing and operational inefficiencies. At the heart of the issue was a new routing software system, introduced with high hopes but ultimately underprepared for the realities of a bustling school district.
Stafford’s transition to this software was necessary; the previous system was outdated and unable to meet the district’s needs. However, this “solution” soon became a significant problem. On August 27, 2024, Interim Superintendent Chris Fulmer noted that the software lacked extensive testing for real-world scenarios. Rushed implementation and insufficient training compounded these issues, leaving bus drivers and coordinators struggling to manage routes and respond to sudden changes.
The crisis differed from two years ago when the school division failed to meet the district’s transportation needs due to a lack of bus drivers.
Calls for Accountability
The transportation failures have had real consequences. Students missed critical class time, families faced disrupted schedules, and many lost confidence in the system. Parents continue to voice safety concerns, citing early morning waits at bus stops and inconsistent route information.
The board has discussed various changes, from expanded walk zones to a crisis communication plan, to better manage parent expectations. They have also acknowledged the need for an independent transportation department review to ensure unbiased solutions. However, the review has not been mentioned since, and recent monthly school board agendas have been void of anything related to school bus transportation.
Board member Elizabeth Warner said on August 27, 2024: “We owe our families transparency and accountability. They deserve a system they can rely on, one that doesn’t leave them scrambling at the last minute.”
Skip Causey of Stafford’s Potomac Point Winery, has received the Virginia Wineries Association’s (VWA) David King Advocate of the Year Award.
Christina Sandridge, VWA Executive Director, said the award is named after the late David King, who founded King Family Vineyards in Crozet. King is known as a strong advocate for the Virginia Wine industry who championed the 2007 Virginia Farm Winery Act as well as the creation of the Virginia Winery Distribution Company, which provides wholesale wine distribution services for local farm wineries and expands their customer base.
