Planet Fitness opened its first location in Stafford. The new 30,900-square-foot facility, located at 1455 Stafford Market Place in the Stafford Market Place shopping center, is designed to provide a welcoming, judgment-free environment for individuals at all fitness levels.
The building used to house a Best Buy that announced its closure one year ago after 16 years in business. Our coverage of the closure was some of the most-read content on Potomac Local News in 2024.
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The Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) will close all its locations early at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, citing icy road conditions that make travel hazardous. This decision follows a two-day closure of all CRRL locations earlier this week due to heavy snowfall that blanketed the region.
The library system made the announcement at midday on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of staff and patrons.
CRRL serves a broad region, including the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Westmoreland. With 10 branches and a robust online resource platform, the library offers services ranging from book lending and computer access to educational programs for all ages. The early closure will impact planned events and services scheduled for Wednesday evening. Patrons are encouraged to use the library’s extensive online catalog and digital resources during the closure.
The winter storm that prompted these closures brought significant disruptions across the area, impacting schools, businesses, and local government operations. Library staff have worked to ensure buildings are safe and accessible during this challenging weather. However, today’s icy conditions pose continued challenges for travel in the region.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors began its first meeting of 2025 with a significant leadership transition. Supervisor Deuntay Diggs was elected chairman in a 4-3 vote, succeeding outgoing Chairwoman Meg Bohmke. Diggs addressed his new role during the meeting and outlined his expectations for the year ahead, emphasizing transparency and teamwork.
Chairman Diggs’ Vision
Supervisor Diggs took a moment to reflect on the responsibilities of his new position and the values he brings to the role. “The citizens in the George Washington District knew that I was a law enforcement officer in this community. I love my job. And part of being a law enforcement officer is conducting ourselves with integrity. And so I will continue to do so, and I can serve in this role and do that as well,” Diggs said.
He further expressed a strong desire to foster collaboration among the board members. “The goal is that we’re gonna work together as a team. I’m not asking, I’m demanding that. That’s the expectation,” he stated. Diggs’ remarks came as a call to unity, encouraging board members to prioritize cooperation and accountability.
The board also elected Supervisor Tinesha Allen as vice chair in a 5-2 vote.
Community Concerns Addressed
Several public speakers attended the meeting to voice concerns, including issues surrounding the treatment of citizen volunteers on county boards. Mary Becelia, a former Library Trustee Board member, reiterated the need for protection for citizen volunteers and called for a formal apology from the board regarding her removal last year.
Aquia District Supervisor Monica Gary was censured for her role in Becelia’s removal in December 2024.
Diggs was acknowledged explicitly for his prior apology to Basile. Public speaker Clayton Calvert remarked, “Thank you, Supervisor Diggs, for your ongoing courage, not only for your role as a police officer in this community but on this dais, when you showed bravery in a different setting.”
Transparency and Accountability Discussions
During the meeting, a proposal was raised to revise the board’s Code of Conduct, focusing on transparency and accountability, particularly for board members working as county employees. Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch suggested adding a clause requiring employees to take leave for board-related activities during work hours and to submit leave requests for public review. While the motion was withdrawn, the board agreed to revisit the discussion in a future work session.
In response, Diggs reiterated his commitment to transparency. “If there’s any, clearly there’s only two people on this board that this comment and this is aimed at, and that’s myself and Supervisor English. And if anyone has questions about how much I work or when I’m working or when I’m not working, they can always contact the Sheriff’s office,” he said.
Diggs is a county sheriff’s deputy, while English retired from the sheriff’s office as a deputy and still works there part-time.
Supervisor Monica Gary’s No Votes
Supervisor Monica Gary cast “no” votes on multiple appointments during the meeting, explaining that her decision stemmed from what she described as retaliation by the board for her previous actions. Gary had publicly called out the board’s handling of Mary Becelia’s removal from the Library Trustee Board, accusing the board of violating state code.
Gary’s dissenting votes come after her recent announcement that she would not seek a second term on the board. This decision follows her censure in 2024 for her stance on the controversial removal of Becelia. Gary stated, “It is my position that because this board is continuing to retaliate against me by withholding appointments when I exercise free speech to call this board’s violation out of the Virginia Code 4.2.1-35 when removing Ms. Becelia, I will not support any of the appointments.”
The board concluded its meeting focusing on setting a collaborative tone for the year ahead.
Several schools in our region have announced closures and delays for Wednesday, January 8, 2025, due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions. Here is the full list of updates:
Prince William County:
All Prince William County Public Schools will be closed under Code Green for students and teachers.
- 250-day employees and pay grade 13 and above report at 10 a.m.
- The closure will allow VDOT additional time to clear secondary and neighborhood roads to ensure bus safety.
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Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 5 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live, and the agenda will be posted online.
Supervisor Monica Gary, Aquia District, confirmed the meeting is still held despite the county government and schools closing for weather conditions.
Tonight’s meeting is primarily organizational, with the board set to elect a new chairman and vice-chairman. They will also review their proposed meeting schedule for the new year, and consider appointments to a number of committees and boards.
Stafford’s Board of Supervisors is comprised of seven elected representatives, who each represent a district in the county.
Meg Bohmke, the 2024 chair of the board, represents the Falmouth District. She moved from the county School Board to Board of Supervisors in 2014; her current term ends December 2025.
Tinesha Allen, 2024 Vice Chair, represents the Griffis-Widewater District. She was first elected to the board in November 2019; her current term ends December 2027.
Monica Gary represents the Aquia District. She was elected in 2022, and has announced she will not run again after her term ends in December 2025.
Dr. Pamela Yeung represents the Garrisonville District. She was elected in 2022, and her term ends December 2025.
Deuntay Diggs represents the George Washington District. The board’s newest member, he was elected in 2024, and his term ends in December 2027.
Darrell English represents the Hartwood District. He joined the board in 2022, and his term ends December 2025.
Crystal Vanuch represents the Rock Hill District. She was first elected to the board in November 2019, and her current term ends December 2027.
Stafford County offices, departments, and courts will open on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, as the region recovers from the recent winter storm.
However, Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) courts will remain closed for the day. Circuit and General District Courts will open at 10 a.m., with cases beginning at 11 a.m.
Both locations of the R-Board/Regional Landfill—Eskimo Hill and Belman Road—will open on time, with the residential and commercial sides operational starting at 8 a.m.
Stafford Public Schools will be closed due to ongoing weather-related challenges.
Residents are encouraged to visit the county’s emergency information page for the latest updates, resources, and information.
OmniRide has announced adjusted operations for Tuesday, January 7, in response to anticipated inclement weather conditions. Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) has also confirmed the suspension of all transit services on Monday, January 6, due to the weather, with plans to resume operations on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
OmniRide Service Updates for Tuesday, January 7
OmniRide services will operate as follows, weather permitting:
- Express Commuter Service: Buses will run hourly between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Service will begin at 6 a.m. from commuter lots to Metro Stations, with the last trip leaving the Metro Stations at 5 p.m. Rides will be free.
- Western Service area: University Commuter Lot to West Falls Church Metro Station
- Eastern Service area: Horner Road Commuter Lot (Stop #1) to Franconia-Springfield
- Metro Express: No service
- Local Service: Local routes and the East-West Express will operate on weekend schedules
- Connect Microtransit: No service
- Connect Paratransit: No service
Any further updates will be sent via Rider Express messages and posted on OmniRide.com. For inquiries, OmniRide’s Customer Service Team is available at 703-730-6664.
Due to inclement weather, Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FXBGO!) will not operate on Monday, January 6. Administrative offices will remain closed. Service is expected to resume on Tuesday, January 7, at 10 a.m. Additional information is available on the FXBGO! website or by following @FXBGO on Facebook.
Prince William County Public Schools
All schools and offices will be closed Code Red on Tuesday. Inclement Weather Employees are the exception and should follow their assigned schedule.
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Kelly Hannon, spokesperson for VDOT’s Fredericksburg District, emphasized the challenges faced by crews during the storm. “Our teams have been making repeated passes since it started snowing around midnight,” Hannon said. “We’ve focused on major routes like I-95, Route 1, Route 17, and Route 610 to ensure access to critical areas, including public safety facilities.”
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Two Waves of Snow and More to Come
While a brief lull in snowfall provided some respite, Hannon warned against complacency. “We’re expecting another 4 to 6 inches of snow this afternoon and evening,” she said. “Crews will return to primary routes and the interstate to keep them traversable for emergency personnel and those who must travel.”
VDOT’s priority is to push as much snow as possible off the travel lanes and shoulders before temperatures drop below 20 degrees tonight. A significant refreeze is expected, which could make snow removal even more difficult. Hannon noted that while the light, fluffy snow moves easily with plows, the incoming frigid temperatures create icy conditions that pose serious hazards.
When asked to grade drivers on their adherence to VDOT’s plea to stay off the roads, Hannon said, “We’ve seen a lot of people staying home, and we’re very grateful. If everyone can stick with us a little longer through the rest of tonight, it will help our crews tremendously.” She added that venturing out too soon could lead to treacherous driving conditions as snow continues to fall.
VDOT’s approach prioritizes the roads with the highest traffic volumes. “Interstate 95 comes first, followed by alternate routes like Route 1, and then primary roads connecting to the interstate,” Hannon explained. Secondary roads and residential streets are addressed later. “We will get to everyone,” she assured. However, due to the storm’s scale and low temperatures, residents shouldn’t expect bare pavement immediately.
VDOT has mobilized more than 900 pieces of snow removal equipment to tackle the storm. “This is a huge responsibility,” Hannon said. “Our staff and contractors train year-round for events like this. Their dedication to serving the community is immense, and we couldn’t do this without our contractor partners who join us during the winter.”
Storm totals
Here are the snow totals from highest to lowest for these areas, as reported by the National Weather Service and trained spotters:
Prince William County
- Nokesville: 8.5 inches
- Dale City: 7.6 inches
- Woolsey (1 SW): 6.3 inches
- Dale City: 6.0 inches
- Triangle: 6.0 inches
Stafford County
- Arkendale : 8.0 inches
- Stafford: 7.5 inches
- Holly Corner : 6.0 inches
Fredericksburg
- Dunavant (1 S): 6.0 inches
Stay tuned to Potomac Local News for updates and more stories about the community’s response to this winter storm.
