By Susan Larson
Tim Duffy has won the Ward 3 seat for Fredericksburg City Council, with 371 votes (71.07 percent) to Richard Friesner’s 151 votes (28.93 percent), according to the Virginia Board of Elections. There were a total of 522 votes cast.
Freehling Named Assistant Director For Economic Development
By Susan Larson
Free Lance-Star business reporter Bill Freehling has been hired as Fredericksburg’s new assistant director for economic development.
His duties will include assisting in the development of an economic development strategy, serving as the city staffer to the Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority and leading the city’s business recruitment and expansion programs, according to a press release.
Fredericksburg Receives Riverfront Land Gift
By Susan Larson
Jenny-Lynn Franklin Guth of Orange, Texas, has donated 28.12 acres of land to the city, including acreage along the river.
City Council Cancels Work Session, Shortens Agenda
By Susan Larson
Fredericksburg City Council has cancelled its work session for May 13 and abbreviated its regular session agenda due to the death of Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw’s husband.
Wilson Hunter Greenlaw died May 9. He was 74.
Vice Mayor Brad Ellis will preside over Tuesday’s regular session meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 715 Princess Anne St.
‘Our Community Salutes’ Honors Enlistees
By Susan Larson
Area high school seniors who have enlisted in the U.S. military were honored Wednesday evening at the third annual Our Community Salutes Fredericksburg enlistee recognition ceremony.
Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminary
By Susan Larson
The National Park Service will host the 19th annual Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminary on Saturday, May 24, 2014.
A luminary will be lit for each of the 15,300 soldiers buried there.
The Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminary is open to the public 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. In the event of rain, the event will be held on Sunday, May 25.
Photos: Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria
Story and photos by Susan Larson
A sea of 15,300 luminaria glowed in Fredericksburg National Cemetery from 8 – 11 p.m. May 24 for the 19th annual Memorial Day Saturday ceremony.
The tradition began in 1995, when representatives of local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts presented to National Park Service staff the idea of starting an annual luminaria program to honor United States soldiers who had died in service to their county.
Wittman, Riedel in 1st District GOP Primary
By Susan Larson
Rob Wittman and Anthony Riedel are the candidates in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary on June 10, 2014. The winner will be on the November 4, 2014, ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Stafford Couple Wins $4 Million in Virginia Lottery
Richard and Janet Dalby of Stafford won the top prize in the Virginia Lottery’s $4 Million Mega Multiplier Scratcher game.
The Virginia Lottery presented the Dalby’s their money on May 30. They had a choice of taking the full $4 million prize over 30 years, but chose the one-time cash option of $2,149,572.
Mr. Dalby bought the winning ticket at Taylor’s Market, 3306 Jeff Davis Hwy, in Stafford.
Republican Primary June 10
By Susan Larson
Voters in the region have the opportunity to head to the polls June 10 in Republican primaries for Virginia’s 1st and 7th Congressional districts.
Dems Choose Norm Moser 1st District Candidate
By Susan Larson
Norm Moser is the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 1st District. He was nominated June 7 at the First Congressional District Democratic Convention.
The retired Navy captain is a resident of Irvington, a town in Lancaster County on Virginia’s Northern Neck.
Wittman, Brat Win GOP Primaries
By Susan Larson
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman defeated Anthony Riedel in the 1st District GOP primary June 10.
Farnsworth: Cantor’s Loss ‘Very, Very Big Deal’
By Susan Larson
Eric Cantor’s loss in Virginia is going to create a very difficult environment for more moderate Republicans, said Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington.
Improvements Coming to City Dock
By Susan Larson
Fredericksburg’s City Dock public boat landing and parking lot on Sophia Street will be closed June 30 through August 31 for improvements.
Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will be replacing the concrete boat ramps and courtesy piers. In addition, an ADA accessible fishing trail will be constructed along the shoreline with three stations designed for shoreline fishing.
Oath of Office Ceremony, July 4th Activities
By Susan Larson
The first week of July should be typical Virginia summer, with hot, humid temperatures and a chance of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday could be the worst, with heat indices expected to reach 105 in some locations Wednesday afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms are most likely Wednesday and Thursday for the Fredericksburg region, the NWS said.
Fredericksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Kellogg
John Morrell Palmer, III, 55, of Fredericksburg pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court July 2 to conspiring to commit wire fraud.
In a statement of facts filed with a plea agreement, Palmer admitted that from 2009 through 2013 he conspired with the president of an unnamed grocery retail chain to submit fraudulent incentive program documents to The Kellogg Company and SuperValu, a grocery wholesaler through which Kellogg sold product to retailers. The incentive program documents reduced the cost of certain products.
Emergency Drill Tests North Anna Security
By Susan Larson
Dominion Virginia Power personnel and nearly two dozen local, state and federal agencies are participating in an emergency drill at the North Anna Nuclear Power Station on Tuesday, July 8.
“The full-scale exercise is to test preparedness and response procedures involving plant security,” said Kathy Smith, public information officer for Spotsylvania County.
Traffic Hot Spots July 6 – 12
Hot Spots for the Fredericksburg Region
July 6, 2014 – July 12, 2014
North Anna Test Receives High Marks
By Susan Larson
Spotsylvania County received an “exceptional” rating from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its Virginia Operations Plan Exercise (VOPEX) emergency drill at the North Anna Nuclear Power Station on Tuesday, July 8.
New Photo ID Law for Virginia Voters
By Susan Larson
As of July 1, 2014, Virginia voters must show a photo ID when they go to the polls or apply for an absentee ballot in person.
Acceptable photo identification includes a Virginia driver’s license or DMV ID card, or any photo ID issued by the U.S. Government, Virginia Government or any Virginia local government. These include:
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