Group to restore Beach waterways
BY FRANK DELANO The Colonial Beach Foundation will lead a new group to restore, preserve and protect the town's waterways and beaches, the foundation is announcing today....

Cancer forum designed to help clergy
Cancer symposium geared toward clergy The American Cancer Society and its Fredericksburg Leadership Council will sponsor a session for clergy to help them minister to church members who have cancer....

Neglect charges filed in city case
A Stafford County man was charged with felony child neglect after he left his young son in a bus station while he shopped at a nearby store, police said. Sunday Chukwu, 45, was arrested Monday following an investigation, Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said. He was released on his own recognizance....

City's budget includes cuts
The school resource officer at Walker-Grant Middle School, rental housing inspections in College Heights and next year's planned property reassessment are among the services that would be cut or postponed in the proposed budget Fredericksburg City Manager Beverly Cameron presented last night. The proposal for next year doesn't include a real estate tax increase and totals $71.8 million--1 percent smaller than this year's budget....

Bravo! Cucina Italiana will open March 24 in The Village at Towne Centre
recall COMPANY EXPANDS PET FOOD RECALL...

Public has little to say on toll road authority

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

Only one person turned out at a public hearing last night before Fredericksburg City Council on the launch of a regional toll road authority--and he lives outside the city. Spotsylvania resident Rupert Farley told council members that he objects to the project the George Washington Toll Road Authority would aim to build....

Legislative briefs

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

Senate gives OK to LOW's dam measure RICHMOND--The bill that would absolve Lake of the Woods from upgrading its dam is headed for the governor's desk....

Jett urging House to back police funds

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

RICHMOND--Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett yesterday led sheriffs from around the state in lobbying House members to accept increased funding for sheriffs contained in the Senate's version of the budget. House and Senate budget negotiators are working to reach a compromise on their different budget proposals, both of which seek to make up a $4 billion shortfall in the next two-year budget....

Budget negotiators don't have a deal yet

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

RICHMOND--Budget negotiators worked to reach a compromise on revenue as they failed to meet a self-imposed deadline last night for an initial report. Negotiators regularly miss that deadline, although this year the House side had talked about trying to meet it....

Culpeper council turns down theater

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

The State Theater Foundation won't be getting a helping hand from the Town of Culpeper. Last night, the Town Council voted unanimously to deny the foundation's request for $1.5 million to help renovate the 70-year-old Main Street theater and create an addition that would almost double the facility's size....

FATAL FIRE BEING PROBED

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

Spotsylvania County Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Eudailey is launching an internal investigation of a fatal house fire in which the victim pleaded for help over the phone as rescuers searched other areas of the house. The investigation comes more than a month after the Feb. 5 fire on Spotswood Furnace Road and two weeks after The Free Lance-Star requested recordings of radio dispatches and 911 calls from the scene....

Airport authority will condemn property

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

The Stafford Regional Airport Authority has officially started the eminent domain process that could result in removing trees from private property. Members of the authority voted 6-0 yesterday to approve a resolution that initiates condemnation proceedings on property owned by Suzanne and Mike Geslois off U.S. 1 east of the regional airport....

Man admits to scheme in Stafford smuggling case

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00

One of the 14 people charged in a major contraband cigarette probe started by the Stafford Sheriff's Office was convicted yesterday for his role in a murder-for-hire scheme. Xing "Andy" Xiao, 32, of Fairfax pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and other charges yesterday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria....