From a bank robbery, accusations of child abuse at local day care centers, a fuel spill, which almost prompted an evacuation of parts of Braemar, and the long anticipated opening of the Promenade at Virginia, 2013 has its share of memorable news stories.
Tragically, 2013 began with the death of Prince William County Police Officer Chris Yung, who was killed on duty while responding to an accident New Year's Eve. The incident shook residents, who rallied around rallied around Yung's family and friends at a public memorial service.
The month of January also saw the theft of a 250,000 race car in Nokesville and reports of a woman driving her car into a vacant store front at the Bristow Center. However, not all of the month's events were negative. A Bristow woman helped revive a Manassas Mall employee, who collapsed at the shopping complex and who could forget the Prince William County Police officer who stopped t0 help a truck driver round up his load of baby chickens in Haymarket.
February saw the appointment of new Police Chief Stephan M. Hudson and yet another vehicle hits a train in Gainesville, before the overpass was officially opened to residents in August.
The year saw any number of crime stories; however, most notable was the attempted robbery in March of the Bank of America in Braemar Village Plaza, which led to a search throughout the community and concerns about the children in the daycare center next door to the bank. The month ended with shootings at the Officer Candidate School at Quantico.
In April, The Board of County Supervisors wrangled with yet another budget negotiation, and police captured a Gainesville teen in connection with multiple burglaries and vehicle arson.
The debate over the proposed Bi-County Parkway picked up momentum in May and rain didn't dampen this year's Nokesville Day festivities. Residents also witnessed the uproar over a new logo that was designed to promote Prince William County's commercial interest. Furthermore, in May, the talk of the west end of the county wasn't cicadas, but rat snakes.
While Braemar residents reported a rise in incidents of vandalism in June, Victory Lakes dealt with a string of car burglaries. Bristow resident Jane Wicker, who achieved national acclaim as a wing-walker, died in a plane crash during a performance June 22.
In July, the Virginia Department of Transportation opened a 433-space Park-and-Ride lot at Cushing Road and I-66, near the Prince William Parkway. However, the biggest story of the month was the evacuation of the Braemar Village Plaza in Bristow July 12 after a tanker overturned and spilled a reported 7,500 gallons of fuel. Residents followed Bristow Beat's coverage throughout the night and morning as they waited to hear if they would have to leave their homes.
August saw the community rally to help a local teacher replace two prized landmarks on Route 28 and VDOT warned the public to avoid the intersection of Linton Hall Road and Route 29 Aug. 17 for the transition of traffic onto the new bridge, eliminating the at-grade railroad crossing. VDOT ultimately postponed the transition to avoid a local traffic nightmare that would result from the sold-out Jimmy Buffett concert at Jiffy Lube Live that was scheduled for the same weekend.
Speaking of VDOT, Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton visited the Prince William BOCS, or his old "stomping grounds" to address concerns about the Bi-County Parkway, but did not allay those concerns. Hazmat units and police also investigated a pickle jar that contained a narcotic substance that was found in the woods near Cedar Point Elementary School.
In September, there came a new call for security at school bus stops in Bristow and Gainesville as a young girl was approached by an unknown individual at Marsteller Middle School. This news prompted reports from around the area of similar incidents; however, some were found to be hoaxes.
While day care provider Minnieland Academy received the most publicity for reported incidents of child abuse at their facility in Woodbridge, their Heritage Hunt and Gainesville locations came under fire for inappropriately handling and disciplining children.
While residents endured a government shutdown that began in October, two new Promenade at Virginia Gateway businesses held job fairs as they prepared for their grand openings. In a public meeting, Coles District Supervisor Martin Nohe and Chairman-at-Large Corey Stewart attempted to calm residents about the proposed Birkwood at Braemar and Pioneer Assemblage developments that could bring an influx of people and tax strained resources.
In November, Ken Cuccinelli's hometown advantage wasn't enough to win his race against Terry McAuliffe, However, other Prince William Republican elected officials had more luck, retaining their seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.
After years of construction, residents were very exited about the opening of the University Boulevard extension and the arrival of a new movie theater and Bar Louie at the Promenade at Virginia Gateway. Later in the month, a second restaurant, Nando’s Peri-Peri opened. The "Mystery Tree Trimmers" also returned once again much to everyone's delight.
As the Prince William County School Board and Board of County Supervisors gear up for another budget season, the topic of class sizes was on people's minds. Finally, the school board nixed the notion of extending the winter break by two days, but did offer two-weeks off next year.
The public received a scare when a number of birds were found dead on Aden Road in December and the area received its first accumulation of snow in years, prompting the closing of county schools for two days.
Once again enduring the rain, the Nokesville Christmas Parade went on as scheduled, unlike the town of Haymarket, which cancelled its celebration and held a smaller event a week later.
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