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North Stafford grad connecting in volleyball VOL. 28 | NUM. 29
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | NORTHERN VIRGINIA MEDIA SERVICES
Violent crimes on rise
IN PERFORMANCE
ALEX KOMA
T
akoma@insidenova.com
he number of violent crimes in both Stafford and Prince William counties ticked up slightly in 2015, while the number of property crimes in each county dropped, according to the latest data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. In a report released Tuesday, the agency’s data shows Stafford experienced a 8.3 percent increase in violent crimes (which include murders, non-negligent manslaughters, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults) from the year before. Meanwhile, Prince William saw an 1.8 percent increase from 2014’s numbers. Yet both counties also benefited from a drop in property crimes like burglary, arson and motor vehicle theft — the number of those incidents in Prince William dropped 5.7 percent from 2014, while there was a 14.5 percent decrease in Stafford. The FBI’s data suggests that the trends within in each both counties largely mirror nationwide patterns. The agency recorded a 3.9 percent increase in violent crimes across the country from 2014, while it also noticed a 2.6 percent drop in property crimes nationwide. The bureau also reported seeing a 10.8 percent jump in the number of murders and nonnegligent manslaughters nationwide (the 15,696 incidents it recorded are the most the agency’s recorded in a calenCRIME dar year since 2008) and the PAGE 13
The 34th annual North Stafford Big Blue Invitational, one of Virginia’s longest-running marching band competitions, brought together 15 bands hosted by Big Blue, which presented an exhibition performance at the conclusion of the competition. ABOVE: Several members of the North Stafford band’s brass section provide the marching music. LEFT: Musicians and the flag line from Mountain View High School perform “We Can, We Will, We Must” at North Stafford High School on Sept. 24. ALEKS DOLZENKO | INSIDENOVA
Gym back in Moncure school plan TRACY BELL
tbell@insidenova.com
The Stafford County School Board met Tuesday and reconsidered an earlier decision about a funding strategy for the Moncure Elementary School rebuild. The initial decision, made at a Sept. 13 school board meeting, centered
on specifically how the schools system will spend money to rebuild the school. On Tuesday, the board unanimously agreed to adjust the earlier decision, putting a previously-discussed gymnasium back into the game plan. The community would also have access to the gym, according to the plan.
School board member Irene Egan, Aquia District, said that the new agreement means the board agrees to a continued 25 percent reduction in collaborative space, but adds the community-accessible gymnasium, reduces the Capital PLAN Improvement Plan’s PAGE 13 borrow for the overall
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