The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

When Theresa Rasmussen's daughter was 13, she made the Ni River Middle School basketball team. Rasmussen was thrilled--and worried. What if after-school practice was canceled or ended early?... Full Story »

The signs won't change, but the rules will. Starting Saturday, the two-hour parking places in the core of Fredericksburg's downtown will become four-hour spots.... Full Story »

The supply of H1N1 vaccine may be expanding slightly with new clinics planned or under way for high-priority groups. The new offerings include two more school clinics later this week, and the start of public vaccinations yesterday by a commercial provider, Pratt Medical Center.... Full Story »

A suspected armed robber was taken into custody last night after leading police on a three-hour pursuit through woods and water, city police said. Rodney Quinn, 19, has been charged in the city in connection with the armed robbery yesterday at the Floor Shop at 2103 Jefferson Davis Highway. He also was charged in Friday's armed robbery Friday at the Dunning Mills Inn near the Floor Shop. In ... Full Story »

Army Pvt. Christopher J. Henderson graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He is the son of Timothy Henderson of Spotsylvania and is a 2009 graduate of Courtland High School. Army Cadet Timothy R. Howard graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash. He is the son of Michael C. and Arleen D. Howard of Spotsylvania, is a 2006 graduate ... Full Story »

Army National Guard Pvt. Tyreace L. Bunch graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He is the son of Tyra Campbell of Stafford and is a 2009 graduate of Colonial Forge High School. Army Cadet Artra T. Whitaker graduated from the Army ROTC Leader Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The daughter of Arthur and Trudi V. Whitaker of Stafford, she is a 2007 graduate of Stafford High ... Full Story »

MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL ... Full Story »

F OR SOME REASON, the proximity of Election Day to Veterans Day really hit me this year. Maybe it's because we've published so many stories in recent months about military men and women who gave their lives for us. Maybe it's because I've met more and more people who answered that call to serve. Maybe I'm being nostalgic for my grandfathers, one a Navy vet, now deceased, the other a Marine, long ... Full Story »

Food bank seeks aid for Thanksgiving The Fredericksburg Area Food Bank is gearing up for Thanksgiving. The agency hopes to collect 3,000 turkeys and additional trimmings.... Full Story »

CITY SCHOOLS Hugh Mercer Elementary... Full Story »

Early-season snow. Late-season snow. Ice. Drifting snow. Flurries. Whatever winter casts down on Fredericksburg-area highways, the Virginia Department of Transportation says the public should be assured that it has the staff, the vehicles, and the chemicals to handle it.... Full Story »

State Sen. Edd Houck says reports of his interest in a job with the incoming McDonnell administration have been overstated. Houck, D-Spotsylvania, was quoted in The Washington Post this weekend saying that he was "willing to talk" to governor-elect Bob McDonnell about appointments in McDonnell's new administration.... Full Story »

Four people who police say cashed numerous phony checks in the Fredericksburg area were arrested over the weekend. The arrests were the result of joint efforts by the Spotsylvania and Stafford sheriff's offices, spokespersons for both agencies said.... Full Story »

The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District will offer free swine flu FluMist vaccine tomorrow at Liberty High School in Bealeton (8 a.m.-noon) and the Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper (3-7 p.m.) The clinics are only for healthy children and young adults 2-24 and healthy individuals 24-49 who share a household with infants up to 6 months of age.... Full Story »

DAR marks Defense Month with speaker November is National Defense Month, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Mine Run Chapter will present a free program to honor the first American defenders.... Full Story »

LEISURE CLASSES Horseback Riding: Dec. 2-30, for ages 6 and older. Registration deadline Nov. 20. Understand how the horse receives training, grooming to ride, how to tack and adjust equipment, fundamentals of riding position and aids, arena skills and how to negotiate a safe trail walk. For information, go to white buffalohorses.com.... Full Story »

The Riverbend Bears athletic teams went pink in October, raising money for breast cancer. The Spotsylvania school's Touchdown Club, which supports the football team, gave $600 last week to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength.... Full Story »

Spotsylvania County supervisors are expected to decide tonight on two rezoning requests that could bring almost 200 housing units and a 90-bed assisted-living facility to the county. The Hicks family propose 127 housing units on 34 acres of their 48-acre farm on Hudgins Road. They call the project Summerfield.... Full Story »

10 TUESDAY... Full Story »

Choral Society needs 'Messiah' singers Join the Stafford Regional Choral Society for the Dec. 20 concert featuring Handel's "Messiah." Rehearsals are on Sundays through Dec. 13, 6-8 p.m., at Colonial Forge High School. Singers from high school through adult are welcome.... Full Story »

TODAY South Stafford Christian: Parent-teacher fellowship, 7 p.m.... Full Story »

FASA announces spring tryouts The Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association, which has been serving the area for more than 30 years, will have tryouts for the spring season Nov. 17-19 at Loriella Park. Go to fasasoccer.org for times for each age group.... Full Story »

TODAY Walker-Grant: PTA meeting, 7 pm.... Full Story »

Take your hits with field hockey team The Typhoon Elite Field Hockey Club is seeking goalkeepers for U-14 and U-16 age divisions for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons. Go to typhoonfield hockey.com, select recruiting, and complete and e-mail a player profile to Email: typhoonhockey@aol.com by Nov. 21. The organization provides equipment assistance for goalies.... Full Story »

Earlier this year, the Moncure Conway Foundation decided that since October is National Archaeology Month, it would be the most appropriate time to dig into the history of the little red-brick building at 123 Cambridge St. in Falmouth. Known as the Magistrate's Office, "It is the oldest surviving county-owned municipal building in Stafford County," said Anita Dodd, chairwoman of the foundation ... Full Story »