🌱 Four Families Sentenced To Prison + Possible Expansion Local Church

Hey, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Fredericksburg Patch newsletter — here to impart everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Mostly sunny. High: 83 Low: 57.
• Sunday: Partly to mostly sunny. High: 86 Low: 61.

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Here are the top three stories today in Fredericksburg:

1. A Pandemic fraud scheme sentences four Fredericksburg families to prison. The families conspired to apply for pandemic unemployment benefits in their own name and various other names. Authorities claim one individual used the money to buy a firearm, a diamond ring, a Chanel purse, and Louboutin shoes. (Fredericksburg Patch)
2. St. Mary's Catholic Church submitted a permit request to City Council that consolidates seven existing special use permits and expands the lots. The church wants to use the properties on Stafford, Augustine, and Royston and make minor improvements. Some neighbors worry that the expansion will make the neighborhood more institutionalized than residential. (Subscription: The Free Lance Star)
3. On Jun. 7, a former Stafford County Police Officer was killed in a motorcycle crash, leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. After the crash, a GoFundMe was started to support the family, which has now reached more than $32K. The fundraiser reached $32K in seven days from 330 donors and will continue to climb as the fundraiser grows. (Fredericksburg Patch)

Today and tomorrow in Fredericksburg:

Saturday, June 17

• Art In The Park - Famers Market At Hurkamp Park (7:00 AM)

Sunday, June 18

• The SpongeBob Musical At Allstate Community Theater (3:00 PM)
• Shakespeare On The Lawn At Kenmore (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Have you seen this man in Fredericksburg? On Jun. 13, a man used stolen credit cards to purchase more than $200 at the Olde Town Tobacconist on Caroline St. (Fredericksburg Police Department)
• Are you looking for before and after-school care for your child? The YMCA's School Age Child Care program provides children the opportunities to learn and grow in a safe space. (Fredericksburg City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Are you Booked for the Summer? Join the Central Rappahannock Regional Library's summer reading challenge and earn points and tickets! (Library Point)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be in your inbox soon with your next update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.