Manassas Journal Messenger 04-10-01

Tuesday,

April 10, 2001

News

Va.

234 widening project to begin

By

Staff

project has begun, and does not seem to be slowing down.

The first two sections of Va. 234 are already under construction and

motorists can expect a completion date of fall 2002. Along with the Va.

234 bypass, which is now ahead of schedule, 2.1 miles from Brentsville Road

to Purcell Road, and 2.6 miles from Purcell to Snowfall Road are being transformed

from two to four lanes.

“My first year at the senate I complained about it,” Colgan

said.

“It has been a long time coming, but Fairfax and other counties

got a lot of our money. That first year in 1976, I was told they would put

it in the six-year plan, but they should have said 60-year plan.”[more]

Putting

programming machines

Staff

stirred, coming to life with the flick of a switch.

Electric current flowed through the thing, which lunged forward to the

delight of its programmers and headed straight for the wall.

“Don’t crash,” shouted Shane Jones, one of the second-graders

who created the little truck out of Techno K’Nex blocks.

Shane and about 100 other elementary school students have been meeting

after school every week, creating robots like the little truck and programming

them on computers.

Manassas Park is able to offer the enrichment program to students with

the aid of a $53,300 Technology Literacy Challenge Grant awarded late last

year.[more]

Sheriff

By

Staff

A suggestion that Prince William consider using a private firm for certain

courthouse security is drawing opposition from the Sheriff’s Office and

some county supervisors.

But Board of County Supervisors Chairman Sean Connaughton, R-at large,

says looking at the possibility of putting private security guards at Prince

William Judicial Center entrances could free up sheriff’s deputies for prisoner

transport and courtroom security, and save money.

“It’s something that we should be taking a look at,” said Connaughton,

who has led recent scrutiny of the Sheriff’s Office and its functions. “In

Fairfax, it has saved money, and it likely would have the same impact in

Prince William.”[more]

City

Council approves Mathis Avenue repairs

By

Staff

current unsightly state.

After two months of facing high bid estimates, City Council on Monday

approved a $2.9 million face-lift of Mathis Avenue that will widen the road

for a dedicated turn lane and add a smaller sign and landscaping to the

Manassas Shopping Center to break up its “sea of asphalt.”

The street’s storm sewer drainage system will be improved in a redesign

that the city negotiated with low-bidder Chemung Contracting Corp. in February.

In total, $420,239 was saved by negotiating with the contractor down to

a construction contract of $1.77 million, said Mike Moon, public works director

for the city. Traffic signals, street lights, utilities, right of way and

other work are at additional cost to the contractor’s work.[more]

Clinic

seeks prenatal funding

By

Staff

for the Prince William County Health District.

The Prince William Health District, which encompasses Manassas, Manassas

Park and Prince William County, is asking the county and Manassas for $532,632

to add 11 new staff positions to the county’s clinics, Florance said.

Florance is making the call for maternity clinicians and nurses his No.

1 priority. The population growth and the lack of health insurance are some

of the reasons for the lack of prenatal care, he said.[more]

McLEAN

percent for the minutes I’m on the field.”[more]