Hundreds of volunteers - some in boats and some on land removed trash, debris, old tires, a car fender and even a broken sailboat during a massive cleanup effort of the Occoquan River and its banks in Manassas, Woodnridge, Occoquan and Fairfax VA on Saturday, April 28. The river is the source of drinking water for much of Prince William County as well as a recreational area.

The local law enforcement/hospital take-back initiative in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency was held April 28 to prevent pill abuse and theft. According to the DEA, the initiative seeks to stop prescription drug abuse as well as accidental poisonings and overdoses.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife specialists remind local residents that a bear is a wild animal, and that it is detrimental to the bear, as well as illegal in Virginia, to feed a bear under any circumstances. Even the inadvertent feeding of bears is illegal including allowing bears access to unsecured trash or birdfeeders.

Law enforcement officials from Prince William County VA Special Victims Unit will speak in Manassas on Thursday, April 26, at Soroptimist International of Manassas' noon luncheon on "How to Protect Women and Girls from Abduction."

April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month and members of the Haymarket VA Police Department are participating in a nationwide campaign to spread the word about the dangers of driving while distracted. Texting is the worst distraction because it requires use of the driver's hands, eyes, and mind to read and to answer a text message, police said.

Manassas VA City Police Department's crime report for Tuesday, April 17, 2012 includes 2 reports of aggravated assault.

Recycling and the protecting environment will be the focus of Spring Cleaning Day in Old Town Manassas VA on Saturday, April; 21. There will be entertainment, a shred-it truck, children's activities, sidewalk sale and farmers market.

The Manassas VA City Police Department is asking for comments from the community on its grant application for the 2012 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Residents should respond before the filing deadline of May 14. The police department proposes purchases of supplies and equipment to facilitate police work and officer and community safety at a total cost of $19,639.