ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

The long and tangled history of the Appomattox statue that once stood at the intersection of S. Washington Street and Prince Street took another turn this week as ALXnow learned the base had been installed in a Carlyle-area cemetery.

The statue had been removed in 2020 after years of debate over its presence. While some neighbors have expressed misgivings at the base’s new home above Confederate graves in the Bethel Cemetery not far from historic Black cemeteries, the new location is on private property and the cemetery’s owner said he’d like to see the statue reinstalled there.

It was also a tumultuous week at Alexandria City High School.

Twice this week, the school had to be evacuated due to bomb threats. On the second day, students had already been dismissed, but parents and faculty were still in the building for parent-teacher conferencing.

Unrelated to the threats, the Alexandria School Board approved new metal detectors at two Alexandria schools, over the concerns expressed by a student representative on the School Board who said students would feel uneasy with the new security measures.

The most-read stories this week were:

1. Old Town residents and business owners cry foul over new George Washington Birthday Parade route
2. Fire alarms didn’t go off during Saturday’s high-rise apartment fire in the West End
3. Two Alexandria restaurants featured on Washingtonian’s ‘Very Best’ list
4. Petitions launched for and against ABC Virginia opening new store in Old Town
5. JUST IN: Alexandria City High School evacuated for second day in a row due to bomb threats
6. Teen shot to death in West End hotel Friday night
7. The base of the Appomattox statue has resurfaced atop Confederate graves in Alexandria
8. Lorton man charged with DWI after multi-vehicle crash in Old Town
9. Alexandria teens make suggestions for city to help on youth safety issues
10. New regional plan offers significant steps to boost affordable housing in Alexandria