Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Daniel W. Smith has announced plans to host a series of meet-and-greet sessions across the county, allowing families to connect with him and share their educational perspectives. Smith, appointed last month, shared the news in a video posted to YouTube.

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Prince William County detectives are searching for Taylohn Jashaud Andrews, 18, in connection with a shooting that occurred on November 15 at the Summerhouse II Condos in the 1000 block of Gardenview Loop in Woodbridge.

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The City of Manassas Park has two terms expiring. Manassas Park School Board term expires June 30, 2026.

? The City of Manassas Park has two terms expiring. Manassas Park School Board term expiring June 30, 2026. Interim appointment Manassas Park Governing Body due to Alanna Mensing winning seat as Mayor. Resumes accepted until 4pm on January 7, 2025. https://t.co/9Gfsk9Ubhz pic.twitter.com/jF9oDymMTL

— City of Manassas Park (@ManassasParkGov) December 12, 2024

Fredericksburg City staff this week presented an overview of a draft zoning ordinance that would provide for by right data center development.

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Local families may have noticed an increase in children being diagnosed with pneumonia this fall. Virginia Department of Health (VDH) confirmed the increase in November with a statement noting Emergency Room visits with a pneumonia diagnosis tripled the week of November 10-17 compared to the prior two years.

Additionally, a number of public schools have reported clusters of students with pneumonia and unspecified respiratory illnesses to VDH. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued several statements this fall regarding the increase in Mycoplasma pneumonia (M. Pneumoniae), a common cause of mild respiratory illness that has seen a significant resurgence in 2024. In the United States, cases have increased across all age groups since late spring, peaking in August and remaining high through the fall.

Notably, young children aged 2–4 years have seen a substantial increase in infections, reversing previous trends where older children and adolescents were most affected.

The CDC reported that cases are increasing most among children, with infections in those aged 2–4 years rising from 1% to 7%, and in children aged 5–17 rising from 3.6% to 7.4%. This rise in infections among 2–4-year-olds is significant, as M. pneumoniae historically hasn’t been recognized as a leading cause of pneumonia in this age group.

Dr. Lana Ismail, a Pediatric Hospitalist and Medical Director of the Children’s National Pediatric Hospital Medicine Program at Mary Washington Healthcare, confirmed that both Fredericksburg and Stafford hospitals are seeing a sharp increase in pneumonia cases, including both community-acquired and M. pneumoniae-related pneumonia. She noted that the 2–4-year-old age group has experienced a marked rise, although cases are up across all age groups.

Ismail said local pediatricians are likely handling the majority of milder cases, while more severe cases may visit the Emergency Room. Some pediatric patients required hospitalization, or needed to be transferred to Children’s National Hospital or VCU Children’s Hospital in Richmond. In some severe cases, patients can develop other issues not related to the lungs, like inflammation around the brain,  and reactions in mucosal membranes that require more intensive treatment.

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to treat pneumonia. Dr. Ismail advised that the period of contagion is generally tied to the onset of symptoms. If a patient has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and shows signs of improvement, they may be able to return to school. However, anyone exhibiting symptoms should avoid contact with vulnerable or immunocompromised individuals, as well as babies. Wearing a mask and practicing good hand hygiene can also help reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

The CDC noted that cyclical increases in M. pneumoniae infections are common every 3 to 5 years. Cases sharply declined during the COVID-19 pandemic but began rising again in 2023. By February 2024, cases remained below pre-pandemic levels, but the frequency of positive test results for M. pneumoniae increased from 0.7% in late spring to 3.3%.

Common symptoms of M. pneumoniae include fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat, and worsening cough. Children younger than 5 may also experience diarrhea, a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, vomiting, and watery eyes.

M. pneumoniae infections are typically mild and often present as “walking pneumonia,” a form of bacterial pneumonia where individuals may not feel sick enough to stay in bed. Outbreaks tend to occur in crowded environments, such as schools, college dormitories, and nursing homes, where the bacteria spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing. Preventive measures such as good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes can help limit transmission.

Although M. pneumoniae infections can occur year-round, they are most common in summer and early fall. The long incubation period—ranging from one to four weeks—and the bacteria’s ability to persist in the respiratory tract for months can lead to prolonged outbreaks.

Dr. Ismail emphasized, “Mycoplasma is one of the few prominent respiratory infections for which we don’t have a vaccine. We have vaccines for many other contagious illnesses, like the flu, RSV, pertussis, and COVID.” She added that vaccines and good hygiene are the best measures to prevent the spread of highly contagious illnesses.

Healthcare providers diagnose M. pneumoniae infections through physical exams, respiratory swab tests, or chest X-rays if pneumonia is suspected. Treatment with macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin, is typically effective, while over-the-counter medications can help manage symptoms for mild cases.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to report suspicious drone activity after reports of unidentified drones flying over parts of Stafford County, King George County, and Spotsylvania County. The nighttime sightings, reported on December 11, 2024, were made to Stafford’s emergency dispatch center.

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ryan Wilbur stated that federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have been informed and are working with local authorities to investigate the incidents. However, descriptions of the drones or their operators have not been provided.

Neighboring jurisdictions have reported little or no drone-related activity. Major Elizabeth Scott of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office told Potomac Local News that their 911 dispatch center had not received any reports of suspicious drones. Similarly, a report of a drone sighting near the Lake Anna Nuclear Power Plant in Louisa County, made on December 12, was determined to be unfounded. A deputy dispatched to investigate found nothing in the sky.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about suspicious drone activity to contact the FBI 1-800-225-5324 or online. Residents can also report incidents to the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Support Center by calling (844) 359-6982 or emailing [email protected].

Michael Carter, a plumbing teacher at Woodbridge's Gar-Field High School, was recently named the 2024 Plumbing Instructor of the Year by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC).

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A family of handmade snowmen, a tree luminary, and hand-sculpted ornaments: Corgi Clay Art Center’s classes this month are focusing on the holidays. Corgi Clay has classes available for a wide range of ages and abilities, from teens learning to spin clay for the first time to advanced sculptors learning detailed techniques. Owner Deb Balestreri said the center is “Stafford County’s first vibrant, creative community that offers ceramics and other art classes, firing services, artist residencies, teaching and exhibition opportunities, and memberships for potters.”

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