Author: Uriah Kiser

I'm the Founder and Publisher of Potomac Local News. Raised in Woodbridge, I'm now raising my family in Northern Virginia and care deeply about our community. If you're not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

Schools

Smoke at Dixon-Smith Middle Delays Start, But School Day Goes On

By Uriah Kiser

According to the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department, around 8:40 a.m., crews were alerted to the smell of smoke at the school before students had arrived.

Firefighters investigated swiftly and, with the help of school maintenance staff, traced the issue to a malfunctioning HVAC unit. The situation was resolved quickly enough that the building was deemed safe and reopened a short time later. 

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg’s Getting a Close-Up—Filmmakers Say the City’s Ready for Its Spotlight

By Uriah Kiser

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Local filmmakers say Fredericksburg’s mix of historic streets, supportive businesses, and a growing arts community is helping the city earn a reputation as a place to make movies.

On a recent episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Fredericksburg Film Festival organizer Dalton Okolo called the city “cinematic” and “very easy to work with” when it comes to filming locations. “You can go down to the riverfront and have a beach scene, go into town and have an urban area, or step just outside for a rural backdrop,” Okolo said. “Almost any of these businesses will allow you to shoot in there if you just go in and talk to them.”

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Prince William

Power’s Out for 1,200 in Occoquan After Accident, Repairs Underway

By Uriah Kiser

OCCOQUAN, Va. – About 1,200 Dominion Energy customers are without power this afternoon after an accident damaged infrastructure in town, officials said.

The Town of Occoquan said crews are working on repairs and that residents may see their power cycle on and off while the work continues.

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News

Hot Chicken, Smash Burgers, and a Downtown Vision: Nash & Smashed Opens in Manassas Park

By Uriah Kiser

Known for its Nashville-style hot chicken and signature smash burgers, the fast-growing chain launched in Woodbridge in 2023 and has expanded to more than 25 locations across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Its Manassas Park debut comes just weeks after the All American Steakhouse opened nearby, signaling new momentum in the city’s plan to build a vibrant dining and entertainment district.

City Manager Carl Cole said the restaurant opening shows how years of planning are beginning to take hold. “The plan has been working to develop the downtown, and Nash & Smashed is just the latest in a string of success stories,” Cole said. “We’ve brought in several hundred units of housing, and we have about 450 more on the books within walking distance. That customer base sustains businesses and builds our tax base. It really is an ecosystem that works together.”

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Traffic

VRE Ridership Drops in June; CEO Search Progresses

By Uriah Kiser
A Virginia Railway Express train pulls into the Fredericksburg train station. [Photo: Uriah Kiser/PLN]

VRE saw a seasonal decline in ridership in June 2025, though totals remained well above last year’s levels.

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Quantico

Honoring the Fallen: Marines Gather at Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel

By Uriah Kiser
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kristofer Cloward, a trumpeter with the Quantico Marine Band, plays the Church Call to begin the Memorial Service for Team Rush Act and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel, Triangle, Virginia, Aug. 14, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Brandes)

QUANTICO, Va. – A Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Chapel on August 14, 2025, honoring the 14 Marines and one Navy Corpsman killed in Vietnam on November 18, 1970, when their helicopter crashed during an emergency extraction mission. The fallen were part of Team Rush Act and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.

The service featured music from Cpl. Kristofer Cloward of the Quantico Marine Band, a eulogy delivered by retired Lt. Gen. Wallace “Chip” Gregson, and a tolling of the Ship’s Bell by retired Maj. Zach Johnson during the roll call. Retired Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, president and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, joined attendees in singing the Marines’ Hymn, and a Marine firing party concluded the service with a three-volley salute.

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Police Blotter

Hallucinating Highway Assault and Chick-Fil-A Hit-and-Run Top Stafford Sheriff’s Report

By Uriah Kiser

A Richmond man hallucinating on Interstate 95 bit a deputy after running into traffic late Friday night, police said. The suspect, 30-year-old Adrian Chiodo, admitted to taking multiple drugs and mistook a deputy for someone wearing “a rubber deer mask,” they add. He was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement, Public Intoxication, and several other offenses and held on a $5,000 bond.

Also this past weekend, a woman rear-ended a car multiple times in the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru and later turned herself in. She’s now charged with Hit and Run and Assault and Battery.

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Fredericksburg

Falmouth Bridge Overhaul Could Take More Than Three Years, VDOT says

By Uriah Kiser
VDOT inspects the Falmouth Bridge before work begins (X: Vadotfred

The Falmouth Bridge, which underwent emergency lane closures and truck weight restrictions last fall, will require a complete reconstruction expected to take more than three years, Virginia Department of Transportation officials told City Council in July.

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Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Invites Residents to Help Choose City’s First Original Voting Stickers

By Uriah Kiser

Fredericksburg voters will soon have a say in more than just who’s on the ballot — they’ll also help decide what their “I Voted” stickers look like for years to come.

The Fredericksburg Arts Commission announced a community vote on new sticker designs, open through August 25 at 4:30 p.m. Residents can view and cast their votes online for their favorite designs, with the winning versions to debut at the start of early voting on September 19, 2025.

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Features

“Drool in the Pool” Returns for a Doggone Good Time in Stafford

By Uriah Kiser
English Bulldog, Max, took a dip in Veterans Memorial Park’s swimming pool during summer 2011. (Photo: Mary Davidson/PotomacLocal.com)

STAFFORD, Va. – If your pup loves the water, mark your calendar—Drool in the Pool is back for two days of splashy fun in Stafford County.

The folks at Stafford Parks just told Potomac Local News they’re opening the pools to dogs (and their humans) on Saturday and Sunday, September 6–7. Bring your furry friend, a towel, and a swimsuit for a morning of canine cannonballs and belly flops.

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