Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Manassas Notes: ARTfactory Wins Big at DC Broadway World Awards, Birmingham Green Welcomes New Leader

Published February 3, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

The ARTfactory at 9419 Battle Street in Manassas.

Several ARTfactory theatre productions and individuals were named “Best Of” in the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, with winners announced on January 16.

ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now known as Actors Theatre, secured seven awards in the non-professional category. Notable accolades include:

News

Stafford County Public Schools Hosts Health and Wellness Fair at Colonial Forge High School

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 3, 2025 at 8:41AM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

Hands-on CPR demonstration

On Saturday, February 1, 2024, Stafford County Public Schools hosted its highly anticipated Health and Wellness Fair at Colonial Forge High School, drawing hundreds of community members to participate in a day filled with activities, demonstrations, and fun.

The fair offered attendees a variety of informative experiences, including CPR and “Stop the Bleeding” demonstrations. Participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on training, learning critical life-saving techniques. One popular demonstration involved a “Stop the Bleed” course, where attendees practiced applying pressure and gauze to a simulated wound, preparing them to respond effectively in an emergency situation.

Originals

Stafford County Animal Shelter Suspends Dog Adoptions Due to Parvovirus Outbreak

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 3, 2025 at 8:09AM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

Stafford County Animal Shelter has announced that it will suspend all dog adoptions and viewings until at least February 15, 2025, due to a confirmed Parvovirus outbreak. One of the shelter’s dogs tested positive for the virus, leading to the closure of the adoption floor for 14 days.

Additionally, all surrender appointments will be rescheduled. The shelter’s top priority remains the safety of its animals, and they are working diligently to contain the virus. The public’s understanding and support during this time are greatly appreciated.

Publisher's Post

Survey Results Are Incredibly Insightful

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 3, 2025 at 7:52AM

Kiser

I’m thrilled by the responses we’ve received from the reader survey we sent out on Sunday asking for your thoughts on our newsletter. The feedback has been incredible, and some of the numbers humble me.

A remarkable 70% of you have made our daily newsletter a regular part of your routine, and over half of you are “very satisfied” with it. Plus, more than half of you find the content highly relevant to your lives.

Publisher's Post

Our Newsletter Is Growing – Here’s How You Can Help Us Improve

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 11:06AM

Since August 2024, Potomac Local News has seen significant growth in our email newsletter readership, with our audience expanding from 14,747 subscribers in August to 18,252 subscribers in February 2025. This growth highlights the increasing value of our content, and we’re thrilled to see more readers engaging with our daily updates.

Our newsletter performance has been strong, with impressive open rates and engagement. In January 2025, our newsletter reached over 758,000 subscribers, achieving an open rate of 29.3%, with more than 227,000 readers opening the newsletter. This follows a trend of consistent growth, as seen in previous months, with strong open rates in December and November 2024.

Weather

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, handlers say, predicting 6 more weeks of wintry weather

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 8:23AM

Phil was welcomed with chants of “Phil, Phil, Phil,” and pulled from a hatch on his tree stump shortly after sunrise before a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club read from a scroll in which he boasted: “Only I know — you can’t trust A.I.”

News

House Roof Collapses as Fire Crews Work to Douse Blaze

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 8:20AM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

Press release:

At approximately 2:45 P.M. on Saturday, February 1st, units with Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) responded to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of Aquia Creek Road, near Aquia Creek. Callers reported a neighboring residence on fire, and first arriving units marked the scene less than 10 minutes later and confirmed fire and smoke coming from the rear and roof of a single-family residence.

News

Data from the deadliest U.S. air accident in a generation show conflicting altitude readings

By Uriah Kiser

Published February 2, 2025 at 8:16AM

Pets

Meet Echo: An Adorable Pup Looking for His Forever Home

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 3:24PM

Looking for a new best friend? Meet Echo, a 3-4-month-old pup full of love, energy, and curiosity. This little guy, possibly a Boxer mix, is still finding his voice, but one thing is clear—he’s all about cuddles and playtime.

Echo is working hard on potty training, though he still thinks “inside or outside?” is more of a suggestion than a rule. He’s curious about cats, does well with other dogs, and is eager to find a loving family. However, a meet-and-greet is required to ensure a good fit.

Manassas

Manassas Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison; Sex Trafficking a Child

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 31, 2025 at 3:20PM | Updated February 13, 2025 at 10:26AM

A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.

According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.