Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

Dumfries Vice Mayor Pushes for Small Business Growth Amid Gaming Resort Development

Published August 14, 2024 at 12:00PM | Updated November 9, 2024 at 3:35PM

Workout Anytime is a new gym to open in the Triangle Shopping Center in Dumfries.

Dumfries Vice Mayor Monae Nickerson is leading a renewed effort to attract more small businesses to the town as it prepares for the opening of The Rose, a 300-room gaming resort and hotel set to become the largest gaming destination in Northern Virginia. Town leaders are focused on creating a diverse mix of retail and service businesses to complement the expected influx of visitors with the resort’s opening.

Nickerson outlined the town’s strategy, which includes a year-long contract extension with Retail Strategies, a firm hired to identify and attract potential businesses to Dumfries. “We are hopeful that the Rose will serve as a beacon, an anchor, that will attract more businesses to Dumfries as a destination,” Nickerson said. The Rose, which will offer video slot machines but not table games, is expected to draw visitors from across the region.

Health

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Earns Top National Honor for Nursing Care

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 14, 2024 at 11:00AM | Updated August 29, 2024 at 10:28AM

Photo: SNVMC staff celebrate the announcement of Magnet recognition.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) has earned its first-ever Magnet with Distinction recognition, the highest national honor for nursing excellence, as of August 12, 2024. This prestigious designation places SNVMC among a select group of hospitals worldwide, celebrating their superior quality in nursing care and commitment to patient excellence.

Press release:

News

Manassas Awaits Permanent City Manager as Doug Keen’s Interim Tenure Nears One Year

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 14, 2024 at 9:00AM

Manassas City Police Chief turned Interim City Manager Douglas Keen is nearing the one-year mark as the city’s government’s chief employee. He stepped into the role following the resignation of former City Manager W. Patrick Pate. Despite the extended tenure, Keen has clarified that he does not wish to assume the position permanently.

Keen began serving as Interim City Manager in November 2023, after Pate left to become the City Manager of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After conducting interviews for the role, the Manassas City Council selected Keen for the interim position during a September 18, 2023, meeting.

News

Manassas Event to Honor 9/11 Victims and Heroes on September 11

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2024 at 3:54PM

[Courtesy of the City of Manassas]

The Northern Virginia Veterans Association, in collaboration with the Freedom Museum, the Manassas Museum, and the Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William, is organizing an event to honor those impacted by September 11, 2001. The event will be held on the lawn of the Manassas Museum on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 3 p.m.

This gathering, titled “9/11 In Honoring Those Who Gave All,” is a free event open to the public. It aims to bring the community together to hear stories from individuals directly involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect and honor the memory of those who lost their lives on that day.

Health

Winners Church and Sentara to Host Annual Community Health Fair in Dumfries

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2024 at 3:45PM | Updated August 29, 2024 at 10:28AM

Winners Church is partnering with Sentara to host the annual Community Health Fair on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 17877 Old Triangle Road in Dumfries. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with various health services and screenings available to the community.

A significant feature of this year’s fair is the presence of Sentara’s Mobile Mammography Unit, offering 3D breast cancer screenings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The screenings are aimed at the African diaspora, African American community, and those who may face financial barriers to accessing this service. The event will also focus on raising awareness about breast cancer and other prevalent health issues.

News

Sumerduck Man Charged with Felony DUI After Head-On Collision on Warrenton Road

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2024 at 12:29PM | Updated August 13, 2024 at 10:45PM

We first told you about this crash, which happened on Sunday night.

A 31-year-old Summerduck man, John Bruton III, faces multiple charges, including a felony, after a DUI-related head-on collision on Warrenton Road, resulting in severe injuries to himself and an adult passenger in the other vehicle. Bruton is being held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail pending his release from a hospital.

News

Costs Balloon for Drew Middle School Replacement

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2024 at 12:23PM

The Stafford County School Board met on Tuesday, August 6, to discuss several significant capital improvement projects, focusing on school replacements, renovations, and new facilities. Acting Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Chris Fulmer led the discussion, emphasizing the early stages of these projects and the need for careful planning.

One of the main topics was the replacement of Drew Middle School. The projected costs for this project have increased from the previously approved $96 million to an estimated $115 to $120 million. Fulmer noted that the increase is due to the higher square footage required, land costs, and off-site improvements requested by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “We’re anticipating having an architect on board in November,” Fulmer said, adding that the planning and design schedules are compressed due to the immediate needs of the school division.

Prince William

Illegal Dumping of Hazardous Drums in Nokesville

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 13, 2024 at 11:43AM

The Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating two incidents of illegally dumping 55-gallon drums containing waste on Reid Lane in Nokesville, posing significant environmental risks.

The Hazardous Materials Team secured the site, and the removal of the drums is being handled by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Schools

Stafford County Parents Push for Responsive, Long-Term Superintendent

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 12, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated August 13, 2024 at 6:37PM

Stafford County School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund

The Stafford County School Board has provided a detailed timeline for its search for a new school division superintendent. During a recent board meeting, the consulting firm JG Consulting, hired to assist with the search, presented the timeline and key milestones.

The search is currently in the community engagement phase. JG Consulting has conducted meetings with various groups within Stafford County, both internally and externally, to gather input on the leadership qualities desired in the next superintendent.

Prince William

Fire and Rescue Crews Respond to Incident at Mountcastle-Turch Funeral Home

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 12, 2024 at 10:44AM

On Monday, August 12, 2024, fire and rescue crews from Prince William and Fairfax counties were dispatched to Mountcastle-Turch Funeral Home in Woodbridge’s 13400 block of Woodbridge Street. The call was received at 10:23 a.m. after reports of extra smoke coming from the funeral home’s chimney and garage.

Upon arrival, crews investigated the source of the smoke and found a malfunctioning crematorium. Initial information from the scene indicated that a body was being cremated at the facility. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.