Uriah Kiser, Author at Potomac Local News

They put her face on the sign — Montclair restaurant immortalizes beloved server who died on the job

Published August 19, 2026 at 11:00AM

Friends, family, longtime customers, and county officials gathered Tuesday outside Montclair Family Restaurant and Grill, located near Dumfries, to dedicate a new entrance sign featuring the image of longtime manager Peggy Curry.

Curry, 70, died July 11 while working at the restaurant after collapsing on the job. She had worked there since 1990 — spanning three owners — and was widely regarded as the public face of the family-run eatery. She was a seven-time InsideNoVa Best of Prince William winner for best waitress.

Breaking News

Police Blotter: Drowning Death, Burglary Reported

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 19, 2026 at 10:37AM

Photo: Prince William County Police / Potomac Local

A 24-year-old man died Tuesday night after a canoe capsized on Lake Montclair near Dumfries.

Prince William County police also investigated a residential burglary early Wednesday in Woodbridge where two suspects broke into a home and tried to take a dirt bike before fleeing on foot.

Prince William

Ebony Lofton Returns to Dumfries Ballot, Presses for Accountability After Rose Revenue Surge

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 19, 2026 at 10:00AM | Updated August 19, 2026 at 10:18AM

<a href="https://rss.com/podcasts/potomaclocalnews/3068821/">Ebony Lofton on Dumfries Town Council Race & Rose | RSS.com</a>

Ebony Lofton is running again for Dumfries Town Council, bringing a decade of local experience, a banking background, and a blunt critique of how the town has handled its sudden influx of gaming revenue.

Business

Dog Krazy Celebrates 20 Years Saturday

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 19, 2026 at 9:00AM

Dog Krazy will celebrate its 20th anniversary Saturday, Aug. 22, with 20% off everything in the store and special anniversary goodie bags with purchase while supplies last at all locations, according to a company press release. The Virginia pet retailer, founded in 2006 in Fredericksburg by Nancy Guinn and inspired by her Bulldog named Piglet, has grown into a multi-location business focused on high-quality nutrition, natural products, education and personal service. Locations include the Stafford store at 315 Garrisonville Road along with several in Fredericksburg and the Richmond area.

The release notes that some former managers now own franchise locations and highlights long-term relationships with customers and their pets across generations. Exact celebration hours, a full list of participating stores and contact details were not included in the announcement. Customers can find addresses and more information at dogkrazy.com.

Newslinks

News Links: New Flock Cameras in Prince William, Manassas Rigging Deal and I-95 Expansion Plans

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 19, 2026 at 8:38AM

News Links

Prince William County prepares to activate additional license plate readers amid privacy questions, a Manassas rigging company joins a growing Loudoun-based firm, and VDOT advances plans to significantly expand the I-95 express lanes while nearby court and campus cases continue to unfold.

According to Fox 5 DC, eight new Flock license plate reader cameras will become operational in Dumfries during the first week of September, expanding the network already operating across Prince William County. Five of the cameras have been installed and three more are scheduled before the system goes live. The $35,000 project was funded by a grant. Countywide, 28 Flock cameras are currently in use. Local officials say the technology helps identify stolen vehicles, locate missing or endangered people, and support investigations while improving coordination with neighboring agencies along Route 1 and Interstate 95.

Stafford

Stafford Staff Roll to Casino for ‘Team-Building’ While Taxpayers Foot Higher Bills

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 18, 2026 at 3:00PM

A staff-only trip to The Rose Gaming Resort on school buses has put Stafford County Public Schools on the defensive, with the division insisting that no taxpayer dollars were spent, while a supervisor argues that the outing reveals misplaced priorities.

The August 3, 2026 outing has drawn scrutiny for its optics and limited transparency at a time of rising real estate taxes and debate over a potential new local sales tax for school projects.

Police Blotter

Police Blotter: Hit-and-Run, Vehicle Tampering Reported

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 18, 2026 at 1:00PM | Updated August 18, 2026 at 7:31PM

A man sought in connection with an armed robbery at an Aldi in Woodbridge has been arrested, according to the latest reports from local law enforcement.

Prince William County police said Malik Lanier Day, 29, of Stafford, was taken into custody Aug. 17 in connection with the March incident. A residential burglary was also reported in Gainesville.

Stafford

They said it was impossible… Stafford residents just stalled the Kraken

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 18, 2026 at 11:00AM | Updated August 20, 2026 at 7:49AM

UPDATED Aug. 20, 2026 — Dominion Energy has confirmed it is splitting its proposed North Anna to Bristers high-voltage transmission line into two separate projects and delaying the portion that runs through Stafford County until fall 2027.

The utility’s response comes after a Stafford citizen group, Towering Concerns, claimed in a recent email that Dominion delayed the project and changed course because of resident feedback.

Newslinks

News Links: Bhatt Murder Trial, ICE Detentions, Gainesville Data Centers, Parking Tickets

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 18, 2026 at 9:30AM

News Links

A high-profile murder trial jury pool, reported ICE detentions after a fatal quinceañera shooting, and renewed plans for multiple data centers in Gainesville lead this roundup of Prince William County and Northern Virginia news, alongside a new parking ticket towing policy and a Youngkin-backed school choice campaign.

“A Prince William County judge ruled that 300 potential jurors – more than four times the usual number – will be summoned for the upcoming trial of Naresh Bhatt, the Manassas Park man accused of killing his wife,” Prince William Times reported. Judge Kimberly A. Irving cited extensive media coverage and the expected seven-week length of the trial, set to begin Oct. 5, as reasons for the larger pool and plans to select four alternate jurors.

Manassas

Manassas School Board ‘Secret Vote’ Fight Delayed

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 18, 2026 at 8:33AM

Manassas City School Board

A Prince William County General District Court hearing on Manassas City School Board Member Sara Brescia’s Freedom of Information Act petition has been continued from Tuesday, Aug. 18, to Sept. 24.

Brescia filed the petition for a writ of mandamus on Aug. 11 (Case GV26019633-00), alleging that a majority of the board, facilitated by Chair Jill Spall, held an unlawful electronic or telephonic meeting and vote in violation of Virginia’s FOIA. The vote directed Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman to open a full investigation, using outside counsel, into allegations first raised by Board Member Diana Brown.