News

Wild Waylon’s BBQ Settles Down in Stafford

By Kelly Sienkowski
Wild Waylon's BBQ

Nestled in the corner of a Stafford shopping center, a new restaurant has arrived off White Oak Road: Wild Waylon’s BBQ, a family-owned restaurant that has quickly made a name for itself with its scratch-made barbecue and weekend specials.

Founded by the Murphy family—David and Molly, and David’s parents Tom and Linda—Wild Waylon’s BBQ is the culmination of a lifelong passion for cooking and a deep love for barbecue. David Murphy said he grew up smoking pork for family events alongside his father, Tom. He followed his mother’s footsteps, working in restaurants after college. In 2023, David and his mom Linda worked in the same restaurant and decided it was time to launch their own family spot. Waylon is David’s son, and the restaurant’s namesake.

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Stafford County Seeks Community Input in Search for New Schools Superintendent

By Uriah Kiser
Stafford County Public Schools Alvin York Bandy Complex, the headquarters of the school division.

Stafford County School Board Chairman Maureen Siegmund has announced the search for a new school superintendent following the departure of Dr. Thomas Taylor. Taylor recently became the chief of Montgomery County, Md. public schools. He held the position in Stafford for two and a half years.

The School Board has unanimously approved JG Consulting to lead a nationwide search for a new superintendent and seeks community feedback on the school division’s strengths, challenges the new superintendent may face, and essential qualities and experiences for the role. Feedback can be provided through a survey by August 30 or directly to JG Consulting via email or phone.

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Trump Campaign to Open Field Office in Stafford County

By Uriah Kiser
Donald Trump campaigns at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in 2015.

The Donald Trump for President campaign will open a field office in Stafford County. The event, titled “Grand Opening of the Stafford Trump Force 47 Headquarters,” invites supporters to attend the opening.

President Trump’s Virginia campaign team will meet at 9 a.m. to provide training on the Trump Force 47 get-out-the-vote program. The team will discuss how attendees can participate in efforts to help President Trump and J.D. Vance Senator Vance, Trump’s vice presidential pick, try to win Virginia in the upcoming November election. Official campaign yard signs will be available for those attending the training session.

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Ammonia Leak at Sterling Manufacturing Plant Hospitalizes 26

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Loudoun County Fire and Rescue

A major ammonia leak at a Sterling manufacturing plant has hospitalized 26 individuals tonight. The Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department and additional units from the surrounding region responded to the “mass casualty” event.

At 8:36 p.m., the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 9-1-1 call reporting a gas leak inside a commercial building on the 22400 block of Sous Vide Lane in Sterling. Upon arrival, fire and rescue units from Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed the presence of an ammonia leak. Numerous patients exposed to the gas were immediately identified.

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Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine Talks Train Safety, Data Center Plans

By Uriah Kiser
Devine

Uriah’s Note: Members always get the first read of our original reporting. Thanks for your continued support.

Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry P. Devine recently spoke with Potomac Local in a one-on-one interview, addressing the city’s response to a train derailment and the prospect of new data centers.

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Bark + Boarding Expands to Manassas

By Caitlyn Meisner
The Bark + Boarding at the July 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony. [Courtesy of Amy Duff]

Bark + Boarding, a dog daycare and boarding business, has officially opened in Manassas.

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Roadwork on Learning Lane Will Cause Traffic Detours Starting Mid-August

By Kelly Sienkowski
Learning Lane (Photo: Google Maps)

Learning Lane will close for emergency storm water pipe repairs beginning August 16, 2024. The detour route will direct drivers southbound on Patriot Highway (US 1), turning left onto Harrison Road, left onto Lafayette Boulevard, left onto Hotchkiss Street, right onto Rose Avenue, and left onto Pender Street to reach Learning Lane.

Parents, staff, and school buses for Lafayette Elementary and Walker-Grant Middle School are advised to use Lafayette Boulevard to Pender Street for arrivals. Exiting traffic should use Pender Street to Rose Avenue, then Hotchkiss Street at the traffic light.

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Riverside Center Transitions to Non-Profit, Promises Big Changes Ahead

By Uriah Kiser
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts Director Patrick A'Hearn speaks about the theater's transition to a non-profit corporation.

Uriah’s Note: Members always get the first read of our original reporting. Thanks for your continued support.

Updated July 31 — The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts held a press conference on Monday, July 29, 2024, to announce its transition from a for-profit business to a non-profit entity. Theater Director Patrick A’Hearn made the announcement, outlined the theater’s new direction, and announced upcoming changes.

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Stafford Board of Supervisors Adopts New Meeting Schedule

By Kelly Sienkowski

Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors has amended its by-laws to create a new meeting schedule. The board will have three meeting days, two of which are planned business days. The third meeting day will be a dedicated Work Session meeting as needed. Meetings will also begin at 5 p.m.

The proposed changes were first reviewed by the board on June 4 and again on July 2. All board members were able to participate in the discussion and review the changes. According to Stafford’s news release, “this transparent process, which also allowed public input on the change, was designed to ensure your voice was heard and that you were fully informed about the decision-making process.”

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CRRL Director Martha Hutzel to Retire After Nearly 40 Years of Service

By Kelly Sienkowski

After almost forty years, Library Director Martha Hutzel will retire from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) on Sept. 30. Hutzel was appointed director in 2016 after several prior positions at different library branches, including branch manager and head of circulation.

Hutzel said she was inspired to become a librarian “by [her] mother, who is still living at 102, and by [her] father, both of whom loved books and reading and set that example for their 13 children.” After completing chores on the dairy farm she grew up on, she and her siblings were allowed to read whatever they wanted. In the 1980s, Hutzel moved to Fredericksburg and immediately got a library card and part-time job at the Fredericksburg location. She said the staff “welcomed me with open arms and I fell into them.”

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