A new $400,000 facility will be built on the first floor of the county’s administration center in Stafford, next to the courthouse, and its staff will be charged with speeding up the process of getting planning, zoning permits for residents and business owners.

“We are streamlining government and modernizing this area. Our staff will work with each individual applicant on their project and help them navigate the permit process. This new atmosphere, combined with our customer service philosophy to provide quick and friendly service, will improve the overall experience that people have with our local government,” said Stafford Falmouth Supervisor Susan Stimpson.


the public to file reports for certain types of non-emergency incidents that occurred within the Prince William County Police Department’s jurisdiction.

“The implementation of online crime reporting by victims is a significant step in efficiency for the Police Department and for the public,” said Police Chief Charlie T. Deane. “The new system enables individuals to save time reporting certain types of crimes and reduces administrative duties for the police officers, allowing them more time for investigations and other duties.”


All year long, I’ve had the privilege of working with a small group of talented professionals who are committed to covering neighborhoods right here in Virginia’s Potomac Communities.

They don’t do it for much money, or fame, or simply because they have nothing better to do. They do it because this is their hometown. These unique people have helped PotomacLocal.com grow into the community news source it has become today.


On Wednesday, the Stafford sheriff’s department will check child safety seats from 9 a.m. to noon at Walmart at 217 Garrisonville Road in North Stafford. The checks are free, and several technicians will be on hand to make sure your child’s car seat is secured, said sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.

Safety seat checks will also take place in Woodbridge on Saturday at PNC Bank at 12650 Apollo Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is sponsored by Prince William Fire and Rescue Department.


Stafford VA – On November 9, 2011 Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department held a graduation ceremony at Stafford Senior High School for its sixth recruit academy.

During the eighteen week academy the students successfully completed Firefighter I&II, EMT-B, Hazardous Material Operations, Mayday Firefighter Down, Vehicle Awareness and Operations and EVOC.


This week our Nation honors its veterans with a poignant holiday. Originally called “Armistice Day,” it marked the first anniversary of the armistice that effectively ended combat on the Western Front in World War I. At the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month the artillery fell silent, the biplanes ceased their bombing missions, and the trenches stopped being death traps for the soldiers that inhabited them.

We lost over 117,000 U.S. servicemen in that war. The total number of deaths (both military and civilian) for the Allies in that conflict was over 9 million. The central powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire which is now modern day Turkey) lost over seven million. While both France and Germany lost about four percent of their population in that conflict, some other nations lost a considerably greater proportion of their countrymen. Romania lost nine percent, the Ottoman Empire almost 14 percent, and Serbia an astounding 16 percent of their populations.


By Stephanie Tipple
For PotomacLocal.com 

Woodbridge, Va. — Stratford University students and faculty were filled with pride and excitement as they honored local veterans, active duty military and their families on Thursday for a complimentary lunch and dinner on their Woodbridge campus.  


Last year Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell first announced the Veteran’s Day fee waiver to honor the members and families of America’s armed services, both current and past,

In addition to the parking fee waivers for everyone on Veteran’s Day, parking fees are waived every day for Armed Forces Veterans and for active military personnel and their families living in Virginia. These waivers remain in place through the end of 2011 as part of Virginia’s celebration of the state parks’ 75th anniversary.


Over the past year, our agencies have been working with the broadcast community, cable operators and programmers, and other communications service providers that participate in the Emergency Alert System; our state, local, tribal, and territorial partners; and other critical stakeholders to help inform all members of the public regarding the nationwide Emergency Alert System test.

Here are specific items we want everyone to know about the test:


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