News

The iPhone 4s was delivered this past Friday, posing a problem for Apple fanatics who work during the day.  If there was no one home to sign for the newest Apple toy, then depending on the store the phone was shipped through on the delivery side, customers would have to either go to the UPS store their phone was routed through or wait until Monday, an unacceptable outcome for some 200 people who opted to drive to the Springfield UPS store Friday evening and wait in line for their phones.  

At 7:45 p.m. the line was some 140 people long, and while they grumbled about the wait, and the cold, none of them seemed willing to leave.  Rodney Saunders from Woodbridge became angry only after the line was divided into “Fairfax and north” and “South of Lorton” lines.  “The Fairfax line sucked right into the door and they’re all coming out and they came before me! What ever happened to going in the order people arrived?”  After a few minutes, though, even Saunders was chuckling that “It’s just one more example of Northern Virgina not thinking we Prince William [County] folks count.”

Tuesday’s announcement by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that a plot to kill the Saudi Arabian and Israeli Ambassadors to the United States had been stopped could mark a major victory for two Law Enforcement agencies that have significant ties to our area. The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration were credited with foiling the planned assassinations. The plot also involved plans to blow up the Saudi Arabian and Israeli embassies here and in Argentina.

Both the Attorney General and FBI Director Mueller pointed the finger at Iran, saying the special operations element of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, known as the Qods Force, was behind the plot.

According to a recent survey, only 30 percent of American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. While those Americans have an escape plan in case of a fire, less than half of them have practiced it.

One-third of American households, who made an estimate, thought they would have at least 5 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8 percent said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out.

In stark contrast to Stafford County’s recent recognition as having the 7th median household income in the United States, Sierra Leone, Africa is perpetually at the bottom of the United Nations Human Development Index, ranking low in indicators such as malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, and life expectancy.

“This is really an area where the church can bring the community together to help others,” stated Lisa Jones, race committee volunteer. “One hundred percent of the proceeds from this race will go to helping the children at the Child Rescue Centre and Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone.”

OWL VFD, usually known for putting out fires and responding to 911 calls, put on pink tee shirts for the month of October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

During the Month of October all OWL VFD crews will switch from their normal dark blue shirts to pink tee shirts to show solidarity for those fighting breast cancer, those that have survived breast cancer or for loved ones lost to breast cancer. “Cancer has touched almost everyone’s life, including members of our own department. We want to remind them that they are not aloane, that we care.” said Department Chief Jim McAllister. OWL VFD has a history of supporting cancer research with their annual St. Baldrick’s event that they hold every March to raise money for Children’s cancer research. “This is one more way we can give back and raise awareness.”