By Kristina Schnack Kotlus

Nothing brings history to life quite like a passionate teacher, and the National Museum of the Marine Corps welcomed a new one to their staff. James Hunniford is the new full-time Teacher-in-Residence (TIR) at the museum.


A Stafford sheriff’s deputy was standing in the commons area of the high school on Va. 610 in North Stafford at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday when a student walked up to the deputy and said another student wanted to fight him.

The student pointed out his would-be attacker to the deputy, and the law enforcement officer approached the student, said Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.


North Stafford, Va. — An area church has created a fund to help landslide victims in Stafford’s Austin Ridge neighborhood.

Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Stafford County set up a website that provides information where to make tax-deductible donations either online or by check. All of the funds collected will go to help offset repair and other costs incurred by families who were evacuated from their homes following the landslide.


According to WTTG-TV, Banana Man is 14-year-old Brian Thompson who donned a banana costume and ran down the football field at Colonial Forge on Friday night. The student, who is autistic, thought running down the field in the suit would be a harmless prank.

The student was later placed in handcuffs and placed into the back of a sheriff’s cruiser following is run downfield but no charges were filed, said Stafford sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.


Officials will hold an informational meeting about courthouse area redevelopment at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at the Stafford County Administration Building at 1300 Courthouse Road. A formal presentation about what future streetscape project will look like as well as information on improvements to U.S. 1 at Courthouse Road (Va. 630).

In April, county officials examined including a larger portion of Va. 630 into the streetscape plan. In June, officials worked to refine the courthouse area as one of seven Urban Development Areas in Stafford County.


Rafael Antonio Dueno, 20, of Fredericksburg, was killed when his 1996 Dodge pickup collided with a 1989 Nissan Maxima on Harrell Road at 4:15 a.m. After the collision, the pickup came to rest on a railroad overpass and the driver, who was not wearing his seatbelt, died at the scene, said Virginia State Police Sgt. Les. Tyler.

The female driver of the Nissan was taken to a local hospital and police did not release information on her condition.


County supervisors will first tour the Garrisonville Road (Va. 610) Widening Project, then move to Onville Road where improvements have taken place in light of BRAC. They’ll also stop by a rail bridge, see improvements at Falmouth Elementary School and end the tour at a 5 p.m. groundbreaking for the Belmont/Ferry Farm Trail at St. Clair Brooks Park and Butler Road, said Stafford spokeswoman Cathy Vollbrecht.

Officials will end their tour with dinner at Amy’s Cafe in Falmouth.


Right before I went to class, I saw my “baby” brother walking the halls with birthday balloons. He turned 16, which as we know is old enough to drive. I remember smiling thinking how happy he looked. I was in AP Government with Mr. Hoffman, one of the stellar history teachers at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge. Our class had finished a little early and, being that school had just started, The Hoff was indulging us with some SNL political shorts.

I don’t know if they still do, but PWCS televisions used to default to a news station. Going from Will Ferrell to “New York is burning” was certainly emotional whiplash. I remember yelling at the television along with my classmates somehow thinking we could stop that second plane. Class change came and we walked like zombies to our next class. I remember the first (and only) time I saw a fellow student use the F-word with an administrator and not get punished. They were told to put their cell phone away – their father worked in the Pentagon.


View More Stories