News - Page 54 of 1915 - Potomac Local News

Kristen Senechal Named New CEO, President of NOVEC

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:40PM

Kristen Senechal. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]

“After an eight-month national search, the Board selected [Senechal] because of her extensive knowledge and more than 15 years of experience in the electric utility industry,” Board Chairman Wade House said. “The Board also is impressed with her leadership style of prioritizing people first.”

Senechal is the executive vice president of transmission and chief operating officer at Lower Colorado River Authority (LRCA) in Austin, Texas. She joined LRCA in 2017 following nine years at CenterPoint Energy in Houston.

Stafford Board Names Janet Brown to Library Post, Apologizes to Former Member

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 22, 2025 at 5:11PM | Updated January 25, 2025 at 11:19AM

Janet Brown was appointed Stafford County’s citizen representative to the Central Rappahannock Regional Library Board following a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors during their January 21, 2025, meeting. Brown’s appointment comes as the county looks to strengthen ties with the regional library system and improve its collaborative efforts to enhance library services.

Brown, a longtime Stafford resident and active community member, brings a wealth of experience in civic engagement and public service. “I am honored to represent Stafford County and look forward to working with the library board to ensure our community has access to the best resources and services,” Brown stated following her appointment. Her term will begin immediately.

Fredericksburg Welcomes Teacher-Turned-Comedian for Sold-Out Ladies Night Show

By Kelly Sienkowski

Published January 22, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated January 22, 2025 at 1:32PM

After 17 years as a teacher, Spotsylvania’s Leslie Robinson has learned how to make her students laugh. In almost two decades, Robinson has taught every grade level from pre-school to adult high school, and currently teachers High School Family and Consumer Sciences in Spotsylvania County Public Schools. She is also a popular social media content creator, with thousands of followers and views on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Robinson said she loves bringing comedy into her classrooms, saying it helps students retain more information and also lets them find enjoyment in learning. Making the jump from the classroom to the public was a logical next step – Robinson said, “it only made sense to share that same energy and approach with fellow teachers.” Robinson honed her comedy skills in the classroom, saying, “Teenagers are the toughest audience out there,” and finding the ability to both connect with them and make them laugh is akin to “surviving ‘audience boot camp.'”

Crime Report: Fredericksburg Shooting Suspect Arrested, Stafford Burglaries, and Manassas Robbery

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:55AM | Updated January 22, 2025 at 4:24PM

Fredericksburg Police Department

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office

NOVEC Lineworkers Help Restore Power in Rural Virginia After Snow

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 22, 2025 at 9:00AM

From left to right: NOVEC’s Jake Till, Caleb Barton, Ben Williams, Hunter Partlowe, Connor Jost and Jeremy Jenkins helped lineworkers at Southside Electric Cooperative restore electricity for residents. [Photo courtesy of NOVEC]

NOVEC sent its crew of six men, pictured above, on Jan. 7 to work for three days with SEC, which serves more than 59,000 people. The recent winter storm, according to a NOVEC press release, left 28,000 in the area without power.

“It was good to know we were helping people,” Jake Till, one of NOVEC’s lineworkers, said. “It’s a small, close-knit community. The lineworkers at Southside appreciated our support.”

Extreme Cold Prompts School Delays in Stafford and King George Counties

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 22, 2025 at 6:43AM

Due to extreme cold weather conditions, several school systems in the region have announced delayed openings for today, Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Families are encouraged to monitor updates from their respective school systems for any further changes. Please ensure children are dressed appropriately for the cold weather. Stay warm and safe!

End of Federal Remote Work Welcomed by Virginia, D.C. leaders

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 21, 2025 at 10:53PM

A crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County, just north of Route 17 snarled traffic for about five miles on Friday, January 13, 2023. [Photo: VDOT traffic camera]

Commuter traffic in the Washington, D.C. metro area is set to surge as President Donald Trump issues an executive order ending remote work for federal employees.

The Center Square reports that Trump’s directive mandates federal workers return to their offices full-time, with limited exemptions determined by department heads. The move is welcomed by regional leaders like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who have long urged a return to in-person work to bolster public transit ridership and address underused federal buildings.

Updated: Investigators Unable to Determine Cause of Eagle Village Shopping Center Blaze

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 21, 2025 at 10:53PM | Updated January 22, 2025 at 1:11PM

Fire investigators are still searching for answers in two recent fires that caused significant damage in Fredericksburg and Woodbridge.

In Fredericksburg, the December 5 blaze at Eagle Village Shopping Center began in the warehouse of Play It Again Sports and quickly spread, destroying multiple businesses. Despite extensive efforts, investigators have been unable to determine the fire’s cause.

Funeral Service for Former Supervisor Bob Gibbons Set for Friday

By Uriah Kiser

Published January 21, 2025 at 10:51PM

Funeral services for Robert “Bob” C. Gibbons, a former member of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, will be held on Friday, January 25, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at St. William of York Catholic Church, located at 3130 Richmond Hwy, Stafford.

Gibbons, who recently passed away, dedicated more than 34 years to serving the citizens of Stafford County, leaving an indelible legacy of leadership and commitment. He represented the Rock Hill District on the Board of Supervisors from 1991 to 2007, serving multiple terms as Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Local Governments, Officials Honor MLK Jr. on Social Media

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published January 21, 2025 at 11:00AM | Updated January 21, 2025 at 11:16AM

[Bee Calder via Unsplash]

Monday was the late Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and many local governments and organizations closed in honor of the civil rights leader’s service. Here’s how they, along with elected officials, honored him on social media.