STAFFORD — The turnover rate at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has long been a problem.

“The turnover of personnel is a significant issue because deputy sheriffs receive basic, continuing and specialty training at a significant effort and cost to the county and the sheriff’s office,” Sheriff David Decatur wrote in an email to Potomac Local.


STAFFORD — (Press Release) Stafford Hospital, part of the Mary Washington Healthcare system, welcomed the first baby of the new year born in the Fredericksburg region.

Baby Jhkai Malcolm Obie was born just past midnight at 12:01 a.m., to Shakiyla Masond and Jerome Odie.  He was greeted by a room full of family, friends, hospital nurses and his big sister, Ah’maya, 7 years old.  This bundle of joy weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz., 20 inches long, with a beautiful head of jet black hair.


STAFFORD — (Press Release) On Friday, December 28, 2018, the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department responded to a commercial building fire in the 900 block of Garrisonville Road.  Several passers-by reported seeing fire in the area of the roof of the China Wong restaurant on Garrisonville Road. 

They further reported that people were inside and workers were trying to extinguish the fire.  The Stafford County Communications Center received the 9-1-1 call at 9:53 pm.  The first unit arrived on the scene four minutes later and reported flames showing from the roof vent area of the restaurant.  The fire was located inside of the business in the area of kitchen cooking equipment.  Fire and rescue crews formed an aggressive attack bringing the fire under control at 10:24 pm.


STAFFORD The purchase of a shuttered Fredericksburg Christian Schools campus triggered a new round elementary school redistricting.

Schools officials earlier this month held an information session with parents about elementary redistricting at Rodney Thompson Middle School. The session was held to inform parents who have children in overcrowded elementary schools that their students may soon be moved to another school.


WASHINGTON, D.C. — (Press Release)  Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) today will introduce the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, legislation to guarantee back pay to furloughed workers in the event of a government shutdown. Funding for the federal government expires at midnight tomorrow.

“We do not want a government shutdown, but if it comes our bill would protect federal workers from the worst of the consequences,” said Rep. Beyer. “This legislation is designed to shield civil servants, who need to support their families, from the disastrous effects of failure to agree on a measure to fund the government. We hope it will not be needed, but time is running out and the current outlook is not good.”


MANASSAS — (Press Release) The Hylton Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the addition of “All In A Family” featuring Loudon Wainwright III, Suzzy Roche, and Lucy Wainwright Roche, Sunday February 24, 2019 at 4 p.m. in Merchant Hall.

Audiences will spend an unforgettable evening of harmonizing vocals, guitar and humorous stories with Grammy Award-winning American Folk Artist Loudon Wainwright III and acclaimed singer-songwriters Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche during All In A Family. The talented trio is on the road together for the first time, though each is an award-winning musical sensation in his/her own right.


WOODBRIDGE — (Press Release) Sheetz will celebrate the holidays by offering customers a free cup of freshly brewed coffee on both Christmas Day, from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m., and New Year’s, from 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until 4 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

Guests can walk into any of Sheetz’s 584 stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina and receive a free cup of coffee.


FREDERICKSBURG — (Press Release) Fredericksburg Baseball kicked off sales of season tickets on December 1 with its “Founders Club” event held in historic Market Square. That day, more than 185 individuals and groups joined the Founders Club representing more than 600 reservations for full season ticket plans.

By joining the Founders Club, these fans locked in the ability to be the first fans to select their season tickets at the team’s new state-of-the-art ballpark scheduled to open in 2020 in Celebrate Virginia South.


STAFFORD — Teachers and school faculty could see a five percent increase in their yearly salaries if a new proposal is included in the School Board’s budget.

The Stafford Education Association proposed an across-the-board increase for all employees during a budget committee meeting with the School Board held in early November.


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