Potomac Local News

Published January 6, 2026 at 8:00AM

As the New Year begins, the Rappahannock Area Health District is encouraging residents to take small, steady steps toward healthier living in 2026. The agency, which serves Fredericksburg and the surrounding region, shared a list of simple wellness habits and local health programs to help residents stick to their resolutions.

Interim Health Director Dr. David C. Rose emphasized starting with manageable goals. “Together, we can make 2026 a year of stronger bodies and calmer minds,” Rose said in a press release. Tips include getting at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly, eating more fruits and vegetables, prioritizing sleep and stress management, and keeping up with regular health screenings.

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg swears in new City Council members at historic Market House

By Mauriah Church-Barbour

Published January 6, 2026 at 7:30AM

We congratulate Councilors Matthew Rowe, Joy Crump, Susanna Finn, and Charlie Frye, Jr. and look forward to the work ahead for our community.[Submitted Photo].

“Vice-Mayor Frye was unanimously elected by the council to continue to serve as Vice-Mayor,” the city stated.

The ceremony was held at the Fredericksburg Area Museum, home to the historic Town Hall Market House, which city officials note is the second oldest continuously used town hall in the nation. The swearing-in marked the formal start of the new City Council’s term and included the council’s annual organizational meeting.

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Masons to honor Revolutionary War General George Weedon with wreath ceremony

By Mauriah Church-Barbour

Published January 6, 2026 at 7:00AM

Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 will host a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday, January 10, to honor General George Weedon, a Revolutionary War hero and early Fredericksburg civic leader. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Masonic Cemetery, at the intersection of Charles and George Streets, where Weedon is buried.

The Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, M.W. Matthew Todd Szramoski, will lead the tribute as part of his Founders’ Footsteps Commemoration Tour. The tour highlights the contributions of Virginia Freemasons to the American Revolution. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to a reception and tour of the historic Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, located at 803 Princess Anne Street.

Opinion

Why Dumfries Needs an Economic Development Authority Now

By Letters to the Editor

Published January 5, 2026 at 3:00PM | Updated January 5, 2026 at 3:17PM

Dumfries is Virginia's oldest continually chartered town.

Turning opportunity into results is one of the biggest challenges facing any town—and Dumfries is no exception. Ideas aren’t the problem; execution is. That’s why so many Virginia communities have created Economic Development Authorities (EDAs): to turn readiness into results.

An EDA is a public entity established under Virginia law to help towns attract investment, manage development, and implement projects more effectively. It doesn’t make policy or replace elected officials. It serves as a capacity tool to support execution, allowing towns like Dumfries to move faster and smarter when opportunities arise.

Manassas Park

Firearms ban now in effect inside Manassas Park city buildings

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 2:00PM

A new ordinance prohibiting firearms inside Manassas Park city buildings took effect January 1, following months of debate and public pushback over gun restrictions in government spaces.

The ordinance prohibits the possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm components within any building owned or used by the City of Manassas Park for governmental purposes.

Prince William

Push to rein in Virginia FOIA costs heads back to General Assembly

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 1:00PM

Roem [Photo courtesy Mike Beaty]

“It’s the same bill, different year,” Virginia Mercury reported. “The entire point of it is to reduce FOIA fees, so that the fees that are being charged are actually being used simply to cover the actual costs associated with pursuing FOIA requests in the first place, instead of being used as a deterrent for the public to not pursue FOIA requests.”

“Public documents are public, your tax dollars have already paid for these documents in the first place,” Roem said. “Therefore, you should have the lowest barrier possible to accessing them.”

Breaking News

Teen arrested after two men shot during argument in Stafford

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 12:46PM

Potomac Local News is just learning about a weekend shooting in Stafford County that left two men injured and a teenager in custody.

Deputies were called to the 1300 block of Providence Street around 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. They found a 25-year-old man and a 38-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the leg. Deputies provided first aid until Stafford Fire & Rescue arrived.

Business

Sheetz mourns the passing of former CEO and chairman Stephen G. Sheetz at 77

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 10:30AM

Steve (left) standing beside his brother Bob (middle) and nephew Stan Sheetz (right)

Stephen G. Sheetz, former president, CEO, and chairman of Sheetz, Inc., has died at age 77. The company announced his passing on Thursday, remembering him as a visionary leader who helped shape the Altoona-based convenience store chain into a regional powerhouse.

Sheetz began working at the family business at just 12 years old, eventually helping grow the company from four stores to over 100 by the early 1980s. He served as president and CEO from 1984 to 1995, overseeing a period of rapid expansion and innovation, including the launch of Sheetz’s Made-to-Order food program and entry into the fuel business.

Features

Virginia ARTfactory to Host Free Screening of “Prosperity Creek” on January 10

By Potomac Local News

Published January 5, 2026 at 9:15AM

“Join us for a film screening on January 10th of Prosperity Creek, a social satire about a young woman hired to house-sit in an affluent and mysterious DC suburb,” Virginia ARTfactory announced. “As the plot twists and turns, she uncovers increasingly ludicrous secrets about the townspeople, culminating in a battle between humans and… others in this exciting feature film debut from Zack Walsh.”

“This ticketed screening is free to the public, but donations are kindly accepted at the door,” the organization stated. “Tickets are limited, so reserve your seat today!”