Potomac Local News

Prince William Chamber holds sanitation drive

Published June 3, 2020 at 12:50PM

Prince William County Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey (on right) participates in the sanitation drive.

This past Friday saw the Prince William Chamber of Commerce (PWCC) partner with the Prince William County Economic Development (EDO) and Emergency Management Departments (EMD) to provide area businesses with masks and hand sanitizer in celebration of the kickoff of the Phase 1 reopening in the region.

Staff and volunteers from all three organizations as well as two members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors manned three locations throughout the region, providing over 4,000 masks and close to 500 gallons of sanitizer to around 200 area businesses. The locations were at the PWCC’s office in Manassas, the EDO’s office in Gainesville, and the EMD held their end at the Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge.

Prince William

Prince William police contracts with outside firm to improve diversity

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 3, 2020 at 12:41PM

The Prince William County Police Department aims to diversify its ranks.

The department, in conjunction with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), is requesting input from the community on how to improve diversity in recruiting and hiring. The current demographics of the department are as follows: 76% White, 8% African-American, 11% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 2% other.

Opinion

Manassas schools leaders: Protests, conversation “necessary for us to move forward”

By Press Release

Published June 3, 2020 at 12:34PM

The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy, paraphrasing Dr. King. In this moment of challenge and controversy, we stand with you. We are angry and grieved over the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and we are committed to stand with you as we all fight the racism, inequality, and systemic oppression that continues to plague our society.

And as African-American men who care deeply about our country and our city, we are especially affected by these events.

News

Germanna Community College offers “summer skillup” for those out of work

By Arabella Thornhill

Published June 3, 2020 at 12:22PM

Germanna Community College Barbara J. Fried Center in Stafford County.

Germanna Community College is offering free zoom sessions for citizens in need of computer and career help over the Summer.

In an effort to help local people laid off due to the pandemic, Germanna Community College is offering a free “Summer Skillup” online class this summer called, “Computers and Career Planning- Your Path to Success.” The class builds an understanding of computer essentials, popular programs, and integrates this knowledge into resume creation for job searches, states Michael Zitz, of Germanna College in an email.

Opinion

Woodbridge District Supervisor thanks OmniRide workers

By Press Release

Published June 3, 2020 at 12:18PM

As Chair of the Board of PRTC, I understand the importance of providing reliable, safe, and efficient transportation for residents around Prince William County and the D.C. area. The goal of our transit services – The OmniRide and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) – has always been to get residents where they need to go while reducing congestion. OmniRide and the VRE rely heavily on our transit employees to help carry out these goals. Now with COVID-19 critically impacting our economy, our transit workers are even more vital in providing critical transportation services.

Opinion

Stafford Sheriff: ‘That police officer tarnished the badge’

By Press Release

Published June 3, 2020 at 12:15PM | Updated June 3, 2020 at 12:43PM

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” These are the words that come to mind as we contemplate a great injustice that has rattled the nation over the past several days.

Although the death of George Floyd took place hundreds of miles from Stafford County, the impact of this injustice has reverberated across the nation including here in our community. Alongside our community, we watched with horror the chilling video of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for a prolonged period of time as he pleaded for help and yelled “I can’t breathe.” Several officers stood nearby—doing nothing—as George Floyd took his last breath and died at the hands of the officers who took an oath to protect and serve their communities.

Obituaries

Robert “Bobby” Hayden

By Press Release

Published June 3, 2020 at 11:24AM

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Prince William

Portions of Sudley Road Closed due to protests

By Gianna Jirak

Published June 2, 2020 at 9:52PM | Updated June 3, 2020 at 2:27PM

It’s not the best time to be traveling around Manassas.

Sudley Road in the area of Sudley Manor Drive was closed about 8:45 p.m. ‘out of an abundance of caution’ due to nearby protests, according to a Facebook post from the Prince William County Police Department. Additional road closures can be expected, as the protestors are moving toward I-66.

News

Stafford airport wrangles with lower fuel sales, debt repayment

By Rick Horner

Published June 2, 2020 at 4:31PM | Updated June 3, 2020 at 5:26PM

Profits at Stafford Airport are nearly grounded due to low fuel sales and a lower number of customers.

Stafford Regional Airport has seen its business take a nosedive due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Their fuel sales are down 67%, and their aircraft operations are down by over 50%.