From honoring 9/11 in Stafford to spotlighting standout educators and celebrating creativity across our region, this week’s roundup features stories of dedication, celebration, and community connection. Dive in to see how local leaders, artists, students, and runners are shaping the weeks ahead.
STAFFORD, Va. — Mountain View High School junior Elias Copeland was surprised in class with the news that he earned a $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship from College Board, recognizing students who take steps to plan their futures after high school.
Copeland’s parents, coaches, teachers, and district administrators attended the surprise event. Superintendent Daniel Smith praised Copeland for his initiative, saying the award is proof that planning ahead pays off.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is two weeks into its run of The Sound of Music, and ticket sales are already tracking alongside one of its biggest recent hits, Jersey Boys.
More than 6,000 tickets have been sold with eight weeks remaining. Jersey Boys drew more than 11,000 during its run in 2024.
DUMFRIES, Va. — Wawa is set to open its newest Northern Virginia store in Dumfries on September 4, offering free coffee, t-shirts, and a hoagie-building contest featuring first responders.
The new store, located at 3600 Pointe Center Court, opens at 8 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. The first 100 customers in line will receive free t-shirts, and all customers will receive free hot coffee through September 7.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — A Prince William County jury has convicted Lisa Gaye Myers, 60, of voluntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting death of her ex-boyfriend and tenant, Travis Kelly Deardorff. The verdict reduces her potential sentence to a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Myers was initially indicted of first-degree murder for the November 27, 2021, shooting inside her home on Bradford Lane, near Independent Hill. Police said Myers called 911 after shooting Deardorff in the head during an argument. He later died at a hospital.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Parents packed a hastily called Fredericksburg School Board meeting Wednesday night to share stories of buses running hours late, confusing routes, and families left in the dark.
Several parents reported that the district’s new tracking app indicated children had been “dropped off” even while they were still waiting at bus stops. Others described unsafe stops on busy streets and long waits at schools while drivers tried to juggle double runs.
MANASSAS, Va. – As Prince William supervisors prepare for a September 9 vote on whether to appeal the voiding of the Prince William Digital Gateway, voices on both sides of the political aisle are urging them to let the ruling stand.
State Senator Danica Roem (D–Prince William County, Manassas) said in a statement that the board should “cut its losses” and stop spending tax dollars on a case already rejected twice in court. She noted Judge Kimberly Irving’s remark that she did not expect the county’s appeal to succeed, and called attention to the vacant Gainesville District seat. “The people of Gainesville District once again do not have full and equal representation compared to the other magisterial district residents on what amounts to a hugely consequential matter,” Roem said.
MANASSAS, Va. — A popular burger joint that brought D.C.’s Go-Go music flair to Manassas Mall is temporarily closing its doors.
Burgers @ Manassas announced the closure in a message shared to its social media accounts, assuring customers this is not a permanent goodbye. “Our Manassas location is temporarily closed, but this is not goodbye, just see you soon!,” the restaurant wrote. “We truly appreciate all the love and support from our community.”
A 59-year-old woman died early Tuesday morning after being hospitalized while in custody at the Prince William–Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center. She was booked on August 18 and transported to a hospital on August 25 due to a possible medical condition. Her health declined, and she died on August 27. Police say no foul play is suspected, and an autopsy will be performed.
Also in Prince William County, police are investigating a Felony Animal Cruelty case after a severely emaciated dog was found abandoned in a cage outside the Battlefield Animal Clinic in Manassas. Surveillance footage shows a man in a light-colored Lexus with Maryland plates leaving the animal around 4:18 a.m. on August 25. The dog, a tan and white Pitbull/Husky mix, was humanely euthanized due to its condition.
