Potomac Local News

Around Town

Published March 1, 2012 at 7:00AM

Volunteers in Stafford County work to build a home for Sgt. Kenny Lyons (Ret.) who lost a leg while serving in Iraq.

Incarcerated ex-Marine charged in 2009 slaying of Navy petty officer
The Washington Post reports A former U.S. Marine already serving a prison sentence was charged Thursday in the 2009 slaying of a female Navy petty officer at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington County, federal prosecutors said. The case has ties to Woodbridge.

Man convicted in chain saw attack
Fredericksburg.com reports A man who was hit in the head with a baseball bat after entering his wife’s boyfriend’s home with a chain saw was convicted of two charges Tuesday.

News

Colonial Forge High School receives $5,000 Grant

By Potomac Local News

Published March 1, 2012 at 12:35AM | Updated March 5, 2012 at 8:39AM

Colonial Forge High School

Submitted By Valerie Cottongim
Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford, Va. — Colonial Forge High School received a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant for their proposal titled From the Garden to the Kitchen. The grant application was submitted based on the goal of improving the learning community at Colonial Forge.

Politics

Law Would Let All ABC Stores Open Sunday

By Potomac Local News

Published March 1, 2012 at 12:23AM | Updated March 5, 2012 at 8:39AM

Richmond, Va. – The General Assembly has passed a bill expanding the number of ABC stores that can open on Sundays.

Currently, state-owned liquor stores can operate on Sundays only in urban areas, such as cities with more than 100,000 residents. House Bill 896, sponsored by Delegate David Albo, R-Springfield, would allow the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to open any of its stores after 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Politics

House Restores Funding for Alicia’s Law

By Potomac Local News

Published March 1, 2012 at 12:18AM

By Charles Couch
Capital News Service

Richmond, Va. – The House of Delegates has restored funding for Alicia’s Law, a two-year-old effort targeting sexual abuse of children, after Democrats said Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed state budget shortchanged the program.

Prince William

Transit Strike Looms

By Potomac Local News

Published February 29, 2012 at 5:20PM | Updated March 5, 2012 at 8:38AM

OmniLink switch riders buses at the Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Center in Woodbridge.

Woodbridge, Va. — Transit officials in Prince William County are bracing for the impacts of a possible bus operator strike.

The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission located in Woodbridge said Wednesday that its contracted operator, First Transit, Inc., is negotiations with unions that represent its bus operators, and stated a current contract is set to expire at midnight Friday.

News

Nighttime Lane Closures in North Stafford Start Thursday

By Potomac Local News

Published February 29, 2012 at 4:22PM | Updated March 5, 2012 at 8:38AM

North Stafford, Va. — On Thursday, March 1, General Excavation Inc., will begin to mobilize equipment and erect construction signs on the east and westbound side of Route 610; on the north and southbound side of Mine Road (Route 684); and along any connecting secondary routes in the vicinity of the project. The $975,443.00 project will add additional turn lanes and improve pedestrian access on Mine Road in Stafford County.

General Excavation Inc. will widen Mine Road by adding an additional right turn lane from Mine Road onto Route 610 east. There will also be an additional left turn lane on Route 610 south turning onto Mine Road. Other improvements to be made in connection with this project include, three handicap ramps at the intersections of Route 610 and Mine Road; a sidewalk will be installed along the northbound turn lane of Mine Road which will connect with the sidewalk on the eastbound lane of Route 610; and pedestrian buttons will be added to the existing traffic signal poles at the intersection.

Prince William

‘Send A Kid to Camp’ Campaign Begins

By Potomac Local News

Published February 29, 2012 at 3:56PM | Updated March 2, 2012 at 1:40PM

On March 1, 2012, the Prince William County/Manassas Branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington are kicking off their local “Send A Kid to Camp” campaign for the next 100 days. The three clubs, located in Dale City, Dumfries and Manassas, hope to raise $40,000 for camper scholarships by June 7, 2012. (Submitted photo)

Dumfries, Va. — On March 1, 2012, the Prince William County/Manassas Branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington are kicking off their local “Send A Kid to Camp” campaign for the next 100 days. The three clubs, located in Dale City, Dumfries and Manassas, hope to raise $40,000 for camper scholarships by June 7.

All three clubs will offer various programming for ages 5 – 17 that cover Sports, Youth and Teen Camps. All camps will take place the months of June through August. The Club’s programs reflect their FORMULA FOR IMPACT; a personalized formula that assists members in achieving personal growth in academic success, good character & citizenship and healthy lifestyles by mixing in key elements of outcome-focused initiatives.

Prince William

Seniors Return Home After Pipe Burst

By Potomac Local News

Published February 29, 2012 at 2:36PM

Woodbridge, Va. — Senior citizens have returned to their apartment homes after a water pipe burst and flooded portions of their building.

Fire and rescue crews on Monday night were called to the River Run Senior Apartments on 13900 Ridgewood Drive, near the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, and found a broken hot water pipe flooding apartments. The pipe was located on the second floor and its water caused damage to multiple units on the first and second floods, said Prince William fire and rescue spokeswoman Kim Hylander.

Prince William

Senior Fire Officer Completes Executive Program

By Potomac Local News

Published February 29, 2012 at 2:05PM

Prince William Battalion Chief Ernest Little

Woodbridge, Va. — Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue congratulates Battalion Chief Ernest Little on successfully completing the Executive Fire Officer Program (EOP) provided by the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“The Intensive EFOP is designed to provide senior fire officers with a broad perspective on various facets of fire administration,” according to U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell, Jr. “This program provides fire service officers with the expertise they need to succeed in today’s challenging environment.”