Press Release

Window Cleaner Gives Back to Boys & Girls Club of Manassas for Random Acts of Kindness Week

By Uriah Kiser

Fish Window Cleaning owner Lona Bryan and her crew volunteered to clean the windows at the Boys & Girls Club of Manassas during National Random Acts of Kindness Week, giving back to the organization that first introduced her children to organized sports.

A random act of kindness can make a big difference. That’s the mindset of Lona Bryan, owner of Fish Window Cleaning, who brought her crew out to the Boys & Girls Club of Manassas Thursday. The Fish crew volunteered to clean the windows at the nonprofit, which provides before and after-school activities to community children including sports and educational programs. The initiative was in celebration of National Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Go to Window Cleaner Gives Back to Boys & Girls Club of Manassas for Random Acts of Kindness Week Read more

Firefighters Rescue Two Cats, Battle Blaze at Stafford County Home

By Uriah Kiser
A fire at a home on Deene Court. [Photo: Stafford County fire and rescue]

Just before 7:40 p.m. on February 15, Stafford County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) units rushed to a structure fire at a home on Deene Court near Choptank Road. Crews arrived in under five minutes, finding smoke pouring from the front of the single-family residence and heavy flames engulfing the attic and basement on the side and rear of the home.

Firefighters swiftly contained the blaze, bringing it under control within 15 minutes. While searching the home, they rescued two cats, successfully reviving them before returning them to their owners.

Go to Firefighters Rescue Two Cats, Battle Blaze at Stafford County Home Read more

North Stafford High Tackles Chronic Absenteeism with Personal Outreach and Recovery Program

By Uriah Kiser

North Stafford High School has launched an initiative, Reclaim Souls, to tackle chronic absenteeism through personal outreach. Teachers made over 300 phone calls and conducted over 100 home visits to encourage students with excessive absences to return to school. The school also introduced an attendance recovery program, offering after-school sessions three times a week for students to catch up on missed work.

Principal Dr. Dashan Turner emphasized the importance of daily attendance for academic success and student safety. The initiative includes outreach to Hispanic families, positive reinforcement strategies, and plans to expand multilingual communication efforts. Superintendent Dr. Daniel W. Smith praised the program as a model for other schools.

Go to North Stafford High Tackles Chronic Absenteeism with Personal Outreach and Recovery Program Read more

Prince William County Reschedules State of the Parks Address

By Uriah Kiser
Occoquan Greenway Bridge Offers New Trail Connection for Pedestrians and Bicyclists [Photo: Prince William County Parks and Rec]

Originally postponed due to inclement weather, the event will now occur on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Forest Park High School Auditorium, located at 15721 Forest Park Dr., Woodbridge. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The annual address provides a platform for county staff to update the community on ongoing projects, upcoming developments, and how the county works to implement community goals for parks, open spaces, and historic sites. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with parks and recreation officials to share feedback and learn more about how they can get involved.

Go to Prince William County Reschedules State of the Parks Address Read more

Spotsylvania Man Arrested After Off-Road Crash; DUI, Hit-and-Run, and Motorcycle Theft Reported in Stafford County

By Uriah Kiser

A Spotsylvania man was arrested early Thursday morning after he failed to navigate a T-intersection in Stafford County, sending his vehicle off-road and into a backyard.

According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Woodford Drive around 3:15 a.m. on February 13. The incident, however, began at the intersection of Primmer House Road and Leeland Road, where the driver was traveling eastbound on Primmer House Road. Instead of turning left or right at the intersection, Woodyard’s vehicle continued straight, going down an embankment and coming to rest in the backyard of a residence.

Go to Spotsylvania Man Arrested After Off-Road Crash; DUI, Hit-and-Run, and Motorcycle Theft Reported in Stafford County Read more

Fredericksburg City Public Schools Begins Search for New Hugh Mercer Elementary Principal as Leadership Shifts

By Uriah Kiser

Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) has initiated the search for a new principal for Hugh Mercer Elementary School, following the transition of current Principal James Snyder to a division-level role focusing on facilities and operations. Effective February 14, 2025, Courtney Wheeler will assume the position of Interim Principal at Hugh Mercer Elementary.

Wheeler’s extensive experience within FCPS includes serving as principal of Lafayette Elementary School until December 2024 and being appointed as principal of Gladys West Elementary School in August 2024. She began preparations in January 2025 to open Gladys West Elementary, the division’s third elementary school, scheduled to welcome students this fall.

Go to Fredericksburg City Public Schools Begins Search for New Hugh Mercer Elementary Principal as Leadership Shifts Read more

Convicted Rapist to Serve 30 Years after Girl, 15, Violated

By Uriah Kiser
The Judicial Center for Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

The Prince William County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office posted an announcement: A 53-year-old man who raped a 15-year-old will serve 30 years in prison.

On September 1, 2023, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the Prince William County Police Department began investigating the report of an intoxicated fifteen-year-old missing juvenile. At approximately 3:00 p, m., the juvenile was located in the bathroom at the train station in Manassas City, Virginia, in an incoherent state. Mr. Brown was located later that afternoon, through GPS tracking of the juvenile’s cell phone, and was in possession of the cell phone. Mr. Brown initially told law enforcement he had located the juvenile on the fourth floor of the parking garage adjacent to the train station, clearly intoxicated, and asking for assistance. Further investigation by the Manassas City Police Department revealed that the juvenile had been sexually assaulted in the parking garage by Mr. Brown. When confronted with the video footage, Mr. Brown admitted to picking the fifteen-year-old up near Nokesville Road in Prince William County, Virginia, before driving her to the parking garage in downtown Manassas City, Virginia, but denied assaulting her. Additional DNA evidence presented at trial supported the juvenile’s report of sexual assault by Mr. Brown.

Go to Convicted Rapist to Serve 30 Years after Girl, 15, Violated Read more

Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help in Double Murder Investigation

By Uriah Kiser
Kimberly Newcomb, 59, and Charles Childress 61, were killed.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding the double homicide that took place on January 25, 2025, on Heatherwood Drive.

Detectives are seeking any details from residents in the area who may have noticed suspicious activity, have video footage, or possess information—no matter how small—between Monday, January 20, 2025, and Saturday, January 25, 2025. Authorities believe even seemingly minor details could be crucial to advancing the investigation.

Go to Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help in Double Murder Investigation Read more

Fredericksburg City Council Appoints Susanna Finn to Ward 3 Seat Amid Transparency Concerns

By Uriah Kiser
Finn takes the oath of office. [Photo: Fredericksburg City Government]

Finn, an urban planning professional and Chair of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission, brings a decade of experience in city planning and holds a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. She also has an educational background in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington.

“Fredericksburg, and particularly Ward 3, is where my family and I have planted our roots, grown, and thrived,” Finn stated in a press release. “I am excited about the bright future of our city and confident that with genuine collaboration, we can overcome challenges and enact positive solutions.”

Go to Fredericksburg City Council Appoints Susanna Finn to Ward 3 Seat Amid Transparency Concerns Read more
View More Stories