Stafford - Potomac Local News

Three New Stafford County Schools Now Named: Elementary Schools Join Hartwood High

Published September 10, 2025 at 10:00AM

Elementary School 18 will be known as Falls Run Elementary School, complete with Foxhounds as its mascot and the colors purple, navy, and gold. In July, officials marked a construction milestone—known as the “topping out” ceremony—at the school’s site located at 580 Stafford Plaza Drive, Fredericksburg. The school will span over 130,000 square feet and house up to 1,070 students.

Elementary School 19 has been named Crow’s Nest Elementary School, with Blue Jays as its mascot and school colors of turquoise, navy, and lime. This school is under construction at a site off Blackhawk Drive, adjacent to Brooke Point High School, in the Aquia Election District.

New Clothing Resource Opens in Stafford to Help Local Families

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 6, 2025 at 1:32PM

[Submitted photo]

In partnership with Germanna Community College and the Rotary Clubs of Stafford and North Stafford, Stafford Schools has launched the Clothing Connection at Germanna’s Stafford County Center. This new spot offers free clothing—from baby clothes to adult sizes, including work attire—for students and families who need a little extra support.

“This isn’t just a clothing closet,” says Superintendent Dr. Daniel Smith. “It’s about opening doors to education and job opportunities.”

False Robbery Report Triggers Massive Police Response in Stafford; Thefts and Intoxications Fill Blotter

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 6, 2025 at 1:17PM

A false report of a robbery involving a stolen firearm in Stafford Lakes Village led to a major law enforcement response on September 4, while deputies also investigated multiple larcenies and public intoxication cases across the county.

Deputies first responded around 4 a.m. to reports of suspicious activity in the Stafford Lakes subdivision. Multiple unlocked vehicles on Rollingside Drive, Basalt Drive, and Charter Gate Drive were rummaged through. Some residents reported missing items, including car keys and shoes.

7-Eleven Deliveries Disrupted as Genesis Logistics Drivers Strike in Stafford

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 6, 2025 at 1:10PM

The folks at Teamsters Local 322 just told Potomac Local News that more than 200 drivers at Genesis Logistics—part of DHL Supply Chain—have officially gone on strike after talks over their first union contract collapsed.

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Big Road Fixes Ahead: Stafford Supervisors Hear VDOT’s Project Lineup

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 4, 2025 at 3:00PM

Stafford County’s roads are in line for a mix of major rebuilds and smaller safety projects, according to a Sept. 2 update from Kyle Bates, resident engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Fredericksburg office.

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Stafford Scores Rise as Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Struggle on Reading Tests

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 4, 2025 at 10:00AM

Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

Students across Stafford, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania saw mixed results on this year’s Standards of Learning (SOL) reading tests, according to data released this week by the Virginia Department of Education.

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Stafford Blotter: Drunken Driver at Sheetz, Assaults, Public Intoxications, Thefts

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 3, 2025 at 4:30PM

A repeat DUI offender was arrested at the Sheetz on Washington Square Plaza after a concerned citizen reported she was “so drunk she couldn’t walk” yet still got behind the wheel. Deputies located the woman, found multiple alcoholic drinks in her vehicle, and charged her with her second DUI and refusal offense in five years. She was held without bond.

Assaults included an incident at Parkridge Pool where a man allegedly tried to “break the jaw” of a juvenile during a verbal fight on the basketball court. In another case, a dispute between a USPS worker and a resident on Park Cove Drive over a package ended with a physical altercation.

Mountain View High School Junior Wins $40K BigFuture Scholarship

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 28, 2025 at 5:07PM

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.

Stafford Names New Hartwood High School, Set to Open in 2026

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 27, 2025 at 2:11PM

STAFFORD, Va. — Stafford County’s newest high school now has a name, mascot, and colors. The School Board voted this week to name the county’s sixth high school Hartwood High School, with the Stallion as its mascot and black, silver, and gold as its colors.

Hartwood High is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. Construction is already underway, designed to add classroom space and modern facilities for academics, athletics, arts, and career training. The school is being built to ease crowding and serve Stafford’s fast-growing population.

Stafford Considers Tougher Rules for Data Centers Amid Growth Concerns

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 27, 2025 at 11:19AM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 1:59PM

STAFFORD COUNTY — Stafford County leaders are weighing whether to impose stricter rules on data centers, as residents and advocacy groups warn the industry’s rapid expansion is already too close to neighborhoods, schools, and sensitive environmental areas.

On Tuesday, August 26, the Board of Supervisors held a meeting to review proposed updates to the county’s zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan. The changes come just two years after Stafford first adopted rules regulating the booming industry.