STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County Public Schools rolled out the red carpet on Thursday night to honor its top educators and staff members at the 2025 Gold Star Gala. The annual event recognizes employees across a wide range of roles who help students succeed every day.
The celebration, held before a crowd of staff, students, and community members, included student-led presentations. Gabriella Irish, the 2025 Student Representative to the School Board, kicked off the event with a welcome address. The North Stafford High School Air Force JROTC presented the colors, followed by Mountain View High School student Raina Chan singing the National Anthem.
"The Gold Star Gala honors the outstanding contributions of our Staff of the Year recipients and highlights the passion and excellence that run throughout our organization," said Dr. Daniel W. Smith, Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. "Each of our employees plays a vital role in strengthening our schools and inspiring those around us."
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STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to spend $2.5 million on land for the long-awaited rebuild of Drew Middle School.
The money, pulled from the county’s Capital Projects Fund, will be transferred to the Schools Capital Projects Fund to buy a new site for the school. The rebuild has been years in the making—and for many in the community, it’s personal.
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STAFFORD, Va. – A vehicle crash involving hazardous materials shut down a section of Town and Country Drive on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a multi-agency emergency response.
According to Stafford County Fire and Rescue, crews were called just before 1:30 p.m. to the 100 block of Town and Country Drive, near Ferry Road, for a reported traffic accident. On arrival, responders discovered that the vehicle involved was transporting a large container of herbicide, which was actively leaking at the scene.
Emergency medical personnel treated the driver, who was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Additional fire and hazmat units were brought in to contain the chemical leak, including support from the Regional Hazardous Materials Team based in Prince William County.
Officials said immediate neighbors were notified, but no evacuations were necessary. The roadway remains closed as crews continue to work on containment and cleanup. There is no ongoing threat to the public, authorities confirmed.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes while the incident is being managed.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Broadway is meeting the 'Burg this weekend as Fredericksburg native Tug Coker takes center stage as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts. The show opened Wednesday, May 7, and a special red-carpet celebration is set for Friday, May 9.
Coker, who was raised in Fredericksburg and graduated from Fredericksburg Academy, brings an impressive résumé to the Riverside stage. Known for his roles on Broadway and on hit shows like The Office, Billions, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, this marks his first professional performance in his hometown. He studied theater at the College of William and Mary and played professional basketball overseas before pursuing acting full-time.
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STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took a major step toward launching a traffic camera program aimed at slowing down drivers in school zones and highway work areas.
Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize County Administrator Bill Ashton to advertise a public hearing for June 17, 2025. The hearing will give residents a chance to weigh in on a proposed ordinance that would allow speed and red-light enforcement cameras in designated areas.
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Editor’s Note: This article is part of our exclusive five-part series, "A Conversation with the Superintendent," featuring an in-depth interview with Dr. Daniel W. Smith, Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. In this series, we explore Dr. Smith’s vision, challenges, and priorities—from fixing school transportation to addressing equity gaps, funding shortages, and the future of education in Stafford County. New articles are published weekly.
Part 4: Building a Workforce for the Future — Hiring Local, Teaching Real-World Skills
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STAFFORD, Va. –  Brewing wants your help naming a key part of its identity—the horse in its logo.
In a playful twist, the family-owned brewery announced it never gave the horse a name and is now turning to customers to fix that. Through May 18, guests visiting the taproom can submit their best name ideas by writing them down and dropping them into the suggestion box at the bar. The brewery’s owners will narrow the list to five finalists.
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STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has kicked off a new traffic enforcement effort aimed at improving road safety ahead of Memorial Day and the busy summer season. The initiative, known as the F.O.C.U.S. Campaign, launched in early May and will run through May 11.
According to the agency’s Traffic Safety Unit, the campaign was developed based on proactive ideas from deputies and has the full support of the department’s leadership. The goal: to reduce crashes, speeding, equipment violations, impaired driving, and traffic-related deaths across the county.
While all of Stafford County will be under watch, deputies will give extra attention to crash-prone areas like Richmond Highway, Warrenton Road, Kings Highway, Courthouse Road, and Garrisonville Road. School zones and neighborhood streets will also be key focus areas, selected using crash “heat maps” from the state.
During the campaign, deputies are using radar and LiDAR devices for speed enforcement, watching for signs of impaired driving, and stepping up patrols in residential zones. Officials say campaign results will be available after May 11 to help educate the public and reinforce safe driving practices.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking drivers to do their part by obeying speed limits and traffic laws. Residents can report traffic violations online through a complaint form at staffordsheriff.com, or call the non-emergency number 540-658-4400 to report dangerous drivers.
For the first time, Stafford County will host a Relay for Life event, bringing the community together for a day of remembrance, celebration, and action in the fight against cancer.
The May 10 event is the result of months of work by organizer Tracey Phillips, a longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society. Phillips was inspired to bring Relay for Life to Stafford after years of participating in events in neighboring counties, including an unforgettable first experience in 2009 in Loudoun County.
“It was such an overwhelmingly awesome experience,” Phillips said. “I made a commitment then that I’d always be a part of Relay. It’s become one of my family’s favorite things to do together.”
Phillips has a deep personal connection to the cause. She honors the memory of her uncle, who passed away from cancer 20 years ago. More recently, her husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer last fall. These personal experiences, combined with a desire to raise awareness and strengthen community ties, pushed her to bring a Relay event to Stafford.
“There’s never really been a Stafford Relay—at least not in the last 30 years,” she said. “So we wanted to start something here to bring people together and let survivors and families know they’re not alone.”
The event, titled “Night of Hope,” will take a scaled-down approach to the traditional 12–18-hour Relay model but will carry the same spirit: honoring survivors, supporting caregivers, remembering those lost, and raising money for cancer research. The goal this year is to raise $15,000 and draw around 200 participants, with plans to grow the event annually.
Highlights of the evening will include:
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A Survivor Lap and Survivor Dinner to celebrate those who have battled cancer
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A Luminaria Ceremony, where the track will be lit by donated luminary bags in memory and honor of loved ones;
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Family-friendly entertainment, including music, a silent auction, and demonstrations by the Stafford Sheriff’s Department, McGruff the Crime Dog, a drone team, K-9 unit, and local taekwondo and gymnastics teams;
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Activities for kids, photo opportunities, and lap-tracking beads to help participants beat their own records year over year; and
- Food Trucks like Taco Tuesday and The Dog House.
Planning officially began in late April, and as with many new grassroots efforts, the road hasn’t been without obstacles. “Funding’s not guaranteed when you’re just starting out,” Phillips said. “But we’ve got 12 teams so far and incredible support from the sheriff’s office and local businesses.” Stafford businesses like Paddy’s Public House, The Bearded Monkey, Jersey Mike’s (Windsor Road location), Cinnaholic, and more all hosted fundraising events for the new relay.
The Relay for Life of Stafford is part of the American Cancer Society’s 40th anniversary of Relay events nationwide. The goal is not only to raise money, but also to ignite a new tradition in Stafford that brings together families, schools, businesses, and service members in a shared mission.
Anyone interested in participating—whether as part of a team, as an individual, or as a volunteer—can find registration links and donation information through the event’s Facebook page or by contacting the organizing team via email.
“We’re hoping this is just the beginning,” Phillips said. “This is a chance for Stafford to stand together for hope, for healing, and for the future.”
Stafford’s Relay for Life will be help Saturday, May 10 at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary, 150 Duffey Drive. The 12-hour event begins at noon.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Two communities in Northern Virginia celebrated big wheels and loud horns this weekend, giving children the chance to get hands-on with the vehicles they usually only see driving by.
In Prince William County, Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge welcomed more than 1,000 visitors on Saturday, May 3, 2025, for its annual Touch-a-Truck event. Children of all ages climbed inside fire engines, police cruisers, dump trucks, and more — even getting the chance to honk the horns and meet the men and women who operate them. Hosted as a free community event, it proved to be a hit once again, with organizers already planning next year’s return on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
