Stafford

Thinking About Teaching? School Divisions Still Have Openings as the First Day Nears

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Stafford County Public Schools

STAFFORD, Va. – The window to become a new teacher in our area is closing, but school divisions are still hiring as the first day of the 2025–26 school year approaches.

In Stafford County, just over 120 licensed staff positions remained open as of late June. Of those, 98 are classroom teaching roles, while the rest include specialists like counselors. “Special education across all grades and elementary positions are our highest-need areas,” said Patrick Byrnett, the division’s Chief Talent Officer.

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Passerby with Garden Hose Helps Slow House Fire on Erin Drive; 5 Dogs Rescued

By Uriah Kiser

STAFFORD, Va. –  At 2:45 p.m., Stafford County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to the 100 block of Erin Drive after several people reported flames coming from the back of a home. One of those passersby, a member of Stafford County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), jumped into action and used a garden hose to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Fire crews arrived within three minutes and confirmed active flames at the rear of a single-story, single-family home. As firefighters worked to put out the fire, they also rescued five dogs from inside the house. All five dogs were unharmed and did not require medical attention, according to Katie Brady, a fire and rescue spokeswoman.

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Stafford County Orders Farm Stand Shut Down, Citing Zoning Rules

By Uriah Kiser
A farm stand sits near the intersection of Caroway Drive and Brooke Road in Falmouth, where Stefanie Hughes sells eggs, produce, and baked goods from her family’s five-acre property.

FALMOUTH, Va. – A Falmouth woman is pushing back against a county order to shut down a small farm stand on her property, saying the structure is part of a broader effort to preserve the agricultural lifestyle that once defined Stafford County.

Stefanie Hughes, a fifth-generation Stafford County resident, erected a 4-by-8-foot shed on her five-acre property on Brooke Road over Memorial Day weekend to sell eggs, herbal tea, compost, sunflowers, seasonal produce, and baked goods like blueberry scones. The makeshift wayside stand, built from leftover lumber, was up for just over a week when a cease-and-desist letter arrived in the mail on May 30.

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Stafford Seeks Federal Grant to Boost Firefighter Staffing at Three Under-Resourced Stations

By Potomac Local News
Photo: Stafford County Fire and Rescue

STAFFORD, Va. – Stafford County is applying for federal funding that would allow it to hire 12 new firefighters to staff one of its three understaffed fire stations.

Fire Chief Joe Cardello on Tuesday asked the Board of Supervisors to approve an application for the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant, a FEMA-administered program aimed at helping local governments expand emergency services. If awarded, the grant would cover most of the cost of hiring a dozen full-time firefighters for three years.

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Stafford Sheriff Shares Safety Rules, Road Closures for July 4 Celebration at Pratt Park

By Potomac Local News

STAFFORD, Va. – The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July at John Lee Pratt Memorial Park.

The Star-Spangled 4th Spectacular is one of Stafford’s biggest annual traditions, featuring family-friendly activities, live music, food vendors, and a grand fireworks show to close out the night. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the fireworks will begin just before 10 p.m. The event is free and typically draws hundreds of people from across the region.

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Power Outage Shuts Part of Stafford Post Office, But You Can Still Drop Off Mail

By Potomac Local News

U.S. Post Office at 16 Lichfield Boulevard in Stafford County is partially closed today due to a power outage, according to paper signs posted on the doors.

The lights remained on inside, and a man was seen behind the full-service counter looking at his phone. While the doors to the full-service lobby were locked, customers could still enter to drop off mail and access their mailboxes.

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Modified Holiday Schedule Set for Interstate 95 and 395 E-ZPass Express Lanes on July 4

By Potomac Local News
Looking south along the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes near Springfield. [Photo courtesy of Transurban]

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Drivers planning to use the Interstate 95 and 395 E-ZPass Express Lanes on Independence Day should be aware of a modified reversal schedule designed to accommodate holiday traffic headed to the nation’s capital.

On Friday, July 4, 2025, the toll lanes will remain in northbound operation until approximately 7 p.m. to support increased traffic traveling into Washington, D.C., for fireworks and other celebrations. The lanes are expected to reopen southbound by around 8:30 p.m. to assist with the return flow of holiday travelers.

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Riverside Adds Real-Life Mental Health Talks to Next to Normal Performances

By Potomac Local News

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is expanding the impact of its summer musical Next to Normal with a special speaker series designed to connect the themes of the show to real-life mental health experiences in the Fredericksburg region.

The musical runs from July 2 to August 3, 2025, and explores the story of a suburban family grappling with the effects of bipolar disorder, grief, and emotional trauma. With a contemporary rock score and book by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal won three Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Critics from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Washington Post named it one of the best shows of the year when it debuted on Broadway.

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Weekly Traffic Update for Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Fredericksburg

By Potomac Local News

As we head into the July 4 holiday weekend, here’s what to know before you hit the road.

Heads up! VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads starting at noon Thursday, July 3, through noon Monday, July 7. But here’s what’s happening before and after the break:

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Senior Alert Issued for Missing 78-Year-Old Stafford Man with Cognitive Impairment

By Potomac Local News

“Jim Manning has been safely located. Thank you to everyone that provided information.”

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – The Virginia State Police issued a Senior Alert Friday night for a missing 78-year-old man last seen in Stafford County.

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