The City of Manassas is facing a potential threat to its future water supply, as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has initiated a review of the city’s water withdrawal permits from Lake Manassas. The DEQ is evaluating whether to rescind the city’s grandfathered rights, which have long allowed Manassas to withdraw water under older, less restrictive conditions.
A change in the city’s withdrawal permit could significantly impact its ability to meet future water needs. City officials, during a recent council meeting, expressed concerns about the DEQ’s review and stressed the urgent need for action.
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On October 21, 2024, at 2:29 p.m., the Manassas City Police Department received a 911 call stating that a person had been shot in a residence located in the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane in Manassas. Police responded and found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel also responded to the residence and pronounced him dead on the scene.
A suspect at the scene was identified as the shooter and subsequently detained by police. Investigators determined that the incident was between domestic partners who both lived at the residence. The suspect was placed in custody and transported to the Prince William County Adult Detention Center. She was charged with the following criminal offenses and held without bond.
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The Keep the Park Beautiful (KPB) event on Oct. 14 at Scott Drive Pocket Park collected more than 100 pounds of litter throughout Manassas Park.
KPB is a part of the Manassas Park government and is a Keep America Beautiful — a nonprofit dedicated to educating and inspiring people to clean up their communities — affiliate. 10 volunteers, comprised of KPB committee members, Manassas residents and Manassas Park City Schools students, cleaned up Manassas Park for two hours.
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Ross Snare has resigned as Chairman of the Manassas Regional Airport Commission, effective Monday, October 21, 2024. His departure comes amid unverified allegations involving disparaging remarks about a city council member, adding fuel to an already heated local election season.
Snare, a Prince William County resident, was appointed to the commission by the Manassas City Council in 2018 and reappointed in 2022. He made history in June 2023 by becoming the youngest and first county Prince William County resident to serve as Chairman. During his tenure, Snare played a pivotal role in the airport's efforts to introduce commercial flights, a milestone now expected to be achieved in 2026, a year behind the initial schedule.
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As the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) heads into 2025, its proposed budget reflects its challenges and opportunities in a post-COVID world. The budget discussed at the October 18, 2024, Operations Board meeting outlines plans to support ridership recovery, maintain reliable service, and position VRE for future growth as a regional rail provider.
VRE, like many public transit systems, saw a significant decline in ridership during the pandemic. However, the 2025 budget aims to address passengers' slow but steady recovery by investing in enhanced service offerings and critical infrastructure projects. These efforts are intended to transform VRE from a commuter-focused system to a broader regional transportation network.
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Update, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 —
On October 21, 2024, at 2:29 p.m., the Manassas City Police Department received a 911 call stating that a person had been shot in a residence located in the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane in Manassas. Police responded and found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel also responded to the residence and pronounced him dead on the scene. Read more.
Original post — From Manassas police:
*Incident Alert* at 10.21.2024 at 2:38pm
Police are on scene at the 9200 block of Brinkley Lane for an investigation which is contained to a residence. There is a high police presence in the area. It is safe for the public to continue regularly activities. pic.twitter.com/F9C46vRkvb
— Manassas City Police (@ManassasCityPD) October 21, 2024
On Saturday, October 18, 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Annaburg Manor marked the completion of crucial stabilization work on the historic property. The event attracted history enthusiasts, local officials, and community members eager to see the progress made on the beloved 19th-century home.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, attendees were treated to the manor's first-ever art show featuring local artists.
Manassas acquired Annaburg Manor in 2019 to preserve its historical significance while transforming the grounds into a public park. Originally constructed in 1892 by Robert Portner, a Prussian-born entrepreneur and brewer, the home served as a summer retreat and gathering space for the community. The property later became a nursing facility before being purchased by the city.
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Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Oct. 21 work session. This week’s meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St. City Council will also be meeting on Tuesday to discuss applicants for the city manager position.
Make sure to check out Potomac Local's recent forum on the state of Manassas City Public Schools, which was held Thursday night with a School Board member and several candidates.
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Nearly 1,800 customers were affected by a power outage that struck just before 10 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, impacting residents and businesses across several areas, including Farmington Court, Hasting Drive, and Nantucket Court.
Crews are currently working to repair two underground connections that caused the outage. As of the latest update, power has been restored to the majority of affected customers, but 37 homes and businesses remain without electricity. Officials expect power to be fully restored within one to two hours as crews continue to make repairs.
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We just wrapped up an important discussion on the state of Manassas City Public Schools in our latest podcast episode, featuring insights from local education leaders and school board candidates. This special forum covered pressing issues facing our schools and presented diverse perspectives on how we can collectively move forward.
In this episode, you’ll hear from Robyn Williams, an eight-year school board member now running for City Council, and Caitlyn Meisner, our dedicated local editor covering Manassas City Public Schools since 2023. Several candidates endorsed by the city’s Republican committee, running for four open school board seats, also joined the discussion, including Allie Forkell, Javanese Hailey, Dayna Jackson-Miles, and Maidy Whitesell.
All school board candidates and sitting school board members were invited to participate.
Key Discussion Points and Timestamp Highlights:
1. SOL Scores and Decline in School Performance – [6:20-8:45]
Caitlyn Meisner discusses how Standards of Learning (SOL) scores have continued to fall behind state averages and what this means for the school division’s future.
2. School Infrastructure and Jennie Dean Elementary Project – [9:00-10:30]
A deep dive into the new Jennie Dean Elementary construction and discussions on infrastructure improvements vs. academic performance focus.
3. Challenges in the Classroom – [14:00-17:00]
Candidates and educators discuss post-COVID classroom challenges, such as teacher accountability, behavioral issues, and language barriers in the Manassas school system.
4. Grading Policy Controversy – [26:00-28:30]
Insight into the grading policy debate over giving students multiple retake opportunities and allowing them extended time for assignments. What’s the impact on student preparedness for college and the workforce?
5. CTE Program as a Bright Spot – [50:30-53:45]
Learn how the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is helping students gain real-world skills and why expanding this program could be key to the city’s future success.
We encourage everyone to listen in and jump to the segments that interest you the most. Whether you’re concerned about school accreditation, academic decline, or exciting new initiatives like the CTE program, this podcast is for you.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Listen and share this insightful discussion with friends, family, and neighbors.
- Send us your feedback: What issues would you like us to cover in future forums?
- Get informed before Election Day on November 5 to ensure your vote supports the future of our schools.
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