Carolina Structural Systems, a manufacturer of custom wood trusses and other structural wood products, will invest $5.5 million to establish a new manufacturing facility near Emporia.. The company will construct a 40,000-square-foot facility in the Greensville County Industrial Park.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting applications through March 31,2012 for AmeriCorpsvolunteers who will be trained to increase public awareness of Virginia's natural, historical and cultural resources at 27 of the state's 35 parks during the upcoming spring and summer.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has awarded a $5.3 million contract to General Excavation Inc. of Warrenton VA to build a park-and-ride lot off the Rt. 234 Bypass near Interstate 66 in Manassas VA with space for 433 vehicles. It will open in 2013.

Most Prince William County VA government offices, services and libraries will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20. the Presidents' Day holiday.

When snow is forecast for our region, Prince William County Schools has a "snow patrol" team of five headed by Ed Bishop, transportation director. They drive the roads in various sections of the county, determining road conditions so they are able to make a recommendation to the superintendent in time for him to make a decision on school closing or delay and have it disseminated to TV and radio stations for broadcast by 5 a.m.

Forrest Odend'hal completed his one-year term as president of the Prince William Association of Realtors in January. Now he is serving as immediate past president and a member of the Virginia Association of Realtors--and he is still advocating for property rights.

Patricia Richie-Folks, a business manager and daughter of a preacher, will stress economic development in her bid for a seat on Manassas City Council. She is the first candidate fielded by the Democratic Party in a number of years. The election is May 1.

The office of Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland could be at a new location soon. According to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors' agenda for Feb. 7, a new site for the district office has been located and a lease has been negotiated, subject to board approval.

Prince William County, the second largest school division in the state of Virginia, continues to need hundreds of teachers. With the planned opening of a new middle school in Haymarket as well as retirements and the normal anticipated teacher turnover, an employment official with Prince William County schools projects hiring 500 to 600 teachers for fall. In 2011, some 56,000 people applied for teaching positions. Teachers for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) are in high demand.