Fall is the breeding season for deer, and consequently, deer are more active now than at any other time of the year. One-half to two-thirds of all deer/vehicle collisions occur in the months of October, November and December. While less than 2 percent of vehicle fatalities and injuries involve deer collisions in Virginia, hitting a deer can cause considerable damage to both people and property.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) offers this advice on how to keep from getting burned when you buy firewood. Grab a tape measure, a yardstick or a ruler.

Prince William County school officials, School Board members, and sponsoring organizations will dedicate the new 1.1-mile Discovery Trail that runs from Coles Elementary School to Colgan High School on Thursday, Oct. 20.

NOVA RECON, a new construction recycling facility, has opened in Prince William County. It offers concrete crushing to the construction industry in the Metro DC area. Located off I-66 at 7320 Old Compton Road, the six-acre facility features top-of-the-line machinery to process, screen, and sort crushed concrete products, according to a news release.

Dominion Virginia Power says it has more than 2,300 people working to restore power and that number will increase as it brings back 500 additional line workers onto the Dominion system from contractors returning from Florida.

With the possibility of Hurricane Matthew impacting our region, now is the time to review your emergency preparedness kit and plans prior to the storm. “The more prepared you are prior to an emergency, the more likely you will survive an emergency, states Prince William County Fire & Rescue Chief Kevin McGee. “Planning for an emergency only takes a few low-cost steps to ensure your safety when a disaster arises.”

There is one lucky owl flying around Prince William County–thanks to the help of kind residents and the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia. The bird was hit by a car this summer, rescued, rehabilitated and released back into the wild this past weekend at Silver Lake Regional Park in Haymarket.

Beginning Oct. 1, residents will need to find alternatives for disposing of usable unwanted items. The Donation Place @ The Landfill at Independent Hill in Prince William County will be temporarily closed to find a new operator and to make necessary repairs to the building that houses the program.