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.

Prince William County asks residents using The Nokesville School recycling and trash site on Saturdays to please observe the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items are being left before the service provider arrives. If this continues to be an issue, the county's Solid Waste Division says this service may have to be cancelled.

Residents are invited to join Prince William County Supervisor Jeanine Lawson on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m., at Marsteller Middle School, 14000 Sudley Manor Drive, Bristow, for a Brentsville District town hall meeting on land use, Rural Crescent and VRE.

Prince William Conservation Alliance will host an open house at its headquarters, 2241F Tackett’s Mill Drive, Woodbridge, Sept. 21, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

A Prince William County Fire Marshal was investigating a citizen’s "suspicious device" report Aug 23 on Arum Place in Woodbridge when several plastic bottles containing an unknown chemical substance were located. The Fire Marshal requested more fire and rescue resources and the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit from the Virginia State Police.