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.

Does anyone celebrate his or her birthday on the third Monday of a month? "Of course not," huffed Rep. Frank Wolf. "So why do we diminish the memory of the greatest American by turning his birthday into nothing more than a three-day weekend," Wolf asked a Congressional subcommittee today. There's a move afoot in Congress to observe the Feb. 22 birthday of George Washington, the Father of Our Country and First President of the United States, on Feb. 22 instead of on the third Monday in February. Wolf and Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represent areas of Prince William County and Manassas, and Rep. Jim Moran,, who represents the area that includes Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, are co-sponsors of the bill.

On Saturday, March 17, a Gainesville Middle School 5K Race and 1 mile Fun Run will raise funds to help start a Special Olympics group in western Prince William County VA. Steven Bailey, a mentor to the director for administration at the National Military Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. will be with his family in spirit during the school 's 5K Race and 1 mile Fun Run. “It’s a great opportunity to show support to both the Special Olympics and GVMS,” he said. “Given the time difference, pending weather and any security issues, I hope to run [in Afghanistan] the same day [as the event in Gainesville].”

Prince William County VA emergency personnel as well as workers from the Department of Social Services and school bus drivers joined with personnel from the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross late last night in relocating 50 senior citizens–some in wheelchairs–and 20 pets to the Dale City Recreation Center from an apartment building at 13900 Hedgewood Drive near Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge VA. Flooding caused by a burst hot water pipe forced the relocation, according to a Prince William County VA press release.

Officials of Prince William County VA Public Schools say a faulty smoke detector alarm caused the evacuation of Neabsco Elementary School in Woodbridge VA earlier this afternoon. All are safe and have returned to school, according to Irene Cromer, spokesman for the school division.

Manassas VA City Police Department's crime report for Feb. 27, 2012

Teen musicians may think of a band as art--creating a unique sound. Playing in a band can be good training for a future life in the business world. A drummer-band manager reveals the business lessons he learned while booking and playing gigs from the time he was 15.

Threat of critical fire weather is forecast for Prince William County VA on Feb. 24. The Fire Marshal issued a temporary ban on all outside burning starting on Feb. 23

The "no open burning ban before 4 p.m." is now in effect in Virginia. The threat of dangerous wildfires is a scary part of spring, and 95 percent of the fires have been found to have been caused by humans. According to the governor, the wildfire threat is more pronounced than usual due to the mild winter.