Moseley Architects, the firm that won statewide honors in Virginia for its design of Patriot High School and T. Clay Wood Elementary School, both in Nokesville, has been awarded the contract to design and engineer the 12th high school in Prince William County VA.

Fire officials in Nokesville VA have given the okay for Patriot High School to resume class and other activities after the school was evacuated earlier this morning for an unidentified "strong odor." The cause of the smell has since been identified, according to Irene Cromer, supervisor of community relations for Prince William County Schools.

Lake Ridge VA resident Elizabeth Peet McIntosh, 97, a former OSS and CIA intelligence agent, is among those to be honored as Virginia Women in History in 2012.

Prince William Parkway, a cross-county connector in Prince William County VA. has been reclassified as a "primary road," making it eligible for new funding and maintenance priorities, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Prince William County VA's Park Authority will conduct a summer job fair for lifeguards and other pool service associates who want to work at SplashDown Water Park at Ben Lomond Community Center in Manassas VA on Saturday, Feb. 25.

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.

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.