STAFFORD — The polls, which opened at 6 a.m., will be open and available to voters until 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

MANASSAS PARK — In a part of the country where the Civil War was fought over issues including slavery, the first black nominee of a major American political party ended his presidential campaign Monday night.

MANASSAS PARK — There’s a big party going on at the Prince William Fairgrounds. Thousands have gathered to see the final stop in Barack Obama’s historic campaign.

Thousands are gathering at the Prince William Fairgrounds in Manassas for presidential candidate Barack Obama’s final rally.

STAFFORD — A Stafford County family received a pretty satisfying Halloween gift in the amount of $25,000, after decorating their barn for a “Good Morning America” contest.

Man steals father’s cars, jewelry

STAFFORD — Deputy B. Collins responded to a call of domestic disturbance on Bethany Way between 9 and 9:30 p.m. on Monday evening, reported Stafford County Public Information Officer Bill Kennedy on Tuesday.

The following was taken from calls to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office from Oct. 20-27:

WOODBRIDGE— Hundreds of police officers from across the region gathered in Dale City on Thursday morning to honor a fallen Fairfax County lieutenant.

STAFFORD — Stafford High School graduate Tug Coker will appear tonight on the NBC show, “The Office” as a guest star.

STAFFORD — Borders in Stafford Marketplace held its Halloween Spooktacular on Saturday. The event was part of a nationwide celebration that Borders and Waldenbooks held.

STAFFORD — Anica Ashbourne, Stafford County’s internal auditor, recommended a 30 percent reduction in part-time hours for parks and recreation employees at the latest county board of supervisors’ meeting.

RICHMOND — A new training opportunity is setting out to help professionals deliver quality services that veterans require.

Editor’s Note: Last week, the Stafford County Sun ran a feature on candidate for Congress Bill Day. This week, a story will focus on his competitor, U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st District.

STAFFORD — A McLean woman died last week after being hit by a garbage truck earlier this month. Police say the driver who hit her is a Stafford County man.

STAFFORD— In spite of increased efforts to raise awareness about teenage driving incidents, Virginia lost seven young men and women between the ages of 15 and 19 last week.

RICHMOND — The Rev. Shay W. Auerbach, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in South Richmond, performs 15 to 20 baptisms of Hispanics a month.

Driven by a deep-rooted faith in his religion, Joshua Glick, along with his wife, Leah Glick, recently opened the doors of Real Life Church in Stafford County.

STAFFORD — Local resident Dwight Wills was recently honored at a ceremony for helping to save his neighbor’s home from an electrical fire.

The tired face of Triangle along U.S. 1 is disappearing, and disappearing for good.

Halloween is here, so folks will want to sit down to carve ghoulish faces and single-tooth grins on their favorite pumpkin, creating one-of-a-kind jack o’lanterns. In keeping with the season, the following is a conversation with Richard K. Erskine, along with some of his best pumpkin-carving tips.

Halloween can be a delightfully frightful time of year. This year, your newspaper scared up some tips to ensure that the only sirens you hear live by large bodies of water.

With just a few more days to determine who to vote for, local residents are gearing up for the presidential election. Tuesday is sure to be a busy day, both in Stafford, and nationwide.

STAFFORD — The Stafford County Board of Supervisors will discuss a proposal to borrow up to $70 million in general obligation bonds to upgrade several roads in the county considered dangerous.

FREDERICKSBURG — Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin told visitors to Hurkamp Park on Monday that she and Republican presidential candidate John McCain would like to work for them.

DUMFRIES — Police are searching for two bank robbers who hit the Commerce Bank just north of Dumfries on Friday morning.

The following is taken from calls to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office from Oct. 13-21:

Customers help stop robbery in progress

GARRISONVILLE — A robbery at the 105 Garrisonville Road Wawa was foiled by an off-duty federal agent and by at least one observant customer on Oct. 16, reported Maj. David Decatur the same day.

Police boats and helicopters continued a search Wednesday for a Fairfax County officer who went missing in the Potomac River during a Tuesday afternoon training exercise at Pohick Bay Regional Park.

STAFFORD — Closing the gap on the 2009 budget was a top subject at the Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday.

STAFFORD — Stafford County Registrar Sharon Persinger says that voters need to “wear a smile and comfortable shoes,” as a large voter turnout his expected on Nov. 4, Election Day.