Video: Dale City fire chief remembered

When members of the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department died, Chico Marrero worked with Assistant Chief Carl Persing to make plaques and memorials for their fellow fallen fire fighters and EMTs.

This week, Persing died from complications from colon cancer. He battled the disease three times in the past five years.

“I told him that ‘I never wanted to work on one of these for you.’ It looks like I had to make one anyway,” said Marrero, an 11-year volunteer with the department. With the help of volunteers, Marrero made a large poster in memory of Persing, with photos depicting him at work doing the job he loved.

It was placed under glass and presented at a remembrance gathering held for Persing  Wednesday night at  Dale City Fire Station 13.

Persing had volunteered with the Dale City department since 2001, joining the organization after taking medical leave from the City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department where he worked for 23 years. He officially retired from Manassas in 2007, but wanted to remain active in the fire service.

“He was a great firefighter, he was a great leader, a great teacher and a good mentor to people. And he cared about his people, and unfortunately at times he didn’t worry about himself, but worried about other people,” said DCVFD Chief Christopher Hool.

Wednesday night’s memorial gathering drew about 100 people. Many who attended remembered Persing for the experience that he brought the job.

During his life, he volunteered with fire stations in Fairfax County, Ft. Belvoir, Woodbridge, the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority and the U.S. Army.

He leaves behind two children, a mother and father, a brother and sister and a family of fire fighting professionals who will miss him.

A viewing for Persing will be held Tuesday June 29 at Dale City Fire Station 13, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

His funeral, with full honors, will be held the following day at 11 a.m., at the Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge.

Photo by Martin O'Connor. Persing is depicted on the right.

Chief dies from colon cancer

The Dale City Volunteer Fire Department lost a long-time member to colon cancer.

Assistant Chief Carl Persing died this week after fighting three bouts of colon cancer during the past five years. He was 53-years-old when he died, said DCVFD spokesman Steve Chappell.

Black cloths have been draped over Dale City’s four firehouses and Persing’s chief’s vehicle, said Chappell.

The department draped similar black cloth over their stations in 2008, after Dale City EMT Cecilia Turnbough died during a training exercise at the Prince William County Public Safety Center.

Funeral Arrangements for Persing are still being worked out.

He leaves behind two children, his parents, brother, sister and the fire department family, said Chappell.

Persing retired from the Manassas City Fire and Rescue Department in 2007. He joined DCVFD as a volunteer in 2001.

During his life, he also served with the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire Department and the U.S. Army.

Search ends for homeless camp shooter

The man police eyed in the shooting at a Dale City homeless camp turned himself in Friday night.

Johnny McManus, 45, became the subject of a police search after a man was shot in the ear at the camp more than a week ago. The victim was treated at a hospital for his injuries.

McManus is charged with malicious wounding.

The shooting occurred during an argument between the victim and the shooter, police said.

The homeless camp sits in the woods, near the intersection of Dale Boulevard and Interstate 95.

Man threatened with machete at homeless camp

A man was threatened with a machete as he returned to his tent at a Dale City homeless camp.

The victim saw a man using the blade to slice open his tent, and when the victim ap-proached him, the blade-wielder threatened to kill him, said a Prince William police spokesman.

James Shearer, 36, was charged with brandishing a machete and with attempted mali-cious wounding in connection to the incident.

The is the second attack in week at the homeless encampment.

The 49-year-old man was shot in the ear during an argument with another man about 9 p.m. Sunday. He was taken to a hospital and treated for his injuries.

Police are still looking for their suspect who fled on foot.

On Monday, an arrest warrant for Johnny McManus, 45, was issued, charging him with malicious wounding. He is described as black, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to call Prince William Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700.

The homeless encampment is located in the woods, near where Dale Boulevard crosses Interstate 95.

Dale City Farmers Market draws crowds

There was no shortage of sweet corn, fruits, vegetables, popcorn or even dueling banjos at Sunday’s Dale City Farmer’s Market.

The popular open air market drew farmers from Central Virginia, Stafford and other points that all came to sell produce, flowers, seasonings and other goods they had produced.

Evelyn Scott with vaflowerfarm.com traveled from Saluda in Middlesex County, about an hour west of Richmond, to sell lilies, perennials and other fresh-cut flowers.

“I only set up shop at producer-only farmers markets because it would be hard to do business next to a wholesaler,” she said. “Since my flowers are all locally grown, you’ll get a better deal from me.”

At 11 a.m. at least 60 people were still strolling through the market that sits near the intersection of Dale Boulevard and Minnieville Road, sampling free tomatoes, flavored butters and homemade salsas.

In the process they were entertained by some very unlikely music.

“We just like pickin’ around,” said Martin Stamper, who along with band mate Travis Ferrell was dueling banjoes Bluegrass style. “We both live in Manassas, so it’s fun for us to just come here and play.”

The two have been playing together in their band, Stomper, for eight years, he said. They play mostly local gigs.

The market, which is featured on the state’s tourism Web site, opens each Sunday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Its season lasts from April 4 through Nov. 21.

Man shot in ear at Dale City homeless camp

The police helicopter hovering above Dale City on Sunday night was the result of a shooting that left one man shot in the ear.

The 49-year-old victim was shot about 9 p.m., during an argument he had with another man at the homeless encampment near the overpass at Dale Boulevard and Interstate 95, said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez.

The victim was treated at a local hospital, and police are still searching for their shooting suspect.

Johnny McManus, 45, is charged with malicious wounding in connection to the shooting, said Hernandez. McMannus does not have a last known address, he is described as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, police said.

Virginia State Police were called in to assist in the search, and troopers still remained posted at the exit ramps at mile post 156 about 11 p.m.

Anyone with information on McManus’ whereabouts is encouraged to call Prince William County Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700.