Virginia's Top 5: Our Most Popular Facebook Stories This Week

From an attempted burglary in Fredericksburg to a Reston parking enforcement system featured in on a popular ABC sitcom, check out the stories Virgnia Patch readers were sharing, reading and commenting on for the week of March 13.

Stafford Carpenter Wins Big in Virginia Lottery

A carpenter working on a roofing project visited the Wawa at 275 Butler Rd. in Fredericksburg during his lunch break. He decided to purchase a few lottery tickets — one of which was worth almost a half-million dollars. The odds were 1 in 2,080,800.

Burglary of Firearms Dealership Thwarted in Fredericksburg

Two men carrying large storage bins were rebuffed while attempting to break into the SSG Tactical firearms dealership at 610 Westwood Office Park. Officers in the area responded to the scene at around 5:40 a.m. for a report of possible vandalism to the front door. The police, upon arrival, found the glass on the front door shattered and a lock on the metal cage damaged.

Kilmer Middle School Wins 2017 State Chess Championship (K-8)

Kilmer Middle School took top prize and first place in the 2017 Virginia State Scholastic Chess Tournament. Five chess players represented the Kilmer team at the tournament, and each teammate also won an individual award and trophy. A Coach of the Year award was also presented as well as awards for a blitz chess tournament.

Paramedic Helps Franconia Woman Deliver Baby

Fairfax County fire and rescue personnel came to the aid of a woman who had gone into labor. Units from Fire Station 5, Franconia, were dispatched to the family's home, and at 3:48 a.m., Technician Katherine Murray (Medic 5), with assistance from Engine 5, helped mom deliver a healthy newborn.

Reston Town Center's Parking Enforcement System Featured on ABC's 'Modern Family'

A unique parking enforcement system, utilized by Reston Town Center to go after those who don't pay their parking tickets, has been featured on an episode of ABC sitcom "Modern Family." The Barnacle is a fairly new parking enforcement system, but it is also used in other areas of the United States outside of Reston.

Photo credit: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (posted with permission of the Hill family)