A Hometown NFL Star Gets Hurt, and a 90-Year-Old Mt. Airy Staple Closes

📰 TOP STORIES

A Damascus Teacher Is Headed to the Library of Congress

A Damascus High School educator was one of just 90 teachers nationwide selected for the Library of Congress's 2026 Summer Teacher Institute, chosen out of nearly 200 applicants representing 21 states. The three day program in DC trains teachers to use primary source documents in the classroom, and they bring what they learn back to share with colleagues. The teacher’s name was not listed, so if you have additional information let us know!

Wayback Burgers: Coming, Just Not Yet

There was a post asking what's going in where the salon used to be in the Safeway shopping center. Twenty comments later, the leading theory is Wayback Burgers, which actually signed a lease at 9811 Main Street back in June 2025 and was originally supposed to open by late 2025. One neighbor says she called about a sponsorship and was told it's coming, just not for a few months yet. We'll keep asking around for a firm date.

Southern States Mt. Airy Closing After 90 Years

Southern States Mt. Airy Cooperative announced this week that it's closing for good. The store opened on Hill Street back in 1935 and moved to its current spot on South Main Street in 1996. Retail operations will wind down over the next few months, with the doors officially closing by December. Before they go, they're holding one more Annual Christmas Photos with Santa event on December 5, with the U.S. Marine Corps, and collecting for Toys for Tots one last time.

🏆HORNETS SPORTS

Damascus's Own Bryan Bresee Hurt at Saints Camp

Bryan Bresee, who led the Hornets to state championships in 2017 and 2019 before becoming a five-star recruit and New Orleans' first round pick in 2023, went down with a knee injury on the very first day of Saints training camp on July 29. Multiple outlets are reporting it's feared to be a torn ACL, which would end his season. It's Bresee's second ACL tear, he tore the other one at Clemson back in 2021. Sending prayers his way from the town that watched him grow up.

📆 UPCOMING EVENTS

Women's and Teens Self Defense Class, Aug. 12

Damascus Health & Fitness is hosting a Women's and Teens Self Defense Class on Wednesday, August 12, from 7 to 9:30pm. It's aimed at teens and women ages 14 to early 20s (a class for older participants is being planned for later), and covers situational awareness, risk avoidance, and basic defensive tactics. It's taught by Robert Eisenberg, a 5th degree black belt in Uechi Ryu Karate with more than 40 years of teaching experience. Registration forms are at the front desk, due by August 9. It's $15 for members, $25 for non-members, and all participants should be able to handle moderate physical activity.

Fireworks & Community Night, Aug. 14

Damascus Road Community Church is hosting a Fireworks & Community Night on Friday, August 14 at 6pm, with live music, food trucks, games, and fireworks to close out the evening. It's at 12826 Old National Pike. Almost 90 people have already said they're going or interested on Facebook.