Chesterfield County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Hope your week is off to a great start!

We’ve got another packed edition of the Chesterfield County Community Insider for you—local news you’ll want to know about, upcoming events around the county, a look at the weather, and a few other things happening in our community.

As always, grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s catch up on what’s happening around Chesterfield.

Thanks for reading and being part of the Insider community!

Matt

It was another tense week for the Meadowbrook High School community.

The school was placed in secure status last Thursday because of a law enforcement operation happening nearby. Chesterfield Police said that operation did not involve the school, but it came the same morning families were notified about a separate social media message containing a vague threat.

Police said the circulating message did not specifically mention Meadowbrook—or any Chesterfield school—and investigators had not linked its origin to a school in the county. Still, additional officers were made available at schools as a precaution.

The heightened security comes just days after a serious incident at Meadowbrook. On Monday, a fight between students left one student with life-threatening injuries. A 16-year-old male has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding and was being held in juvenile detention. According to the injured student's brother, the student remained in critical condition in the ICU.

School officials are asking anyone with potentially useful information about threats or safety concerns to report it rather than spreading unverified information online.

A quick-thinking delivery person and Chesterfield first responders helped prevent an already serious house fire from becoming even worse last Tuesday.

Chesterfield Fire and EMS responded to a home on Woodpecker Road after a person delivering water noticed smoke coming from the house and called 911.

Crews discovered two adults trapped inside the home and successfully rescued them. Both were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

Before firefighters arrived, others apparently tried to help. Two civilians and a police officer were treated for minor smoke inhalation following their efforts.

Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control within about 20 minutes. Investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen, although the exact cause remains under investigation.

It's also a good reminder of how important it can be to speak up when something doesn't look right. In this case, someone simply noticing smoke and making that 911 call may have made a critical difference.

There was a dramatic scene at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds Monday afternoon after crews working with a trencher accidentally struck a gas line.

Chesterfield Fire and EMS was called to the fairgrounds shortly after 1 p.m., where flames could be seen shooting into the air from the damaged line.

Firefighters worked to contain the fire and keep the area safe while waiting for Columbia Gas crews to arrive and secure the leak.

Thankfully, despite how dramatic the fire looked, officials reported no injuries and no structural damage. The fire was extinguished and the gas leak was successfully contained.

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Another damaged gas line prompted an emergency response in Chesterfield, this time in a residential neighborhood.

Chesterfield Fire and EMS evacuated six homes on Sagebrook Road near Genito Road after a gas line was cut Friday afternoon.

Crews responded to the area and worked to keep residents safely away while the situation was brought under control.

The good news: firefighters were able to contain the leak, and no injuries were reported in the information available.

Between this incident and the gas-line fire at the county fairgrounds, it was certainly a busy stretch for Chesterfield Fire and EMS crews.

Here's a scam warning worth passing along to friends and family—especially anyone who might be caught off guard by an intimidating phone call.

The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office is reminding residents about jury duty scams in which callers pretend to be law enforcement officers or court officials.

The scammers may claim you've missed jury duty and then threaten you with arrest, fines or other consequences unless you immediately provide information or make a payment.

Don't fall for the pressure. Residents are being reminded not to provide personal or financial information or send money to unsolicited callers.

If you receive a suspicious call claiming you owe money because you missed jury duty, don't let threats or a sense of urgency push you into paying. Verify the situation independently through official channels first.

Someone out there may be wondering where their four-legged family member went.

A brown and white dog was found near Reams and Rosegill in the Richmond/Chesterfield area, and the person who found the pup is trying to spread the word and locate the owner.

If the dog looks familiar—or you know someone in the area who's missing a dog—check the listing through Chesterfield County, VA - Lost Dogs, Cats & Pets on PawBoost for additional information and contact details.

And even if you don't recognize this pup, sharing the information with neighbors and local community groups could help. Sometimes one share is all it takes to get a lost pet back home.

Date: Wednesday, September 23
Time: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Chesterfield County Government Complex, 6701 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield
Details: Shop local produce, foods, horticultural products and other goods from area vendors. This is one of the final markets of the 2026 season, which runs through September 30.

🏐 Matoaca vs. Thomas Dale — Field Hockey

Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: JV at 4:30 PM; Varsity at 6:00 PM
Location: Thomas Dale High School - Main Campus
Details: A local Chesterfield matchup as the Matoaca Warriors take on Thomas Dale. The varsity contest follows the JV game at 6 PM.

🏐 Matoaca vs. Colonial Heights — Volleyball

Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: Girls Varsity at 5:45 PM; Boys Varsity at 7:15 PM
Location: Matoaca High School, 17700 Longhouse Lane, Chesterfield
Details: An evening volleyball doubleheader featuring the Matoaca Warriors, with the girls taking the court first followed by the boys.

🏈 Matoaca Warriors Varsity Football

Date: Friday, September 25
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Matoaca High School, 17700 Longhouse Lane, Chesterfield
Details: Friday night lights return as Matoaca hosts Dinwiddie in a varsity football matchup.

🏃 Beaver Tail Trail 4-Miler

Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 8:00–10:00 AM
Location: Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield
Details: Hit the trails for a four-mile race presented by the =PR= Run Club. The race serves as a kickoff to Chesterfield's Outdoor Fest later in the day. Registration is listed at $25, with race-day registration ending at 7:30 AM.

🐕 Chesterfield Rabies Clinic

Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 9:00–11:00 AM
Location: Chesterfield County Fairgrounds
Details: Chesterfield County's Public Safety calendar lists a morning rabies clinic at the county fairgrounds. A handy opportunity for local pet owners who need to get their animals' vaccinations up to date.

⚔️ Civil War Day at Historic Point of Rocks

Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: R. Garland Dodd Park At Point Of Rocks, 201 Enon Church Road, Chester
Details: Step back into local history during this free event at the Strachan House and Point of Rocks Civil War Hospital Site. Visitors can learn more about what happened on these historic grounds during the Civil War era.

🌲 Chesterfield Outdoor Fest 2026

Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 12:00–5:00 PM
Location: Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield
Details: One of the biggest events of the weekend. This free, family-friendly festival features live music, food trucks, a beer garden, guided hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding, outdoor yoga, a cave simulator, BMX and mountain-bike demonstrations, dog jumping, slacklining and more. Parking is free for National Public Lands Day.

🌿 Harvest Moon Retreat

Date: Saturday–Sunday, September 26–27
Time: Saturday 2:00 PM through Sunday 11:30 AM
Location: Dandelion Springs Apiary, 11011 Beaver Bridge Road, Chesterfield
Details: An overnight nature-and-wellness gathering featuring somatic movement, a wild medicine walk, beeswax candle making, herbal mocktails, yoga, sound healing, storytelling and s'mores, camping, art and journaling. Full-event registration is listed at $90, with individual activities available for $25.

🏃‍♀️ Healthy Kids Running Series — Midlothian

Date: Sunday, September 27
Time: 3:00–4:00 PM
Location: Tomahawk Creek Middle School, Midlothian
Details: Part of a five-week fall running series for kids from Pre-K through eighth grade. Distances vary by age from short 50- and 75-yard dashes through quarter-mile, half-mile and one-mile races.

🛍️ Chester Trunk Show — 150+ Vendors

Date: Sunday, September 27
Time: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: The Elephant's Trunk, 10410 Iron Bridge Road, Chester
Details: A huge community yard sale and small-business market featuring 150+ local vendors inside and outside. Expect antiques, vintage finds, home décor, baked goods, clothing, jewelry, art, collectibles, toys, local honey and more. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

🎉 New Life Annual Tailgate Party

Date: Sunday, September 27
Time: 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: New Life, 900 Old Hundred Road, Midlothian
Details: New Life's annual community tailgate gathering returns Sunday afternoon at its Midlothian location.

🥕 Final Chesterfield Farmers Market of the Season

Date: Wednesday, September 30
Time: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Chesterfield County Government Complex, 6701 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield
Details: It's the final scheduled Chesterfield County Farmers Market of 2026, giving residents one more chance to shop local produce, food and other goods before the season wraps up.

⚖️ Senior Law Clinic

Date: Wednesday, September 30
Time: 1:00–4:00 PM
Location: Community Development Building, Chesterfield
Details: Chesterfield County's Health and Well-being calendar lists its Senior Law Clinic for Wednesday afternoon.

🎸 Rockin' at Indy — The Wrest

Date: Thursday, October 1
Time: 6:00–9:00 PM
Location: Independence Golf Club, 600 Founders Bridge Blvd., Midlothian
Details: The Wrest takes over The Lawn for an evening of classic rock, Motown, country, R&B, bluegrass and modern favorites. Admission is complimentary, with food and drinks available for purchase. It's family-friendly, and guests can bring lawn chairs and blankets. The outdoor concert is weather-dependent.

🌳 Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting

Date: Thursday, October 1
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
Location: Beulah Recreation Center, 6901 Hopkins Road, North Chesterfield
Details: Residents can attend the monthly PRAC meeting, where the citizen commission discusses county parks, recreation programs, long-range planning, facility development and other Parks & Recreation issues.

Weather forecast: Guaranteed to be 100% accurate at least 20% of the time—unless it changes. Expect sunny skies… or rain. But definitely weather. We guarantee some form of that. No refunds!

Note: While the provided forecast gives a general idea of expected weather conditions, it should be treated with caution due to potential inaccuracies in long-term predictions. Checking closer to the date will provide a more reliable forecast.

Q. What did the grape say when it got stepped on?

A. Nothing, it just let out a little wine.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with us and catching up on what’s happening around the county. Whether you’re heading out to a local event, enjoying the fall weather, or just taking it easy this weekend, I hope you have a great one.

Stay safe, look out for your neighbors, and we’ll be back next week with more from around Chesterfield County.

See you then!

Matt

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