Chesterfield County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Matt here — hope your week’s treating you well! We’ve got another packed edition of the Chesterfield County Community Insider ready for you, with some important local updates, community happenings, upcoming events, and a look at what Mother Nature has in store for us.

As always, the goal is simple: help you stay connected to what’s happening right here in our own backyard without having to hunt all over for it.

Grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s catch up on what’s happening around Chesterfield. ☕🏡

Matt

The long-running saga surrounding Chesterfield’s Shoosmith landfill has taken another major turn.

Former owners Fred Gerald Nichols and Paul Lawrence McGee, both reportedly living in Texas, have been indicted by a grand jury and are now listed as fugitives in Virginia’s court system. Each faces a felony charge of unlawfully abandoning a waste facility along with two misdemeanor charges related to alleged violations of Virginia’s Water Control Act. Arrest warrants have been issued.

The indictments follow years of environmental concerns at the landfill, including documented leachate seeps and discharges affecting Swift Creek. State regulators first documented landfill gas condensate discharging into the creek in 2021, and additional problems were reported in subsequent years.

Shoosmith stopped accepting waste in February 2025 and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy months later. State officials have since discussed strengthening financial-assurance requirements to help prevent landfill owners from walking away from costly environmental obligations.

The corporate entity Shoosmith Bros. Inc. also faces charges, with a hearing scheduled for Oct. 21.

It’s an important development in a story Chesterfield residents have been following for years — but the indictments are allegations, and the criminal cases still have to play out in court.

A complicated court case stemming from the January 2025 shooting at Shamrock Pub is back in the spotlight.

Kalvon Turner, who was accused of opening fire inside the Chesterfield pub and injuring five people, originally faced eight charges. Those charges were dismissed Sept. 1 after a judge determined Turner's statutory right to a speedy trial had been violated.

The ruling was not a determination of guilt or innocence. Turner had been jailed without bond for more than 18 months while awaiting trial, and his defense successfully argued that the Commonwealth had taken too long to bring the case before a jury.

A key issue involved a February trial delay after prosecutors said a witness had undergone surgery related to injuries from the shooting. Turner's attorney challenged whether the circumstances justified the lengthy postponement.

Now there's another development. On Sept. 21, prosecutors filed three new charges against Turner: attempted non-capital first-degree murder, malicious discharge of a firearm and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

That means a case that appeared to have ended earlier this month is once again moving through Chesterfield's court system..

Chesterfield County Fire and EMS crews were called into action early in the morning after a passerby spotted flames near West Hundred Road.

The call came in around 4:11 a.m. in the 5500 block of West Hundred Road. Someone driving through the area noticed what appeared to be flames in the woods and called 911.

When firefighters arrived, they discovered a home fully engulfed in flames, with fire coming through the roof.

Crews were able to bring the blaze under control in roughly 45 minutes.

One person who had been inside the home was later found nearby and transported to the hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A big thank-you goes to the passerby who spotted the flames and made that early-morning 911 call, as well as the Chesterfield County Fire and EMS crews who responded.

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Some Chesterfield residents had an unexpected interruption last Tuesday after a downed tree along Genito Road knocked out power in the surrounding area.

A local resident shared the scene with us as crews worked to deal with the outage.

The good news: this one has already been resolved. The scene has since been cleared and power has been restored to the affected area.

Thanks so much to the community member who sent this our way! Reader tips and photos are a great way for neighbors across Chesterfield to know what's happening around the county.

It’s a message we've all heard before, but it's worth repeating: if you're drinking, don't get behind the wheel.

Driving impaired doesn't just put the driver at risk. One bad decision can affect passengers, other motorists, pedestrians and families throughout our community.

If alcohol is part of your plans, figure out your ride home before you start drinking. Designate a sober driver, use a rideshare or taxi, get a ride from a friend or simply stay where you are until it's safe to drive.

It takes only a little planning to avoid a decision that could have lifelong consequences.

Enjoy yourself, look out for your friends and neighbors, and let's keep Chesterfield's roads safe.

It looks like folks at Stonebridge Recreation Center know how to have a good time!

Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation recently hosted its Denim, Diamonds and Pearls Social, bringing together 52 guests for an afternoon filled with food, music and plenty of line dancing.

From the looks of things, there were smiles all around as attendees got a chance to socialize, hit the dance floor and spend some quality time together.

Events like this are a nice reminder that our local recreation centers aren't just places for activities — they're gathering spots where Chesterfield neighbors can meet, reconnect and simply enjoy each other's company.

Thanks to Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation and everyone else who helped put the afternoon together. 💃

🏈 Meadowbrook vs. Thomas Dale Football

🏈 Clover Hill vs. Cosby Football

🎺 Chesterfield County Marching Band Exhibition

🏆 Chesterfield Community Cup

🐴 CCFA Horse Show

🎷 Swing for the Cure

🛍️ Women's Ministry Craft & Vendor Fair

🍼 Chesterfield Farmers Market

🎓 College Connection at Cosby High

🍂 Outdoors in October — Beulah Park

🌳 Outdoors in October — Rockwood Park

🍁 Outdoors in October — Matoaca Park

🌊 Outdoors in October — Robious Landing Park

🌿 Outdoors in October — Point of Rocks

🌱 Wild Plant & Foraging Class

🏈 L.C. Bird vs. Manchester Football

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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.

I once wrote a song about a tortilla, but it's more of a wrap.

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, catching some Friday night football, or just enjoying the cooler fall weather, I hope you have a great week ahead. 🍂🏈

And remember, if you spot something interesting happening around town, send it our way — some of our best stories come straight from neighbors like you.

Stay safe, take care of each other, and I’ll see you right back here next week!

Matt

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