Chesterfield County Community Insider Weekly Newsletter

Hope everybody made it through those wild storms without too much trouble! Between lightning, flooded roads and downed trees, Mother Nature definitely kept things interesting around here this week.

In this week’s Chesterfield County Community Insider, we’ve got you caught up on the VSU shooting investigation, an important health alert, some great news from the Back to School Bash, plus upcoming events, weather and more from around the county.

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

Stay safe and have a great week!

Matt

A 19-year-old Henrico man accused in a shooting that left five people wounded at Virginia State University was arrested Saturday after an hours-long search.

Chesterfield Police say Camron Harris, who is not a VSU student, was found hiding inside a closet in Seward Hall around 4 p.m. — more than 14 hours after the shooting.

The gunfire broke out around 1:30 a.m. outside VSU dormitories in the 3300 block of Boisseau Street in Ettrick. Harris was taken to the Chesterfield County Jail and is being held without bond.

Police obtained eight felony warrants against him, including four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Investigators say additional charges could still be coming.

The arrest brings an important development in a frightening incident for students, families and everyone around the VSU community.

It was a rough night across Chesterfield the day before yesterday as powerful storms kept first responders busy from Sunday night into Monday morning.

Chesterfield County Fire and EMS responded to 112 calls, including eight structure-fire calls and 10 reports of vehicles in high water. At least six house fires were sparked by lightning.

Thankfully, officials reported no injuries and no major damage from the house fires. A fire on Hunters Ridge Drive was contained to a crawl space, while a lightning strike damaged the roof of a home on Gordon School Road and displaced two people.

Flooding created another big headache. Fire and EMS responded to 10 calls involving vehicles in water, although most occupants had already gotten themselves out before crews arrived.

Several roads, including a portion of Old Hundred Road, remained closed Monday morning because of high water.

It’s another good reminder: Chesterfield storms can turn roads dangerous in a hurry. If you come across standing water, don’t chance it — find another way around.

Virginia’s cyclospora outbreak continues to grow, with the Virginia Department of Health reporting 197 cases as of August 10 — an increase of 35 in just one week.

Of those cases, 107 were acquired domestically, 48 internationally and 42 remain unknown or under investigation.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis, with symptoms that commonly include frequent watery diarrhea. Outbreaks are most common during the warmer months.

The outbreak has been linked to iceberg lettuce sold under several brand names across multiple states. In Virginia, the recalled products include Marketside-brand lettuce sold at Walmart.

The FDA is currently tracking multiple cyclospora outbreaks nationwide, making this something worth keeping on your radar when checking the fridge or grocery shopping.

For Chesterfield families, the practical takeaway is simple: check any recalled lettuce you may have at home, and keep an eye out for updated health guidance as investigators continue tracking the outbreak.

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Even after the rain stopped, Monday’s storm problems weren’t completely over.

Chesterfield County Fire and EMS responded to 10 calls involving vehicles in water as overnight storms caused flooding around the county. Fortunately, officials said that in most cases, people had gotten safely out of their vehicles before emergency crews arrived.

Water has since receded in many areas, but some secondary and neighborhood roads remained closed because of downed trees and storm damage.

So if your usual shortcut suddenly has a barricade across it, there’s probably a good reason. Give yourself a little extra travel time and don’t try to drive around road-closed signs or through standing water.

And remember the rule we hear every time flooding hits: Turn around, don’t drown. A road that looks passable from behind the wheel can be much deeper — and more dangerous — than it appears.

Another rabies case has been confirmed in the Richmond area, bringing the regional total to eight cases.

The latest case involved a dog that tested positive after coming into contact with a raccoon on Raymond Avenue in Henrico.

While this particular case happened next door in Henrico, it’s definitely worth Chesterfield residents paying attention. Raccoons, foxes, bats and other wildlife don’t exactly recognize county lines, and encounters between pets and wild animals can happen just about anywhere.

The biggest thing pet owners can do is make sure rabies vaccinations are current and keep pets from approaching or fighting with wildlife.

If you spot an animal behaving strangely, give it plenty of space and contact the appropriate local authorities rather than trying to handle it yourself.

With eight cases now reported around the Richmond area, it’s a good time to double-check when your four-legged family members are due for their next rabies shot.

Now for some good news as families get ready to head back to school!

Chesterfield’s Back to School Bash brought families together for a day filled with free school supplies, food, community resources and activities — and organizers handed out an impressive 1,651 free backpacks to local students.

That’s 1,651 kids heading into the new school year with one less thing their families have to worry about buying.

A big shoutout goes to Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation, along with all the volunteers, sponsors and community partners who helped make the event happen.

Between backpacks, supplies and helpful resources for parents, events like this show what can happen when the community rallies around local families.

Here’s hoping all those backpacks get put to good use — and that Chesterfield students have a great start to the new school year! 📚

Date: Wednesday, August 19
Time: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Chesterfield County Farmers Market, Chesterfield County Government Complex, 6701 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield
Details: Stop by the county’s weekly farmers market for locally grown produce and other goods. It’s an easy lunchtime outing and a chance to support local growers and vendors.

🎶 DIRTY POP: The Y2K Dance Party

Date: Friday, August 21
Time: Doors at 8:00 PM; music at 9:00 PM
Location: Uptown Alley Richmond, 6101 Brad McNeer Pkwy, Midlothian
Details: Break out the early-2000s nostalgia for a night packed with Y2K-era hits. This is a 21+ ticketed event, and bowling lanes are sold separately.

US Continental Army Barracks, Hospital and Manufactory

Date: Saturday, August 22
Time: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Castlewood, Chesterfield
Details: Take a trip back to Revolutionary-era Chesterfield with this historical program at Castlewood. The event explores the Continental Army barracks, hospital and manufacturing operations that were part of the area’s Revolutionary War story.

🎤 Morgan Stewart & The Truth

Date: Saturday, August 22
Time: Doors at 8:00 PM; music at 9:00 PM
Location: Uptown Alley Richmond, 6101 Brad McNeer Pkwy, Midlothian
Details: Local vocalist Morgan Stewart takes the stage with a mix of covers and original music. The show has a $5 cover and is 21+.

🏘️ Committee on the Future

Date: Monday, August 24
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: Chesterfield County Libraries — Central Library, 9501 Lori Road, Chesterfield
Details: Residents interested in Chesterfield’s future growth and long-term direction can sit in on the county’s Committee on the Future meeting. The committee examines trends and issues that could affect the county in the years ahead.

🥕 Chesterfield County Farmers Market

Date: Wednesday, August 26
Time: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Chesterfield County Farmers Market, Chesterfield County Government Complex, 6701 Mimms Loop, Chesterfield
Details: Another chance to shop local at the county’s weekly market, featuring seasonal produce and goods from area vendors.

🏛️ Chesterfield Board of Supervisors Meeting

Date: Wednesday, August 26
Time: 2:00–8:00 PM
Location: Public Meeting Room, Chesterfield County
Details: For residents who like to keep up with decisions affecting the community, the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors holds its regular public meeting. County business, projects and other local issues may be on the agenda.

🏈 Clover Hill Cavaliers vs. Meadowbrook Monarchs

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Clover Hill High School, 13301 Kelly Green Lane, Midlothian
Details: Friday night football is back! The Clover Hill Cavaliers host the Meadowbrook Monarchs in a non-region varsity matchup and Clover Hill’s first currently listed game of the 2026 season.

🏈 Matoaca Warriors vs. Hermitage Panthers

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Matoaca High School, 17700 Longhouse Lane, Chesterfield
Details: The Matoaca Warriors host Hermitage for a varsity football matchup. It’s another option for locals looking to spend Friday night under the lights supporting Chesterfield County high school sports.

🎡 Chesterfield County Fair — En’Novation Opening Night

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: 8:00 PM performance
Location: Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield
Details: One of Chesterfield’s biggest annual traditions gets underway with En’Novation Opening Night at the fairgrounds. The fair brings the classic mix of midway attractions, food, exhibits, competitions and entertainment, with En’Novation scheduled as the August 28 grandstand entertainment.

🎸 Shades of Gray Live

Date: Friday, August 28
Time: Doors at 8:00 PM; music at 9:00 PM
Location: Uptown Alley Richmond, 6101 Brad McNeer Pkwy, Midlothian
Details: Shades of Gray brings a versatile mix of crowd-pleasing hits to the stage for a Friday-night show. This is a 21+ ticketed event, with bowling lanes sold separately.

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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.

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A. Between you and me, something smells.

As always, thanks for spending a few minutes with us and staying connected to what’s happening right here in our community.

Whether you’re getting ready for back-to-school season, heading out to a local event, or just enjoying the last few weeks of summer, we hope you found something useful in this week’s edition.

Have a story, event, or bit of good news we should know about? Send it our way — we love hearing what’s happening around the county.

Stay safe, have a great week, and we’ll catch you next time!

Matt

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