Chuck Vipperman, Chatham Star Tribune Journalist Profile

Articles

Whittle, Miller win House primaries

1 week ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

Two veteran members of Danville City Council will battle this fall to see who is the area’s newest state delegate. Madison Whittle and Doctor Gary Miller scored primary wins Tuesday to clinch their respective parties nominations for the 49th district House of Delegates seat that’s been held since 2001 by Danny Marshall. He decided not to run for re-election. Whittle beat political newcomer Vanessa Scearce by a wide margin in the Republican primary, getting over 85% of the vote.
Danville man charged with arson threat to DAHS

1 week ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

A Danville man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly threatened to burn down the local animal shelter. According to records, Danville Police arrested James Edward Magistro on Saturday, charging him with making a threat to burn or bomb a building. Paulette Dean, Executive Director of the Danville Area Humane Society, says Magistro released his dog to them on June 3. She says he called the shelter last Thursday, asking about the dog.
Scearce guilty of assault of county supervisor

2 weeks ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

A Pittsylvania County man was found guilty Monday of misdemeanor assault and battery of a member of the county’s Board of Supervisors. The incident happened last November at Sam’s Club in Danville. Surveillance video showed Westover District resident Jim Scearce hitting Tunstall District Supervisor Vic Ingram with a shopping cart. Ingram says the impact caused a bruise, but he did not require medical attention. A special judge from Southwest Virginia was called in to preside over the case.
Shorter named new County Administrator

2 weeks ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

Pittsylvania County’s new Administrator won’t need much of an orientation. The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted 6-1 in a special meeting Thursday to hire Vincent Shorter to the post on a permanent basis. He spent most of the past year filling the post as an interim. Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Ken Bowman cast the lone dissenting vote. Shorter is currently Treasurer of Pittsylvania County. He was elected to the post in 2015, beating incumbent Kate Berger.
Council approves retail component for new housing development

2 weeks ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

Developers will get to add retail to a housing community they’re building in Danville’s west end. City Council last year approved a Special Use Permit for the Blackstone Building for a Planned Unit Development at the corner of Riverside Drive and Vandola Road. The Vandola Crescent Project will include over 300 two- and three-story town and patio homes, with some designated for workforce housing and others for adults 55 and up.
State grant for Danville park effort

2 weeks ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

Danville’s efforts to revitalize neighborhood parks are getting a big boost from Richmond. The City has been awarded a $625,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund. With a local match, that adds up to one-and-a-quarter million dollars. The funding will go towards the Pumpkin Creek Park Improvements project. This is part of the city’s Neighborhood Park Plan.
Danville debuts Ballou Park splash pad

3 weeks ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

Danville’s third splash pad went online just in time for Memorial Day. City leaders gathered on the Friday before the holiday to turn on the spigot. Mayor Alonzo Jones was joined by 80 children from Schoolfield Elementary School. "Today we add something splashy and super-fun to our city," Jones announced. The other two splash pads are next to the Third Avenue Fire Station and at Doyle Thomas Park. But Jones says this one dwarfs the others.
Five shot in Danville, one killed, one arrested

3 weeks ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

One person was killed and four people wounded in a shootout that happened early Sunday at an outdoor gathering in north Danville---and a suspect is in custody. Danville Police got the call just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday the 100 block of Carver Drive. That’s a dead-end street off of Bradley Road. There were a number of people attending an outdoor gathering near the intersection of Carver Drive and Cheyenne Drive --- a caller reported multiple shots fired.
Judge rules Danville murder suspect incompetent

1 month ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

A Danville woman charged with killing an elderly man in her care is not competent to stand trial…at least not right now. Danville Police served a search warrant at a home in the 100-block of Pineview Drive March tenth. They found 78-year old Arvel Shrewsbury dead in his house. They arrested 58-year old Jeanette Perez Staton at and charged her with second degree murder.
Website hints at Masonic Temple's future

1 month ago | chathamstartribune.com | Chuck Vipperman

The owners of the River District’s tallest building are hinting at its future. Masonic Temple Redevelopment, LLC, purchased the Masonic Temple from a group called “Where Eagles Dare” for just over a million dollars two months ago. On their webpage, Williamsburg-based Cornerstone Hospitality lists the property as a future member of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio.

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