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Bringing better smiles, dental care, free of charge at VSU

ETTRICK, VA (WWBT)- For no charge whatsoever, people can walk out of VSU June 15 with a better, brighter smile. Saturday, 400 volunteers will gather to give people free dental check-ups at VSU's main campus. It's an event specifically made to help people without insurance.

Fifty dentists will clean teeth, take out bad ones, and fill in cavities. It's a mad rush for VCU dentistry students like Mary Catherine McGinn, beginning to set up the event at VSU's Daniel Gymnasium.

"It's free, there are great people providing the service, and we're here to help," McGinn said in an interview Friday. "It's an awesome opportunity, and we just want to see as many people as possible tomorrow."

The event is prepared to take care of 600 people. We asked, what's the best part of cleaning strangers' teeth, and McGinn said new, clean teeth, helped one of her patients to overcome a lifetime of tragedy.

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Vigil Saturday for Chesterfield child killed at Maymont

Shawn T. Wills (Courtesy: The Pentecostals of Richmond)

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- A vigil will be held at Maymont Saturday for a Chesterfield 4-year-old who was killed at the park Thursday by a falling tree.

The public is invited to the vigil in honor of Shawn T. Wills at 4:30 p.m.

Richmond police have ruled the death a storm-related accident.

The park remains closed Friday as administrators reexamine procedures related to their storm response. Park officials expect the park to reopen Saturday after all the debris has been cleaned up.

The park was being evacuated due to incoming storms around 4 p.m. Thursday when the tree was uprooted, killing Wills and injuring his father. Both were just yards from the shelter of the nature center when they were struck.

Chesterfield man injured by tree branch while cleaning debris

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- A Chesterfield man is recovering after he was hurt by a tree while trying to clean up the damage from Thursday's storm.

Fire crews say the victim, who's in his 60's, was using a tractor to remove a large branch off of a trailer.

This happened on Edwin Lane in Matoaca. Officials say the branch ended up rolling on top of him.

He was rushed to the hospital, but he's expected to be okay. 

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

Chesterfield parents file complaint with Department of Justice

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- A Chesterfield family says it has filed a complaint with the Department of Justice on civil rights disabilities against Chesterfield schools. 

Lily Waehner's family says the school system is not following the law and that it's not providing safe care. 

Lily has diabetes. Her parents say the school employee primarily responsible for Lily's care left and there's no qualified replacement in place. 

Several other parents have also contacted NBC12 reporting problems with the school system not providing legally required care for diabetic children. 

We have reached out to the school system multiple times. A spokesperson has not yet responded. 

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

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Teens accused of setting fires near Chesterfield elementary school

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- A Chesterfield teen is facing arson charges.

19-year-old Daniel Gravitt is accused of setting porta-potties on fire near AM Davis Elementary School.

Police say he set those fires in early September. He is also accused of setting three other fires a few weeks later in the woods behind the school.

A 16-year old is also charged. Police say no one was hurt in those fires.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

Chesterfield officer facing embezzlement charge in court

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- A Chesterfield police officer facing a felony embezzlement charge must face a judge Thursday.

Police say 4-year veteran Joshua Hill, who responded to a medical call for help, stole the victim's jewelry and then pawned it.

Police tracked it down after the family reported it missing. Now the county's police chief says he hopes this doesn't destroy the public's trust. 

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

Child support problems continue for Colonial Heights man

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- Dwayne Parson hoped the battle had been won, but now a Colonial Heights father says he's still having financial problems over a child that isn't biologically his!

You may remember Dwayne Parson. He was in and out of court, even jail, battling payments on the child. He used DNA to prove he was not the father.

But, his struggle to get out from underneath the problem continues. Like many couples, Dwayne Parson and his fiance have been dreaming of a wedding and a house to call their own. Debts from those child support payments keep getting in the way.  

"We're trying to buy a house and move forward," said his fiance, Natonya Green. "Instead of renting and apartments and things. We can't do that."