News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 24, 2024
News Archives for February, 2008
NK vendor fears zoning law proposal could close business
No exclamations of “Hot dog!” greeted a proposed set of minimum standards governing mobile food stands and other temporary land uses now under consideration by New Kent’s Planning Commission for incorporation into county zoning law. In fact, the popular American frankfurter comprises the meat of a controversy that boiled over during the commission’s Feb. 19 public hearing on the proposed standards. Bill Jennings, owner of Bill’s Hot Dogs, a mobile food stand in Providence Forge, fears that if the standards become law, he will be forced out of business. Jennings and several supporters voiced concerns during last week’s hearing. “I’m…
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NK planners seek more data on environmental impact
New Kent Planning Commission members want to study soil data and determine impact on a nearby stream before taking a stance on a rezoning request that will pave the way for an equestrian-themed housing subdivision. Developers Pete Sweet and Dennis Mountcastle plan to build 16 residences on just over 95 acres in Quinton and are asking to rezone the site from agricultural to single-family residential. The property, owned by the Gooden family, is located on the north side of Route 249 and flanks Topeka Road. Each lot would have a minimum five acres of pasture in keeping with the equestrian…
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Existing law allowing rifle use in supervisors’ cross hairs
For the past two seasons, hunters in Charles City County have exercised their right to hunt deer using high-power rifles fired from elevated tree stands. That privilege, however, may be close to being shot down. Last night (Tuesday), the county’s Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to schedule a public hearing on a proposal that would make it illegal to hunt deer with any rifle other than a muzzle-loader during general firearm season. If passed, the measure would in essence overturn the current law that has been on county books for two years. Last November’s election changed the board’s makeup as…
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No promises made on school money request
New Kent School Board chairman Joe Yates gave county Board of Supervisors members a few seconds to digest the schools’ requested 13 percent increase in local money for the next school year. It’s unclear, however, if supervisors developed an immediate case of collective heartburn. School officials presented their $27 million fiscal 2008-09 budget proposal to supervisors during a work session yesterday (Tuesday) morning. The request includes just over $10.9 million in county dollars, a figure that is almost $1.3 million higher than the $9.7 million schools received for the current year. Most of the local money increase is aimed at…
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NK eases past York, Warhill
New Kent eased past York’s Falcons 52-18 and Warhill’s Lions 69-9 in the Trojans’ final home wrestling meet of the season on Feb. 5. The Trojans finished the regular season at 10-1 in Bay Rivers District and 24-3 overall. New Kent 52 York 18 103- M. Emana (NK) p. Shekoski :21; 112- Barker (NK) m.d. Mayer 11-2; 119- Long (NK) p. Farrants 2:45; 125- Peddicord (NK) p. Ort :45; 130- J. Emana (NK) d. Hall 16-11; 135- Todd (NK) d. Gibson 3-0; 140- Meeks (Y) injury default Craig; 145- Driscoll (NK) p. Dyna 2:43; 152- Cutrell (NK) p. Erskine :54;…
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New Kent struggles past York
New Kent’s performance in turning back York’s Falcons in Bay Rivers District basketball probably won’t be listed among the host Trojans’ finest outings of the season. New Kent topped the Falcons 79-71 in the Feb. 3 contest, but Trojan coach Ed Allen expected a little more from his players, especially when taking on an opponent that entered with a 6-9 record. “It’s that old adage that an ugly win is better than a pretty loss, and that was pretty much it tonight,” he said after his team improved to 10-4 in the district and 13-4 overall. “I don’t know if…
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Birchett resigns, Rounds takes over NK football
Fred Birchett, varsity football head coach at New Kent High School for the past 20 seasons, has resigned. Appointed to take over the program next year is Dan Rounds, a JV and varsity assistant at New Kent since 2001. Birchett compiled a 138-83 record while at New Kent. His 2002 team advanced to the Group AA Division 3 state title game. The year before, the Trojans captured the Bay Rivers District championship during their first season in AA after moving up from Group A. Birchett’s Group A Trojans began their district and region championship runs in 1997 as New Kent…
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CC school budget attracts few
Only a handful of county residents showed up to speak on Charles City schools’ $14 million budget for next year, and the few who spoke had no comment on the overall proposal. Instead, they expressed concern over items that are not included. Only a half-dozen people attended last Thursday’s School Board public hearing on the draft budget that had been formally introduced to board members just two nights earlier. No one questioned proposed spending increases for next year nor did they voice opinions pro or con on a 4.5 percent pay hike for teachers and all school employees. Topics, instead,…
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Grafton deflates New Kent
New Kent’s Trojans for “Pack the Gym Night” as the team took the floor for last Wednesday’s critical Bay Rivers District basketball clash with Grafton’s invading Clippers. Too bad some of that student body enthusiasm didn’t rub off on the players, particularly in the first half. New Kent dug itself into a 15-point hole in the first half and spent all of the second trying to extricate a comeback win. It didn’t happen. The Clippers never allowed the Trojans to get closer than five points the rest of the way and hit their free throws down the stretch to escape…
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Lineup changes help CC subdue Windsor
Shuffling his starting lineup before his Panthers stepped on the court to meet Windsor’s visiting Dukes in Tri-Rivers District basketball, Charles City coach Brenner Carter expected the move would ignite his team. He was right. The Panthers grabbed the lead for good early in the second quarter and held off the Dukes the rest of the way in claiming the Feb. 1 contest 67-56, upping their district record to 3-6 and overall mark to 5-12. “They played real well,” Carter said afterward. “I stuck a couple of new guys in there to start so that gave us some experience coming…
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