News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 25, 2024
News Archives for April, 2008
Tornado touches down in NK
A storm labeled as a minimal tornado caused upwards of $300,000 damage in a small section of western New Kent County on Sunday afternoon. The twister, with its estimated 40-72 mile per hour winds, touched down for only a few seconds on a farm owned by Marvin Sr. and Annie Peace on Quaker Road. But those few seconds were enough to destroy a shed housing farm equipment and a structure described as a lean-to, damage part of a nearby barn, topple several trees, and rip the roof off the Peace’s house. The Peaces were inside at the time. “It happened…
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New Kent girl puts her eggs in Habitat’s basket
Easter egg hunts are a daily activity for one special young girl in New Kent County. Each morning, eight-year-old Catherine Peterson rises bright and early to care for her 10 chickens before school. Although some might call it a chore, for Catherine it’s a labor of love. She feeds her small flock and gathers freshly laid, warm eggs while cooing “good morning” and “thank you” to the nesting hens as she gently feels under their rumpless seats for a prize. On a good day, she’ll find two or three blue and green eggs hidden in their nests. Catherine raises Araucana…
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NK man’s death labeled as ‘unfortunate accident’
Authorities in New Kent are labeling the death of a county man “an unfortunate accident” after the victim apparently became pinned when the car he was attempting to start lurched forward and struck a tree. Joseph J. Ritzenthaler, 30, of 8950 Piney Branch Lane near Providence Forge, had walked outside his home just after 5:30 a.m. on March 30 to warm up the engine on a car belonging to his fiancé, New Kent Sheriff F. W. “Wakie” Howard said. “The next thing she heard was him calling for help,” Howard said. Investigators theorize Ritzenthaler opened the driver’s side door and…
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Rifle hunting options up for discussion at CC hearing
Options designed to make deer hunting with high-power rifles safer and to possibly limit the length of rifle season will be on the table when Charles City’s Board of Supervisors hosts a public hearing on the fate of the county’s rifle law. The April 22 hearing is to solicit public input on the issue of retaining county law as it now stands or doing away with rifle use, except for muzzle-loaded firearms, during general deer season. Those are the extremes under consideration. Compromise measures are also in the works whereby the existing law could be modified to prohibit rifle fire…
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Two youths arrested in NK cross-burning incidents
Two New Kent youths, both boys age 13, face several charges in connection with a pair of recent cross-burnings in front of residences in the county. Investigators say the incidents are not racially motivated and that the pair sought publicity. What they have earned, however, equates to one count each of felony setting fire with intent to do damage and misdemeanor trespassing and carelessly damaging property with fire. Both youths were arrested yesterday (Tuesday), New Kent Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said. They were later released to the custody of parents. Det. Matt Wiggins was the arresting officer and is…
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Charles City draft budget proposes 7-cent tax hike
A seven-cent hike in the county’s real estate tax rate is being proposed by Charles City’s county administrator to help fund a $22.5 million budget proposal for the 2008-09 fiscal year, even though the bottom line falls below the current year’s figure. For now, the proposed budget totals $22,476,692 compared to the current year’s figure of $23,360,856. Administrator Jack Miniclier unveiled his budget recommendation to county Board of Supervisors members during the board’s March 25 meeting. The proposal is scheduled for public hearing on April 14 at 7 p.m. in the county government building auditorium. Miniclier said the real estate…
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Track lists 2008 stakes races
Colonial Downs is running 17 stakes races worth a combined $2.52 million during its upcoming 45-day summer thoroughbred meet, the longest in the New Kent County track’s history. The meet opens on June 9 and runs through Aug. 16. Racing will generally follow a Friday-Tuesday schedule with post time at 12:55 p.m. on weekends and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Purses are expected to average $200,000 per day. Topping the stakes race list is the $750,000 Virginia Derby on July 19. The 11th running of the 1.25-mile turf test for three-year-olds will be broadcast live from 5-6 p.m. on CBS. The…
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Tabb prevails 7-2 in Bay Rivers tennis
Carter Gilland won his singles contest and the team of Richie Johnson and Nick English prevailed in doubles, but visiting Tabb swept the other matches for 7-2 Bay Rivers District tennis win on April 2. Singles: Rhew (T) d. Johnson 6-0, 6-0; Harris (T) d. English 6-1, 4-6, 10-4; Manuz (T) d. T.J. Otey 6-0, 6-0; Gilland (NK) d. Dooley 6-3, 6-4, 11-9; Yankoski (T) d. Chris Sickal 6-2, 6-3; Johnson (T) d. Tommy Phipps 6-1, 6-2. Doubles: Johnson-English d. Rhew-Manuz 8-5; Harris-Yankoski d. Otey-Gilland 9-7; Dooley-Gardner d. Sickal-Phipps 8-3.
Perfect game halts Lady Trojan losing skid
Standing on deck to bat in the second inning, New Kent pitcher Becca Mills got some advice from first base coach Ken Otey. If she hits the ball in the air, Otey told her, make sure it goes over the fence. “Don’t jinx me,” a slightly perturbed Mills shot back. He didn’t. Mills drove a pitch from Warhill hurler Amanda Bordon high in the air, clearing the left field fence for a two-run homer. The blast ignited a 10-run frame that vaulted the host Lady Trojans to a 20-0 shutout over the Lions. On the mound, meanwhile, Mills and reliever…
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NK records 1st goals in loss
Grafton’s visiting Clippers scored early and often in handing New Kent’s Trojans their second straight Bay Rivers District soccer loss last Thursday, but on a positive note the Trojans (0-3 overall) broke through with their first goals of the season as the final read 11-2. The unbeaten Clippers, meanwhile, registered their first goal less than two minutes into the contest and racked up points on six of their first seven shots. One shot was a penalty kick that helped Grafton take a 6-0 lead with only 15 minutes gone in the first half. “We definitely started slow, but we haven’t…
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