News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | November 6, 2025
News Archives for 2008
Columbine forces rethinking in how to combat gunmen
Changes have occurred since the deadly shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado took place almost 10 years ago. Security measures have been enhanced in school systems, and law enforcement personnel have taken a step back to evaluate procedures for dealing with armed intruders. Speaking before New Kent’s School Board during the group’s meeting Monday night, county Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said his department is becoming proficient in the preferred strategy based on lessons learned from Columbine. The first police units arriving on the scene at Columbine set up a perimeter around the school and operated from there. Studies…
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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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Death of Maryland man in NK holding cell investigated
State Police are investigating the death of a Maryland man who collapsed while being held in a holding cell at the New Kent Sheriff’s Office, a few hours after officers used pepper spray and a taser gun to subdue him. Three New Kent deputies performed CPR on Yvelt Occean, 31, of Silver Spring, Md., after he collapsed in the holding cell shortly before 10 p.m. last Saturday night. Occean was transported by rescue squad to Richmond Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead, a State Police spokesman said. Around 7:30 p.m. that evening, a State Police trooper responded to a…
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Preliminary plan for NK’s Criss Cross Park unveiled
A conceptual drawing of sports fields, equestrian rings, pedestrian trails, and an amphitheater as attractions in New Kent’s proposed 100-acre, centrally located park is under study by the county’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. But parks officials stress that the design is only preliminary. A final master plan that the commission will present to the county’s Board of Supervisors in a few months could be substantially different. Dubbed for now as Criss Cross Park, the 100-acre site has been donated to the county by developers of New Kent Vineyards and is located on the north side of Interstate 64, just…
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First annual Puller 10K set
The first annual Chesty Puller Memorial Twin Bridge 10K Run takes place on June 21 in West Point. The course begins in downtown West Point, passing Puller’s home, goes over the Lord Delaware Bridge into King & Queen County, comes back over the bridge and crosses the Eltham Bridge into New Kent County, and comes back over that bridge before turning right on to Kirby St. and finishing at 8th St. Registration begins at the 8th and Kirby starting line at 6:30 a.m. The race begins at 8 a.m. Awards will be given to the top three overall male and…
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Panthers battle Amelia plus wind, drop 15-1 decision
A combination of Amelia bats and strong, gusty winds played havoc with Charles City’s defense as the teams squared off in non-district baseball last Thursday. The visiting Raiders pounded 13 hits, several on fly balls that got caught in the wind, and claimed a 15-1 win in a five-inning affair. The result dropped the host Panthers to 0-2, but head coach Irving Bradby has faith that his relatively young team will improve. “We’ve got a lot of ninth and 10th graders and a few upper classmen,” he said. “Hopefully, this will be a great learning experience for our team. Hopefully,…
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Tabb 4 New Kent 3 (baseball)
Three hits in the seventh and final inning positioned New Kent’s host Trojans for a Bay Rivers District baseball upset of Tabb. But the Tigers turned a double play and, with the tying run in scoring position, got a ground ball third out to escape with a 4-3 win in the March 13 season opener. New Kent trailed 4-2 heading into the seventh. Adam Otey led off with an infield single off Tiger reliever Adam McConnell, but was erased when the next batter, Joey Bell, grounded into a double play. One out away from the win, McConnell then gave up…
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NK wins pair
New Kent’s Lady Trojan tennis team is off to a 2-0 start after shutting out Essex 9-0 in their March 13 home season opener and topping Mathews 6-3 on the road on March 17. New Kent 9 Essex 0 Singles: MaryMargaret Walsh d. Jackson 8-0; Melisande Downs d. Kennedy 8-0; Shannon McSweeney d. Heacock 8-0; Alex Courrier d. Christian 8-1; Erika Foley d. Tate 8-0; Kelsey Barbour d. Turner 8-1. Doubles: Downs-Courrier d. Jackson-Kennedy 8-0; S. McSweeney-K. McSweeney d. Heacock-Christian 8-0; Belting-Buchanan d. Tate-Turner 8-3. New Kent 6 Mathews 3 Singles: Walker (M) d. Downs 8-5; A. Courrier (NK) d….
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New Kent track teams run away with wins
New Kent’s boys and girls track teams each won 10 events as they turned back three Group A foes in a home meet last Wednesday. The Trojans scored 131 points to outdistance Essex’s 58, Lancaster’s 47, and Charles City’s 11. The Lady Trojans, meanwhile, totaled 114 points to Lancaster’s 57, Essex’s 52, and Charles City’s 7. The meet’s only double individual event winners emerged on the girls’ side as Lady Trojans Kayla Christian and Jamie Lull each registered a pair of firsts. Christian took the triple jump (33-3) and 100 meters (12.3) while Lull captured the 1600 (5:59.4) and 400…
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