News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | November 6, 2025
News Archives for 2008
NK draft budget unveiled
A proposed fiscal 2009 budget of just under $54.2 million is under consideration by New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors. County Administrator John Budesky unveiled the figure, which is $2 million less than the current year’s $56.2 million budget, during a work session yesterday (Tuesday). The bottom line reflects belt-tightening that all state localities are experiencing. “This year we asked [county departments and agencies] for flat-funding and cut budgets,” he told supervisors, adding that more than $1.4 million in budget requests have already been trimmed. Budesky’s proposal includes a real estate tax rate of 72 cents per $100 of assessed…
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NK man faces 34 felony child pornography counts
Computer images of children as young as toddlers engaging in sex acts with other children and adults are the basis of 34 felony child pornography charges leveled against a New Kent County man. Investigators have collected more than 3,700 images, most relating to child pornography, from computers seized at Michael J. Conyngham’s home. Also found were 17 movies depicting child porn. Conyngham, 56, of 5501 Ridgewood Drive, has been indicted on 30 counts of possession of child pornography and four counts of child pornography distribution by a New Kent Circuit Court grand jury. Sealed indictments were handed up by the…
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McFit, not McFat
Thinking back to the end of last year, Chris Coleson confessed to being one miserable guy. At age 42, the New Kent County resident carried close to 300 pounds on his five-foot-eight frame. His cholesterol number pretty much equaled his weight, and his blood pressure had not yet reached a critical level but was dangerously close. Stressed out over 18- to 20-hour workdays, he appeared to be eating his way into oblivion. Not a rosy picture for someone with an athletic background in surfing, mountain biking, weightlifting, and soccer who now had difficulty tying his own shoes. Even the license…
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Panthers recover, blow past King & Queen in Region A
Digging themselves out of a 10-0 hole, Charles City’s host Panthers surged in front to stay in the second quarter on the way to turning back King & Queen’s Tigers 88-74 in the opening round of the Region A boys’ basketball tournament. The Panthers missed their first six shots from the floor as King & Queen’s Deante Holmes scored eight of his team’s points during the Tigers’ game opening run. “We came out lackadaisical,” Panther coach Brenner Carter said after the Feb. 25 contest. “We’ve got to play better than that in the first quarter.” And his team improved, closing…
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Charles City 40 WP 35
Despite a below par outing in the shooting category, Charles City’s host Lady Panthers held on for a 40-35 victory over West Point in the quarterfinal round of the Region A girls’ basketball tournament. The Feb. 26 decision thrust the fourth-seeded Lady Panthers into the semifinal round for a third meeting with Tri-Rivers District rival and top-ranked Franklin. It was also the third meeting of the season between the fifth-seeded Pointers and the Panthers who won both regular season encounters. Charles City led for most of the contest, but could never pull away from the Pointers thanks to shooting woes….
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CC falls to Franklin after topping WP in Region A
“You pray a lot,” Charles City coach Andre’ Jones said in response to how to successfully defend against Franklin’s top-seeded Broncos. But his Lady Panthers needed more than divine intervention in their Region A basketball semifinal encounter. Franklin turned the Feb. 28 clash in West Point’s gym into a rout early on and had no trouble cruising into the final with an 80-56 win. “They’re number one in the state,” Jones said. “I told our girls we didn’t have anything to lose. Our seniors played their butts off and two girls up from JV came in and played hard, but…
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CC web site, NK student’s essay honored at program
Charles City County’s web site has earned a Use of Technology Award for its contributions to the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. The award was presented last Thursday during the Jamestown Virginia 2007 Community Program time capsule ceremony at Jamestown. Charles City is one of 10 award winners that were chosen for recognition out of 181 local community programs. The web site www.charlescity.org features the theme “Discover Four Centuries, Three Cultures, Two Rivers, in One County.” Highlights of the web site are a “Natives in the Landscape” exhibit that tells the story of the Chickahominy, Paspahegh, and Weyanock…
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Writing, poster contest winners in NK announced
Winners in the annual Thelma Crump-Wilson Essay Contest were announced during the New Kent School Board’s March 3 meeting. Also announced were winners in the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program’s poster contest. The top three winners at each of the county’s four schools are: Watkins Elementary: 1. Caitlin McCaughan, 2. Sarah Day, 3. Rachel Hobson; New Kent Elementary: 1. John Gregory, 2. Rachel Finn, 3. Chris Rosser; New Kent Middle: 1. Kyle Martin, 2. Joy Perez, 3. Jack Davis; New Kent High: 1. Hailey Battilana, 2. Samantha Critz, 3. Nicholas English. First place winners each received $50 while $30 went to…
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NKHS senior earns award from Interfaith Council
New Kent High School senior MaryMargaret Walsh is among 50 students to earn Brotherhood/Sisterhood awards presented by the Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond. Walsh received the award during a Feb. 21 ceremony and luncheon held at River Road Baptist Church in Richmond. Winners were selected from each of the 50 public, private, and parochial high schools in the Richmond area. School administrators and guidance counselors considered qualities such as a student’s ability to relate to others regardless of gender, race, or religion. Walsh has been a freshman mentor, a Big Buddy to assist primary students, and serves on New Kent’s…
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Monument to black patriots dedicated in Charles City
A granite monument engraved with the names of 26 black patriots from Charles City County who fought in the American Revolution was unveiled during a Jan. 27 dedication in the cemetery of Elam Baptist Church in Ruthville. The Virginia Sons of the American Revolution conducted the ceremony. Elam, founded in 1810, is the third oldest black church in Virginia. Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania gathered with church members and local dignitaries to pay tribute to the long-neglected heroes. Virginia SAR president Joseph W. Dooley quoted actress Whoopi Goldberg who said, “Call me a…
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