News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | November 6, 2025
News Archives for 2008
DUI defendant who claimed assault by police found guilty
A Chesterfield County man, who claimed New Kent deputies assaulted him after he crashed his car into a wooded area in the county and attempted to flee on foot, now says he cannot recall what actually happened and how he sustained a three-inch gash to his forehead. Deputies involved, however, deny the assault accusation and theorize the defendant, James Wilbur Katcham, ran into a tree in the dark. Deputies found the defendant unconscious and lying face down at the base of a tree. Katcham, 43, of 10300 Lenadoon Drive, stood trial on March 3 in New Kent Circuit Court on…
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Court testimony reveals NK family’s drug-driven lifestyle
Charges of reckless child endangerment lodged against a New Kent father of two have been dismissed in county circuit court. But the father, James Kevin Plante, has been found guilty of cocaine possession. Testimony in the case, however, pointed to a family in crisis brought on by the presence and use of illegal drugs. Plante, 48, of 3800 Pocahontas Trail in Quinton, pleaded not guilty to all three charges during his March 3 trial. Judge Thomas B. Hoover “reluctantly” dismissed the two child endangerment counts, saying to convict he would have to believe questionable testimony offered by a witness who…
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Charles City takes another step toward James boat ramp
Boat ramp access to the James River on the shores of Charles City County is one step closer to becoming reality. But before the boat trailers arrive, county officials must clear a funding hurdle in a quest for construction dollars. Late last month, the Army Corps of Engineers approved a permit request that paves the way for constructing the boat ramp, County Administrator Jack Miniclier told county Board of Supervisors members during the group’s quarterly work session last Wednesday. The boat ramp is to be built at the county’s Lawrence Lewis Park in the vicinity of the park’s fishing pier….
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New Kent reassessment notices unleash public furor
Property reassessment notices mailed out last Friday in New Kent apparently have county taxpayers in an uproar. As a result, county Board of Supervisors members report their phones have been ringing off the hook since taxpayers began opening notices this past weekend. “It’s been a tough weekend,” District 5 representative Ray Davis said during the board’s Monday night meeting. But he added that mostly it’s toughest on the taxpayers when general reassessment time rolls around. “It’s supposed to be fair and equitable, and we strive to make it that way,” he said, adding that taxpayers can make appointments with the…
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CC rifle hearing postponed, options could be proposed
A public hearing, scheduled for later this month on the fate of a law allowing high-power rifles fired from elevated tree stands for hunting deer in Charles City, has been postponed. And there may be other options on the table by the time a rescheduled hearing is held in April. Two weeks ago, county Board of Supervisors members voted to schedule a March 25 public hearing on a proposal that would rescind the county’s two-year-old rifle law. If passed, the proposal would make it illegal to hunt deer with any rifle other than a muzzle-loader during general firearm season. Last…
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NK, CC drop charges lodged against teacher
Commonwealth’s attorneys in both New Kent and Charles City counties have dropped all charges, including seven sex counts, lodged against a veteran New Kent Middle School teacher. Both New Kent prosecutor Linwood Gregory and his Charles City counterpart, Rob Tyler, say there is insufficient evidence for going to trial. Last Wednesday, five felony charges and one misdemeanor involving special education teacher Bruce Flanders were dropped in Charles City General District Court at Tyler’s request. Yesterday (Tuesday), Gregory entered an order in New Kent General District Court to drop one felony and two misdemeanors. Flanders, 61, of 19701 The Glebe Lane…
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Unable to hold late lead, NK falls 50-46 in season finale
Ahead by 10 points with just under five minutes left in the game, a dismal basketball campaign appeared to be concluding on an up note for New Kent’s Lady Trojans. Those final five minutes, however, degenerated into a season-ending nightmare. The host Lady Trojans watched their advantage crumble. Poor passes, ill-advised shots, a penchant for fouling, and a coaching blunder all contributed to Jamestown escaping with a 50-46 win. It may have been Valentine’s Day, but the contest proved to be anything but a sweetheart of a game for the hosts who finished at 2-18 in the Bay Rivers District…
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Trojans halt Lafayette win streak with 86-65 romp
Lafayette’s Rams rode a nine-game winning streak into New Kent’s gym for a key Bay Rivers District basketball clash. It never reached 10. The host Trojans took over late in the first half and dominated thereafter in gaining an 86-65 victory. The outcome enabled the hosts to stay in second place in the district with a 14-5 record and up their overall mark to 17-5. “We did a better job of attacking them in our offense,” New Kent coach Ed Allen said. “We moved the ball better, penetrated on them, and kicked the ball out better,” he said. “We made…
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Franklin pulls away past CC
Charles City coach Andre’ Jones believed his Lady Panthers would have a better outing at home against Franklin’s unbeaten, district-leading Broncos. It never worked out that way. In the two teams’ second meeting in less than a week, Franklin began to pull away late in the second quarter and cruised to a 70-40 win. The Feb. 15 outcome upped the Broncos’ Tri-Rivers District mark to 10-0 while Charles City finished the regular season at 6-4 and 12-8 overall. “I thought we played better on Monday. We didn’t lose by as much,” Jones said, pointing to a loss five days earlier…
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ARGS overcomes early CC lead, ousts Lady Panthers
Getting off to a 7-0 start against second-seeded Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in last Thursday’s Tri-Rivers District basketball semifinals at Surry came made to order for Charles City’s Lady Panthers. But the number three seed’s early momentum quickly faded as the Dragons outscored the Lady Panthers 15-2 over the remainder of the first quarter and never looked back on the way to a 63-47 triumph. The loss denied Charles City a third shot at district kingpin Franklin and lowered the Lady Panthers’ record to 12-9 heading into this week’s Region A tourney. “I can sum this up in four words…
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