News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 2, 2026
News Archives for 2008
Builder handed more prison time for violating jail rules
A once-respected contractor who defrauded three families to the tune of more than $200,000 will serve another six months behind bars after being kicked out of the work release program managed by the jail where he was being held. Bane “Mike” Van Dyke III, 62, was convicted on six counts of felony construction fraud in September 2006 in New Kent Circuit Court. The charges stemmed from money advanced to Van Dyke who was to build houses for Gary and Robin Tate and Melvin and Shirley Matula. The third family, Steve and Judy Harris, won a settlement in civil court and…
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Notorious escape artist indicted in Charles City
Alonzo Erwin Logan, who gained notoriety for escaping twice from law enforcement custody, has been indicted on two felony charges in Charles City County stemming from his latest escapade. A Charles City Circuit Court grand jury, convening on Jan. 8, indicted Logan, 41, on one count each of breaking and entering and abduction. Logan allegedly broke into the Charles City home of Claire Mehalich on Nov. 26, abducted her, and forced her to drive him to Richmond. Several days later, Logan was recaptured after police found him hiding in the attic of an abandoned house in east Richmond. Logan escaped…
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Public delivers final requests for 100-acre NK park offerings
Now that public input sessions are over, New Kent parks and recreation along with county general services staff are assembling a report on the county’s recreational needs. Those needs, particularly sports playing fields and trails for horseback riding and walkers/joggers, are to be incorporated in a 100-acre site destined to become the county’s centrally located park. New Kent’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission held its fourth and final public input session last Wednesday concerning Criss Cross Park, a 100-acre site off Criss Cross Road, just north of the westbound Interstate 64 rest area, that has been donated to the county…
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No easy solution appears on horizon for library dilemma
Despite public sentiment expressed Monday night during New Kent’s Board of Supervisors meeting for rapid restoration of library services, or better yet a new library building, there appears to be no quick fix for Heritage Public Library. And for now there seems to be no going back to the Providence Forge location forced to close a week ago due to deficiencies in the building’s electrical system. Lee Tyson, chairman of the library’s 11-member Board of Trustees, told supervisors Monday night that repairing and upgrading the electrical system would cost an estimated $25,000. “The trustees believe it would not be a…
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New Kent teacher remains jailed on sex crime charges
A veteran New Kent Middle School teacher remains behind bars after being denied bond on felony sex charges in Charles City County. But the situation involving Bruce Flanders, 61, could change as early as today (Wednesday) when he is to appear for another bond hearing in Charles City General District Court. Flanders was arrested at his Charles City residence (19701 The Glebe Lane) on Jan. 4 in connection with charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a 22-year-old female teacher at New Kent Middle School. He is being held at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County. In Charles…
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Potential fire hazard closes Heritage Library
The only public library serving New Kent and Charles City counties is closed indefinitely in the wake of inspections that revealed the building’s electrical system could pose a fire hazard. Heritage Public Library’s 11-member Board of Trustees, meeting in emergency session on the evening of Jan. 7, voted to immediately close the Providence Forge location. All library events and activities have been canceled until further notice. Problems with the electrical system surfaced during an inspection just over two weeks ago. The library board had commissioned the inspection as part of a report being compiled on the overall condition of the…
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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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K&Q no problem for CC
Jumping out to an early 11-1 lead, Charles City’s Lady Panthers never encountered a serious challenge from King & Queen’s visiting Tigers as they romped to an easy 74-32 non-district basketball victory. The Dec. 19 decision gave Charles City a 5-2 record heading into the new year. “I think we’re better than what most people expected,” said Lady Panther coach Andre Jones, pointing to the loss of high-scoring forward Deborah Smith who transferred to another school. “We’re just not getting as much offense, but on defense we’re a real good team,” he said. His Lady Panthers didn’t need a whole…
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NK rebounds from 1st loss, whips Packers
Leading from start to finish, New Kent’s Trojans bounced back from their first loss of the season with an 80-59 Bay Rivers District basketball win over Smithfield’s invading Packers. The Trojans sank eight baskets from behind the three-point arc in the first half to help offset the Packers’ size advantage in the paint as well as a number of field goal misses from point-blank range. Working with a 12-point halftime advantage, the hosts cruised after the break to improve to 4-1 in the district and 5-1 overall with the Dec. 18 outcome. “It was a good win,” Trojan coach Ed…
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Trojans capture own Duals
New Kent defeated five visiting schools to win its own New Kent Duals wrestling tournament on Dec. 15. The Trojans opened with a 60-21 win over Dinwiddie, topped J.R. Tucker 46-24, squeezed past runner-up Louisa 42-33, whipped Currituck (N.C.) 51-27, and held off Mathews 43-30. Trojans Mikey Emana (103 pounds), David Barker (112), Dylan Long, (119), James Emana (130), and Luke Todd (135) each finished the tourney unbeaten at 5-0. Team captain Ethan Emmons (171) recorded a crucial major decision to clinch New Kent’s team win over second place Louisa. New Kent 60 Dinwiddie 21 103- M. Emana (NK) p….
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