New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

News Archives for April, 2009

Judge steps down from case in aftermath of printed quote

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:51 pm

New Kent Circuit Court’s presiding judge stepped down in the case of a defendant caught up in the Operation Close Ties drug sweep after the defense attorney in the matter filed a motion citing prejudice on the judge’s part. Defense attorney Joey Caprio filed the motion on behalf of client Amanda Marie Baker after a statement Judge Thomas B. Hoover made in court during last month’s trial of Phillip Ryan Landes appeared in print in the March 18 Chronicle edition. Landes and Baker, described as boyfriend/girlfriend, were captured last December in Ohio about a month after grand jury indictments named…
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U.S. court jury room dedicated in couple’s honor

By Community Member | April 15, 2009 1:50 pm

A jury assembly room at the U.S. District Courthouse in Richmond has been named in honor of a couple that worked there and tragically died in a Christmas Eve 2004 auto accident. Court officials dedicated the Lin and Janet Pearson Jury Assembly Room inside the Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige Jr. U.S. Courthouse on March 26. Over 100 family members and friends attended the ceremony. Chief Judge James Spencer presided over the dedication ceremony. Other judges in attendance included Dennis Donhal, Richard Williams, and Hannah Lauck. Janet Johnson Pearson was a New Kent High School and VCU…
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Defendant’s statement leads judge to impose more time

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:44 pm

Stephen S. Cotman II told a court probation officer he realized selling crack cocaine “made money and it came fast. I don’t have to do much to make the money.” Those words prompted the judge in Cotman’s case in Charles City Circuit Court to hand the defendant an active term of three years, six months in prison despite impassioned pleas by the defense that Cotman is a good person who lacked parental guidance. During sentencing last Friday, Judge Thomas B. Hoover imposed 20 years in prison on each of six crack cocaine distribution counts Cotman was convicted of following a…
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NK School Board outsources janitorial work to private firm

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:42 pm

New Kent schools have hired a Knoxville, Tenn.-based company to provide janitorial services beginning in July. And under terms of a contract agreed to by county School Board members last week, the firm must hire all of the current 18 custodians who want to continue working for schools, although some could be staying on the job for less money. School Board members accepted a three-year contract at $586,000 per year with SSC Service Solutions during their April 6 meeting. The contract is subject to annual renewal and includes a 60-day notice requirement should schools wish to terminate the agreement. A…
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NK school custodians plead case before supervisors

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:41 pm

A delegation representing New Kent school system’s 18 custodians, many angry over school officials’ decision to outsource janitorial services next year, took their plight before the county’s Board of Supervisors. During the board’s Monday night meeting public comment session, two spokesmen for the group chastised the county’s School Board, saying school officials should be ashamed for treating its employees in a way they view as unfair. At issue is schools’ decision to outsource janitorial work to a private company, a move expected to save $175,000 per year in ongoing tough economic times. The 18 custodian positions are among 36 jobs…
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Opposition remains adamant over proposed bike path route

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:40 pm

Members of a Charles City County church’s congregation remain opposed to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s preferred route for its Virginia Capital Trail bike path project, which passes directly in front of the church and bisects both entrances to the church’s parking lot. An alternate proposal now under consideration reroutes the bike path behind Parrish Hill Baptist Church, but congregation members are stopping short of conferring their blessing. Church officials and members voiced opinions during a VDOT-hosted April 1 public meeting on the proposed route. About 60 people attended the informal session held inside the county’s government building. At issue…
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Armed robbery thwarted in NK

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:38 pm

Three suspects are under arrest following an attempted armed robbery last Saturday night outside a New Kent County restaurant. Authorities say the wife of the owner of Prima Pizza had just walked outside the Bottoms Bridge restaurant around 10 p.m. and was carrying a satchel containing the day’s receipts. A man wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun approached her in the parking lot. The man demanded the money, but the woman refused to hand over the satchel. The woman also told the man she recognized him, Det. Matt Wiggins said. Another restaurant employee intervened, forcing the suspect to…
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New Kent unveils $51.7 million budget proposal

By Alan Chamberlain | April 15, 2009 1:35 pm

No tax increases are proposed for funding New Kent’s $51.7 million budget for the next fiscal year. The proposal heads to public hearing later this month. County Board of Supervisors members ironed out a final proposal with a series of work sessions held over the past two weeks. Now the document is bound for public scrutiny during an April 29, 7 p.m. hearing inside the county administration building’s board room. County real estate tax levies are to remain at the current 73 cents per $100 of assessed value. The personal property rate is unchanged at $3.75. Compared to the current…
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Charles City native turns 106

By Community Member | April 1, 2009 1:33 pm

E. Floyd Yates, a Charles City County native, celebrated his 106th birthday on March 18. He was born in Charles City in 1903. He moved to Ellerson in Hanover County in 1922 where he lived until he moved to Powhatan Courthouse in 1927. He became a Master Mason at Washington & Henry Lodge No. 344 in August 1923, and was elected Junior Deacon in December 1927. He advanced each year until he was elected Worshipful Master on Dec. 14, 1931. Of note is that he commuted for over five years from his home in Powhatan to Washington & Henry Lodge…
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West Point sweeps pair in softball, baseball from CC

By Alan Chamberlain | April 1, 2009 1:28 pm

A final inning rally by Charles City’s Lady Panthers fell one run short as West Point’s host Pointers held on for a 12-11 win in the first game of a March 24 non-district softball doubleheader. The Pointers went on to take the second game 12-3. The Lady Panthers staged a pair of comebacks in game one, the first after falling behind 7-1 in the second inning. Charles City scored twice in the third. West Point answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame before a six-run explosion in the fourth pulled the visitors within one at 10-9. The…
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