News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 19, 2024
News Archives for March, 2010
NK settles for 3rd in BRD
New Kent bounced back from its first setback of the season a night earlier by claiming the consolation prize in the Bay Rivers District Basketball Tournament. Ironically, the Feb. 19 battle for third place featured the two top-seeded teams — New Kent and Tabb — that had been expected to vie for the tourney title. After overcoming a slow start, New Kent took command before halftime on the way to a 59-52 win. With district player of the year Steven Allen in street clothes and seated on the bench due to a leg injury, the Trojans sputtered out of the…
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Trojans denied Region I title
New Kent’s Trojans had Brunswick’s top-seeded and host Bulldogs on the ropes. The visitors owned a 27-19 second quarter lead behind 59 percent shooting from the floor, but could not administer the knockout blow. That’s because the Trojans’ shooting touch and ability to take care of the ball deserted them for a nine-minute stretch over the second and third quarters. During the span, they missed all eight shots from the floor and turned the ball over eight times. Brunswick, meanwhile, gradually erased New Kent’s lead and forged ahead 34-27. The Bulldogs then withstood a Trojan fourth quarter rally to claim…
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New Kent lands AA state tournament berth
Three seconds left on the clock and a tie score, Justin Williams stepped to the free throw line with a chance to take his New Kent teammates to where no Trojan team has gone before — a berth in both the Region I basketball title game and the Group AA Division 3 state tournament. Fouled by James Monroe’s Farkeen French on a drive to the basket just moments before, Williams calmly sank the first of two from the stripe to give New Kent a 64-63 lead. Then after time out, Williams buried the second as the packed stands on the…
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Board approves $8.7 million capital improvement plan
Charles City supervisors have approved an $8.7 million Capital Improvement Plan for the county that covers the next five years and follows recommendations forwarded to the board by the county’s Planning Commission. What’s missing from the plan are several big ticket items requested by county schools including a $4 million middle school gym, a $1.4 million School Board office, and a $1.1 million athletics field house for the high school. Supervisors voted 3-0 to accept the nine-project plan during their Feb. 23 meeting. All nine are spread over the next three fiscal years with nothing appearing in fiscal 2013-14 and…
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CC travel, training freeze may be first of many cuts
Charles City’s Board of Supervisors has enacted a freeze on all non-essential training and travel by county employees as a first step in addressing expected revenue shortfalls. And board members are considering more cost-cutting measures. Supervisors voted 3-0 during their Feb. 23 meeting to approve the travel/training freeze as recommended by County Administrator Jack Miniclier. Later this month, the board plans to consider other reductions including a hiring freeze, a one-day furlough without pay for all employees, and eliminating funding for a capital needs assessment. Miniclier said the measures are necessary to offset an estimated $115,000 revenue shortfall generated by…
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CC school officials look to county to close revenue gap
Charles City school officials are signaling for help from county supervisors to close a revenue/expense gap that exists in their proposed $12 million school budget for next year. But rescue does not appear imminent and may not be coming at all as an already gloomy money picture grows darker. Monday night, school officials hosted a public hearing on their 2010-11 budget proposal that totals $12,030,348. The figure is about $30,000 less than the total unveiled last month and close to $500,000 below the $12.5 million budget in place for the current school year. But school superintendent Janet Crawley said projected…
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Robbery suspect stunned by NK deputy pleads guilty
A Richmond man, who had to be stunned by a taser gun after stealing cash from a New Kent convenience store and attempting to elude police, could be spending substantial time in prison after pleading guilty in county circuit court. Kenneth Lee Barnes, 49, of 4212 Welford Ave., pleaded guilty on Monday to one count each of grand larceny and eluding police. As part of a plea deal, a charge of misdemeanor destruction of property was dropped. Also as part of the agreement, the prosecution is recommending active prison time not to exceed the midpoint of the state’s sentencing guidelines,…
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Worst case scenario places NK school jobs lost at 42
Job cuts at New Kent schools could range as high as 42, including 24 teachers, if a worst case scenario now confronting county school officials plays out. Layoffs, however, are only part of what could occur if schools are forced to cope with a projected worst case $3.1 million revenue shortfall. Administrators have met with staff at all four New Kent schools and advised employees of the situation. Thus far, there have been no specifics released as to which teaching jobs could be on the line, but up to 12 paraprofessional (teacher aide), four clerical, and one administration post are…
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Charles City receiving 24/7 emergency response service
Emergency response service on a 24/7 basis has come to Charles City. County Board of Supervisors members voted unanimously last week to hire an outside agency that will supply emergency workers during times when the county’s all-volunteer staff is not available. During their Feb. 23 meeting, supervisors authorized a contract with Mechanicsville-based Emergency Training Systems, voting to pay the company $50,000 to cover cost of supplying workers for the remainder of the year. In turn, ETS is to provide EMS personnel that will put in nine-hour days covering five days a week. That service was slated to begin yesterday (Wednesday)….
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Developer sues New Kent, county denies allegations
A developer, whose rezoning application aimed at building a housing subdivision was rejected in December by New Kent’s Board of Supervisors, has filed a lawsuit against the county, asking for the decision to be overturned by a circuit court judge. Richmond-based Godsey Properties filed suit on Jan. 13, seeking reversal of supervisors’ decision and approval of its rezoning application. There is no request for monetary damages. In a response filed Feb. 9, the county denies Godsey’s allegations and basically claims the plaintiff has no case. Supervisors voted 5-0 on Dec. 14 to deny Godsey’s application. The company sought R-1 Single…
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