Opett named Virginia Fire Chief of the Year

New Kent Fire Chief Rick Opett has been selected as the recipient of the Governor’s Fire Services Award as the Virginia Fire Chief of the Year. Opett received the honor during a Feb. 19 ceremony at the Virginia Fire-Rescue conference in Virginia Beach. During his tenure, Opett has improved New Kent Fire-Rescue services that including having the department staffed 24/7, decreased response time to calls by 15 minutes, hiring 40 additional full-time firefighters, and receiving $3 million in grants. He was also instrumental in the opening of the Talleysville Fire Station last year. “I wouldn’t be where I am today,…
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Editorial: Fighting for what you believe in without reinforcements

This past week, I have been reflecting on a lot of things in life in general. While things aren’t perfect, I know I am blessed. But this editorial was really sparked by events that took place on Tuesday night. While I won’t go into a lot of details, I had to ask myself a rhetorical question: “When is a fighting for what you believe for in vain?” There have been several events like this that have taken place throughout New Kent and Charles City County for the last several months. There have been some successes, such as the Second Amendment…
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Success by NKMS Junior BETA Club

Charles City Public Schools Second Quarter Honor Roll 2019-2020

Charles City Elementary School Grade 3- All A’s: Logan Jones. A/B Honor Roll: Aalaya King, Alexander Watson. Grade 4- All A’s: Isaac Blanks, Eric Moody, Carter Sheridan. A/B Honor Roll: Peyton Adkins, Christopher Barbour, Mariah Black, Bradley Fitzgerald, Kristin Harris, Kelsey King, Brooke Richardson, Shane Shadel, Landon Smith, Annalee Steffen, Daniel Tinsley, Colton Walizer. Grade 5- All A’s: Makaila Smith. A/B Honor Roll: Shianne Bowman, Jayden Brooks, Trae Crawley, Charlie Fetter, Kylea New, Judah Patterson, Joseph Wall, Lerrick Wallace. Grade 6- All A’s: Melody Harris. A/B Honor Roll: Teonna Bey, Alexis Bradby, Madison Bradby, Nina Cannada, Dylan Crawley, McKenzie Crump,…
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New Kent Public Schools Second Quarter Honor Rolls 2019-2020

George Watkins Elementary School Grade 3- All A’s: Nathan Atkins, Brayden Batkins, Jillian Bender, Denver Bower, James Burrell IV, Natalie Call, Nehemiah Christian, Thomas Cyrus, Cayden Dickerson, Loganne Felts, Damian Foster, Brody Goodman, Colten Hall, Ryan Harris, Audrey Hudson, Olivia Hudson, Ketyn James, William Keane, Matthew Long, Samuel Luck, Raelyn Marino, Wyatt Marshall, Elizabeth O’Connor, Vyktoria Otey, Jaelyn Pety, Laniyah Randolph, Cody Redman, Ailyn Reid, Anna Rice, Ava Robertson, Joshua Rosser, Owen Rudd, Charlestyn Steele, James Taylor III, Balin Terry, Nathan Thomas, Lula VanBourgondien, Tenley Wood, Drex Wright. A/B Honor Roll: Larry Akrie III, Ailyana Aryeh, Audrey Batkins, Lucas Berry,…
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Editorial: Providing opportunities for younger generations when we move on

The debate about what “our purpose in life” has been debated for decades. Today, I challenge each of you to set somebody else up for success. When a person occupies a job, it is to better his or her life over a certain time frame. As a transition or retirement approaches, it provides additional opportunities for someone to learn the ins and outs to become just as successful at that job. As much as the older generation likes to hold onto a job, there will be a time when the younger generation has to step up and take over. We…
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Survey, public hearing to be held as part of search for new Charles City Schools’ superintendent

Charles City County Public Schools has announced that it will seek input from the public in the search for a new superintendent of schools. In addition to using services provided by the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), a survey has been created related to superintendent criteria. The survey can be accessed, by going to www.surveymonkey.com/r/CharlesCityCountySearch, visiting the school division’s website, or picking up hard copies at either the school board office or the main offices of the elementary and high school. “Hiring a new superintendent is the biggest task a school board will face, and we want to make sure…
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Richard earns Dean’s List accolades at Old Dominion University

Sydney Richard, the valedictorian of Charles City High School’s Class of 2016, has been named to the Dean’s List for the 2019 Fall semester at Old Dominion University. In order to earn the achievement, a student must be enrolled full-time and accumulate a grade-point average of 3.4 or higher.

VPE Capital Day 2020

Editorial: Success can be a result of patience, not pursuit

There are times in life when people want a quick turnaround. Whether it’s a quick way to make an extra dollar or a fast track to get promoted, we all want to be successful and reap the benefits of that success. But sometimes, taking it slow and being patient can be true meaning of being the recipient of success. When we are young, there is often that person or idea that we discover that gives us motivation to seek our dream job. What that inspiration doesn’t show us is that it takes a lot of work to get there. When…
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