News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 5, 2025
Local News
New Kent Fire-Rescue launches new alert notification system
New Kent Fire-Rescue has launched a new mass notification emergency alert service. New Kent ALERT, powered by Everbridge, Inc., was launched on July 20. The system enhances the capability to send emergency alerts for situations that include severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and more. “We are very excited to utilize this new software as it gives us more versatility in contacting the entire community by phone, text, email, or the mobile app in an emergency situation,” said New Kent Fire Chief Rick Opett in a press release. “We can also narrow our focus to just a neighborhood that…
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Chronicle announces transition to weekly newspaper
The New Kent-Charles City Chronicle has made the decision to become a weekly newspaper effective as of Sept. 15. “With the ever-changing environment of the news, Chronicle staff has elected to make the decision to become a weekly newspaper,” said editor Andre’ Jones. “After much research, we feel that news that effects New Kent and Charles City is ongoing and that a publication every week will benefit citizens for both localities.” With the decision to go weekly, the New Kent-Charles City Chronicle will be phasing out the New Kent-Charles City Chronicle EXTRA that is mailed out to New Kent residents….
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Savage, Johnson hired by Chronicle
The New Kent-Charles City Chronicle is proud to announce the hiring of Ja’ël Savage and Robb Johnson to positions at the newspaper. Savage has been hired as a sales representative for the Chronicle. She will be replacing Linda Norman, who is retiring at the end of August. Johnson has been hired as a general reporter and a sales representative. He has spent previous time at the Chronicle, working as an intern. Savage can be contacted by email at sales.nkccnews@gmail.com and Johnson can be contacted at robb.nkccnews@gmail.com. They may also be contacted by phone at 843-4181.
Drug related allegations among many indictments certified by New Kent grand jury
A grand jury certified several indictments, many stemming from drug related allegations, during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. –Damian James Powell, 25, of the 200 block of Ivy Hill Road, Toano, on a single count of possession of cocaine. Powell had his trial on Monday afternoon, accepting a plea deal to one count of grand larceny (stemming from an earlier charge) and the recent indictment for possession of cocaine. A misdemeanor charge of entering into a vehicle was dropped. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Jan. 2 Dustin Soderholt reported to…
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Sex crimes against minors result in five-year prison sentence for Providence Forge man
*Editor’s Note: This story contains content that may be unsuitable or uncomfortable for some readers. A Providence Forge man will serve five years in prison after admitting to sex crimes with two under-aged girls. Norman Kendrel Hogge, 63, of the 12100 block of Indian Hill Lane, entered guilty pleas to four counts of carnal knowledge without force as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by special prosecutor Clay Blanton, in December 2016 a New Kent detective began to look into allegations after two victims reported that they…
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Attempted Henrico Jail East escapees slapped with additional two years of jail time
A failed attempt to escape Henrico Jail East in New Kent has resulted in two men each receiving an additional two years in jail. Frank Edward Wilson Arthur, 35, and Clayton Douglas Musselman, 29, both of Henrico Jail East, accepted plea agreements as part of July 10 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Both men entered guilty pleas to one count each of attempted escape by a prisoner and damaging property to escape while being a prisoner. One charge of possession of tools to escape jail was dropped as part of the plea deal. In a summary of evidence provided…
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New Kent supervisor Stiers, citizens sound off about road conditions
As Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) maintenance operations manager Bruce Puffenbarger provided his monthly update to New Kent supervisors, he mentioned that money would be taken from the residency administrator’s funds to pave one-mile of Rockahock Road from Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) to just pass Ed Allen’s Campground. But despite the VDOT representative’s good intentions, it only increased the speed of an already lit fuse with District 4 representative Ron Stiers. Stiers sounded off at the July 6 regular meeting on the condition of Rockahock Road, something he has been petitioning VDOT to complete pave for the past two years….
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Half-dozen indicted by grand jury in Charles City Circuit Court
Six individuals, including a girlfriend and boyfriend, were indicted during July 6 proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. Landry Bailey, 23, of the 8700 block of Elliott Drive, Mechanicsville, and India Alexis Wynn, 22, of the 8900 block of Shewsbury Drive, New Kent, each were indicted on one count each of grand larceny and burglary. Wynn received an additional indictment on a lone count of misdemeanor destruction of property. According to the indictments, the duo allegedly stole a variety of tools on Nov. 24, 2016. In other indictments certified by the grand jury: –Harlan Egan Adkins, 47, of the 4700…
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Richmond man to serve year in jail after being convicted of DUI in Charles City
A Richmond man will spend a year in jail after pleading guilty to his fourth DUI offense within a 10-year span. Derrick Demetrius Easter, 47, enter guilty pleas to one count each of DUI (fourth offense) and misdemeanor driving revoked as part of a plea agreement reached on July 6 in Charles City Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence, on Jan. 20, Easter was operating a vehicle when it ran into a ditch on Lott Cary Road and ended up wrecking the vehicle. After being questioned by a state trooper, the defendant admitted he was the driver of the…
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New Kent man arrested for alleged shooting in Henrico
A New Kent man is in custody after an alleged shooting in Henrico. A police report identified Michael Malcolm Willoughby, 32, as a gunman during a June 30 morning incident on Nine Mile Road. According to that report, around 7:30 a.m., Willoughby discharged a firearm from a vehicle at a gas station. The bullet allegedly hit a woman, resulting in her heading to the hospital. Willoughby is being charged with one count each of shooting into an occupied vehicle, shooting from a vehicle, and assault and battery. The investigation is currently ongoing, but the police report says that Willoughby and…
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