News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 29, 2026
Local News
Former New Kent supervisor, government official succumbs
Richard S. “Dick” Ellyson, 78, who served three terms on New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors and later stepped in as interim county treasurer and county administrator, passed away on Feb. 25. He first won election to the board’s District 2 seat in 1975, but lost four years later. He ran again in 1983, regaining the post which he held for the next eight years. He opted not to seek reelection in 1991. But Ellyson was never one to shy away from county service. He answered the call from supervisors to take over as interim county treasurer when then treasurer…
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Launch date for high-speed internet in Charles City pushed back to April
Ever since the awarding of a $600,000 grant to bring high-speed internet to Charles City was announced in December 2014, citizens and businesses alike have patiently waited for the day it would become a reality. Those citizens and businesses will have to wait a little bit longer. Charles City county administrator Zach Trogdon announced a new tentative date of early April for the launch of wireless internet service for the county. “This process is similar to being pregnant; you know it will come soon but just don’t know when,” the county administrator said during the Feb. 23 regular monthly meeting…
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Man receives year in alternative programs after eluding police on motorcycle
A Richmond man who fled police in a multi-county chase received formal sentencing in Feb. 22 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings. Nicholas Joseph Ciambor, 30, of the 5800 block of Westover Village Drive, will serve one year in the men’s Detention and Diversion Center programs. Ciambor entered Alford pleas of guilty (stipulating he maintains his innocence with his plea but evidence presented would convict him of the crime) to one count each of felony eluding police, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor driving without a proper endorsement during a Dec. 21 trial. During the original trial, a summary of events indicated…
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VDOT projects for New Kent (Feb. 20-26, 2016)
Here is a list of VDOT projects for the week of Feb. 20-26, 2016: Feb. 22-26- New Kent Highway (Rt. 249) will have alternating lane closures from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. to continue construction work on a roundabout at the intersection of Route 249 and Airport/Tunstall Road. Feb. 22-26- Stage Road (Rt. 627) between Clark Road and Evergreen Road will have alternating lane closures from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for bridge deck repairs. Feb. 23- Interstate 64 East between mile markers 220 (West Point) and 224 will have alternating lane closures from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. for pothole patching.
Commissioners favor $3.25 million Capital Improvement Plan for FY2016-17 New Kent projects; New Kent Elementary renovations not included
New Kent Planning Commissioners put a stamp of favorable recommendation on a $3.25 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for FY2016-17 in the county. Tuesday evening’s public hearing presented no speakers as county administrator Rodney Hathaway introduced a $3,253,392 proposal to commissioners. Of that amount, $532,950 are self-sustaining funds to handle projects in the public utilities department. Of the remaining $2,720,442, state and federal grants total $983,528, something that Hathaway was proud to speak about. “When you look at this CIP, only half will be tax-funded,” the county administrator said, pointing to the figure of $1,736,914. “We were approached with more…
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Forestry division reminders for spring wildfire season
Spring wildfire season is now in effect for New Kent and Charles City. Between Feb. 15 and Apr. 30, burn restrictions are in effect for both counties. Here are some reminders during that time frame: –Open burning which is 300 feet of woods or grass which could carry the fire to the woods is banned before 4 p.m. (Open burning is burning which releases smoke and other products of combustion directly to the atmosphere without passing through a chimney or screen.) Otherwise permissible air burning is only allowed between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. (midnight). All other open burning regulations…
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‘Early College Scholar Academy’ open to New Kent High School students
Next fall, a handful of New Kent High School students will embark on a program where they can earn college credit leading to an associate’s degree in arts and science. College credit can then be transferred to other institutions of higher learning. And the best news is all can be accomplished at bargain basement prices. Dubbed the New Kent County Public Schools Early College Scholar Academy, the two-year program is a partnership between the local school system and Rappahannock Community College. Students enroll in college-level classes to be taken at RCC’s Glenns Campus and NKHS starting with their junior year…
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Closings and Delays for Feb. 16, 2016
Charles City County Public Schools will have a two hour delay. New Kent County Public Schools will have a two hour delay.
Chickahominy Lake to remain water-ski free zone after NK supervisors reject repeal
An eight-month battle over repealing an ordinance to allow water-skiing on Chickahominy Lake has come to an end with the restriction remaining intact. New Kent supervisors defeated repealing of the 37 year old ordinance at their Feb. 8 regular board meeting by a 4-1 vote. Only District 2 representative Tommy Tiller favored striking down the law. In July 2015, residents Daniel Moore and Jonathan Edmonds addressed county leaders on the aforementioned issue. According to the two, Chickahominy Lake is the only lake in Virginia that does not allow water-skiing. For the next few months, the two continuously addressed the board,…
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New Kent School Board considering proposed $30.9 million school budget for 2016-17
A proposed $30.9 million next year school budget aimed at raising the county’s competitive posture in a quest for quality teachers is now under consideration by New Kent School Board members. School superintendent Dave Myers and school finance director Haynie Morgheim unveiled the FY2016-17 proposal before board members Monday night. The total figure ($30,916,241) is more than $1.4 million or about 5 percent higher than the current year’s $29.5 million budget. As it stands for now, funding the budget proposal would require $13,854,595 in county money, a figure that is exactly $300,000 more than the county’s contribution for the current…
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