News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 13, 2026
Local News
Charles City Public Schools adopt $10.9 million operating budget for FY2024-25
Charles City County Public Schools adopted their FY2024-25 budget at the June 20 regular board meeting. School board members unanimously approved the $10,985,585 operating budget for the next year’s fiscal operation. In total with the CIP and self-sustaining funds, the budget is $13,999,582. Of the $10.9 operating budget, the school will receive $6,502,485 from local contributions, which is level funding. The budget includes a three-percent raise for students. To balance the budget, savings were recognized through new hires and plans intended to utilize grants to support needed positions.
Charles City Public Schools announce new principals for elementary level
Charles City County Public Schools announced the hiring of two new principals at the elementary level. Bernard Burwell has been named as Charles City Elementary School’s new principal, while Jeffery Groh will serve in the role of assistant principal. Burwell served as an assistant principal in Prince George and held roles as an educator in Chesterfield which included special education coordinator and dean of students. He earned his Masters in Education Administration from the University of Virginia and his Bachelors of Arts from Randolph-Macon College. Groh served as an assistant principal at Desert Willow Elementary and Cactus Middle School in…
Read Full Story
York County man, Williamsburg child dies at scene of accident in Charles City
A York County man and a nine-year old boy have passed away as the result of a June 15 car accident in Charles City. According to a Virginia State Police report, around 5:25 p.m. a 2005 Acura TSX traveling eastbound on John Tyler Memorial Highway in Charles City County ran off the road and crashed into a tree shortly before the Judith Stewart Dresser Bridge that connects with James City County. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Shawnell Eley of Yorktown, along with a nine-year old boy from Williamsburg, died at the scene. Two other juvenile passengers were severely injured and…
Read Full Story
Portsmouth man connected, charged with incident with Charles City law enforcement officer
A Portsmouth man has been charged with several crimes stemming from a June 9 incident that saw Charles City County Sgt. Floyd Miles Jr. succumb to a medical emergency. Derek Croom, 59, has been charged with one count of felonious assault on a law enforcement officer, two counts of felony destruction of property, and one misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice. On June 9 around 12:30 p.m. Miles was monitoring traffic at the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) and Wayside Road (Route 607) around 12:30 p.m. when an individual on a moped fell onto the vehicle. The…
Read Full Story
Tension amongst board members rises as New Kent passes FY2024-25 budget, two-cent tax increase
While New Kent’s Board of Supervisors were able to approve their FY2024-25 budget of $112.8 million at the May 29 work session, there was enough tension in the room to probably start a streaming series on how it got there. The process started early in the morning, with County Administrator Rodney Hathaway recapping the budget that will see a two-cent tax increase from 57 cents to 59 cents. When board chairman Thomas Evelyn asked for comments, District 5 representative Jordan Stewart voiced her concerns over the hike. “I have had thoughts, and while this is exciting for Mr. Hathaway, this…
Read Full Story
Williamsburg man slapped with two-year jail sentence for 2019 drug distribution
A Williamsburg man who was in possession of drugs during a 2019 traffic stop will spend at least the next two years in jail. Eugene Meredith Otey, 49, of the 4500 block of Wimbledon Road, entered a guilty plea to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug with intent to distribute, felony failure to appear, and misdemeanor violating the conditions of pretrial following Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence, on June 11, 2019, a Virginia State Police officer executed a traffic stop in the county. A K-9 unit was brought on…
Read Full Story
Charles City deputy succumbs to medical emergency while in line of duty
A Charles City County Sheriff’s Office deputy has died as the result of a medical emergency that occurred while in the line of duty. Sgt. Floyd H. Miles Jr., 45, succumbed to his emergency as the result of the June 9 incident. According to a press release from Charles City County Sheriff’s Office, Miles was monitoring traffic at the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) and Wayside Road (Route 607) around 12:30 p.m. when an individual on a moped fell onto the vehicle. The deputy noticed blood and asked if the subject was okay. The subject indicated that…
Read Full Story
Strickland elevated to role as new principal of New Kent High School
Allison Strickland has been elevated to the position as the new principal of New Kent High School. School Board members made the announcement during Monday evening’s regular board meeting. Strickland, who previously served as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal, has been in the school system for the past 12 years. Strickland commented that she is thankful for the opportunity and looks forward to working with the best faculty and staff at New Kent High School. The appointment of Strickland comes as the result of a pending allegation that former New Kent High School Christopher Valdrighi had an open container…
Read Full Story
New Kent School Board adopts $50.5 million budget for FY2024-25
New Kent’s School Board adopted their FY2024-25 budget following Monday evening’s regular meeting. Board members approved a $50,596,117 budget for operations in the upcoming cycle. Last April, New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols revised their budget based off figures provided to him by New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway. More than $741,866 in cuts were made from the original $51.1 million originally requested. New Kent’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was amended by $200,000 to accommodate an increase for the one-to-one initiative that will move into the general operating fund. The school’s CIP totals $4.03 million for the year. Nichols…
Read Full Story
Accusations may lead to shake-up of Charles City Electoral Board
A shake-up to Charles City County’s Electoral Board may be on the way after accusations of illegally sharing information from a voting machine. According to information received and a letter received by the Chronicle, the Virginia Board of Elections have been asked by two members of Charles City County’s Electoral Board, Gerald Barnes and Kermit White, to have asked for a third member, Maria Kinney, be removed. Charles City County Registrar Denay Harris also signed the letter. Claims by the board members shared during a public meeting with Virginia’s Board of Elections state that Kinney disregarded implemented election parties, claiming…
Read Full Story
