News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 18, 2026
Local News
Cosby Mill Road in New Kent reopened to vehicle traffic
Cosby Mill Road, an important highway link in New Kent County’s western end, reopened to vehicle traffic early this afternoon (Friday) following completion of a project to replace a series of culverts. The road has been closed to traffic since Nov. 11 to allow for the $300,000 project to take place. The site of the project is where Black Creek flows under the pavement and where the roadway often floods after heavy rain, especially when the culverts become blocked. “The road is now open, but we still have to pave the area,” VDOT representative Chris Baker said today, adding that…
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UPDATE: No additional weather-related crashes in New Kent; accident totals climb in Richmond region, state
Area motorists apparently heeded warnings to stay off local roads or use caution since no weather-related accidents were reported overnight in New Kent County. But the same cannot be said for the Richmond region and state (new statistics appear below). “There were one or two accidents [overnight], but they were not weather-related,” said New Kent Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin. Icy roads contributed to 13 vehicle crashes in the county during a seven-hour period from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday. McLaughlin said none of the accidents resulted in injuries requiring medical transport. Most involved vehicles sliding into…
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Capital Improvement Plan for FY2015-16 in Charles City nears $2.5 million
A first draft of Charles City County’s FY2015-16 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) has come in with a price tag just under $2.5 million. County administrator Zach Trogdon and county finance director Michelle Johnson announced a figure of $2,468,000 at the board’s March 4 quarterly work session. A formal presentation of the proposed CIP will take place at the board’s regular monthly meeting on March 24. Among top projects in next year’s plan is replacement of the Mt. Zion well. The well has suffered deficiencies over past years and was the subject of a corrective action plan with the Virginia Department…
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Septic tank pump-out program available to Charles City residents
Charles City County has received an $8,000 Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Implementation Grant to implement a Septic Tank Pump-out Program. Granted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), the program will pump out at least 30 septic tanks belonging to eligible individuals. Eligibility requirements include gross household income at or below 80 percent of area median income adjusted for family size, own the home where the tank is to be pumped, no previous grant funds for pumping out the system within the past five years, and the septic system must be located in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act area….
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Latest winter storm causing more highway problems in New Kent, Charles City
Although wintry precipitation will be coming to an end this evening in New Kent and Charles City counties, predicted record low temperatures overnight are expected worsen road conditions that already are icy. As of 4 p.m. today, state police had responded to 209 calls for service over a four-hour span in the Richmond Metro area, said Sgt. Steve Vick. There have been 148 crashes with 142 resulting in damage. Fortunately, only five injuries have been reported. Troopers assisted 34 stranded motorists. In New Kent, sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin said deputies have responded to several calls involving vehicles sliding…
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Psychological evaluation prompts plea deal in New Kent court
A North Carolina man who led a New Kent deputy sheriff on a New Year’s Eve high-speed chase through the county on Interstate 64 has pleaded guilty in New Kent General District Court to a felony count of eluding police along with three misdemeanors. A preliminary hearing in the case of Todd Michael Bowers, 43, had been scheduled for Feb. 24 in general district court. When proceedings commenced, however, a court-ordered psychological evaluation of the defendant changed matters. Commonwealth’s attorney Linwood Gregory said the report revealed the Weeksville, N.C. man suffers from a “delusional disorder.” The diagnosis qualified the defendant…
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Wanted man captured, indicted in Charles City Circuit Court
A Charles City man involved in a 2011 hit-and-run accident who later absconded from authorities has been arrested and indicted by a Charles City Circuit Court grand jury. Waverly Lindburg Charity, 54, of the 6000 block of Wayside Road, was indicted on one count each of felony hit-and-run and misdemeanor driving revoked (after license suspended for alcohol-related violations) during Tuesday morning court proceedings. According to the indictment, Charity was operating a vehicle that had two other occupants on Sept. 30, 2011 when it struck a tree on Wayside Road. After the accident, Charity fled the scene, leaving the passengers with…
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New Kent schools pre-plan for enrollment increase in near future
New Kent superintendent of schools David Myers is putting a final touch on plans to embrace a projected enrollment increase over the next few years. Myers addressed school board members Monday night, focusing on options to help accommodate student population. According to Myers, a projection of more than 3,000 students in FY2015-16 is still expected as the result of studies conducted by office personnel and the University of Virginia. The superintendent continues to raise concerns about capacity at New Kent Elementary and New Kent Middle School. “At New Kent Elementary, we are running out of options on where to place…
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Quinton man to serve six months for DUI, heroin possession time suspended
A Quinton man will spend six months in jail after being convicted for possession of heroin and driving under the influence (second offense). After a contested trial, Evan Roy Sluder, 32, of the 5300 block of Adams Road, received guilty verdicts on both offenses during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Last April 4, Deputy Wyatt Johnston responded to a call on Poverty Hall Road about a vehicle idling in the roadway. Upon arrival, he found a vehicle with its engine on, but not moving. The deputy testified he approached the vehicle and knocked on the window several…
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Freezing rain ices over New Kent, Charles City roads resulting in several crashes, some involving injuries
Thanks to icy road conditions, 16 crashes involving 21 vehicles have occurred Sunday in New Kent County. And as a result of those accidents, four people have been transported to area hospitals. New Kent Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin issued the report as of 3 p.m. Most of the accidents (10) took place on New Kent Highway (Route 249/30) with three each occurring in the 17800 and 9800 blocks and one each in the 16300, 16200, 9800, and 3800 blocks. Three accidents were reported on Pocahontas Trail (Route 60), one in the 13300 block and two in the 3800…
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