News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 18, 2026
Local News
New Kent planners recommend annual renewal for Colonial Downs’ event permit
New Kent Planning Commission members favor allowing Colonial Downs to have a county permit for hosting events such as rodeos and the annual county fair. But they also want that permit to expire after one year. Commission members voted 9-1-1 Tuesday night to recommend the county Board of Supervisors amend a conditional use permit (CUP) dating from 2002 that allows the track to stage certain events other than horse racing. The proposed amendment removes language in the CUP that requires track officials to hold a current and valid pari-mutuel horseracing license issued by the Virginia Racing Commission. Last October, Colonial…
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Boards reorganize in Charles City, New Kent
Boards in Charles City and New Kent have named chairmen and vice-chairmen as part of reorganization for meetings in 2015. In Charles City, Gilbert Smith will serve as chairman for the county’s Board of Supervisors, with Floyd Miles Sr. serving as vice-chairman. Helen Payne-Jones and Barbara Crawley were reappointed as chairwoman and vice-chairwoman, respectively, for Charles City’s School Board. District 2 representative Tommy Tiller received the nod as chairman for New Kent’s Board of Supervisors, with Ron Stiers tasked with duties as the board’s vice-chairman. New Kent School Board members named Sarah Grier Barber as chairwoman, with District 5 representative…
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Yorktown duo arrested on burglary and grand larceny charge in New Kent
Two Yorktown teenagers have been arrested on charges of burglary and grand larceny from a residence on Carriage Road in New Kent County. Rachel Nicole Dillon, 18, and Bailey Scott Strickland, 19, both of the 100 block of Brokenbridge Road, were arrested for allegedly entering the residence and stealing more than $200 in valuables. Dillon was taken into custody on Jan. 16, with Strickland arrested the following day. Both defendants were being held in Henrico Jail East without bond pending arraignment in New Kent General District Court.
Quinton woman arrested on alleged domestic assault, threatening charges
A Quinton woman has been arrested on one felony charge each of allegedly threatening to burn down an occupied dwelling and being involved in an alleged domestic assault. Alison Aurelia Henderson, 28, of the 7000 block of N. Franklin Way, was taken into custody on Jan. 9 on both charges. Both charges are felonies, with the domestic assault charge being a fourth offense within 20 years. Henderson was being held without bond in Henrico Jail East.
NKSO prompts residents to secure vehicles
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is advising citizens to be cautious when starting vehicles on cold days. Sheriff personnel say this time of year tends to produce increases in thefts of items from vehicles and vehicles themselves. Thieves will target cars that are running unattended as windows defrost. Citizens are advised to lock doors if you start the car to defrost windows. If you use a remote starter, make sure the doors are locked before activating it. The sheriff’s office is also saying locking your doors while your car is parked is a good idea to prevent thefts and ensure that…
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CUP for motorcycle race, PUD amendment approved by NK supervisors
New Kent supervisors approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Colonial Downs to host a motorcycle race and an amendment to a Planned Use Development (PUD) permit for Patriot’s Landing Management Corporation during its Jan. 12 regular meeting. Supervisors granted both the permit and the amendment unanimously after no one elected to speak during the public hearings. New Kent’s Planning Commission voted for a favorable recommendation for Colonial Downs’ CUP during its Dec. 15 meeting. The CUP allows Colonial Downs to host motorcycle racing at the facility for a third consecutive year. This year’s event is tentatively scheduled to be…
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NEW UPDATE: Storm creates hazardous driving conditions on area roads, some postponements
Icy road conditions have closed schools today in New Kent and Charles City counties and have kept law enforcement personnel busy responding to motorists in distress along with some accidents. As of 10 a.m., State Police Sgt. Steve Vick reported State Police have responded to “around 12” crashes in New Kent and Charles City, but no serious injuries are involved. In New Kent, sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin reports that as of 9 a.m. deputies had responded to six vehicle accidents to assist state police, but most trouble on county roads has involved disabled vehicles and vehicles that have…
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Morrissey wins 74th District special election, reclaims seat in House of Delegates; Democratic leadership expresses disdain
Controversial candidate Joe Morrissey won today’s (Tuesday) special election for the state House of Delegates’ 74th District seat he resigned from just a few weeks ago. And considering the extremely low voter turnout, he prevailed by a comfortable margin over his two challengers while sweeping all three localities in the district. Morrissey, a former Democrat now independent who is in jail following a contributing to the delinquency of a minor conviction, polled 2,840 votes. His closest challenger, Democrat and Charles City County resident Kevin Sullivan, earned 2,243 while Republican Matt Walton trailed in third with 1,622. Morrissey captured Charles City’s…
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Second armed robber in 7-Eleven heist to serve nine-year prison sentence
A West Point man will serve nine years in prison due to his involvement in a May 6 early morning robbery of the 7-Eleven store located in Eltham area of New Kent. Michael Sylvester Robinson, 38, of the 4300 block of Custis Mill Road, accepted a plea agreement during Jan. 12 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings to one count of armed robbery. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, Robinson entered the establishment with codefendant Trey Smith shortly after 1 a.m. to rob the store. The duo held the clerk at gunpoint before escaping on foot…
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