News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 19, 2026
Local News
DNA on cigarette defendant to serve one year term in alternative program
A Richmond woman whose DNA was found on a cigarette butt at the scene of a break-in will serve a year in a women’s Detention and Diversion program. Melissa Dawn Miffleton, 27, of the 2100 block of Oregon Avenue, received the formal sentence during May 19 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Miffleton accepted a plea deal on April 13 to one count of burglary. Evidence presented indicated Miffleton broke into the house of Laurie Dunston with an unidentified male and stole items. As she left the scene, she flicked a cigarette butt onto the ground. With nobody in the…
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No Colonial Downs/VHBPA agreement yet; VRC allows for three more days to settle dispute
An air of optimism hovered over Monday’s Virginia Racing Commission meeting. Perhaps this would be the day the contract dispute between Colonial Downs and the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association would end, thus salvaging this summer’s thoroughbred racing season. Commission members recessed Monday’s meeting shortly before 10:30 a.m., citing how both sides seemed close and giving the warring parties until 1 p.m. to come to an agreement. Unfortunately, that atmosphere of hope quickly dissipated when the VRC reconvened. While both sides appeared to deem this morning’s session as “very productive,” matters such as “a need to clarify proposals” and…
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Paving on Interstate 64 East to cause daytime delays
Extensive paving on Interstate 64 Eastbound will cause several delays and possible traffic back-ups next week. VDOT crews will patch potholes from mile marker 205 (Bottoms Bridge exit) to mile marker 224 starting on Sunday, May 18 and concluding Thursday, May 22, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Crews will alternate lane closures during that time frame. Motorists are to be prepared for the delays and are advised to use an alternate route.
Supreme Court prayer ruling could impact NK commission
In the wake of last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision, the door could be open for New Kent County’s Planning Commission to return to its practice of opening the group’s public meetings with a prayer. In a 5-4 decision on May 5, the majority of justices sided with the town council of Greece, N.Y., ruling that the body can open public meetings with a Christian prayer as long as that prayer does not cast aspersions on non-Christians or attempt religious conversion. Back in 2008, a pair of town residents had objected to the council’s prayer policy and filed a lawsuit….
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Slew of charges facing three suspects in NK meth lab raid
New Kent SWAT team officers and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) descended early Monday afternoon on a ramshackle trailer parked at a New Kent County campground, taking down a methamphetamine lab along with a marijuana growing operation found inside. Authorities have arrested Jason Andrew Meade, 25, of the 6300 block of Hopewell Road, New Kent; Whitney Renee Marciniak, 23, of the 200 block of North Ivy Ave., Highland Springs; and Nathaniel Blake Atkins, 23, (address unavailable). Thus far, none of the charges faced by the trio relate to the meth lab and marijuana grow found inside the trailer,…
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Two suspects in Eltham 7-Eleven armed robbery taken into custody
Just over 48 hours after two men robbed the 7-Eleven store in the Eltham area of New Kent at gunpoint, county sheriff’s personnel have a King William County man and a King & Queen County man in custody. Michael Sylvester Robinson, 38, of the 4300 block of Custis Mill Pond Rd. in King William County, and Trey Daquan Smith, 19, of the 200 block of Clancie Road, Shacklefords, in King & Queen County, are charged with one count each of robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and conspiracy to commit robbery. The suspects are uncle and…
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New Kent supervisors reject Liberty Landing’s latest proposal
Despite proffers offered by David Rudiger and Kenneth Merner of Bridgewater Crossing Incorporated for rezoning 88 acres of land, New Kent supervisors voted 3-2 to reject a rezoning application that would pave the way for development of Liberty Landing subdivision in the Bottoms Bridge area of New Kent. Supervisors heard the proposal from Rudiger at Monday night’s public hearing. The developer emphasized that 450 residential units would consist of townhomes, one room, and two room apartments. Incentives pushed by Rudiger for the development of Liberty Landing included cash proffers of $4,500 per unit (that would generate $15,000 per student in…
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New Kent School Board members voice concerns over $200,000 budget reduction for FY 2014-15
With New Kent County’s budget estimated to have a shortfall of $402,000 due to Colonial Downs’ stance of not hosting a thoroughbred season, school officials met with supervisors concerned with once designated revenues for the upcoming fiscal year being reduced by $200,000. School board members met with county representatives Monday afternoon in an attempt to grasp new budgetary numbers proposed by county administrator Rodney Hathaway. Hathaway pegged the new county budget for FY2014-15 at $64,807,108 during the board’s regular meeting later that night. But school board members received word that an initial increase of $570,000 more this year for their…
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Myers hired as new superintendent of New Kent schools
New Kent’s School Board announced at its May 5 meeting that Dr. David A. Myers will become the new superintendent of schools. The board unanimously approved Myers’ hiring after the completion of a six-month search. Myers is currently the assistant superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools and brings 18 years of experience with him to New Kent. He also currently works as adjunct faculty at the University of Richmond. “It’s been a natural progression to get to where I am today,” Myers said in a Monday night interview. “New Kent has always had my eye and I thank the board…
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Jury convicts Maryland man on felony eluding charge
A jury of nine women and three men took only 15 minutes to convict a Maryland man for eluding authorities last November. Jose Angel Santiago, 32, of the 900 block of Ashbridge Drive, Essex, Md., received a guilty verdict on one count of felony eluding police during New Kent Circuit Court proceedings Monday morning. Last Nov. 27, New Kent Deputy Christopher Bristow responded to a call about an erratic driver in the Tallysville area of the county. Bristow located the suspect vehicle on New Arbor Drive in one of Tallysville’s subdivisions. The deputy observed the car come to a stop…
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