News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 19, 2026
Local News
Strand of hair on drink can leads to plea deal for Lanexa man
A Lanexa man connected to a 2012 grand larceny accepted a plea deal Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. Kenneth Barnhardt IV, 32, of the 5000 block of Good Hope Rd., will receive no active time behind bars after he accepted an agreement. Barnhardt, however, will have to pay a fine of $7,020 in restitution. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, between the dates of July 5-12, 2012, an air conditioning unit was stolen from the residence of John Gaban Tarjan. Gregory said the victim was attempting to sell or rent the home and…
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Despite VRC mandate, Colonial Downs ends talks with VHBPA
Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) has placed a deadline for Colonial Downs and Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA) to sign an agreement for a 25-day thoroughbred race season. Commissioners ordered that both parties reach an agreement by a May 19 deadline during their May 7 meeting. But Colonial Downs officials have elected to go another route after talks once again broke down, this time resulting in Colonial Downs terminating all relationships with the VHBPA. Through a May 13 press release, Colonial Downs announced that it will seek a new horsemen’s group to hold thoroughbred racing for the 2014 season….
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Grading scale, longer school day under consideration in New Kent
New Kent School Board members will be considering issues that may bring significant changes to education in the county schools after hearing two proposals at their May 5 regular meeting. School board officials will ponder over the next few weeks on the possibility of a 10-point grading scale and a permanent extension of the school day. A decision may be rendered at the school board’s May 19 work session. Director of curriculum and instruction Nate Collins brought up the possibility of the changes after additional research conducted by an organized committee said those changes could benefit students in the long…
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Briefly… for May 15-28, 2014
Comprehensive plan meetings in CC Charles City planning staff have scheduled three meetings, one in each district, over the next week to receive public comments on the proposed draft of the countys’ Comprehensive Plan. The first meeting will take place Monday, May 19, 7 p.m. at St. John Baptist Church. A second meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m. at Parrish Hill Baptist Church, with a third meeting on Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m. at the Government and School Board Administration building auditorium. The plan can be accessed and reviewed on the county’s webpage at www.co.charles-city.va.us or by…
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Study reveals substantial percentage of New Kent, Charles City population at risk for hunger
A recent study concludes that a substantial portion of the population in Charles City and New Kent counties stands at risk for hunger. In Charles City, 14.4 percent of the county’s population (1,040 individuals) and 12.4 percent of the county’s children (160) fall into the at-risk category, according to the study. In New Kent, the figures are 7.8 percent of the county’s population (1,450) and 11.9 percent of the children (490).
The study is dubbed Map the Meal Gap 2014 and was conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks that includes FeedMore, which coordinates efforts in 36…
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Colonial Downs ends relationship with VHBPA, offers $2 million loan to new horsemen’s group to hold thoroughbred racing
(Editor’s Note: The following is a press release issued this afternoon by Colonial Downs’ officials relating to the state of negotiations with the VHBA and the Virginia Racing Commission’s mandate that a 25-day thoroughbred racing contract be reached by May 19.) Colonial Downs continued its commitment to Virginia’s thoroughbred racing industry and provided the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA) a new 25-day racing proposal in response to the Virginia Racing Commission’s order of 25 days of thoroughbred racing for 2014. Similar to the VHBPA’s response to Colonial Downs’ earlier 25-day proposal, the VHBPA rejected the new proposal. As…
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More charges piled on suspects linked to meth lab/marijuana grow operation
Three suspects arrested yesterday in the aftermath of a New Kent Sheriff’s Office/DEA raid at a suspected methamphetamine lab in the county now face additional charges. None of the charges, however, relate to the meth lab/marijuana grow authorities discovered. (See related story on this website.) Authorities originally charged Jason Andrew Meade, 25, of the 6300 block of Hopewell Road, New Kent, and Whitney Renee Marciniak, 23, of the 200 block of North Ivy Ave., Highland Springs, with one count each of burglary and larceny. Additional charges, six for Meade and seven against Marciniak, were added before the pair appeared today…
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UPDATE: New Kent Sheriff’s Office, DEA take down meth lab, marijuana operation
New Kent SWAT team officers and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) swooped down 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. In custody are two adults, a male and a female, who are being held at Henrico Jail East. Authorities have charged Jason Andrew Meade, 25, of the 6300 block of Hopewell Road, New Kent, and Whitney Renee Marciniak, 23, of the 200 block of North Ivy Ave., Highland Springs, with one count each of burglary and larceny. No…
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VRC orders contract to be signed by Colonial Downs, VHBPA by May 19
Virginia Racing Commission (VRC) has placed a deadline for Colonial Downs and Virginia Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA) to sign an agreement for a 25-day thoroughbred race season. Commissioners ordered that both parties reach an agreement by a May 19 deadline during their meeting today (May 7). At issue is the stalemate between VHBPA and Colonial Downs over the length of the thoroughbred season. While Colonial Downs pushed for fewer races with bigger purse money averaging $500,000, VHBPA lobbied for a longer season with more races and purses in the $200,000 range. Negotiations between the parties began last September,…
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Convicted felon indicted on firearm possession in Charles City
A Colonial Heights man was indicted by a Charles City Circuit Court grand jury during May 6 proceedings. Dallas James Anthony, 23, of the 2700 block of Tipton Street, received one indictment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Jan. 12, Anthony allegedly trespassed on a shooting range after hours and used a firearm to shoot at the range. Anthony’s trial is tentatively scheduled for June 20.
