News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 19, 2026
Local News
Quinton woman arrested for alleged grand larceny
A Quinton woman was taken into custody after information concerning a theft was received during a sheriff’s investigation in New Kent. On Apr. 10, New Kent Deputy Gerry Simpson arrested Samantha N. Rigdon, 20, of the 9000 block of Shewbury Drive, Quinton, on one count each of grand larceny and intent to sell stolen property. Rigdon allegedly stole jewelry from an address on Old Church Road on March 15. She was being held without bond pending an April 15 court appearance. In an unrelated situation, a Charles City man is charged with driving after being declared a habitual offender and…
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King & Queen man killed in single vehicle crash on I-64 in New Kent
A King & Queen County man is dead after the pickup truck he was driving ran off the road on Interstate 64 in New Kent County and struck several trees early Wednesday morning. Michael J. Saunders, 45, of the 6000 block of Lewis B. Puller Memorial Hwy., Mattaponi, died at the scene, state police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar said. The single vehicle accident occurred around 1 a.m. on westbound I-64 near the 214-mile marker. Saunders’ 2008 Ford F-650 ran off the left side of the road before striking trees in the median strip. The victim was not wearing a seat…
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Colonial Downs breaks off negotiations, relationship with VHBPA; seeks to host thoroughbred racing with new horsemen’s group; VHBPA indicates willingness to oppose racetrack’s action
Colonial Downs is breaking off negotiations as well as its relationship with a Virginia horsemen’s group that has contracted with the New Kent County racetrack to conduct the annual thoroughbred racing meet at the facility. In a press release issued early Tuesday afternoon, Colonial Downs’ owner Jeffrey Jacobs and president Ian Stewart announced the move, which will more than likely cancel this summer’s thoroughbred racing season. For now, track officials say they plan to host a shortened thoroughbred meet in September, perhaps involving another horsemen’s group. Standardbred (harness) racing is not affected by the decision. Colonial Downs officials also took…
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Triple fatality wreck in New Kent spurs action by county’s Transportation Safety Commission
A day after Tuesday’s car/tractor-trailer collision on a New Kent highway claimed the lives of three men, the county’s Transportation Safety Commission convened for its regular quarterly meeting. Members had plenty to talk about. Topping the agenda — the intersection at Route 155 and Kentland Trail where the fatal accident occurred. And also high on the list — the intersection where routes 249, 33, and 30 converge a few miles west of Eltham. Of concern there is the fact that VDOT has removed or discontinued road safety features that had been built in over time. District 4 Board of Supervisors…
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Courthouse complex among economic development plans in Charles City
With citizens in Charles City County concerned over the lack of funding to schools thanks to a decline in revenue from Waste Management, opinions and comments float around the community about why there aren’t other streams for a consistent cash-flow into the county. That is the task at hand that county planning director Matt Rowe deals with every day. Rowe’s goal is to entice companies and businesses into Charles City. Right now, he is dealing with issues and questions on not only future businesses, but current county revenue providers. That mixture and concerns from citizens prompted Rowe to speak out…
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Colonial Downs, VHBPA dispute impacting New Kent’s proposed budget; supervisors to begin work on $65.2 million proposal
Last month when county administrator Rodney Hathaway introduced a proposed $65.2 million next fiscal year budget to county supervisors, the revenue/expense structure appeared not just balanced but reasonably sound. Since then, however, the ongoing squabble between Colonial Downs and the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (see related story this issue) over the number of live racing days has escalated to the point that this summer’s thoroughbred meet at the New Kent racetrack is in serious jeopardy. And under state law, no live racing contract between the two entities means no thoroughbred wagering at Colonial Downs’ eight off-track betting sites….
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Valdrighi tabbed as next New Kent High School principal
When outgoing New Kent High School principal Yvonne Jones announced her resignation effective at the conclusion of the 2013-14 school year in February, she desired her predecessor to take the high school to bigger and better things. Apparently New Kent’s school board found Jones’ wishes a few doors down the hallway. Chris Valdrighi, a current assistant principal at the high school, received the nod as the new principal for 2014-15 at New Kent High School during the school board’s regular April 7 meeting. The Mathews County native began his education career in 1989 after graduating Randolph-Macon College. Valdrighi received a…
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DNA on cigarette butt leads to defendant accepting deal
A Richmond woman who discarded a cigarette butt on property that she burglarized, accepted a plea deal during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Melissa Dawn Miffleton, 27, of the 2100 block of Oregon Avenue accepted a plea deal to one count of burglary. One count of petty larceny was dropped. In a summary of evidence, last August 9, Miffleton broke into the house of Laurie Dunston with an unidentified male and stole items. When the defendant left the scene, she flicked a cigarette butt out the window in the victim’s yard. Detectives recovered DNA evidence from the…
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New Kent supervisors’ resolution opposing Sunday hunting serves as protest to General Assembly bypassing local input
Five New Kent residents chastised county Board of Supervisors members last week over the board’s action a month earlier to pass a resolution opposing a bill before the state’s General Assembly allowing Sunday hunting statewide on privately owned land. During the public comment session at last Thursday’s board meeting, the residents complained that supervisors had not given sufficient advance notice about their intentions and had taken less than 10 minutes to discuss and pass the resolution at the board’s March 10 meeting. They labeled the matter a personal property rights issue and asked the board to rescind its action. One…
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Briefly… for Apr. 17-30, 2014
Three killed in accident in New Kent The driver of a 1992 Toyota Tercel that was struck April 8 after the car pulled in front of a tractor-trailer on Route 155 at the entrance to Colonial Downs in New Kent County is being charged with reckless driving, according to state police. The driver, Saul A. Hernandez-Gonzalez, 65, of the 9000 block of Suburban Village Lane in North Chesterfield, was the lone survivor among four men, all from North Chesterfield, who occupied the Toyota. The driver’s brother, identified as Julio C. Gonzalez-Hernandez, 61, who was seated in the front passenger seat…
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