News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 20, 2026
Local News
Information sought in connection with theft of Chronicle newspaper-vending box
Information is being sought in connection with theft of a New Kent-Charles City Chronicle newspaper-vending box stolen from the New Kent Crossing Shopping Center on Route 249 in Quinton sometime between Jan. 20 and Feb. 6. Thieves apparently cut a chain that secured the box to a concrete/brick column located in front of Maria’s Sports Bar and grill. In an effort to identify the thieves, sheriff’s investigators are currently reviewing photos from nearby surveillance cameras. Anyone with information about the crime should call the sheriff’s office a 966-9500 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Information can be left anonymously with Crime…
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Schools underachieving and overfunded, says CC chairman
One Charles City supervisor says schools are overfunded and underachieving and that schools’ academic performance may put supervisors in a bind during the budgeting process. District 2 representative and board chairman Bill Coada presented information during supervisors’ monthly meeting on Jan. 28. The 15-minute monologue, given by Coada as an individual member of the board and not the opinions of his colleagues, presented information the representative has researched since November. Figures by the chairman pointed to Charles City schools’ poor performances on SOL (Standards of Learning) testing, despite being one of the highest funded counties when compared to school districts…
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New Kent school bus drivers, parents speak out on benefits
With New Kent School Board choosing an option at its December meeting to provide permanent part-time employees healthcare coverage with premium assistance at a reduced level, school bus drivers and their supporters attended Monday night’s board meeting to state their case in efforts to prevent the policy changes. More than 200 drivers, parents, and staff members filled New Kent High School’s auditorium to voice their opinions on policy changes stemming from the Affordable Healthcare Act. The act forced school board representatives to approve policy changes, defining bus drivers and some cafeteria workers as permanent part-time employees. Now, those employees are…
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New Kent girl lands role in major motion picture
Taylor Richardson has already made her mark on Broadway, assuming the title role in a recent two-year run of the musical “Annie” at the Palace Theater. Now the 12-year-old former New Kent County resident is poised to star on the silver screen. Taylor has been cast as one of three daughters in a family that is the centerpiece of “A Most Violent Year,” a motion picture that follows an immigrant and his family as they try to expand their business amid crime and corruption during the winter of 1981 in New York City. That year is on record as one…
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Renovating Historic School as 3rd elementary advanced
New Kent School Board members are forging ahead with a proposal to convert the “north building” at the Historic School into what would become the county’s third elementary school for grades K-5. The board voted 4-1 at their Jan. 27 work session to adopt a Capital Improvement Plan that includes the Historic School renovation. In the process of addressing overcrowding issues, the board turned thumbs down on an option that would have added 10 new classrooms to both of the county’s existing elementary schools (G.W. Watkins and New Kent Elementary) at a cost of over $6 million. Also rejected was…
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State money shortfall looms over New Kent schools
With student enrollment numbers falling below expectations, New Kent schools could absorb as much as a $354,000 loss in state revenue by the end of the school year. School officials, however, have a plan in place to address a money shortfall. County school board members learned of the impending revenue concern during their Jan. 27 work session. State contributions to local school systems, including New Kent, are based on enrollment projections. Last spring when the budget-building process for the current school year was under way, New Kent officials pegged enrollment at 2,985 students. That figure was submitted to the state,…
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NKHS principal to step down at conclusion of school year
New Kent High School principal Yvonne Jones announced that she will be stepping down from her post at the conclusion of the school year. Jones made the announcement at New Kent School Board’s regular meeting Monday night. “I think it’s time for someone to take the reins and take New Kent High School to the next level,” Jones said. Jones spoke about the process she went through before making the choice to leave the New Kent school system. “I really feel that it’s something I’ve been thinking about,” she said. “It is time for me to do some growing and…
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Public’s input sought on NK school superintendent search
New Kent school officials plan to seek input from county residents concerning the search for a new school superintendent. Current superintendent Rick Richardson announced recently that he plans to retire, effective July 31. At their Jan. 27 work session, county school board members embarked on the first steps aimed at finding Richardson’s replacement. A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24, 7 p.m. at the school board office meeting room inside the county’s old courthouse building. School officials will want to hear county residents’ ideas on the qualifications the next superintendent should possess. Also, school officials are seeking public input…
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Safety repairs for schools top CIP priorities in Charles City
Facility repairs for safety, adequate heating pumps, and HVAC repairs are among top priorities for Charles City’s school board to address. School board representatives received an updated Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its regular meeting on Jan. 27. The list, consisting of 20 items, prioritized the urgency to address needs of the 20-year old complex. One of the top priorities concerning school board members are conditions of the athletic complex, specifically the track and field. School board member Preston Adkins has been pushing for the last three months and kept pushing for the repairs. “I take a look at the…
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Briefly… for Feb. 6-19, 2014
Historic School hearing set for Feb. 19 New Kent supervisors have scheduled a special meeting to hold a public hearing on Feb. 19 on the PPEA for the Historic School. Supervisors set the meeting at the Jan. 30 work session. According to county attorney Michele Gowdy, only Marengo Management submitted a bid for the second phase of the county’s renovation of the Historic School. A subcommittee consisting of members from both the board of supervisors and school board met Jan. 31 to discuss the proposal. The school board adopted its CIP for fiscal year 2014-15 with the option to use…
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