News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 20, 2026
Local News
New Kent Sheriff’s Office seeks information on break-ins
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on break-ins at two businesses on Pocahontas Trail on Dec. 24-25. According to a sheriff’s report, deputies arrived at the two businesses in the 1700 block of Pocahontas Trail where a burglary was reported. Upon arrival, deputies noticed an entry point where suspect(s) had entered and several items were removed from the premises. If you have any information, call New Kent Sheriff’s Office at 966-9500 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.
Three arrested in New Kent
New Kent Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested three individuals in relation to alleged crimes in mid-December. –Joseph Anthony Martinez, 32, of the 7800 block of North Henpeck Road, Quinton, was arrested on one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. On Dec. 16, Martinez allegedly took a 1994 Chevrolet van without the owner’s permission. After a warrant was issued, he was arrested after he returned the van to the owner and taken to Henrico Jail East and held on a $1,000 secured bond. — David Luther Holley Jr., 41, of the 8300 block of New Kent Highway, New Kent,…
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UPDATE: Dump truck driver in NK school bus crash charged with following too closely
State Police have charged the driver of a dump truck that rear-ended a New Kent County school bus with following too closely. The Dec. 11 accident sent the bus driver and the one student on board to a local hospital. State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar said the accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on westbound Route 33 (Eltham Road), about six-tenths of a mile west of the Route 273 (Farmer’s Drive) intersection in Eltham. A 2006 Volvo dump truck driven by Randy White, 53, of the 6000 block of Greenfield Lane, Gloucester, struck the rear of the 2010 Thomas school…
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New Kent supervisors send PPEA out for publication
New Kent supervisors sat quietly for several minutes before voting unanimously to accept an unsolicited PPEA bid from Marengo Management for publication to determine the construction of the Historic School’s second phase over the next 45 days. Supervisors took action during a continued meeting on Dec. 11 after receiving more information from Marengo Management during their regular meeting on Dec. 9. Supervisors digested the information as best they could before speaking on the issue at the deferred meeting. Questions emerged from supervisors about the project’s completion (July 2015) and if penalties could be imposed if the date wasn’t met. County…
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NK school board mulls over options presented in CIP
“This is the first time we are really tackling the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan).” That statement by New Kent school superintendent Rick Richardson only summarizes the process of identifying options for schools during New Kent School Board’s Monday night work session. Up for discussion are two options to address enrollment issues in the county school system. Option A is identified as renovations to the Historic School, while option B entails the addition of two wings, one at New Kent Elementary and one at George Watkins Elementary. Talk on the options took center stage at the meeting, but one thing was…
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Healthcare act affects policy changes for New Kent schools
With the Affordable Healthcare Act coming down the pipeline in 2014, New Kent School Board members took action Monday night on policies that will affect some school employees for the upcoming year. With reluctant and disgruntled looks on their faces, members voted 4-1 to adopt definitions and policies to comply with the healthcare act. The new changes will continue to provide eligibility for health care coverage for full-time employees, but permanent part-time employees will receive healthcare coverage with premium assistance at a reduced level. Discussed and researched by executive director of administration Cynthia Pitts over the last four months, new…
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School board in Charles City encourages parental input
At least two Charles City School Board members are encouraging more parents to become more involved in school functions and child’s activities. Vice-chairman Preston Adkins and District 3 representative Martha Harris spoke about the issue during closing statements at Tuesday night’s meeting. Adkins’ comments pointed to a recent television documentary that highlighted successful schools around the world and contributing factors for their high achievements. “As I watched this show, it was either Japan or China that had the highest ranked school in the world,” the vice-chairman said. “When they asked what the secret was, it was responded the teachers were…
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Colonial Downs’ motorcycle race CUP receives no attention
Motorcycle racing at Colonial Downs apparently is no longer a burning issue among New Kent County residents, most notably those living close to the racetrack. Unlike the heavily attended and often heated public hearings leading up to approval of Colonial Downs’ conditional use permit application for last August’s event, no one showed for tonight’s county Planning Commission hearing on the racetrack’s latest permit request. Thus by a 9-0-1 vote, commission members forwarded the application to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for approval. Supervisor Tommy Tiller abstained, choosing to vote on the matter with the full board. Track officials…
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Husband and wife team take plea deals in New Kent court
A husband and wife team facing multiple drug distribution counts accepted plea deals involving lesser charges in New Kent Circuit Court Monday afternoon. Matthew Scott Jeffrey, 36, and Karen Lynn Jeffrey (formerly Karen Collier Haboush), 50, both of the 7000 block of Roxbury Road, Quinton, entered guilty pleas to amended charges of distributing drugs as an accommodation, which means they received no personal gain or benefit. Matthew Jeffrey entered a guilty plea to one count, having two charges of conspiracy to possess dropped. Karen Jeffrey pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution as an accommodation, with three counts of conspiracy…
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School bus struck by dump truck in view of NK deputy
While a New Kent deputy sheriff looked on from his police cruiser, a dump truck crashed into the back of a county school bus, sending the bus driver and the lone student on board to a local hospital as a precautionary measure. The Dec. 11 afternoon accident occurred on westbound Route 33, near the Eltham Auto Clinic business that is located west of the village of Eltham, just as the bus was making its final stop to discharge the last student on board. New Kent Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said one of two sheriff’s cruisers that had been accompanying…
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