Attention turning from Historic School to new elementary

New Kent Board of Supervisors’ progress on the budget is like a cliffhanger: To be continued. And after viewing cost figures on elementary school construction, supervisors are now studying the prospect of building a new elementary school instead of renovating the county’s Historic School for elementary grades 4-5. If the board reverses direction, renovating the Historic School to accommodate the county’s school board offices and Heritage Public Library could come back into play. The new cost information provided to supervisors on Tuesday could affect the four-cent tax increase built into next year’s proposed budget. Supervisors had been planning to designate…
Read Full Story

NK School Board responds to band boosters’ allegations

New Kent School Board members addressed concerns from band boosters Monday night surrounding recent allegations regarding the fate of high school band director James Minnix and middle school band director Reba Marrs. During the board’s May 6 meeting, a delegation of parents and a few students took issue with what they perceived to be action by the board to not renew both band directors’ contracts. School officials have not commented publicly, saying the situation is a personnel matter. Minnix and Marrs have also remained silent on the issue. Monday night, school superintendent Rick Richardson said he has responded formally to…
Read Full Story

Action deferred one month on controversial truck stop

New Kent residents and representatives of three companies must wait a month after county supervisors deferred a decision on a conditional use permit application from a North Carolina-based company to build a truck stop on Route 106. Deferment became an option at New Kent supervisors’ May 13 meeting after uncertainty arose over the integrity of Route 106 in terms of withstanding increased traffic flow. Wilco Hess LLC proposes to build a “travel plaza” on the southeast corner of the Route 106/Interstate 64 interchange. Plans call for an 8,000 square-foot convenience store, 3,400 square-foot fast food restaurant, 12 fuel pumps for…
Read Full Story

Nine indicted by grand jury

A Carrollton man, allegedly driving under the influence, now faces felony maiming charges after being indicted by a New Kent Circuit Court grand jury on Monday. Reginald Lamont Dickerson, 37, of 13192 Windward Place, was indicted on two counts of DUI maiming and misdemeanor DUI. According to the indictment, Dickerson caused severe injuring to Hoyt Austin Cocke and Vincent Puccinelli during a March 8 accident. The grand jury indicted eight other individuals during Monday’s proceedings. The suspects and the charges they face are: –Simone Latrea Worrell, 20, of 223 West Oceanview Avenue, Apt. 5, Norfolk, on five counts of forging…
Read Full Story

Defendant learns from NK judge that crime doesn’t pay

Judge Thomas B. Hoover gave new meaning to the familiar phrase “crime doesn’t pay” after a New Kent man tried to gain a little money by pawning stolen goods. Robert Austin Payne, 19, of 11478 Oakrise Road, was convicted on one count each of grand larceny, burglary, and an amended charge of petty larceny during New Kent Circuit Court proceedings Monday. Commonwealth’s attorney Linwood Gregory proceeded with evidence that Payne stole jewelry from the home of his stepfather, Scott Gala, between Dec. 13-19 of last year. Gregory also said the defendant stole a video game system and more jewelry from…
Read Full Story

Proposed $67.3 million NK budget draws little comment

A proposed four-cent real estate tax hike drew minimal comments during a May 13 public hearing after which New Kent supervisors decided to schedule a special meeting on May 21 to further consider the proposed FY2013-14 budget. (See related story, page 1.) During last week’s hearing, no one spoke on an eight percent water and sewer fee increase. County administrator Rodney Hathaway’s slideshow depicted that the average household’s cost for consumption of 10,000 gallons would rise from $149.97 to $161.95 bi-monthly. At that rate, the annual increase amounts to $71.88. When discussion arose on the proposed real estate tax increase…
Read Full Story

Briefly… for May 23-June 5, 2013

Jones elevated to Chronicle editor Reporter Andre’ Jones has been appointed news editor for the New Kent-Charles City Chronicle following the retirement of Alan Chamberlain on May 19. All e-mailed news items (including news about coming events, church events, obituaries, weddings, engagements, clubs, civic organizations, schools, colleges, sports) along with inquiries about submitting news items and requests for coverage should be sent to Jones’ attention at andrej@nni.com. Also, Jones can be reached by calling the newspaper’s office at 843-4181. Driver sought in CC hit-and-run A search is on by state police for a tractor-trailer rig in connection with a hit-and-run…
Read Full Story

C&F Bank grand reopening

A Taste of New Kent

New Kent supervisors schedule special meeting on proposed budget

A proposed four-cent real estate tax hike drew minimal comments during a Monday night public hearing after which New Kent supervisors decided to schedule a special meeting on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. to further consider the proposed FY2013-14. Supervisors agreed that the $67.3 million budget discussion is to focus on several topics. Among those are how much local money to give to county schools ($12.4 million is proposed for now) as well as the fate of a two percent cost of living pay raise for county employees. During Monday’s hearing, no one spoke on an eight percent water…
Read Full Story