News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 20, 2026
Local News
Date set for motorcycle racing at Colonial Downs in New Kent
A date for motorcycle racing at Colonial Downs is now final. The event is to be held at the New Kent County racetrack, as previously advertised, on Saturday, Aug. 24. Officials from AMA Pro Racing announced today (Thursday) the addition of Colonial Downs to the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles schedule. “We’re thrilled to bring our series to the legendary Colonial Downs race track,” said Dan Johnsen, director of AMA Pro Flat Track in a press release. “We are very proud to add a venue of this caliber to our schedule,” he said. “Our riders will…
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New Kent team headed to Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
Seven creative problem-solving students from New Kent Elementary School are Michigan-bound, heading to the Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) World Finals scheduled in May at Michigan State University. The team of Sam Robinson, Billy Bull, Kiersten Fuller, Courtney Kerst, Madison Kidd, Leah Robinson, and Justin Jones placed second in the Virginia State OotM tournament held last Saturday at John Champe High School in Loudoun County, earning them a spot to compete in the World Finals. All are in grades 3-5. The team is coached by Linda Robinson. OotM is an international program that focuses on creative problem solving. Teams are…
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Felony arrests made in New Kent
A New Kent County man is charged with 19 felony counts stemming from a series of recent incidents, and a West Point man faces assault on a law enforcement officer following their recent arrests by New Kent sheriff’s personnel. Daniel Grayson Vaughan, 23, of the 8000 block of Old Roxbury Road, Quinton, is charged with 16 counts of grand larceny, two counts of burglary, and one count of credit card theft in connection with a series of incidents that occurred during recent months at a residence on Old Roxbury Road. Items taken include jewelry, cash, and firearms. Vaughan, who was…
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Four cent tax hike in NK’s draft budget
A 4-cent real estate tax hike is being proposed to fund a $67.3 million county budget for fiscal 2013-14 unveiled Monday in draft form before New Kent’s Board of Supervisors. If approved, the real estate tax rate would rise from the current 81 cents per $100 of assessed value to 85 cents. That means, for example, a homeowner whose property is assessed at $200,000 would be paying an additional $80 per year. Under the current rate, taxes on that property amount to $1,620 per year. With an 85-cent rate, the total climbs to $1,700. County administrator Rodney Hathaway told the…
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Motorcycle racing approved over potential legal concerns
Opponents to Colonial Downs’ bid for a county conditional use permit to host one day of motorcycle racing showed up for Monday night’s New Kent Board of Supervisors’ public hearing on the matter armed with legal arguments to support their case. Becoming a battle cry of sorts — the county cannot allow motorcycle racing since that activity is not a permitted land use in New Kent. “You cannot condition a use you do not permit,” Jeff Summers, an attorney representing the Brickshire Homeowners Association, vehemently told the board. And when supervisors motioned to go behind closed doors to discuss the…
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CC School Board undecided on coping with budget woes
Charles City School Board members convened for the first time since the county’s Board of Supervisors revealed its budget for fiscal year 2013-14. Needless to say, the local contribution of funds to Charles City schools has not only perplexed school board members, but left them in a temporary stalemate after their Tuesday night work session. Superintendent of schools Janet Crawley spoke to board members about her meeting with county administrator Zach Trogdon on March 27. Crawley mentioned the briefness of the meeting and some of the concerns supervisors had about schools. “Mr. Trogdon came into the office and said the…
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New Kent bed and breakfast carries historical significance
By definition, a vintager is anyone who assists in the harvesting of grapes. For Ken Fisher, it is the foundation for an evolution over 200 years in the making. Fisher and his family own and operate the Vintager Inn, a bed and breakfast establishment on Route 249 near Quinton in New Kent that opened a year ago. Now, the inn is utilizing its wings by operating as an event venue for special occasions such as weddings. Fisher, a retired military chaplain, said he has always had a fondness for the hospitality business. “I’m used to service,” he said as he…
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Quest for $15 worth of gasoline could land defendant in prison
A West Point man determined to pump $15 worth of gasoline at local convenience store will now have to serve time behind bars after he attacked the store’s clerk. Richard Lawrence Fredricks, 44, of 7928 Point Lookout Road, received guilty convictions for felony malicious wounding, misdemeanor destruction of property, and misdemeanor damage to a phone line during Monday’s New Kent Circuit Court proceedings. Commonwealth’s attorney Linwood Gregory introduced surveillance tape from an incident last Oct. 10. Video evidence depicted Fredricks along with his brother in a confrontation with a clerk at the 7-Eleven convenience store in Eltham. The clerk, Sheila…
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Convicted sex offender’s words earn more jail time
A convicted sex offender received significant time in jail for violating a court order that prohibits him from entering school property. Visibly unhappy with the sentence, the defendant failed to curb his mouth, resulting in more time behind bars. Events transpired in New Kent Circuit Court on Monday involving the case of Robert Allen Lawrence, 54, of 2330 Hubbard Lane, Lanexa. The defendant expected to receive only time already served on two counts of entering school property after being registered as a sex offender. And although Lawrence’s plea deal did account for a sentence of five years in jail with…
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NK supervisors take action on parking spaces, road plan
New Kent’s Board of Supervisors has approved an amendment to county law governing parking areas so that new lots with 50 or more spaces found on land zoned for agriculture or conservation must be paved. The old law required paving for 20 or more spaces. In other action, the board approved a six-year secondary road improvement plan that lists sections of three roads scheduled for upgrades. In priority order, the list is Stage Road, Dispatch Road, and Henpeck Road. The board also shifted $18,000 in funding from the Henpeck Road project to Dispatch Road. Supervisors took action on both matters…
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