News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | April 2, 2026
Local News
Newsletter criticizing Charles City leadership draws ire from board chairman
A newsletter criticizing the operations by leadership in Charles City County has upset at least one board of supervisor member. District 2 representative and chairman Bill Coada voiced his displeasure and disagreement with comments made in the Charles City Conservative newsletter, a publication distributed by Peter Churrins. Coada said that Churrins information consisted of inaccuracies and false information about the handling of issues by Charles City’s government. Coada pointed to specific comments in Churrins’ newsletter that charged the board of supervisors’ inability to handle employees, as well as comments lodged against County Administrator Michelle Johnson with allegations that the leadership…
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Charles City man dies in three-vehicle accident on John Tyler Memorial Highway
An accident on John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) in Charles City has resulted in the death of a local man. Terry Cotman, 52, of Charles City, died at the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Feb. 16. According to a Virginia State Police Report, at 3:55 p.m. officers responded to a crash on John Tyler Memorial Highway near Carters Mill Road (Route 606). A preliminary investigation reveals that a 2002 Honda Accord was traveling eastbound when it crossed the centerline and struck a 2009 Freightliner as well as a 2019 GMC Acadia. Cotman, the driver of the Honda Accord,…
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Henrico man pleads guilty for leading 137 miles-per-hour chase through New Kent
A Henrico man who led a New Kent deputy on a high-speed chase that stretched more than 20 miles has pled guilty in New Kent Circuit Court. Kenny Blad Espinoza Hernandez, 21, of the 5700 block of Trafalgar Park, entered a guilty plea to one count each of felony eluding and an amended charge of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor (originally felony child abuse) as part of a plea agreement reach. Two charges of reckless driving, one charge of driving with no license, and one charge of violation of pretrial services was dropped as part of the…
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Adjustments made to realign New Kent’s redistricting map with state’s plan
Two months after approving a redistricting plan for the county as required by law, New Kent County leaders had to make a minor retool of the boundaries. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway spoke with county supervisors at Monday night’s board meeting on the recommended changes. According to Hathaway, after the board of supervisors approved the redistricting plan on Dec. 14, 2021, the Virginia State Supreme Court approved a plan for redistricting boundaries. The changes made at the Supreme Court level resulted in New Kent County being split into two separate districts for the House of Delegates. The new lines…
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New Kent supervisors approve purchase of land, possibly leading to new fire station in Lanexa
With the FY2022-23 budget season right around the corner, it seems that New Kent County supervisors already have one Capital Improvement Project (CIP) in mind that will assist with bringing in additional safety measures for citizens in the eastern portion of the county. County leaders agreed to approve the purchase of 4.77 acres of land in the Lanexa area during the Jan. 26 morning work session. That land, located at the corner of Waterside Drive and Pocahontas Trail (Route 60) was the former home of the R&D International Hotel. During Wednesday morning’s meeting, County Administrator Rodney Hathaway advised county leaders…
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Charles City supervisors deny special use permit for mining operation near busy intersection
A proposal to bring a mining operation near the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) and Roxbury Road (Route 106) in Charles City was denied Tuesday night. Charles City County supervisors voted unanimously voted unanimously to deny a special use permit (SUP) to Bardon Inc. Aggregate Industries after a public hearing was held. In December 2021 at the Charles City Planning Commission meeting, company spokesman Robert Benaicha said the goal was for Bardon Inc. was to develop a sand and gravel mine pit at the aforementioned site. The company, who has been in Charles City for 20 years,…
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New Kent schools to comply with Youngkin’s directive; masks now optional
New Kent County Public Schools posted on social media platforms this past weekend that they will be following the directive issued by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to allow parents the option to have their child masked or not inside of school buildings. At Monday night’s school board meeting, that issue was reiterated via a formal vote. An attempt to require masks put forward by District 3 representative Andrea Staskiel failed 2-3, adhering to Gov. Youngkin’s mandate. Several supporters of having the option for students to wear masks have been vocal at several meetings of New Kent’s School Board. From there,…
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Richmond man’s 112 miles-per-hour escape attempt results in guilty conviction in New Kent
A Richmond man who tried to flee from a New Kent deputy on a motorcycle has pleaded guilty to a single count of felony eluding of policy. Stuart Connar Jones Jr.,34, of the 1400 block of N. 20th Street, entered the plea as part of an agreement reached during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence, on Aug. 23, 2021 shortly before midnight, a New Kent deputy was patrolling Interstate 64 westbound near the 214-mile marker when a motorcycle entered his radar at 112 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour…
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Local school boards address Gov. Youngkin’s new executive order on masks
With Governor Glenn Youngkin issuing an executive order that gives parents the right to choose if their child may choose to wear a mask or not on school grounds, local school systems took to social media and press releases to weigh-in on the issue. New Kent County public schools released a statement on Jan. 16, emphasizing that the effect goes into Jan. 24. The school system also commented that there are a variety of opinions on the matter, with some being brought up at the Jan. 10 regular board meeting. “The safety of our students and staff will always be…
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Boards reorganize in New Kent
Boards in New Kent County have reorganized for the 2022 calendar year following meetings during the early portion of the week. District 2 representative Kristen Swynford has been named as chairwoman of New Kent’s School Board for the new year. District 1 representative Wayne Meade was announced as the vice chairman for the school board. District 1 Thomas Evelyn will serve an additional term as the chairman for New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors. Tommy Tiller of District 2 has been named as the vice chairman for county leaders.
