News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 30, 2025
Local News
Charles City Board of Supervisors hear budget options to consider possible school employee raises; public hearing recessed to May 20
After comments were made at Charles City’s School Board meeting about not receiving additional financial support to assist with raises for teachers, Charles City’s Board of Supervisors began addressing the topic at the May 13 budget public hearing. Charles City County Administrator Michelle Johnson commented during her rehash of the budget presentation of $9,126,683 locally to operate in the FY2021-22 fiscal year. Among recommendations made by the county administrator include the addition of four full-time employees, a performance-based raise for county employees (capped at three percent), the addition of one full-time firefighter, two patrol vehicles, and additional funding for fire…
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Charles City School Board fearful of employee exodus, cites lack of support for raises in FY2021-22 budget
The atmosphere at Tuesday night’s Charles City School Board budget work session could be described as gloomful and concerning. School board members sat through an updated budget presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dalphine Joppy as she provided went through new figures for the FY2021-22 budget. Originally, the schools had requested $6,332,251 in local funding from county leaders for operations in next year’s cycle. However, at Charles City’s Board of Supervisor April monthly meeting, County Administrator Michelle Johnson recommended $5,731,185, resulting in a shortfall of $591,066. Joppy returned to her staff and began working on ways to make up that deficit…
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New Kent budget proposal moves forward on two-cent hike on meals tax
A public hearing at New Kent Board of Supervisors’ Monday night meeting on the budget yielded comments about a proposed increase of the county’s meals tax from four cents to six cents. And after each board member spoke on the issues, the FY2021-22 budget reflected the increase. Supervisor elected to maintain the proposal of increasing the meals tax for next year’s budget by a slim 3-2 vote. County leaders listened as New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway recapped the $80,711,106 budget (originally $79,688,523) for the new fiscal year. Hathaway commented about dialogue he’s engaged with both New Kent Sheriff’s Office…
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Search continues for missing Washington D.C. infant in Charles City County landfill
Charles City County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the search for a missing Washington D.C. baby. In a statement released by the sheriff’s office, the office confirmed they were working with Washington D.C. Metro Police in searching the Waste Management Landfill on Chambers Road. According to reports, two-month-old Kyon Jones was last seen on Wednesday, May 5 and reported missing on May 7. “At this time, the child has not been located,” said Charles City County Sheriff’s Office in a statement. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference that investigators are speaking with the child’s mother…
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Former, influential New Kent School Board member Gail Hardinge succumbs
Former New Kent District 5 School Board representative Dr. Gail Hardinge has passed away. The announcement came Monday afternoon through several social media posts and later confirmed by District 3 representative and New Kent School Board chairwoman Andrea Staskiel. Hardinge dedicated more than 37 years to education. She served 18 years on New Kent County’s School Board before stepping down due to her ongoing battle with ALS (Amyotrophis Lateral Sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease). “I have been battling with ALS and it has been very progressive,” she said in an April 12 letter to the county’s school board on her resignation. “I…
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Hochman hired as assistant superintendent of operations for New Kent County Schools
Jonathan Hochman has been hired as the Assistant Superintendent of Operations for New Kent County Public Schools beginning July 1. Hochman joins the school system with 24 years of educational experience. He has spent the past 15 years as a principal, assistant principal, teacher, and coach. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Master’s in Administration and Supervision from George Washington University. “My family and I are so excited to join the New Kent County team,” he said in a press release. “I look forward to continuing the great work that is going on in our…
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Charles City felon receives seven months in jail for illegally possessing firearm
A Charles City man will spend the next seven months in jail for illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Michael Lee Wallace Jr., 48, of the 11000 block of Canora Lane, learned his sentence during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. On Mar. 2, Wallace accepted a plea deal to an amended charge of possession of a firearm by a nonviolent felon (originally possession of a firearm by a convicted felon) at his trial. During that trial, it was determined on Dec. 10, 2019, Wallace was approached by New Kent investigators looking for a…
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Alleged Adkins Store robber indicted by Charles City grand jury
A man who allegedly robbed Adkins Store on multiple occasions in Charles City has been indicted by a Charles City grand jury. Michael Robert Deremer II, 30, of the 7400 block of Lewis Tyler Lane, Charles City, received a total of three indictments of breaking and entering, and three indictments of petty larceny (third or subsequent offense). On Dec. 28, 2020, a report of an overnight robbery of Adkins Store was reported to Charles City County’s Sheriff’s Office. A month later, on Jan. 19, 2021, a second robbery had taken place at the store. A detective working the case surveyed…
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North Chesterfield man enters guilty plea in connection to drug distribution charge in New Kent
A North Chesterfield man has entered a guilty plea to distribution of a Schedule I/II (third offense) as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Eric Marvin Laney, 44, of the 99 block of Jean Road, entered into the agreement that saw two charges of the same offense dropped. Laney was also previously charged with second-degree murder in the death of Samantha Nicole Rigdon, but that charge was dropped on Feb. 8. As part of the plea deal, the murder charge and two counts of distribution of a Schedule I/II drug will not be…
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Quinton man dies in automobile accident near Bottoms Bridge
A Quinton man has died as the result of a Friday afternoon accident in New Kent County. Devin W. Samuels, 21, succumbed to his injuries according to a Virginia State Police press release. A preliminary investigation reveals that around 2:43 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to a crash at the 2900 block of Pocahontas Trail (Route 60) eastbound. The investigation reveals that a 2006 Ford Escape was changing from the right lane to the left lane when it struck a 2004 Chevrolet pickup that had slowed down, resulting in the Escape overturning. Samuels, the drive and sole occupant of the…
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