News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 17, 2026
Local News
Charles City man receives one-month jail sentence for burglarizing Adkins Store
A Charles City man who robbed Adkins Store will serve one month incarcerated in a regional jail. Michael Robert Deremer II, 30, of the 7400 block of Lewis Tyler Lane, received his formal sentencing as part of Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. On June 25, Deremer entered guilty pleas to two counts each of burglary and petty larceny (third or subsequent offense) as part of a plea agreement. During his trial on that day, a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler presented that on Dec. 28, 2020, police officers responded to an overnight break-in…
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Favorable recommendation by commissioners sets up possible rezoning to bring grocery-style Dollar General to Charles City
On Oct. 27, 2019, Dollar General became the first name-brand store to open its doors in Charles City County. Two years later, another one may be headed to the county but with a much-needed amenity. Members of Charles City County’s Planning Commission unanimously approved sending a favorable recommendation for the rezoning of property from agricultural (A1) to business (B1) to county leaders at the Aug. 26 regular meeting. Rhetson Companies approached the county about rezoning 3.8 acres of land located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Route 106 (Roxbury Road) and Route 607 (Wayside Road) in the western…
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Virginia man charged with crashing tractor trailer into train in Charles City
A Virginia man who crashed his truck into a train in Charles City County will face charges according to a police report. Russell P. Claytor Jr., 22, of Green Bay, has been charged with failure to maintain control of a vehicle and failure to obtain a registration stemming from the Aug. 24 accident. According to the Virginia State Police report, at approximately 6:31 p.m. officers responded to a crash on Route 106 (Roxbury Road) just south of Barnetts Road at a controlled railroad crossing. The preliminary investigation indicates a 1995 International tractor trailer hauling logs was headed north on Route…
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Riverstreet Networks pledges progress to bring wireless internet to Charles City County
Even with the recent addition of internet provided by Comcast through a Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) grant, many citizens of Charles City County fall outside the 300-foot connection border for the service. And while many constituents remain frustrated about the issue, another method of connecting citizens to the world wide web reemerged at Charles City’s Board of Supervisors’ Tuesday night meeting. Greg Coltrain and Stephen Morris of Riverstreet Networks provided a wireless update infrastructure to county leaders. As early as 2014, SCS Broadband had set a goal to bring wireless internet to Charles City County. But complication after complication came…
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With public health order mandate in place, New Kent schools requiring masks for indoor facilities
With disdain and frustration from both attendees and school board members, New Kent County Public Schools will require students and teachers to wear masks when entering into the building. Despite twenty people opposing the mask mandate for schools filing into New Kent High School’s Media Center and hoisting signs that urged school board members to vote against the face coverings, it was the inability to vote and advice provided from legal staff that led to the decision. Two weeks ago at the Aug. 9 regular school board meeting that New Kent School Board members received an update on the openings…
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Charles City schools requiring masks indoors as schools reopen for in-person instruction
Following the recommendations of the Center of Disease and Control (CDC) and an emergency health order issued by State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver on behalf of Governor Ralph Northam, Charles City County Public Schools will require masks in an indoor setting. The announcement came during Charles City’s School Board monthly meeting Tuesday night. “Masks will be required for all, regardless of vaccination status,” said Superintendent of Schools Dalphine Joppy. “We are going to follow CDC guidelines and the governor’s orders for indoor settings, both public and private places. We are going to keep this in place until the order…
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Violating protective order four times lands former Quinton man in prison for eight years
A former Quinton man who continuously violated court orders not to contact victims will spend the next eight years in prison. Kyle Robert Crews, 25, formerly of the 1200 block of Quaker Road, received formal sentencing during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. During a June 28 trial, Crews entered guilty pleas to four counts of violating a protective order (third or subsequent offense within 20 years). At that trial, a summary of evidence provided by assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Julie Churchill revealed that the defendant contacted one of the victims on Nov. 12, 2020 through a third-part phone…
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Public approaches New Kent School Board on issues dealing with in-person return, Critical Race Theory concept
Several school boards in the state of Virginia are dealing with a plethora of issues that include the return to in-person learning and topics that are deemed controversial to be taught inside classrooms. New Kent’s School Board faced that scenario Monday night. Approximately 50 people filed into New Kent High School’s Media Center Monday evening to voice concerns over a recommended mask policy while indoors and the implementation of studies in an area known as Critical Race Theory (CRT). Critical Race Theory is the idea that America’s racist history is embedded in modern laws that are continuing to disadvantage certain…
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New Kent man innocent of crimes after being caught in middle of drug transaction bust
A New Kent man who was allegedly caught in the middle of a drug transaction has been found innocent on two charges of possession of a Schedule I/II drug with intent to distribute. A jury rendered two not guilty verdicts against 20-year-old Bray Douglas Wiggins over a two-day trial that took place July 29-30 in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of conspiracy to violate the drug act was dropped prior to the start of the trial. On Mar. 9, 2020, Wiggins rode with Mason Hurley to pick up Wiggins’ friend, Robert Gibson, to go fishing in King & Queen…
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Jarrett man pleads guilty to stealing items from Pilot in New Kent
A Jarrett man will enter into an alternative program after pleading guilty to a shoplifting charge during July 26 proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Kevin Lee Bernardini pled guilty to one charge of shoplifting (third offense) at his trial. One charge each of forgery, receiving stolen goods, felony unauthorized use of a vehicle, and forgery of a record were dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence, on Mar. 1, Bernardini was in the Pilot store on Emmaus Church Road in New Kent. Video surveillance showed the defendant taking a 40-ounce beer and a jacket from…
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