News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 17, 2026
Local News
New Kent Board of Supervisors receive update on possible Internet solutions
New Kent’s Board of Supervisors held a special work session with RiverStreet Networks for an update on future broadband services within the county. The June 24 meeting was a follow up of the April 28 work session that gave county leaders a first glance of the requirements to bring Internet to the county. Currently, RiverStreet Networks has assisted with nearby King & Queen County’s development of a plan. According to the company’s presentation, the expansion plan would take place in three separate sections to coincide with fiber distribution. The scheduled fiber would allow for high-speed internet and would provide a…
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Mechanicsville man dies in vehicle accident involving train in New Kent
A Mechanicsville man has died after his vehicle was struck by a train in New Kent County. Kevin A. Pence, 45, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital following the June 24 accident. In a preliminary investigation conducted by the Virginia State Police, at 5:47 p.m., officers responded to a vehicle crash involving a train on Outpost Road approximately 100 feet from Route 649 (Rockahock Road) in the Lanexa part of the county. The investigation reveals that a 2006 Chevrolet Suburban was traveling southbound on Outpost Road when it was crossing the train tracks. The SUV was partially across the…
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Charles City man admits to robbing Adkins Store on two separate occasions
A man who robbed Adkins Store in Charles City County has entered guilty pleas to multiple felony counts. Michael Robert Deremer II, 30, of the 7400 block of Lewis Tyler Lane, Charles City, entered guilty pleas to two counts each of burglary and petty larceny (third or subsequent offense). Two counts of misdemeanor destruction of property and one additional charge each of burglary and petty larceny (third of subsequent offense) were dropped as part of a plea agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler, on Dec. 28, 2020, police officers responded to an overnight break-in…
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Supervisors approve resolution prohibiting thru trucks on Old Union, Charles City Road
An issue of truck traffic that has plagued the western portion of Charles City County since 2019 reached a resolution Tuesday evening after a vote by county leaders. Charles City County Supervisors voted unanimously to prevent thru truck traffic on both Charles City Road and Old Union Road during their monthly regular meeting. In Oct. 2019, concerned residents living on Old Union Road voiced their displeasure about traffic of thru trucks utilizing the road for deliveries. The large trucks caused severe damage to the highway, as well as raised safety concerns due to the speed of the vehicles. The issue…
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Williamsburg man to serve five months for illegally possessing ammunition in New Kent
A Williamsburg man will spend the next five months in jail after accepting a plea agreement to illegally possession ammunition during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Marques Raqua Stephens-Graves, 25, of 11 Settlers Lane, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and a misdemeanor violation of pretrial services as part of the plea deal. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Overholser, on Nov. 21, 2020, a New Kent deputy clocked a green vehicle traveling 75 miles per hour in a posted…
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Charles City School Board adopts FY2021-22 budget
Charles City County’s School Board adopted its FY2021-22 budget Tuesday evening. School leaders adopted the $10,726,611 budget for the upcoming cycle. Of that amount, approximately $6,018,997 consists of local contribution. At Charles City County’s Board of Supervisors May meeting, county leaders designated $5,504,573 of funding for the schools. In addition to the level funding amount, they added $182,171 to provide five percent raises for all SOQ (Standards of Quality) employees, $201,897 to pay the differential of savings in the school’s ABM energy performance contract, and $130,356 for other Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects.
Richmond man successfully completes First Offender Program; New Kent charge dismissed
A Richmond man has had a charge of possession of a controlled substance dismissed after successfully completing the First Offender Program. Gilberto Antonio Irizarry Belbrut, 32, of the 2600 block of Granite Hill Circle, received the formal verdict during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. On Mar. 2, 2019, a New Kent deputy conducted a traffic stop that was driven by the defendant. Belbrut did not have an active license and the vehicle was towed. When the deputy began to conduct inventory of the vehicle, he discovered a white powdery brick of substance inside of a lunch box,…
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New Kent School Board adopts $38 million operating budget for FY2021-22
New Kent County Public Schools adopted its FY2021-2022 budget at Monday night’s regular board meeting. The school’s operating budget will be $38,606,920 for the upcoming school year. Of that amount, $35,651,319 is designated for the general fund, $203,768 for the textbook fund, $1,251,806 for the nutrition fund, and $1,500,027 of grant funding. As part of the adoption in efforts to balance the budget, recommendations were made to reduce to a conservative estimate for the Average Daily Membership (ADM) in the amount of $259,576, reduce workers compensation coverage based on recent renewal from VACORP ($23,162), reduce budgeted FICA contributions ($16,553), reduce…
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McBeath receives nod to serve as interim District 5 representative on New Kent’s School Board
New Kent’s School Board has appointed Molly McBeath as the interim District 5 representative. The decision was made at Monday night’s regular school board meeting. McBeath will replace the late Dr. Gail Hardinge in representing District 5. McBeath was among six candidates vying to be appointed to the vacancy. After being selected as a finalist along with Thomas Miller, Miller conceded to McBeath, saying that she would make a great representative for District 5 on the county’s school board. It only took the remaining board members 40 minutes to make the appointment, with McBeath’s term officially beginning June 14. McBeath…
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Jury finds Providence Forge man not guilty for alleged sex crimes against a minor
A Providence Forge man has been found not guilty on sex crimes against a minor after a jury’s findings in a two-day trial held in Charles City Circuit Court. Ethan White-Cook had been charged with two counts of sexual penetration with an object against a minor, and one count each of aggravated sexual battery against a minor and sodomy against a minor. Three of the allegations stemmed from July 3, 2020, while the fourth stemmed from May 20, 2011. The allegations said that White-Cook had committed the acts against the minor, but prosecution was unable to prove those facts to…
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