News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 17, 2026
Local News
New Jersey man dies in motorcycle accident on Interstate 64 in New Kent
A New Jersey man has died as the result of a May 25 motorcycle accident in New Kent County. John H. Wagner, 65, of Glassboro, New Jersey, succumbed to his injuries according to a Virginia State Police report. A preliminary investigation reveals that around 1:24 p.m., Virginia State Police responded to a crash on Interstate 64 westbound near mile marker 213. The report states that a 1998 Harley motorcycle was headed west on the ramp to the rest area when it ran off the road to the left. Wagner, the driver and sole occupant of the motorcycle, passed away at…
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New Kent supervisors adopt $80 million budget for FY2021-22
New Kent supervisors adopted the FY2021-22 budget Wednesday morning during their monthly work session. County leaders adopted the $80,711,106 budget for the upcoming year. Of that amount, $38,406,920 will be allocated to county schools, which is approximately 47 percent of the budget. The real estate tax will remain at 79 cents per $100 of assessed value, which is no change from the current fiscal year. The budget also includes a two-cent increase to the meals tax, which was highly debated at the May 10 board meeting. An increase of $3,695,824 in the general revenue will be allocated to cost-of-living raises…
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Charles City leaders give additional funds for school raises, instructs school board to use them properly
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind surrounding providing raises for Charles City school employees. The comments exchanged between the county’s board of supervisors and county school leaders have led to questions about the responsibility of providing funding for the pay increases. Charles City supervisors hope that after adopting the FY2021-22 budget that school leaders will make sure their staff receive a five-percent increase. After County Administrator Michelle Johnson revised her budget based on directives from county leaders, Charles City supervisors passed the $17,926,155 local budget 2-0-1 with newly elected District 3 supervisor Byron Adkins Sr. abstaining from the…
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Adkins appointed District 3 supervisor of Charles City County
Byron Adkins Sr. has been appointed as the District 3 supervisor for Charles City County. Charles City leaders selected Adkins among seven applications received. After conducting interviews on May 20, Adkins was officially sworn in as the District 3 representative Monday morning. Adkins will occupy the seat vacated by former supervisor Lewis Black III, who announced his resignation in April. “I am honored to join Charles City County’s Board of Supervisors,” Adkins said in a press release. “I believe it is important to have successful continuity of governance with the board, and my goal is to serve the interests of…
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Charles City leaders support raises, but emphasizes public to research school finances
A May 20 public hearing on Charles City County’s proposed FY2021-22 budget garnered attention after comments and information surrounding proposed raises for county educators hit the forefront. Charles City leaders took a heads-on approach on the issue after the public spoke. At issue were comments made by members of Charles City School’s Board May 11 meeting that an expected shortfall and lack of financial support from county leaders would result in several school employees leaving for better compensation. Two days later at the first portion of the county’s board of supervisors public hearing on the budget, County Administrator Michelle Johnson’s…
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Charles City man receives no active time of incarceration for abduction
A Charles City man who prevented a county employee from leaving after doing their job will serve no active time of incarceration. Joseph E. Brown, 57, of the 7300 block of Trevors Road, received formal sentencing on one count of abduction during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. During an Feb. 19 contested trial, evidence presented that on July 10, 2020, an employee of Charles City County was conducting stormwater and property inspections. Brown’s property was inspected as one due to previous past complaints. After noticing that Brown was in compliance, the employee left. Shortly afterwards, the employee…
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Jarrett man indicted for several alleged crimes in New Kent
A Jarratt man connected to several New Kent crimes from earlier this year has been indicted by a grand jury Monday morning. Kevin Lee Barnardini, 59, of the 900 block of Correction Way, received formal indictments on one count each of forging a certificate, receiving stolen goods, unauthorized use of a vehicle, forgery, and shoplifting (third offense). The indictments allege that between Feb. 22 and Mar. 2, Barnardini stole a motor vehicle that belonged to the estate of Robert Parsons as well as license plates. He is also charged from stealing merchandise from the Love’s Travel Center in Talleysville. In…
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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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