News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | February 17, 2026
Local News
Charles City School Board approves $6.65 million budget for FY2021-22
Charles City School Board members approved its proposed budget for FY2021-22 at Tuesday night’s meeting that saw a slight decrease in local contributions from the county. At the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Dalphine Joppy, school leaders voted 4-0 to approve requesting $6,650,828 in local funds as part of an overall budget of $11,366,610 for the upcoming cycle. District 1 representative Joy Harris was not present for the meeting. Joppy spoke about the reduction of the school’s original request from the county in the amount of $6,843,772. Playing a role in the reducing of funds was a provision for summer…
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Charles City Public Schools restricting public access on school grounds starting Apr. 1
Charles City County Public Schools will be limiting access to their facilities effective April 1. School board leaders agreed to suspend public access to the grounds and buildings as several projects are expected to take place within the facility this Spring. All facility rental requests from outside parties will not be granted (with the exception of special circumstances such as vaccine clinics). Access to the school’s athletic fields, track, and parking lot will also be closed. Current school groups and programs, such as athletic teams, will still be able to utilize facilities for practices and home baseball/softball games.
Redistricting zones approved by New Kent School Board
With Quinton Elementary School coming online in Fall 2022, New Kent’s School Board approved a redistricting plan during Monday night’s work session. Board members approved 3-0 on a third option proposed after feedback from the public during its March 1 regular meeting. District 1 representative Wayne Meade and District 5 school leader Gail Hardinge were not physically present at the meeting to vote. At the Mar. 1 regular board meeting, Cropper GIS presented a modified layout of its original plan to board members. In their original plans, the focus revolved around the Brickshire and Oakmont subdivisions and what zones that…
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Newport News man admits to robbing Lanexa grocery store
A Newport News man who robbed a Lanexa store has entered a guilty plea to the crime as part of an agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. Karim Aziz Muhammad, 47, of the 100 block of North Redwood Court, pled guilty to one count of robbery stemming from an Apr. 11, 2020 heist. In a summary of evidence by special prosecutor Rob Tyler, Muhammad entered Stewart’s Grocery store and walked up to the counter with a bag of peanuts, pretending to make a purchase. When the cashier opened the drawer, the defendant implicated that he was going…
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Lanexa woman indicted in connection to 2019 murder of New Kent businessman
A Lanexa woman has been indicted in connection to the murder of a New Kent businessman after a grand jury convened Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. Misty Nicole Jenkins, 44, of the 15000 block of Pocahontas Trail, was indicted on one charge each of second-degree murder and firearm larceny. In Dec. 2019, New Kent Sheriff’s Office received a call for service around 2 p.m. First responders arrived at the scene and located a male down. While medical aid was provided, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was later identified as Elmer Lee Stewart, a…
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Superintendent pitches need for financial support at New Kent Supervisors’ budget retreat
A Friday morning meeting at the Providence Forge Recreation Center provided New Kent’s Board of Supervisors insight on what school leadership will face and need financially both in the immediate future and years to come. Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols began the day with information pertaining to Governor Ralph Northam’s intention to have all students back inside school buildings five days a week. Currently, COVID-19 restrictions limits the number of students on the bus as well as in the classrooms due to the recommendation of six-feet between students. The superintendent added that while there is a decline in elementary school…
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Car accident involving train in New Kent results in fatality
A late night crash on Mar. 11 in New Kent that involved a train has resulted in the death of a Lanexa woman. Freda Pruitt, 55, succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the accident. According to a Virginia State Police report, at 11:25 p.m. officers responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Outpost Road just south of Rockahock Road. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Honda Odyssey was traveling east on Rockahock Road before turning south onto Outpost Road when it was struck by a freight train traveling east. The train did not derail….
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No tax increase part of New Kent’s proposed $79.6 million budget for FY2021-22
With an expected bump in revenue from the county, New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway presented his proposed FY2021-22 budget at Monday night’s board of supervisors meeting. Hathaway presented a budget of $79,688,523 for the upcoming cycle. By contrast, the FY2020-21 budget totaled $75,062,698. Of the proposed amount for the new fiscal year, New Kent County schools are slated to receive $37,602,203, roughly 47 percent of the proposed total budget. The county administrator commented that most of the budget increase will be in part due to an increase in the collection rate of taxes. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in…
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Felon convicted on possessing gun and ammunition illegally in Charles City
A Charles City man entered a guilty plea to possessing a firearm illegally during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. Michael Lee Wallace Jr., 48, of the 11000 block of Canora Lane, entered the plea to an amended charge of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon with the last offense occurring more than ten years ago (originally possession of a firearm by a convicted felon) as part of a plea agreement. A second charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was dropped. In a summary of evidence provided by Charles City…
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Charles City woman indicted on second-degree murder charge
A Charles City woman has been indicted on a murder charge stemming from an Oct. 15, 2020 death investigation. A Charles City grand jury indicted Amber Brime, 32, of the 11000 block of Eagles Nest Road, on one count of second-degree murder, and two counts of breaking and entering to commit murder, during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. During the aforementioned date, Charles City Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Eagles Nest Road. Upon arriving to the residence, the body of a deceased female was discovered. An investigation was conducted led to the quick arrest of…
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