News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 26, 2026
Local News
Quinton woman indicted on abduction charge by New Kent grand jury
A Quinton woman who allegedly abducted another individual had indictments certified against her by a grand jury during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Karen Leslie MacKay, 41, of the 6600 block of Red Bud Drive, was indicted on one count each of abduction, unlawful wounding, and misdemeanor DUI. The indictments allege that on Jan. 22, MacKay held an individual against their will and hurt them in the process. MacKay allegedly also operated a vehicle while intoxicated on the same day. In other indictments certified by the grand jury: –Orrel Shapond Chandler, 43, of the 30 block of…
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Henrico Jail inmates convicted on charge for breaking fire protection system
Two Henrico Jail East inmates who broke sprinkler heads in separate incidents both entered guilty pleas during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. John Terrance Edgefield, 28, and Treione Gholson, 22, accepted plea agreements as part of their cases heard on the incidents. Each defendant was charged with one count of breaking a fire protection system at a jail facility. In Edgefield’s case, a summary of evidence revealed that on Nov. 5, 2019 around 6:20 p.m., officers at Henrico Jail East responded to a fire alarm that went off in the facility. During the investigation, information was tracked…
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Wireless on Wheels to assist Charles City residents
Through a monetary donation to Charles City County for the Wireless on Wheels program, residents will be able to use mobile sites and connect to the Internet. Charles City County leadership unanimously accepted a $10,800 from sPower to provide three mobile units for wireless Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to 20 citizens will be able to connect at each site for Internet access at no cost as the county will pay the monthly fee. Citizens will be able to sit in their car and access the World Wide Web to for work or school activities. Locations of the mobile…
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Recommended cuts made in updated Charles City budget for FY2020-21
While it may seem that Charles City County’s proposed budget received a small boost of $13,000, the unknown factors of COVID-19 has resulted in several cuts and tabling of projects in the future years. Charles City County Administrator Michelle Johnson presented a revised local budget of $16,479,874 at the May 13 updated work session. Johnson commented that reductions in several areas, particularly the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), factored into the budget. With the ongoing pandemic affecting projected revenue for the next fiscal year, Johnson told county leaders that she erred on the side of caution when working on the revised…
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Benjamin Harrison Bridge to close for overnight repairs beginning May 17
The Benjamin Harrison Bridge that connects Charles City and Prince George Counties will be closed for overnight repairs and bridge work next week. Weather permitting, closures are expected to start Sunday, May 17 and continue until Friday, May 22. The bridge will be closed from 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Motorists are advised to use the detour below: –Northbound Route 106/156: Take Jordan Point Road (Route 156) to Route 10 west to Interstate 295 north to Route 5 (Exit 22A) east back to Route 106/156. –Southbound Route 106/156: Take Roxbury Road (Route 106) to Route 5 west to Interstate 295 south to…
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Revised New Kent proposed budget of $75.2 million comes with 79-cent tax rate
With a recommended reduction in the proposed tax rate along with a projected decrease in revenue, New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway presented a revised budget for FY2020-21 during Monday night’s budget hearing. The new proposed budget put forward by Hathaway totals $75,269,474 for the upcoming year. That projection includes a real estate tax rate of 79 cents per $100 of assessed value, down from 82 cents in the county’s initial budget. Despite the three-cent drop, the 79-cent rate is still essentially a three-cent tax increase as the county’s equalized rate is 76 cents per $100 of assessed value. With…
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Courthouse Road bridge to close on June 1
The F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. Bridge on Route 155 (Courthouse Road) that connects Charles City and New Kent County will close on June 1 for repairs to the bridge’s deck. The bridge was originally scheduled to be repaired in June 2019 before being delayed to October 2019 due to concerns from local business owners. That date was then pushed back to Spring of this year. The closure of the bridge is estimated to last approximately four months until October 2020. Motorists traveling from New Kent to Charles City and vice-versa will be detoured onto Route 618 (Adkins Road) during that…
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Facing $1.8 million in cuts on proposed budget, Charles City school leaders ponder resolutions
While Charles City County Public Schools will receive some financial relief for FY2019-20 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the upcoming fiscal year is a different story. School board members met Tuesday night for a work session surrounding the proposed FY2020-21 budget. After receiving an update on the current fiscal year and reimbursements from the CARES act to assist with educating students for the remainder of the year, attention turned to FY2020-21 and talks about the upcoming budget. At Charles City Board of Supervisors regularly monthly meeting in April, County Administrator Michelle Johnson recommended level funding for the school system…
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Petersburg man indicted on rape charge in Charles City
A Petersburg man has been indicted on several charges, including rape, by a Charles City grand jury. Jermaun Lamont Horne, 28, of the 2300 block of Navajo Court, received indictments on one count of rape, two counts of forcible sodomy, one count of abduction with intent to defile, and one count of strangulation during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. According to the indictments, Horne met up with his victim on Jan. 26 after making arrangements through social media. Horne allegedly made advances against the victim’s wishes before the crimes took place. He is currently being held without…
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No tax increase part of Charles City’s proposed FY2020-21 budget recommendation
A proposal for a $16 million local budget that includes no real estate tax increase was part of Charles City County Administrator Michelle Johnson’s proposed budget for FY2020-21 during Tuesday night’s board meeting. Johnson proposed a budget of $16,466,545 for the upcoming fiscal cycle. That figure does not include money from the state or federal governments. Johnson’s presentation covered several areas of the proposed budget. Among them include Charles City’s Fire and EMS. Of the 76-cent tax rate per $100 of assessed value, approximately 14 cents will be dedicated to the Fire/EMS $1,186,724 budget for next year. With grants and…
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