News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 27, 2026
Local News
New Kent Board of Supervisors adopt budget nearing $70 million for FY2019-20
New Kent’s Board of Supervisors adopted the proposed $69,851,662 budget for FY2019-20 at its Wednesday morning work session. With no speakers at the Apr. 8 public hearing, county leaders unanimously approved the proposal by County Administrator Rodney Hathaway at the work session. Of the nearly $70 million-dollar budget, approximately $35,026,270 is designated for schools. The real estate tax will remain at 82 centers per $100 of assessed values. Capital Improvement Projects total $2,494,862 for the year, and the public utility fund (which is self-sustaining) will operating on a budget of $9,318,901.
Fire and EMS services focus of Charles City’s $22 million proposed budget for FY2019-2020
With the continuing focus to bring paid Fire and EMS to Charles City, County Administrator Michelle Johnson presented her proposed FY2019-2020 budget to county leaders Tuesday night at the Board of Supervisors monthly meeting. Johnson presented a budget with general fund revenues pegged in at the amount of $16,817,854 as part of her presentation. In total, the budget comes in at $22,325,831. The county administrator recommended $1,234,600 be designated for the county’s plan to implement a paid Fire and EMS organization. Of that amount, $1,070,377 would be a local contribution. Those funds would be used to hire two lieutenants, six…
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Quinton car thieves plead guilty to all charges in New Kent Circuit Court
Two men involved with a rash of automobile thefts and multiple larcenies entered guilty pleas to all charges during Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Jake Sterling Ragsdale, 27, of the 500 block of E. Read Street, Highland Springs, and Hunter S. Waddell, 21, of the 3500 block of Darbytown Court, Henrico, admitted guilt to several offenses that took place late last year in New Kent as part of a plea deal. In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Nov. 19, 2018, the defendants came into New Kent to residences on Quinton Road….
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New Kent School Board approves proposed FY19-20 budget
New Kent School Board members unanimously approved a $35,026,270 budget for the FY2019-2020 school year at Monday night’s meeting. With the growing population in the school system, the approved budget is an increase of nearly $1.9 million from last year’s budget. The projected budget is adding six new teaching positions and one school counselor position, totaling $501,176. Other support positions being added to for the upcoming cycle totals $186,451. The county’s contribution towards schools is expected to be $14,234,595 for the new fiscal year. Board of supervisor members are expected to adopt their budget at the Apr. 24 work session….
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Undercover drug bust lands Richmond man in jail for one year
A Richmond man targeted as part of a drug bust operation in New Kent accepted a plea agreement during proceedings Monday in New Kent Circuit Court. Jerel Demetric Mayo, 28, of the 300 block of Dabbs Horse Road, entered guilty pleas to one count each of distribution of a controlled substance (heroin) and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). In a summary of evidence provided by Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory, on Sept. 20, 2018, the Twin Rivers Drug Task Force conducted a control buy from the defendant. A confidential informant met Mayo inside the McDonald’s in Bottoms Bridge. The two…
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DuVal to run for Commonwealth’s Attorney of New Kent County
J. Todd DuVal has announced his candidacy for the office of Commonwealth’s Attorney of New Kent County. Duval has practiced law for 28 years, graduating from the College of William and Mary in 1988 and the University of Richmond Law School in 1991. He is a founding partner of McDonald, Sutton, & DuVal, PLC, a firm in continuous practice since 1998. “Having been a part of the criminal justice system for a long time as I have and in as many different places and capacities as I have, I believe that if crime is denied a foothold, it will never…
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No speakers at New Kent’s public hearing on proposed FY2019-20 budget
New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors’ public hearing on the proposed FY2019-2020 budget yielded no speakers Monday night. A rehash of the proposed $69,851,662 budget was presented by County Administrator Rodney Hathaway at the meeting. Of that amount, approximately $35,026,270 is designated for schools. The real estate tax will remain at 82 cents per $100 of assessed values, signifying no tax increase for this year. The budget is expected to see an increase in revenues of $1,210,281 for the upcoming year, resulting in a proposed five-percent cost of living raise for county employees and the hiring of eight new positions….
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New Kent residents concerned about possible road connection to subdivision
A group of residents of a New Kent subdivision are voicing concerns about a public road coming through their area. Homeowners that reside in Patriot’s Landing near Bottoms Bridge spoke during the public comment period Monday evening at New Kent’s Board of Supervisors meeting with concerns about a road that would connect from their main entrance to Marketplace Drive, a secondary entrance of the subdivision. The concern stems from the road being constructed to allow trucks onto property that is scheduled to be the future home of Tractor Supply Company. That building is expected to be built on a portion…
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Motorcycle accident in Charles City leaves one dead, one injured
Virginia State Police is conducting an investigation of a crash that left one man dead and a woman injured. According to a press release, shortly after 3 p.m., officers responded to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5), one mile west of Route 106 (Roxbury Road). According to the replace report, a 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling eastbound when it ran off the right side of the road, flipped, and struck several trees. The operator, identified as John C. Ennis, 68, of Richmond, was transported by ambulance to VCU Medical Center, where he succumbed to his…
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Judge upholds jury’s recommendation, sentences man to 26 years in prison for Charles City robbery
Judge B. Elliott Bondurant upheld a jury’s recommendation and sentenced a Richmond man to 26 years in prison for a robbery committed in Charles City. Michael DeVaughan Gordon, 41, of the 500 block of Deter Road, received formal sentencing Friday morning as part of Charles City Circuit Court proceedings. He received five years of active time on each of two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony (second offense), robbery, and robbery while using a gun. He received three years on one count of use of a firearm in commission of a felony (first offense), two…
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