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• Burnetts stepping away from New Kent High School volleyball sidelines after 38 years

  

  After 34 years on the sidelines, a powerhouse couple who guided New Kent’s Lady Trojans’ volleyball teams to several state appearances is stepping away from the sideline. Stuart and Cynthia Burnett are handing over the reins after 38 years of coaching. The journey for the duo began in November 1988 with the goal to build the volleyball program from the ground up to make it a respective team. The Burnetts turned the concept of team into the program. Cynthia notched 525 wins as the head coach from 1988-2021, while husband Stuart garnered 73 wins leading the helm from 2022-2025. The…
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• Charles City School Board approves $8.9 million budget for FY2026-27

  Charles City’s School Board approved an $8.9 million budget for the FY2026-27 school year. School board members voted 4-0 to approve the budget and send it to county leaders for consideration and adoption at the Feb. 17 meeting. At-large member Royce Paige was not present at the meeting. Otey’s budget proposal is centered around compensating teachers and support services. Among those services include two part-time math interventionists at each school ($74,604), a part-time reading interventionist ($74,604), in-school instructional coaches for teacher support ($161,464), an additional math teacher at each school at ($84,874), and stipends for teachers writing curriculum ($34,448). Otey’s…
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• CCHS students recognized at Virginia Capitol

  

• Bland Music scholarship winners

  

• Branscome earns degree from University of Mississippi

  Beatrice Branscome, a resident of Lanexa, graduated from the University of Mississippi as part of December 2025 commencement ceremonies. Branscome graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the School of Journalism and New Media, with an emphasis in Integrated Marketing Communications.

• Letter to the Editor: Says Charles City should vote in favor for a fourth board member

  Charles City is slowly dying from a life-threatening cancer. We can choose to treat it aggressively or leave it to fate. Effectively treating cancer is scary and often painful. Recovery is not immediate. I believe most of us would choose treatment. We have already begun to pick away at the cancer with a court-ordered forensic audit; a very deep dive into only three problem areas. Citizens who are subject matter experts have repeatedly cautioned our board [of supervisors] with facts. They have nothing to gain for themselves and do so for the love of the place we all call home….
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