News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 16, 2025
Local News
Proposed New Kent County budget comes in with $131 million tag; possible projects may lead to tax increase proposal
New Kent County continues to grow in a variety of ways including in population, businesses, and residences. You can add budget to that category as well. New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway revealed a budget of $131,071,628 during Monday night’s New Kent Board of Supervisors’ meeting. That amount in nearly $18 million more than the FY adopted budget of $113,379,280. The proposed budget currently includes no tax increase to the county’s real estate tax, keeping it at 59 cents per $100 of assessed value. Each penny is currently valued at $551,635. But the tax increase is still a discussion topic…
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Charles City man slammed with five-year prison sentence for having indecent liberties with minors
Editor’s Note: This story may feature content unsuitable for some readers. A Charles City man will spend the next five years in prison after learning his sentence stemming from having indecent liberties with minors. David Brackett, 57, learned of her term during Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. During a Nov. 12, 2024 contested trial, evidence revealed that on June 28, 2024, Brackett invited the two victims to leave their house and go outside and make a tent. The victims agreed, getting into the defendant’s truck and traveling 150 feet from the home to an area just out-of-view…
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Barhamsville man receives 14-month jail sentence for possessing Fentanyl
A Barhamsville man will spend the next 14 months in jail for possessing a Schedule I/II substance in New Kent. Thomas Ray Walton, 30, of the 5600 block of Country Drive, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug, an amended charge of misdemeanor obstruction of justice (originally assault and battery on a law enforcement officer), and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (second offense) as part of an agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of delivering drugs to a prisoner was dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary…
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Charles City County Public Schools approve $7.4 million operating budget for FY2025-26
Charles City County Public Schools has approved a proposed $7.4 million operating budget for FY2025-26. School board members voted unanimously to approve the budget of $7,423,743 for the upcoming fiscal year at Tuesday night’s regular school board meeting. That amount is $628,878, or 9.3 percent, more than the current school year. As part of the operating budget, a three-percent employee compensation increase is proposed. The budget also includes keeping the positions of the school district having a mental health specialist, a second reading specialist, and a math interventionalist. Currently those positions are funded by grants that are due to expire….
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Portsmouth man facing up to four years in prison for possessing drugs, firearm illegally in New Kent
A Portsmouth man is facing up to four years in prison for possessing illegal drugs and a firearm in New Kent County. Cornelius Woodley, 44, of the 400 block of Taft Drive, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II substance (heroin) and possession of a gun while in possession of a Schedule I/II substance as part of Monday afternoon proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of possession of a firearm by a violent felon was dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney…
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Petitions call for forensic audit, removal of Charles City supervisor after tense meeting
With Charles City’s Board of Supervisors apparently not providing answers to local citizens after requests have been made for an audit and also more information about a $5.2 million Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) lending, some residents are now taking measures into their own hands. A petition for a forensic audit and the removal of Charles City Board of Supervisor District 3 member Byron Adkins Sr. began circulating as matters heated up between parties during the Jan. 28 regular meeting. Several citizens have questioned actions made by county leaders stemming from the aforementioned RAN, as well as negotiations to bring a…
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Charles City County Superintendent Joppy named Region I ‘Superintendent of the Year’
Charles City County Superintendent of Schools Dalphine Joppy has been named as the Region I Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS). The prestigious award recognized Joppy for her leadership and dedication to empowering leaders, supporting teacher development, and advocating for acquiring resources to improve student outcomes. “I am truly humbled to be recognized by my colleagues in Region I,” Joppy said in a press release. “I am honored to serve the students, families, teachers, and staff of Charles City County. I continue to appreciate and celebrate the dedication and HEART work of our CCPS…
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Wanted man receives 32 months in jail for possessing methamphetamine, gun illegally in New Kent
A Foster man who was the subject on a “be-on-the-lookout” will spend more than two-and-a-half years in prison. David Wayne Ashberry Jr., 34, of the 100 block of White Neck Drive, entered guilty pleas to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug and possession of a gun while in possession of a Schedule I/II drug as part of a plea agreement reached Monday afternoon in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of possession of a gun by a nonviolent felon was dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s…
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Charles City grand jury indicts six for alleged offenses committed within the county
Six individuals were indicted by a grand jury following Friday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court: –Javon R. Caton, 21, of the 1900 block of Redd Street, Richmond, on one count each of grand larceny and felony eluding. The defendant allegedly stole a car and attempted to elude authorities on June 25, 2024. –Robert Earl Davis, 35, of the 5300 block of North Warriner Road, Richmond, on a single count of unlawful wounding. The offense allegedly took place on Oct. 16, 2024. –Alonzo Dean Dobson, 61, of the 9600 block of Lott Cary Road, Providence Forge, on a solo…
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Charles City School Board proposing $7.3 million operating budget for FY2025-26
Citing continuing needs of the school division along with increasing costs in healthcare coverage, Charles City County Public Schools announced their proposed budget for the FY2025-26 school year. Charles City Superintendent of Schools Dalphine Joppy recommended an operating budget of $7,359,865 for the upcoming school year. That amount is approximately $565,000, or 8.3 percent, more than the current operating budget of $6,794,865. The proposed budget includes the addition of three positions in the school system. Those positions, a mental health specialist, a second reading specialist, and a math interventionalist, come with a total price tag of $265,000. The additional $300,000…
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