Briefly… for Mar. 6-20, 2014

Budget hearing for NK schools Mar. 17

New Kent schools will hold a public budget hearing on Monday, Mar. 17, 5:30 p.m. at the school board office.

New Kent schools announced a $28,701,589 budget for the 2014-15 school year at its Feb. 18 work session. School board members and superintendent of schools Rick Richardson will be on hand to receive input from the community.

CC man receives two months in jail

A Charles City man will serve a two-month jail sentence for stealing scrap metal last April.

Todd Alonzo Tabb, 50, was sentenced during Feb. 21 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings for his involvement in confiscating an old iron stove belonging to Douglas Roach.

Tabb admitted last Aug. 23 to the crime during his trial and also agreed to pay $ $2,150 in restitution. While Charles City Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler didn’t ask for any active time, Judge Thomas B. Hoover disagreed, saying the defendant needed to learn a lesson.

“If he had the energy to move the stove in his condition, he has the energy to serve some time,” said Hoover, referencing the defendant’s absence from his original trial date due to medical issues. “I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with the recommendation of him not serving any active time.”

Tabb received a 10-year sentence with all but two months suspended.

NK 3rd in state Academic Challenge

New Kent High School’s Academic Challenge team finished third in the Feb. 22 Group AA state tournament at the College of William & Mary, falling just short of defending their state title won a year ago.

The team defeated Blacksburg, but dropped contests to Western Albemarle and Manassas Park.

Earlier this season, New Kent won the Bay Rivers District and 3A Conference championships while finishing as runner-up in the Region 3A tourney.

New Kent finished the season with a 24-5 record.

Weems man to serve 18 months

A Weems man will spend at least a year and a half incarcerated after learning his fate during Feb. 25 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings.

John Milton Harris III, 50, of the 1600 block of Irvington Road, was sentenced to five years in jail, with all but six months suspended on driving as a habitual offender and also received a one month active sentence on DUI (second offense). In addition to the active time, Harris will also spend an additional year in custody as he will be placed in the detention and diversion programs.

Harris entered guilty pleas on both charges at a separate trial on Dec. 15. There, the defendant confessed that last July 30 a state trooper followed him on Interstate 64 after he was spotted driving erratically. After a traffic stop, the trooper gave the defendant standard sobriety tests, which the defendant failed. A background check revealed Harris had been declared a habitual offender in 1996.

Snow, ice causes 26 local accidents

Inclement weather accounted for 25 accidents in New Kent and one accident in Charles City last Monday afternoon into early Tuesday morning. In total, 437 accidents occurred in the Richmond area due to the weather.