News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | July 27, 2024
Local News
Father of New Kent supervisor banned from premises after making threats against board chairman
A heated exchange between New Kent Board of Supervisor members Thomas Evelyn and Jordan Stewart at a May 29 work session over the budget has resulted in ramifications that led to the banning of one supervisor’s father from all New Kent County premises. Richard D. Stewart, the father of District 5 representative Jordan Stewart, has been barred from all New Kent County owned property and has been issued a protective order after making threats against Evelyn. At the May 29 work session, Jordan Stewart and Evelyn got into a heated debate over a two-cent tax increase for the county. At…
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Public hearing on sale of land may lead to Tractor Supply finding home in Charles City
A major investment company may be bringing a top tier business to Charles City County. Twin Rivers Capital LLC, a firm that is contracted to find areas to develop for businesses, will be the subject of a July 23 public hearing that may bring a Tractor Supply store to the locality. At Tuesday night’s Charles City Board of Supervisors meeting, Charles City Director of Community Development Cynthia Boone announced Twin Rivers Capital intent to purchase approximately 5.15 acres at 10240 Courthouse Road, which is across the street near the entrance of Charles City Elementary School. They are proposing to purchase…
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Quinton man receives six months in jail for possessing illegal smoking device
A Quinton man will spend the next six months in jail for possessing an illegal smoking device after agreeing to terms of a plea deal during Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Lawrence Church Jr., 56, of the 7200 block of Lakeshore Drive, entered guilty pleas to an amended charge of possession of drug paraphernalia (originally possession of a Schedule I/II substance) and misdemeanor DUI (first offense) as part of the plea agreement. In a summary of evidence, on Sept. 17, 2023, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service after a driver was spotted driving erratically…
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CarMax plans to bring facility to New Kent County
CarMax plans to bring a facility to eastern New Kent following a recent announcement. The Goochland-based business has planned to build a 78,300 square foot facility on a 44-acre site in Barhamsville. The building will be one of the biggest expansions to a part of the county that is slated to be the next area to see a boost due to the growth of New Kent County. “We’re proud to welcome CarMax to New Kent County” commented New Kent County Administrator Rodney Hathaway. “Their investment will have a significant impact on our local economy and community. “This [decision] highlight New…
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Charles City Public Schools adopt $10.9 million operating budget for FY2024-25
Charles City County Public Schools adopted their FY2024-25 budget at the June 20 regular board meeting. School board members unanimously approved the $10,985,585 operating budget for the next year’s fiscal operation. In total with the CIP and self-sustaining funds, the budget is $13,999,582. Of the $10.9 operating budget, the school will receive $6,502,485 from local contributions, which is level funding. The budget includes a three-percent raise for students. To balance the budget, savings were recognized through new hires and plans intended to utilize grants to support needed positions.
Charles City Public Schools announce new principals for elementary level
Charles City County Public Schools announced the hiring of two new principals at the elementary level. Bernard Burwell has been named as Charles City Elementary School’s new principal, while Jeffery Groh will serve in the role of assistant principal. Burwell served as an assistant principal in Prince George and held roles as an educator in Chesterfield which included special education coordinator and dean of students. He earned his Masters in Education Administration from the University of Virginia and his Bachelors of Arts from Randolph-Macon College. Groh served as an assistant principal at Desert Willow Elementary and Cactus Middle School in…
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York County man, Williamsburg child dies at scene of accident in Charles City
A York County man and a nine-year old boy have passed away as the result of a June 15 car accident in Charles City. According to a Virginia State Police report, around 5:25 p.m. a 2005 Acura TSX traveling eastbound on John Tyler Memorial Highway in Charles City County ran off the road and crashed into a tree shortly before the Judith Stewart Dresser Bridge that connects with James City County. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Shawnell Eley of Yorktown, along with a nine-year old boy from Williamsburg, died at the scene. Two other juvenile passengers were severely injured and…
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Portsmouth man connected, charged with incident with Charles City law enforcement officer
A Portsmouth man has been charged with several crimes stemming from a June 9 incident that saw Charles City County Sgt. Floyd Miles Jr. succumb to a medical emergency. Derek Croom, 59, has been charged with one count of felonious assault on a law enforcement officer, two counts of felony destruction of property, and one misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice. On June 9 around 12:30 p.m. Miles was monitoring traffic at the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway (Route 5) and Wayside Road (Route 607) around 12:30 p.m. when an individual on a moped fell onto the vehicle. The…
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Tension amongst board members rises as New Kent passes FY2024-25 budget, two-cent tax increase
While New Kent’s Board of Supervisors were able to approve their FY2024-25 budget of $112.8 million at the May 29 work session, there was enough tension in the room to probably start a streaming series on how it got there. The process started early in the morning, with County Administrator Rodney Hathaway recapping the budget that will see a two-cent tax increase from 57 cents to 59 cents. When board chairman Thomas Evelyn asked for comments, District 5 representative Jordan Stewart voiced her concerns over the hike. “I have had thoughts, and while this is exciting for Mr. Hathaway, this…
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Williamsburg man slapped with two-year jail sentence for 2019 drug distribution
A Williamsburg man who was in possession of drugs during a 2019 traffic stop will spend at least the next two years in jail. Eugene Meredith Otey, 49, of the 4500 block of Wimbledon Road, entered a guilty plea to one count each of possession of a Schedule I/II drug with intent to distribute, felony failure to appear, and misdemeanor violating the conditions of pretrial following Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence, on June 11, 2019, a Virginia State Police officer executed a traffic stop in the county. A K-9 unit was brought on…
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