We're dodging two hurricane bullets
Tomorrow night, Oct. 1, Yom Kippur begins at sundown. Today: last day of September. Last weekend’s rain producer helps keep hurricanes away...James City County's lead-footed drivers...
The stalled front that gave us a wet weekend is helping push two hurricanes well away from our area this week, according to the National Weather Service.
Hurricane Humberto was never prognosticated to be a problem, with a track well to the northeast.
But newly strengthened Hurricane Imelda now looks like more of a weather maker for Florida and the southernmost states, largely in the form of rain.
The National Hurricane Center shows Imelda making a sharp right turn off the coast of Florida and exiting to the northeast.
Forecasts can always change, but have held steady for the last couple of days. The most probable effect of the weather system for us will be gusty winds from Tuesday through Thursday and poor boating conditions.
James City drivers have serious speeding problem, even outside schools, police say
James City County drivers have a serious lead foot problem, and an accident rate to prove it, police chief Mark Jamison says.
Nearly 4,000 drivers have received warning notices for speeding in school zones since traffic cameras went up around seven county schools Sept. 8, the chief told the board of supervisors last week. Another 2,133 have been caught on camera, and are having their information verified by police before they receive warning citations, he added.
The largest number of speeders are being caught around Norge Elementary school, the chief said.
Speeding past school zones is part of a bigger problem with speeding and distracted driving in James City County, the police chief said, adding “our community has to really take responsibility for their actions, to slow down.”
In 2024 there were more than 900 accidents in the county, he said, often due to speeding and to drivers texting and driving.
The county decided to set up traffic cameras and speed detection systems at the schools after a testing period two years ago, when nearly 38,000 cars were clocked traveling more than 10 miles per hour above the 25 m.p.h. speed limit during school hours.
Schools participating in the speed camera program are:
Clary Byrd Baker Elementary
D.J. Montague Elementary
James River Elementary
Stonehouse Elementary
Norge Elementary
Toano Middle
Lafayette High School
Since Sept. 8, when a car is caught traveling at least 10 m.p.h. above the speed limit the information is captured by the cameras and sent to police to verify accuracy, Jamison explained. The system includes a video camera trained on the school speed limit sign to show that the warning lights were flashing, and at least seven pictures of the offending vehicle that captures their license plates.
If the video does not verify the warning lights were operating, there is no citation issued, the police chief said.
Come Oct. 8, speeders will receive a notice of violation that gives them two options – pay a $100 fee for the offense, which is not reported to your insurance company, or challenge the ticket in court and risk getting points and notification to your insurance company.
As of last week, 3,985 warnings have been sent out, Jamison said. Another 2,133 are still pending.
“There are still a lot of people speeding” while kids and families are going to and from school, Jamison said.
Reserve a seat for next week’s candidate forum
Williamsburg Watch and our news partner, WHRO, will begin the first of our two candidate forums next week, Oct. 8, at the main theater of the Williamsburg Regional Library on Scotland Street.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the forum begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 will feature local candidates for the James City County board of supervisors and the Williamsburg-James City County school board.
Oct. 15 will host the two candidates for the House of Delegates District 71.
We will be taking written questions from the audience prior to the start of the forum to submit along with our moderators’ questions.
We recommend you reserve your spot at these links:
https://www.whro.org/whro-events/event/williamsburg-candidate-forums-17-09-2025-12-40-06
Please do not bring campaign literature or signs to the event.
If you cannot attend in person, the event will be live streamed at whro.org.
Lithium fire hazard review this weekend
The James City County fire department is hosting an open house Saturday to explain the potential dangers of lithium batteries in the home in such devices as cell phones, e-bikes, laptops and power tools.
The event, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 4 in Olde Towne Rd., is part of the department’s recognition of fire prevention week, the department said in a press release.
State Headlines
https://cardinalnews.org/2025/09/26/state-to-raise-minimum-passing-scores-for-sol-tests/
Weekend Fun & Games
Heather Edwards Bank plays at Rhythms on the Riverwalk, Oct. 2, Yorktown, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Free.
Kevin Burt and Big Medicine at Merchant Square Concert Series. Oct. 3. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Free.
16th Annual Williamsburg Landing 5K Run/Walk for The Arc. Oct. 4. 3000 The Mall. 7:30 - 11 a.m. $50 registration.
An Occasion for the Arts. Duke of Gloucester Street. Oct. 4 & 5. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free.
Yorktown Wine & Oyster Festival. Oct. 4 & 5. noon - 6 p.m. $50/$85.
Passings
Anne Callis Jones, 90, Sept. 26.
Shirley C. Blaes, 89, Sept. 26.
Theodore Douglas Parsons Sr., 93, Sept. 22.
Peter Michael Spokowski, 75, Sept. 24.
Wolfgang Werner Koenig, 89, Sept. 23.