Hotter-than-average summer ahead for Historic Triangle

Good morning! Here are the week’s top stories.

-Christin

1. A hotter-than-normal summer is ahead for the Historic Triangle, according to NOAA.

This summer is going to be a scorcher for the Historic Triangle and all of southeast Virginia, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

While temperatures in Hampton Roads have been cooler than average in recent days, that weather pattern is expected to shift in the coming weeks. NOAA’s long-range summer outlook predicts hotter-than-normal temperatures for June, July and August.

The details: The temperature map (below) shows much of the U.S. lit up in shades of orange and red. The darker the shade, the more likely the area is to see above average temperatures this summer. Much of the east coast, including Hampton Roads, is in the “likely above normal” range.

According to Karin Gleason, monitoring section chief for the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 2023 will likely go down in the books as one of the top 10 warmest years on record,and possibly even the top five. Only the Plains, the Midwest and the Great Lakes are projected to see temperatures near normal this summer.

A transition to El Nino is also expected in the next few months. El Nino usually leads to a milder hurricane season, but the hotter-than-average temperatures could cause tropical cyclones to rapidly intensify, so tropical activity will also be a concern this year, according to forecasters.

Some context: Virginia is among seven states in the nation that experienced record-high temperatures at the start of 2023, according to NOAA. 

2. There’s a new police chief in James City County.

• James City County has selected Mark Jamison as its new permanent police chief, JCCPD announced Tuesday. Jamison, the Lynchburg Police Department’s deputy chief, will begin the new role on July 1.
  • “Mr. Jamison brings a wealth of experience and exemplary public service to James City County,” said County Administrator Scott Stevens. “I am very optimistic that he will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to help the department move forward.”
• Who is he? Jamison first joined the Lynchburg police department in 1997 and was promoted through the ranks. He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s degree in government and he earned a Master’s in sociology and criminal justice from Longwood University, according to JCCPD. He’s also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.
• Jamison succeeds interim Chief Anthony G. “Tony” Dallman, who has been serving in the position since November 2022, following the retirement of previous chief Eric Peterson.
  • “I am excited to be chosen as the next chief of police for the James City County Police Department,” said Chief Jamison. “I’m honored to lead this dedicated team of law enforcement professionals, and I look forward to collaborating with the citizens and County leaders as we continue to achieve a quality community.”

3. Williamsburg is inviting the public to place flags on the graves of veterans in honor of Memorial Day.

• The public is invited to place flags on the graves of veterans in Cedar Grove Cemetary in Williamsburg on Thursday, May 25 at 9 a.m.
• More than 500 flags will be placed in honor of Memorial Day. Representatives from the Williamsburg Police and Fire departments, veterans and members of the Patrick Henry Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, Rotary Club of James City County, Salvation Army of Williamsburg and Cedar Grove Historical Society will be present to assist with the effort.
• Anyone who is interested in helping should meet Caretaker Bill Brown at the flagpole in Cedar Grove Cemetary, located at 809 S. Henry Street. Flags will be provided. Questions can be directed to Brown at dbrown@williamsburgva.gov.

4. Shentel has begun construction to bring its broadband service to Greater Williamsburg.

• Shentel, also known as Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, is making significant progress in its construction project that will bring an alternative cable provider to residential and business customers in Greater Williamsburg. The James City County portion of the project is expected to be completed by the end of June in an area west of Williamsburg, according to the Virginia Gazette.
• Some homes in western York County already have access to Shentel’s service, and service is expected to be available in parts of Williamsburg soon.
• In 2021, Shentel announced that it reached an agreement to provide Glo Fiber, its broadband service, to 20,000 James City County residents and 4,000 City of Williamsburg residents. Last year, the company made another deal to bring service to 5,000 homes in York County. Shentel also formed a partnership with Ford’s Colony, with plans to bring service to the nearly 2,700 homes there by early 2024.
• ‘Happy to welcome Shentel’: The news of Shentel’s arrival was welcomed by local leaders and citizens alike who have been hoping for the arrival of an alternative cable option for the Historic Triangle. For years, Cox Communications has been the only widely available service provider in the area.
  • “The Internet has become a vital tool for everyone, from students to homeowners to businesses,”  said Tim Wyatt, Director of Information Technology at York County, in a previous statement. “York County is happy to welcome Shentel’s Glo Fiber network as an option for our community’s communication needs.”
• For more information and to find out if service is available yet in your area, visit shentel.com.

5. Police are investigating an ATM skimmer found in James City County.

• James City County police are investigating a credit card skimming device that was found on an ATM at the 7-Eleven located at 7327 Pocahontas Trail.
• It isn’t yet clear how long the skimming device has been present on the machine, but investigators are urging residents – especially those who recently used that ATM – to carefully monitor their bank accounts for signs of suspicious activity.
• To safeguard yourself from possible fraud, James City County police suggest routinely checking bank statements for any unauthorized transactions, contacting your financial institution immediately if you notice suspicious activity and reporting the incident to James City County Police.
• This is an ongoing investigation.

ATM skimming device found at 7-Eleven in James City County (WAVY TV 10)

6. A woman who was found dead in York County was ‘beat out’ of a gang hours before she died, police say.

• A 25-year-old woman from Richmond who was found dead in York County earlier this month was the highest-ranking female member of the Mad Stone Bloods gang based in Norfolk, according to a report by WAVY News.
• Police arrested four suspects in connection with the death of Ty’osha Mitchell, who was found dead on the side of Old Williamsburg Road in York County during the early morning hours of May 6. Jayquan Jones, Jamica Langley, Hezekiah Carney and Acacia Jackson all face second-degree murder and conspiracy charges. Deputies with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office (YPSO) confirmed she was shot multiple times.
• New court documents reveal that Mitchell wanted to leave the gang and was in communication with the four suspects in the hours leading up to her death. According to Mitchell’s boyfriend, three of the suspects broke into Mitchell’s apartment and assaulted her shortly after midnight on May 6 as part of an attempt to “beat her out” of the gang. The suspects then allegedly returned an hour and a half later, assaulted Mitchell again, and forcibly took her from her home, leaving in a black Hyundai Sonata.
• York-Poquoson deputies used surveillance footage and phone records totrack the Hyundaiand alleged gang members from Mitchell’s Richmond apartment to York County, about a half mile from where her body was discovered by a jogger. Norfolk police pulled the vehicle over the following day and found three of the suspects inside, all of whom were arrested. A fourth suspect was arrested several days later. Carney, Jackson, Jones and Langley are scheduled for preliminary hearings in York County court on September 12.

7. York County will hold a free gun safety class next month.

• The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office is offering a free gun safety class to citizens of York County and Poquoson. Attendees must be 18 or older.
• The details: The class will be held at 301 Goodwin Neck Road on June 6 from 6 – 8 pm. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the class is not a concealed carry course or a hands-on course but will instead provide a general overview on handgun safety. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the night.
• Want to sign up? Register here and bring a photo ID with you to the class. The doors will close promptly at 6:05 pm. 
• Additional classes are slated to be held on July 11, August 3, September 12, October 5, November 2 and December 12. Continue checking this website for a link to register for future classes as the dates get closer.