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Public library cuts employee medical insurance
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — With an auditor warning that the Martin County Public Library’s cash has fallen from nearly $1 million to just $48,000 in six years, board members voted Monday to eliminate health insurance for seven employees — a painful step in their struggle to keep the library solvent. During a…
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‘Revival on Main Street’ gives abandoned buildings facelift
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Two abandoned buildings on Main Street in Inez are getting a facelift as part of Martin County’s “Revival on Main Street” effort. Local leaders say the structures at 42 East Main Street are too damaged to be restored and will eventually need to be torn down and rebuilt.…
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Martin County arrest report
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Brian Howell, 46, of Inez, was arrested Oct. 23 on Yellow Creek Road in Martin County for possession of a controlled substance, first degree (methamphetamine). Sheriff John Kirk and deputies were conducting a knock-and-talk on a separate case when the…
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UK to present water study findings in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — University of Kentucky researchers will return to Martin County next week to present findings from a five-year study on drinking water safety and disinfection byproducts (DBPs), continuing a research effort that began with a pilot study in 2018. The Mountain Drinking Water Study report-back meetings will take place…
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Community helps Maynard chase All-American Bowl dream
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — When Martin County High School quarterback Devan Maynard steps onto the field at AT&T Stadium in Dallas this December for the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl, he will carry the pride of an entire community. On Thursday, supporters gathered at the Kiwanis Club luncheon to honor him and to support…
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Halloween on Wolf Creek: Carters yard of haunting
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PILGRIM — By any October measure, Pilgrim’s most theatrical Halloween spectacle glows from a yard along North Wolf Creek Road. At 2763, the Carter home has become a full-blown haunted attraction—equal parts craft, tradition, and love letter to the community. For three years running, Debbie Carter and her family have…
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Government shutdown: A political stalemate with no end in sight
If you are like me, you have questions and concerns about the latest government shutdown. As I said recently, it feels like a political football, something both parties keep kicking back and forth while the country waits for resolution. Federal funding expired at midnight Sept. 30, 2025, when Congress failed to pass spending legislation for…
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Is Congress hypocritical?
The American government shutdown impacts about 1.4 million federal workers, with roughly 700,000 furloughed and another 700,000 deemed essential continuing to work without pay. This number does not include the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits. About 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 TSA officers are currently working without pay. Once the government shutdown…
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UK to share findings of five-year water study in Martin County Nov. 3 & 4
BY MADISON MOONEY This is the second installment of What’s the drip? For this article, I will focus on findings that will be presented in the Mountain Drinking Water Project’s community meetings next week. However, before we dive into the Mountain Drinking Water Project, I wanted to share a timeline of how this project got…
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Warfield Elementary names October Students of the Month
WARFIELD — Principal Jessica Jewell, teachers and staff at Warfield Elementary School have announced the Students of the Month for October 2025. The honor students are Axle Guerra, Brooklyn Nichols, Carson Harmon, Chloe Maynard, Evie Queen, Hunter Bowen, Isabella Bowen, Kammi Fletcher, Kaymyn Combs, McKenna Fletcher, McKinna Jude, Randel Grace, Skyler Slone, Tanner Smith, Trey…
