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Tourism greenlights festival plans, logistics ahead of big weekend
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Tourism Board got an update on the Appalachian Artist Festival in a meeting last week. They also approved financials and addressed logistical concerns, including trash pickup and rental policies for upcoming events and venue rentals. With the Appalachian Artist Festival just days away from transforming…
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Back to school Aug. 6: Martin County sets the clock on 2025–26
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Backpacks at the ready: Martin County students will head back to school Aug. 6. According to the school district’s 2025–26 calendar, teachers report a day earlier for opening day Aug. 5. This follows a round of professional development July 29–31 and Aug. 4. The last day of school…
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Lovely man jailed for assault involving pregnant woman
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — A man remains in jail after authorities say he assaulted two women, one of whom was pregnant, during a domestic incident Monday in Lovely. Martin County Chief Deputy Sheriff Chris Kidd arrested Kendrick Sartin, 18, of Lovely, for fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) causing minor injury, after responding to…
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Cox outlines Big Sandy Regional Airport’s vital role, pushes to keep facility disaster-ready
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — As Black Hawk helicopters thundered into Big Sandy Regional Airport carrying pajama-clad flood evacuees in February, Gary Wayne Cox stood ready in the dark, literally. With his home power out and disaster unfolding across eastern Kentucky, the airport manager scrambled to confirm enough fuel for a nonstop rescue…
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Trending: Kids swim for free this Saturday
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For the third Saturday in a row, all kids 18 and under will swim for free Aug. 2 at the Martin County Pool. Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills is the latest county official to receive a donation to cover the cost of admission, following the lead of Martin County…
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Kermit faces state mandate without funds
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — With no funding in place to build a customer notification system, Kermit officials are facing a state mandate they say they cannot afford. Mayor Charles Sparks informed the Town Council earlier in July that the West Virginia Public Service Commission issued an order requiring all public utilities,…
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One more time, more one-hit wonders
When I wrote my first column about “one-hit wonders,” I began researching online to look up some songs. The first two articles were well received, especially on social media. I had forgotten just how many of these types of songs and artists there were. So, one more time, here are a few more “one-hit wonders”…
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Do it while you can
Do it while you can; do it while you feel like it. The chances of you doing something now are greater than they will be 10 years from now. First, you may not be here 10 years from now. If there is a career change you want to make then make it as soon as…
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Working is no guarantee you’ll have health insurance. Just ask Kentucky legislators.
by Jamie Lucke Kentucky Lantern July 23, 2025 FRANKFORT — Kentucky elects 138 people to serve in the state legislature, and 98 of them get their health insurance through the state-sponsored plan for public employees. Kentucky lawmakers also enroll 138 dependents in the state employees’ health plan. I bring this up not because I begrudge…
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Martin County arrest report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Kendrick Sartin, 18, of Lovely, was arrested Monday on KY-292 in Lovely on a charge of fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), minor injury. Chief Deputy Chris Kidd responded to a residence on Route 292 around 2:45 p.m. after a 911 caller reported that Sartin had…
