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Kentucky State Police searches for missing woman
PIKEVILLE — The Kentucky State Police Pikeville Post is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing woman. KSP Post 9 received a report June 27 of a woman missing from Pike County. Family or acquaintances last saw Tiffany Murphy, 38, of Pikeville, on June 23 in the Island Creek community of Pike County. Police…
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Four new measles cases reported in Kentucky
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT FRANKFORT— Kentucky health officials reported four new cases of measles this week, bringing the state’s total to six confirmed infections so far this year, as national outbreaks continue to climb. Three of the new cases occurred in a single household in Woodford County. The fourth case, in Todd County, involved an individual…
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Miners laid off in southern West Virginia
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT Mining companies are laying off workers in southern West Virginia with some of those affected located in Mingo County. Officials said the layoffs will take effect Aug. 2. The CV2 Mine in Fayette County will take the biggest hit, cutting 135 mining jobs and an additional 20 at the prep plant. Other…
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State police arrest 16 alleged child predators during national crackdown
FRANKFORT — A month-long national operation targeting online child exploitation led to the arrest of 16 individuals in Kentucky, officials announced Thursday. The effort, part of Operation Safe Online Summer, was conducted throughout April by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and involved law enforcement agencies in all 50 states. In Kentucky, the State…
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Congress must act to help the new postmaster general pull USPS back from the brink
BY MARTHA DIAZ ASZKENAZY The United States Postal Service is on the brink of a self-induced collapse. The failed policies of the Delivering for America Plan have driven away customers through a combination of sky-high rate increases and degraded service. David Steiner, who will take over as Postmaster General on July 14, 2025, has a…
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Fulbright Scholar documentary to put Martin Himler legacy on international stage
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ, Ky. — The story of Martin Himler and the historic coal town of Himlerville is gaining international attention with the announcement of a new documentary project led by award-winning filmmaker and East Tennessee State University professor Stokes Piercy. ETSU announced in a press release that Piercy has been named…
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Martin County Fiscal Court adopts $11.3M budget
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court adopted an $11.3 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year during a June 18 special meeting. “It’s essentially the same budget that we had last year,” Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty said. “We wanted to be able to provide raises for our folks, but, unfortunately,…
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Martin County Harvest Fest promises biggest carnival yet
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Warm weather and festivals are the perfect match. So get excited because the Martin County Harvest Festival is returning to Court Street in September with its biggest carnival yet. Set for Sept. 12 and 13, the festival will feature carnival rides, delicious food, a vendors market, live music…
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Martin County Arrest Report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Christopher Kestner, 51, of East Point, was arrested Tuesday on Little Rockcastle Road in Inez on three warrants. His charges include failure to appear, possession of a controlled substance first degree (methamphetamine), drug paraphernalia-buy/possession, and probation violation for a felony offense. Constable Preece…
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Bluegrass opens summer series
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Court Street came alive with the sound of fiddles, banjos and flatfooting Friday evening as local musician Jared Goforth of Inez welcomed fellow musicians to the first Bluegrass Jam Session in a new summer series sponsored by Martin County Tourism and Recreation. The event drew musicians and spectators…
