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Holler to Holler, Hand in Hand
BY JOSHUA BALL There’s a moment when the world, a region, stands still. When the rain won’t stop. When the rivers swell, creeping higher and higher until they are no longer rivers at all… but walls of water, tearing through everything in their path. Homes, memories, lifetimes… gone in an instant. And then comes the…
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Tug Valley reels from major flood
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MARTIN COUNTY — Homes submerged, roads washed away and families stranded—this was the scene across the Tug Valley after floodwaters surged through the region over the weekend, cutting off communities and leaving thousands without power. In Kermit, the Tug Fork River crested at 51.22 feet at 12:30 a.m. on Feb.…
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Gallery: Kentucky National Guard rescues residents from floodwaters
As floodwaters surrounded Riverside Apartments and Dempsey Housing in Warfield, the Kentucky National Guard sprang into action, airlifting 296 residents to safety Feb. 17. Troops, including Airmen from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, used UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to transport evacuees to Big Sandy Regional Airport. There, a Contingency Response team established a passenger terminal…
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Kentucky Guard evacuates 296 people stranded by floods in Martin County
BY DALE GREER 123RD AIRLIFT WING WARFIELD — Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard evacuated 296 residents from two housing complexes surrounded by floodwaters Monday in Martin County. The troops, including Airmen from the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron here, airlifted the residents to Big Sandy Regional Airport in Debord aboard…
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SOAR COO clarifies process for FEMA
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN EASTERN KENTUCKY — As flood-impacted Kentuckians await disaster relief, SOAR COO Joshua Ball sought to clarify why individuals cannot yet apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In a statement Tuesday, Ball explained that while the federal disaster declaration has enabled public assistance, which allows local and…
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Near record level for Tug causes major flooding
Three drowning deaths in Pike County BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The region is still recuperating from major flooding along the Tug Fork River and its tributaries in Mingo County. This past weekend’s flooding is the second worse in the Tug Valley’s history, only beaten by a couple of feet by the…
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From struggle to strength: How Justin Muncy learned to thrive after addiction
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Members of the Kiwanis Club leaned in as Justin Muncy, a wellness coach with the Thrive Community Coalition, took the floor Thursday during a club luncheon at Giovanni’s in Inez. The guest speaker shared the story of his journey from addiction to redemption. Muncy’s role at Thrive is clear-cut.…
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Valentine’s cards bring joy to nursing home
INEZ — A group of ladies from White Oak Hill had the privilege and honor of creating and delivering handmade Valentine’s Day cards to residents at the Martin County Healthcare Facility on Feb. 14. Their heartfelt gesture brought joy to the residents, making Valentine’s Day extra special. The group expressed their gratitude for the opportunity…
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Request replacement SNAP by Feb. 25
Households that lost food purchased with their SNAP benefits due to the Feb. 15 storms and flooding have until Feb. 25 to request replacement benefits, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services announced. Recipients who lost food bought with SNAP due to a power outage of at least four hours or flooding can call…
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Two sides of Ozempic: Weight loss success and health nightmares
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH For some, the weight loss drug Ozempic “is life-changing,” but for others, ‘it’s a nightmare,” Valerie Chinn reports for WDRB. Lucinda Mason, a Mt. Washington resident who has lost 100 pounds and kept it off, told Chinn that her experience with the drug has been positive and has dramatically improved…
