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Lafferty presses senate, governor for $26M WWATERS funds
Judge/executive invokes coal legacy BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty used a special Fiscal Court meeting March 26 to publicly urge the Kentucky Senate and Gov. Andy Beshear to approve $25.8 million in WWATERS funding for local water and sewer projects, arguing the county has earned basic infrastructure after…
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Flood buyouts in Martin County could begin in 60 to 90 days
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County’s USDA Emergency Watershed Protection flood buyouts could begin closing within 60 to 90 days, according to county officials. The Martin County Fiscal Court advanced the second reading of a $6.68 million budget amendment March 26 in a special meeting. Of that amount, roughly $6.3 million is…
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Countywide strategic plan moves from input to action
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County residents will have three more chances this spring to help shape a countywide strategic plan. Led by the University of Kentucky and Blueprint Kentucky, the effort that began is shifting from public input to action steps and final recommendations. Organizers will hold the remaining public sessions…
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Martin County accepts sheriff’s annual fee settlement
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court accepted Sheriff John Kirk’s 2025 excess fees settlement during a special meeting March 26. The annual report showed the sheriff’s office ended the year with $53.23 in excess fees, no unpaid obligations and no outstanding debts. The settlement shows the office’s fee account received…
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Martin County Fiscal Court handles bids, board appointments, business in special session
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court approved board appointments, awarded mowing contracts and advanced several other business items during a special meeting March 26. Magistrates approved Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty’s reappointment of John Hensley and Colby Kirk to the Martin County Utility Board. The court also approved Karen Thoma to fill…
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Warfield backs caboose project tied to Himlerville legacy
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — The Warfield City Council approved an interlocal agreement Monday allowing Martin County Fiscal Court to install signage at the city’s caboose. The project is part of the county’s “Himler Heritage Caboose” initiative, a small step in preserving the legacy of Martin Himler and the immigrant coal town he…
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Williamson fire chief placed on administrative leave after his arrest
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Williamson Fire Chief Joey Michael Carey has been placed on administrative leave after his arrest Friday night for allegedly firing a handgun round into a neighboring apartment in the building where he lives. Carey, 49, was taken into custody at about 9 p.m. at the fire department…
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Needed first step on feral horse problem
For years, Martin County has lived with a contradiction. Free-roaming horses have become part of the county’s identity. People stop to photograph them. Visitors admire them. Officials have even pointed to them as part of the county’s rural charm. At the same time, those same horses have posed a real and growing danger on public…
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Remembering the COVID shutdown
It has been six years, but it sometimes feels like only a few weeks ago. The world stopped due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and everything came to a complete halt during the shutdown. It began in March 2020, when the COVID-19 virus began spreading throughout the United States and the world. You may not remember…
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Stidham Old Time Music Association among Appalachian Kentucky civic grant recipients
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT HAZARD — A Martin County organization is among 13 recipients sharing $90,000 in Appalachian Kentucky Civic Experiment grants, with the Stidham Old-Time Music Association of Tomahawk receiving $7,500 to expand affordable string music lessons for young people. The grants, awarded by the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, support projects across the region aimed…
