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Library should be a library
The library needs to move out of the community center building and back into the library building. Why? Simple. The library cannot afford the upkeep of the community center building. The library moved into the Roy F. Collier Community Center in 2020. In 2019, the library finished the year with $914,000 in cash in the…
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Three arrested in Amber Spradlin murder
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PRESTONSBURG — A long-awaited bittersweet day for the family of the late Amber Spradlin arrived Tuesday. Police arrested three men in connection with Spradlin’s murder that occurred June 18, 2023 at the home of Dr. Michael McKinney on Arkansas Creek in Floyd County. According to indictments issued Tuesday morning, one…
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Reclaimed coal mine site flourishing as apple orchard in Davella
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DAVELLA — Once a barren coal mine, a mountain-top site in Martin County has been transformed into a flourishing apple orchard. On Saturday and Sunday, Ryan Wilson and his wife Andrea, managers of AppleAtcha Orchards, set up a bustling farmers market along Airport Road. The couple sold bags and bushels…
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New law cracks down on truancy: Parents and students face tough penalties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A hard-hitting new Kentucky law, in effect as of July 15, requires school districts to crack down on truancy by reporting unexcused absences directly to the county attorney. Martin County Attorney Melissa Phelps discussed the impact of the new truancy law on students, parents, the school district, and…
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Audit reveals library’s cash in bank ‘dwindling’
BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The latest audit of the Martin County Public Library Taxing District (MCPL) revealed that cash in the bank “is dwindling,” a downward trend that began in 2020 after relocating from the former library facility to the Collier Center in Inez. The MCPL board of trustees received the audit…
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Martin County Arrest Report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Sarah Fraley, 38, of Ashland, was arrested Friday on Main Street in Inez on two warrants out of Lawrence County and one from Boyd County. Chief Deputy Chris Kidd made the arrest. Eric Sartin, 27, of Kermit, West Virginia, was arrested July 25…
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Mingo man arrested for attempted murder
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN UPPER BIAS, W.Va. — One man is in jail for attempted murder and another is hospitalized after a stabbing in Mingo County. West Virginia State Police said Aaron Mahon, 25, and Kenneth Ooten, 33, both of Delbarton, got into a fight early Tuesday morning in the community of Upper Bias…
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Tommy’s Auto Sales Players of the Week: Martin County All-Stars
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County All-Stars softball team is the Tommy’s Auto Sales Players of the Week. The All-Stars played in the Battle at the Ramey in Salyersville on Saturday. The future Lady Cards held a car wash Saturday to earn their entry fee into the tournament. It was worth…
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East KY Youth Athletics winners qualify for Cincinnati
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The winners of the East KY Youth Athletics MLB Hit, Pitch, and Run received great news last week. Their winning scores from June 22 have qualified them for the team championship to be held at the Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds, on Aug. 3. Over…
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Living in peace and being good Americans
Millions of Democrats went to the polls in state primaries to cast their votes for President Joe Biden. He was elected to represent the Democratic Party once again. He did not have the official votes of the delegates from the convention, but it was a given that he would receive them. On June 27, Biden…










