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Norfolk Southern announces 24-hour closure for emergency rail repairs
MATEWAN — Norfolk Southern and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 12 have announced a 24-hour closure for emergency rail repairs at the KY 1056 (Bridge Street) and WV 49 (Matewan) intersection. The closure, affecting a crossing located in Matewan, West Virginia, 0.08 miles north of KY 1056 and the Kentucky/West Virginia state line, will begin…
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Kentucky State Police arrests 206 in statewide drug operation
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT FRANKFORT — Kentucky State Police arrested 206 people in a statewide drug sweep, authorities announced Thursday. Operation Summer Heat follows a three-month investigation into suspected drug trafficking rings involving all 16 KSP posts. Preliminary results indicate 490 criminal charges among the 206 arrests. Police seized 554 grams of fentanyl, 219 grams of…
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Man ordered to pay wife’s funeral costs after imprisoning her in camper
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County man who pleaded guilty last week to unlawfully imprisoning his wife in a camper in May 2023 has been ordered to pay half the funeral costs for his late wife, who died a month after the incident inside the same camper. According to court records…
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Former Inez lawyer climbed out of alcoholism, launched a recovery boom
BY DEBORAH YETTER KENTUCKY LANTERN LOUISA — Around the office at Addiction Recovery Care, Vanessa Keeton is still known as “Client One” — marking her status as the first client of the first recovery center ARC opened as a group home in Lawrence County. But her official title is vice president of marketing, where she…
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Kermit introduced to emergency overdose kit, sets Fall Festival
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — The Kermit Council welcomed the ONEbox, an emergency opioid overdose reversal kit, to their meeting Monday. They also officially announced the date for this year’s Kermit Fall Festival as Oct. 5. Kirstyn Ooten, a representative from the West Virginia Drug Institute working in Mingo and Logan counties,…
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Martin County Arrest Report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Kendall Raymond Sartin, 24, of Beauty, was arrested Saturday on Gordon Hollow Road in Beauty for menacing. Deputy Justin Bellamy responded to a report that Sartin was brandishing a baseball bat and threatening to hit his grandmother with it. Upon law enforcement’s arrival, the…
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CAP announces LIHEAP Summer enrollment
Apply for cooling assistance beginning July 16 CITIZEN STAFF REPORT PAINTSVILLE — The Big Sandy Area Community Action Program (BSACAP) has announced the enrollment period for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy Component will begin July 16 and run until Sept. 13 or until funds are exhausted. LIHEAP’s Summer Subsidy Component is…
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A clarion call for fairness
In our community, the newspaper serves as a foundation of informed citizenship, diligently reporting the news that keeps the public aware and engaged. Over our 35 years at the Mountain Citizen, we have encountered complaints from various individuals, including citizens, public officials and political factions who have found themselves or their associates spotlighted in our…
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Stidham Old Time Music Gathering set for July 26-28 in Tomahawk
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT TOMAHAWK — Mark your calendars for an unforgettable musical experience! The Stidham Old Time Music Gathering will take place from July 26-28 at James E. Webb Musical Repair & Sales in Tomahawk. This year’s event promises an impressive lineup of performers, including 5-string Kentucky banjo specialist John Haywood, Leo Shannon, Karly Dawn…
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Martin County Extension: Rooted in Education
June marked National Pollinator Month, a time to recognize the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystems and agriculture. From bees to butterflies, these tiny creatures ensure the pollination of plants that sustain our food supply and natural habitats. In urban areas where natural habitats are limited, human-planted pollinator gardens are crucial. These gardens provide…
