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Kermit Election: Incumbents, newcomers elected to council, Mayor Sparks reelected
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — On Tuesday, voters in Kermit headed to the polls to elect five council members and a mayor. By 9:30 p.m., Kermit Town Hall had released the unofficial results. Three incumbents defeated their challengers to secure their positions on the council for the next four-year term. One incumbent…
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Ohio woman arrested outside federal prison in Kentucky after being found passed out in car
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DEBORD, Ky. — An Ohio woman was detained outside the U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in Debord after she was found unconscious in her car, authorities said. Officials at the Kentucky State Police Post 9 Pikeville responded to a call at 3:12 p.m. June 1 concerning Cherron Aryel Caldwell, 36, of…
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Martin County grand jury indicts suspects linked to Buck Branch burglary and guitar theft; four others
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County grand jury issued indictments Thursday against seven individuals, including three suspects linked to a recent burglary and theft of two valuable guitars from a residence in Lovely. Garland Mills, 50, of Pilgrim, stands accused of burglary in the second degree/complicity and criminal mischief in the…
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Traffic Alert: Johnson County KY-1428
There is a closure on KY-1428 mile point 2.0 Depot Road in Johnson County, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet advised at 3:50 a.m. Friday. The road is closed in both directions due to downed trees with multiple utilities involved. Crews expect the road to remain closed for several hours. Motorists must use an alternate route.
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Mother arrested after toddler found wandering on busy highway
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ, Ky. — A woman from Inez is facing charges after her toddler was found wandering alone on a highway, according to Martin County Sheriff John Kirk. The incident occurred when the 2-year-old escaped from home and was seen running along Route 40 near its intersection with Route 645 on…
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Martin County to purchase dilapidated downtown properties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court is purchasing seven downtown properties in Inez for $550,000. Magistrates approved the expenditure of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation in a special meeting Friday. Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty stated the goal was to revitalize the county. “Many buildings in our cities are dilapidated—have fallen on…
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Martin County Water has not secured project permits; Warfield braces amid concerns
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — Tensions surfaced in Warfield as the city prepares for significant water infrastructure construction along Collins Creek Road, slated to start June 10. The Martin County Water District (MCWD), responsible for the project, has not yet secured the necessary permits required by the City of Warfield, sparking concerns among…
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Martin County High School hires new principal
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County High School announced Friday that Dr. Michelle Harless has been hired as the new principal. Harless fills a vacancy left by the untimely death of principal Brian Charles in November 2023. A 23-year veteran educator, Harless shared her excitement in a social media post, saying, “I…
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BOE approves budget
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 tentative budget and heard an update from finance officer Earnest Hale in a special meeting May 28. “Good news,” Hale announced. “We had an increase in SEEK [Support Education Excellence in Kentucky] funding due to the fact that [the…
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Collier Center rolls out new chiller ahead of summer heat
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Public Library/Collier Center is experiencing a significant drop in temperature following the installation of a new air-conditioning system last week, library officials announced. During a special board meeting May 29, member Barry Webb provided an update from a representative of Elliott Contracting, the Pikeville-based company…
