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Lexington man sentenced to 38 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes
LEXINGTON — A Lexington man, Mayank Patel, 58, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 38 years in federal prison for the production and distribution of child pornography. According to court records, Patel produced images and videos of himself engaged in sexual acts with a minor who was approximately 7 years old…
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Free legal self-help portal available on Judicial Branch website
Offering assistance with divorce, probate, small claims and more FRANKFORT — The Judicial Branch has launched its Legal Self-Help Portal, a specialized part of the state court system’s website where the public can access free legal resources. The Kentucky Court of Justice and the Kentucky Access to Justice Commission jointly developed the portal to help…
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Martin County Water District issues emergency alert for water outage
INEZ — Residents of Martin County are facing an unexpected water outage this evening following an emergency alert issued by the Martin County Water District at 4:25 p.m. The alert comes in response to an 8-inch main line break along Route 40. The water district has confirmed that to facilitate these urgent repairs, sections of…
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Average monthly residential electricity bill to increase 5.66%
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Residential customers of Kentucky Power will experience an average monthly bill increase of approximately 5.66%, or about $8.32. This increase approved Friday by the Kentucky Public Service Commission is significantly lower than the original 18.3% hike proposed by Kentucky Power in July 2023. Kentucky Power’s application also included…
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Carbon monoxide incident results in fatality and hospitalizations
LANGLEY — One person died and two were hospitalized following a suspected carbon monoxide incident Sunday in Langley. Kentucky State Police Post 9 arrived at the scene to find Kara Hanks, a 44-year-old resident of Melbourne, deceased at the scene. Her body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. Two other…
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House fire claims life in Floyd County
DAVID — A house fire in the David community of Floyd County resulted in the loss of life of one person. Kentucky State Police Pikeville Post responded to a call at 8:56 a.m. Sunday from Prestonsburg 911. Investigators responded to the scene in the Willow Valley area of David, where a residence was engulfed in…
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Winter weather cripples Martin County: Schools and government offices close amid heavy snowfall
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MARTIN COUNTY — The first snowstorm of 2024 brought Martin County to a standstill, with heavy snow causing dangerous road conditions and widespread closures. The snow began falling Sunday, and by Tuesday, residents reported an accumulation of 6-8 inches. Schools, government offices, and several businesses have been closed since Monday.…
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Economic Development Authority announces property acquisitions
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — In a move to revitalize the downtown area of Inez, the Martin County Economic Development Authority has announced plans to acquire two notable properties. In a Jan. 10 EDA meeting, chairman James Ayers revealed the pending acquisition of the historic Inez Deposit Bank building and the Rockcastle United Baptist…
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Williamson woman indicted on drug charges
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A woman faces four drug-related charges following her indictment Jan. 10 in Martin County. Martin Circuit Judge J. Kevin Holbrook issued an indictment against Amy Lynn Blankenship, 43, charging her with possession or use of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and two counts of first-degree possession of a…
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Mills committed to protecting children
Changes in child protection law ‘tied our hands’ BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Joyce Mills, the Department for Community Based Services supervisor in Martin County, discussed the evolving landscape of child protection in Kentucky during a Kiwanis Club luncheon Thursday at Shufflin Café in Inez. She emphasized the significant change brought about by…
