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Pike County grand jury indicts 16
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKEVILLE — The Pike County grand jury returned 16 true bills March 31. Charges ranged from drug trafficking and strangulation to assault, burglary and other felony offenses. Chester Akers, 38, of Jenkins, was indicted on one count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance. Kamron Anderson, 26, of Pikeville, was…
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Lawrence County grand jury returns indictments in drug, organized crime, sex abuse cases
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOUISA — The Lawrence County grand jury returned 24 indictments March 12. Cases ranged from alleged child sex abuse and organized fraud at a Louisa bank to drug trafficking, burglary and assault. Teresa Blunt, 64, of Fort Gay, West Virginia, was indicted on possession of a controlled substance, first degree…
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Water chairman questions vacant AWR manager post
District pays Alliance $181,550 monthly BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The search for a district water manager remains stalled nearly four months after the position became vacant, prompting Martin County Water District (MCWD) board members March 24 to question why the utility continues paying for the role through its $181,575-a-month management contract with…
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Martin County approves birth control plan for feral horses
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — After years of crashes, injuries and warnings about horses on roads, the Martin County Fiscal Court has approved a birth control plan for the county’s feral horse population. The Fiscal Court, in a March 26 special meeting, authorized Kentucky Humane Society Equine C.A.R.E. to begin using a fertility-control…
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VANISHED: Six years later family still searching for answers in Jonathan Coleman disappearance
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Six years after Jonathan Coleman vanished his family is still searching for answers — and still waiting to bring him home. Coleman, an Inez man with deep ties to the Wolf Creek community, was reported missing Jan. 24, 2020. Known as “Red” to family and friends, he would…
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Martin County arrest report
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Jason Kenneth Fields, 41, of Inez, was arrested March 30 on New Route 3 in Davella on charges of possession of controlled substance, first degree (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives) and possession of controlled substance, first degree, first offense (methamphetamine). According…
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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…
