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Correctional officers plead guilty to civil rights violations for assaulting federal inmates
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DEBORD, Ky. — Two of three federal correctional officers accused of assaulting inmates and covering it up have pleaded guilty. Clinton L. Pauley, 40, of Ironton, Ohio, pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law for assaulting three federal inmates at the U.S. Penitentiary…
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Martin County grand jury indicts three for drug charges
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ, Ky. — A Martin County grand jury returned indictments Feb. 22 against three individuals for drug-related charges. Brandon P. Kirk, 33, of Warfield, was indicted for first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, second-degree possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication (excludes alcohol). The indictment states Kirk…
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Ancient water tank cause for concern for Inez family
Land slippage dangerously close to Turkey Hill home BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN “It looks like if you touched it, it would blow out.” –Okey Mills INEZ, Ky. — Looming above Okey Mills’ home on top of Turkey Hill is what appears as a relic of a bygone (not-completely-gone) era – a rusty water storage tank…
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Martin County Sheriff diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ, Ky. — Martin County Sheriff John Herman Kirk has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, as announced in a statement Sunday on Facebook. Kirk, who has been in considerable pain for some time, said he has been seeing a gastroenterologist and undergoing various tests in recent weeks. Although he had…
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Martin County Water District back-dates lease agreement
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ, Ky. — Martin County Water District voted to back-date a contract to lease five vehicles from the financially struggling sewer district for $1 a month. Jimmy Don Kerr, the chairperson of both district boards, said in a water board meeting last month that a question arose about the water…
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Two arrested in Wayne County drug investigation
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WAYNE, W.Va. — Wayne County Sheriff Rick Thompson stated that two drug suspects were arrested Sunday in Mingo County and the Prichard area. Sheriff Thompson stated that Harmon “Odell” Whitt was arrested in Mingo County on various charges, including warrants stemming from an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff Drug…
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Massive mudslide damages homes and derails loaded coal train cars
DEP attributes disaster to nearby mining operation BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN RAGLAND, W.Va. — A massive mudslide early Friday morning knocked two homes off their foundations and upended three coal train cars in Ragland, just outside the town of Delbarton in Mingo County. The force of the mudslide was so strong it derailed and…
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Martin County EDA gets up to speed
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Economic Development Authority met for a regular session Feb. 15. EDA director Carolea Mills led a large portion of the meeting, bringing the new board up to speed on the EDA’s finances. The EDA previously approved a two-year lease for the newly opened TEK Center…
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Get rid of your waste tires for free
Three-day tire collection event starts March 30 BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Bring your waste tires during Martin County’s limited three-day waste tire collection event to get rid of them for free. The event will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 30 and 31 and 9 a.m.-noon April 1 at the old Inez trash…
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School district to receive land valued at over $1 million from EDA, JUUL settlement, mobile preschool
BY PHILL BARNETT MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education met Monday for a special meeting. At the meeting, the board approved pending bills and business. The district will be receiving a parcel of land from the Economic Development Authority as well as a settlement from JUUL and other electronic cigarette companies. EDA…
