-
In 2020, Kentucky’s life expectancy fell by 2 years
KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS One of the most striking measures of the pandemic is the decline in life expectancy from 2019 to 2020, the year the novel coronavirus hit; it declined more in Kentucky than it did in most other states. Nationally, life expectancy declined from 78.8 years in 2019 to 77 in 2020, a drop
-
Fauci is leaving, but Comer and Paul say they’re coming after him
Dr. Anthony Fauci’s announcement that he will retire from the federal government at year’s end prompted two members of Kentucky’s congressional delegation to reiterate that they plan to put him under oath about the origins of Covid-19, reports David Catanese of the Lexington Herald-Leader. Sen. Rand Paul, one of Fauci’s leading critics in Congress, hopes
-
Man arrested in string of burglaries
Mollette implicated in jewelry store crime BY RACHEL DOVEMOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A string of burglaries on Fitch Branch in Inez last week yielded the arrest of an Inez man. Justin Mollette, 33, of Inez, was arrested for third-degree burglary after turning himself in Tuesday morning at the Martin County Sheriff’s office. Sheriff John Kirk
-
Duo arrested for theft
BY RACHEL DOVEMOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — A Martin County man wanted on felony warrants out of Mingo County, W.Va., was taken into custody early Sunday in Lovely after managing to elude capture for several weeks. His female accomplice was captured Monday evening on Route 3 in Inez. Jason Fields, 37, of Lovely, and Ruby Chaffins,
-
Big Sandy Regional Airport runway saved
$5.8-million project achieves federal compliance BY ROGER SMITHMOUNTAIN CITIZEN DEBORD — The Big Sandy Regional Airport will keep its 5,000-foot runway. Contractors are putting the finishing touches on a project that brought the runway safety areas (RSA) into compliance with current Federal Aviation Administration standards. Construction on the $5.8-million project began in July 2020, and
-
Hackney extradited for felonies
BY RACHEL DOVEMOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A man indicted in Martin County in February 2021 was extradited to Kentucky last week to face felony drugs and firearms charges. Steve “Pete” Hackney, 60, was brought back to Kentucky Aug. 17 after serving a 13-month sentence in the Salem Correctional Facility in Industrial, W.Va., for a 2021
-
Popup driver licensing Thursday
FEMA returns for three days CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will set up an emergency pop-up driver licensing office Thursday at the Martin County Business Center, offering full services to help residents replace licenses, permits and ID cards that are critically important in their flood disaster recovery efforts. FEMA’s mobile disaster
-
Tire Tug of War Monday, Tuesday
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WARFIELD-KERMIT — The Tug River “Tire Tug of War” is happening Monday and Tuesday. The tire cleanup starts at the Warfield Boat Dock at 9 a.m. each day. Friends of the Tug River Fork and the cities of Warfield and Kermit need volunteers to make the project successful. The cities plan to
-
Residents and workers can apply for D-SNAP benefits starting Wednesday, Aug. 24
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT FRANKFORT — Residents can start applying for disaster food benefits Aug. 24 in 12 Eastern Kentucky counties that suffered significant damage from flooding, landslides and mudslides from storms that began July 26. “The Eastern Kentucky families impacted by the devastating flooding have lost everything, and these additional benefits are essential to helping
-
Martin County Arrest Report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: April Hickman, 35, of Inez, was arrested Tuesday for receiving stolen property over $300. Sheriff Kirk and Deputy Chris Kidd responded to a report of a verbal at a residence on Little Rockcastle Road. When officers arrived, Billy Geer advised the sheriff that
