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Kentucky Infrastructure Authority Board to convene June 5
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) Board of Directors will hold its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, June 5, at its office located at 100 Airport Road, Third Floor, in Frankfort. Board chair Matt Sawyers will convene the meeting at 1 p.m. ET. For those who would like to watch remotely there is a YouTube…
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West Virginia appoints new superintendents in counties under state oversight
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s top education official announced a slate of leadership appointments May 23 for school districts currently under state control. The move signals a renewed emphasis on academic outcomes in the affected counties. State Superintendent Michele Blatt named four superintendents to lead districts where the West Virginia Board of…
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Williamson man faces formal charges
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Williamson, West Virginia, man faces formal charges in connection with a drug-related incident that occurred earlier this spring. The Martin Circuit Court on May 27 announced that Brian K. Runyon, 53, stands accused of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication involving a controlled substance.…
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Pool reopening pushed back
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County officials announced Monday that the public swimming pool will not reopen this Sunday as initially projected. Deputy Judge Executive Carolea Mills had hoped for a June 1 opening. However, excessive rainfall throughout May delayed ongoing repairs. “We are making several repairs and upgrades to the filtration…
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Martin County High School celebrates Class of 2025
INEZ — Martin County High School celebrated the graduation of 132 seniors in the Class of 2025 during commencement exercises Friday, May 23, at Cardinal Stadium. Valedictorian Laura Hale and co-salutatorians Chloe Alley and Aiden Fields addressed their classmates and guests before diplomas were awarded. The Class of 2025 embraced the motto: “Be a pineapple.…
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KYTC details road money for Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court heard from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet section engineer Zach Wright Thursday during a special meeting. Wright presented project recommendations for the Rural Secondary Road Program for the county to review. The total allotment for work on rural secondary roads within Martin County for fiscal…
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Regional jail moves to daily inmate fee, approves new budget amid financial strain
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Big Sandy Regional Detention Center will replace its flat booking fee with a daily charge starting July 1. Officials say the move will boost revenue as the jail faces a mounting budget deficit and declining inmate population. The board voted Thursday to adopt the new model along with…
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Martin County hires grant administrator, transfers downtown properties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court enlisted the services of Fahe, a nonprofit grant administrator, to handle Community Development Block Grant applications and other grant opportunities. The decision came during a meeting Thursday that included property transfers, leases and the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. Under the agreement with…
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Martin County Arrest Report
INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Amanda Jude, 36, of Kermit, West Virginia, was arrested Tuesday at Pizza Stop in Inez on a fugitive from another state warrant. Deputy Steve Putman served the warrant. Tammy Johnson, 59, of Lovely, was arrested Monday on charges of alcohol intoxication in a…
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Climate change intensified April flooding in Kentucky, according to scientific modeling
by Liam Niemeyer, Kentucky Lantern May 8, 2025 An increasingly warming climate intensified the deluge of rain that fell on Kentucky and other states in early April, according to a new report from a multinational academic group that studies climate change’s connections to extreme weather events. Torrential downpours inundated communities across Kentucky in early April,…
