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Protective order lifted for Wayne water supply after mineral oil release
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WAYNE, W.Va. — Town officials lifted the protective order on Wayne’s drinking water supply Friday following three weeks of disruption tied to a mineral oil release at an Appalachian Power facility. Wayne Mayor Danny Grace officially ended the order at approximately 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7, according to the West Virginia
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Missing money might be waiting for you in Kentucky
Missing money might be waiting for you in Kentucky. Following National Unclaimed Property Day, Kentucky State Treasurer Mark H. Metcalf is encouraging Kentuckians to take a few minutes to see if the Commonwealth is holding money that belongs to them. Since taking office, Treasurer Metcalf’s administration has returned a record $86 million in unclaimed property
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Morehead State receives $7.54 million earmark for Space Science Center
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT MOREHEAD — Morehead State University’s Space Science Center will receive a $7.54 million federal Community Project Funding earmark secured by U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) to expand payload operations for government and commercial space stations. The funding will support aerospace education and engineering opportunities for students through partnerships with NASA and
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Mingo County arrest report week of Feb. 1
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The Mingo County Magistrate Court Clerk’s office released these criminal complaints from recent arrests in the county during the first week of February 2026. Brittney Wilkerson, 36, of Williamson, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance (selling heroin). The arrest was made at the 7-11 in downtown Williamson
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Martin County grand jury returns indictments
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County grand jury returned several indictments Feb. 5, including felony charges involving child abuse, property damage and bail jumping. Kevin Michael Litton, 27, of Tomahawk, stands accused of first-degree criminal abuse involving a victim under 12 years of age. The indictment alleges that on April 19,
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Two indicted in death of 11-year-old boy in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Two Martin County residents are facing felony charges in connection with the death of an 11-year-old boy Aug. 13, 2025. A Martin County grand jury indicted Patrick Speer, 34, of Warfield, and Christina Chapman, 40, of Beauty, charging each with first-degree criminal abuse involving a victim under 12
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Brown water, corrosive truth: Engineers trace July 2025 crisis to mineral imbalance in river
BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For weeks in July 2025, brown water ran from taps across Martin County, leaving residents upset, frightened and distrustful of a system meant to sustain life. Faucets ran rust-colored. Laundry was ruined. Families questioned whether their water was safe even to bathe in. What they did not have
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Martin County Judge/Executive presses state officials on $40 million water bid
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty and other local officials met Tuesday in Frankfort with state leaders to discuss the county’s grant applications for nearly $40 million from the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems (WWATERS) program. The General Assembly created the program in
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Winter Storm Fern death toll in Kentucky rises to 16; Martin County reports no fatalities
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN Deaths linked to Winter Storm Fern in Kentucky rose to 16 on Monday after Gov. Andy Beshear announced the death of a 75-year-old woman from Adair County. Beshear said hypothermia contributed to several of the deaths reported over the past 10 days. The governor first reported a storm-related death Jan.
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Martin County court docket for Jan. 29
INEZ — Judge John T. Chafin heard the following cases Jan. 29 in Martin District Court: Damian Bradley Cheek (arraignment) — Reckless driving: Six-month diversion, pay court cost of $143, show cause 7/14/26 at 10 a.m. Kendra Farley (arraignment) — Failure to wear seat belt: Allegations taken as true, $25 fine, show cause 7/14/26. Thelma
