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A time for strength and prayer
The people of our area have faced hardship before, but the devastation and mud left in the wake of the recent flood is beyond what most have seen in a lifetime. Homes and businesses flooded, roads washed away and families displaced. Some have lost everything but their faith, while others have lost far more. Our…
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Kentucky legislators’ latest power grab is a direct attack on transparency
Ever get the feeling politicians would prefer you did not know what they are up to? Well, House Bill 368 basically is that. The bill, introduced Feb. 5, would allow government agencies to ditch independent newspapers and publish public notices exclusively on their own websites. Sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Decker (R-Shelbyville) and backed by a…
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Compliance is where you find the ‘light’
Public trust is the foundation of good governance. When agencies handle taxpayer money, they owe the public full transparency and accountability. That is precisely what lawmakers intended when they enacted KRS 65A in 2013. With the recent suspension of state funding for three Martin County entities—the Tourism Commission, Housing Authority, and Big Sandy Regional Airport…
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Prescription for Kentucky: EKU’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
BY DAVID MCFADDIN EKU PRESIDENT For many Kentuckians including myself, the mission to improve access to quality healthcare across our state—especially in rural areas—is deeply personal. As an Eastern Kentuckian and the president of a university serving the state’s most underserved communities, I feel a profound responsibility to help our friends and neighbors get the…
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Message from Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher
Following a detailed review of preliminary data, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) currently estimates there will be a funding shortfall for the Supporting Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) fund for the 2024-2025 school year. The SEEK funding program is a formula-driven allocation of state-provided funds to Kentucky’s 171 public school districts. The formula includes…
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The way we respond to a storm defines us
Winter Storm Blair left an icy grip on Martin County this week, paralyzing roadways and disrupting power. Yet, in the chaos and cold, we are reminded of what makes Martin County a remarkable place to live. Major snowstorms like this one test our infrastructure, strain emergency services, and, most importantly, challenge our collective spirit. For…
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Happy New Year, Martin County
As the sun rises on the year 2025, a new chapter unfolds for our community. The New Year is a time for reflection, renewal and hope—a moment to celebrate our achievements and recommit to the work ahead. Looking back on 2024, we are proud of our community. Looking ahead we are eager for the opportunities…
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Wishing you a Merry Christmas
As the Christmas season surrounds us with its familiar glow of joy, tradition and togetherness, we at the Mountain Citizen pause to extend our warmest wishes to you, our readers, and the community we proudly serve. This is a time of year to celebrate the blessings in our lives, to reflect on the journey behind…
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Donation is nothing to what Shell will extract from our county
When Martin County officials negotiated with Savion LLC for the construction of its first solar project, the community was promised prosperity. Hundreds of temporary local, high-paying jobs were touted—200 to 300 positions paying around $30 an hour. It was the kind of promise that sparked hope in a region yearning for economic revival. Yet, the…
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Past harm is not a free ticket to future exploitation
Martin County’s past does not excuse future harm of any kind. We have heard simplistic statements from regulators, elected officials and developers (in public hearings and otherwise) such as, “Anything (nuisance) wouldn’t be as [bad] as coal mining.” Those words come from a place of ignorance and condescension. Let us explain. When regulators and officials…
Category: Editorial
