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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…
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Thanksgiving of gratitude for 49 years of service to Martin County
Thanksgiving reminds us of all we hold dear: our families, our friends, our communities, and the traditions that unite us. Here at the Mountain Citizen, this particular time of year carries an even deeper significance. It is a time to reflect and express gratitude to our readers and supporters for allowing us the privilege of…
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Our hills are on fire
The forests of our area are on fire. Disturbing numbers of wildfires are dotting the area now, many of which have been started by the simple, avoidable carelessness of human behavior. As residents here, we must recognize our responsibility to protect these hills for ourselves and future generations. The consequences of wildfire devastation are all…
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Applause for Inez Fire department
Martin County knows the meaning of community support and nowhere is that spirit stronger than in the Inez Volunteer Fire Department. This week we celebrate the department’s success in securing two major grants and the county’s role in matching support. The Inez department secured a $213,000 grant from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters program and a…
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Is Robbie Fletcher a fat cat?
A recent flyer mailed out in support of constitutional Amendment 2 indicates that the fat cats are the ones opposing Amendment 2. Robbie Fletcher is one of the ones opposing Amendment 2. Many of us saw Robbie grow up in Martin County and advance through his career as a teacher, principal, school superintendent and now…
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School vouchers bring theft of tax dollars and other crimes
BY JOHN SCHAAF If Amendment 2 passes and Kentucky adopts a dangerous school voucher plan like other states, there will be unaccountable private school operators who will misuse or steal millions of taxpayer dollars and be involved in other criminal activity. That’s exactly what’s happened in states that bought into the radical policy of throwing…
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Think carefully about the unintended consequences
Let us break it down. Kentucky’s public schools are what they have always done—educating every kid, no matter the challenges. Disabilities, language barriers, race, creed—all are welcome, no questions asked. Enter Amendment 2, which is being sold as a way to give families more choices in education. Sounds good, right? But wait—it is not the…
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Private school vouchers on the ballot in Kentucky: Voters should know the track record in other states—it is a very expensive decision and bad for rural areas
BY NICHOLAS BRAKE This fall the national push for education vouchers comes to Kentucky. Voters face a choice on the ballot in November about Amendment 2, which would allow the General Assembly to spend public money on private schools. Do not be fooled; there is a lot of misinformation and deception in the ads supporting…