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Cheers to Inez and the Appalachian Artist Festival
The Appalachian Artist Festival in Inez set a high standard on Saturday, Aug. 3. Its success was marked by incredible artistry, phenomenal music and responsible enjoyment, making it a model for other festivals. One notable aspect of this year’s festival was the inclusion of alcohol sales. Introducing such an element to public events naturally raises…
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Library should be a library
The library needs to move out of the community center building and back into the library building. Why? Simple. The library cannot afford the upkeep of the community center building. The library moved into the Roy F. Collier Community Center in 2020. In 2019, the library finished the year with $914,000 in cash in the…
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Ageism is disgusting and dangerous
BY ELLEN J. HAHN (AGE 71) The blatant ageism encircling the 2024 Presidential campaign is disgusting and dangerous. Age has taken center stage in our political discourse. A recent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, “Trump and Biden, Two Old Men Facing Armageddon,” is symbolic of the persistent bias against aging in our society.…
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Louisa CMH Tribute Show: A remarkable Appalachian affair
The Country Music Highway Tribute Show in Louisa this past weekend was a remarkable Appalachian affair. Organized by Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), it was the essence of Appalachian spirit, kinship and talent. At the heart of the event was the symbolic passing of the torch from the legendary Ricky Skaggs to the 12-year-old prodigy Adalyn Ramey.…
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A clarion call for fairness
In our community, the newspaper serves as a foundation of informed citizenship, diligently reporting the news that keeps the public aware and engaged. Over our 35 years at the Mountain Citizen, we have encountered complaints from various individuals, including citizens, public officials and political factions who have found themselves or their associates spotlighted in our…
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Happy Fourth of July
BY SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER Let us reflect on our nation’s remarkable journey, which started as a country that sought freedom from British oppression over 4,000 miles away. Our nation’s founders, driven by enlightened thought, fought tirelessly for the most extraordinary human experiment in self-governance the world has ever known. Today, our men and women in…
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Saluting Deputy Bellamy’s heroic actions and the critical role of Narcan and training
In the early hours of Thursday, a situation that could have ended in tragedy was averted through the quick thinking and decisive actions of Deputy Justin Bellamy of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. This incident brings to the limelight the life-saving importance of Narcan and comprehensive emergency response training. Deputy Bellamy responded to a call…
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A preventable tragedy at Pontiki/Excel coal tipple
The collapse of the Pontiki/Excel coal preparation plant last fall in Martin County, which resulted in the deaths of Alvin Nees and Billy Joe “Bo” Daniels, was a catastrophic consequence of negligence, flagrant disregard for safety regulations and the lack of moral and legal responsibilities. A litany of failures As a report by Kentucky Lantern…
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‘The sun shines bright’
BY GARY WAYNE COX I believe all Kentuckians have heard that song and like it. It is the most recognized state song in America. Just about everyone who has been to a Kentucky basketball or football game feels a certain amount of pride standing for our state anthem just before the national anthem. Most people…
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Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal
The proud halls of Martin County High School bore witness to the achievements of its graduating class last week. On May 24, students adorned in caps and gowns crossed the stage with diplomas in hand, marking the end of their high school journey and the beginning of the next chapter of their lives. As these…