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Tragedy of losing a communication lifeline in rural Martin County
Another 400 feet of copper cable may not sound like much. But on North Wolf Road in Lovely and on Rockhouse in Tomahawk it represents the steady unraveling of rural infrastructure that once connected Martin County people to each other and to the outside world. When copper thieves cut AT&T’s telephone line Saturday morning near
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Good to see you, Dr. Robbie Fletcher
It was good to see Dr. Robbie Fletcher back home in Martin County last week. His visit to Martin County High School was a heartfelt homecoming for someone who has never forgotten where he came from. Dr. Fletcher’s story is one of perseverance, humility and purpose. From Little Peter Cave to Frankfort, his journey is
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Local newspapers keep communities strong
BY DEAN RIDINGS AMERICA’S NEWSPAPERS Strong communities don’t just happen. They rely on connection—residents knowing what’s going on, businesses reaching the customers who keep them open, and citizens having the facts to make good decisions. Local newspapers provide that connection in ways no other source can. In today’s fractured media environment, trust is the rarest
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Harvest Fest showed the best of Martin County
The 2025 Martin County Harvest Fest was a weekend of food, music and parades. It was also a reminder of what happens when a community comes together with pride and purpose. Under clear skies and perfect fall weather, Inez came alive Friday and Saturday with crowds that filled the streets. Families strolled shoulder to shoulder
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‘Right is right’
For months, families in Pilgrim faced something unthinkable: gates blocking their access to the graves of loved ones. The closures caused heartache and, in one instance, created a dangerous barrier when an ambulance was needed July 4 for a medical emergency at a family cemetery. It should never have come to this. Last week, Martin
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Time to ‘Fall for Martin County’
As summer gives way to autumn, Martin County once again prepares for the most anticipated weekend on our calendar — the Kiwanis Club-sponsored Harvest Festival. Now in its 29th year, the festival has grown into everyone’s favorite tradition, filling Court Street with music, laughter and a spirit of joy that is unmistakable. This year’s theme,
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Community cornerstone returns: Welcome back, Warfield Market
Nearly seven months after floodwaters rose more than 5 feet inside its walls, leaving behind nothing but ruin, Warfield’s only supermarket is coming back. On Sept. 1, the store will reopen under a new name — Warfield Market — restoring groceries and a vital cornerstone of daily life for families across Martin, Mingo and Wayne
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Martin County Water Board should not add to residents’ burden
Martin County families already face some of the highest water bills in Kentucky. Now, the water board is proposing to raise charges on meter disconnections, reconnections and service calls. It also proposes to raise the rate on leak adjustments. All of these extra costs would hit hardest those who can least afford them. Water board member
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The Mic and the Mirror
They gather in chambers with polished intent, With smiles rehearsed and their posture unbent. One eye on the vote, the other on rent, For space on the screen, for a headline well-spent. They whisper in corners, they shout on the floor— Each word is a weapon, each phrase a decor. Not truth, but attention, their
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Come home to Inez for the Appalachian Artist Festival
On Saturday, Aug. 2, the heart of Martin County will beat a little louder. Downtown Inez will fill with music, color, conversation and community as the Appalachian Artist Festival transforms Court Street into a celebration of everything that makes our region special. To our neighbors near and far, we issue this invitation: Come home. Whether
