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Revitalization project, a testament to community spirit and vision
In what may seem like an unexpected twist of events, Martin County’s abandoned jail and adjacent historic courthouse are poised to become the center of a vibrant local art scene and a burgeoning tourist attraction. This ambitious project, spearheaded by Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills and Judge Lon Lafferty, epitomizes a resilient community turning the page…
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A red-letter day for Martin County
It’s a red-letter day for Martin County. A major expansion of the First Frontier Appalachian Trails is on the horizon following a significant licensing agreement between the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority and Pocahontas Land Company. This agreement heralds an integration of an impressive 46,500 acres of land into the trail system, making it a…
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Striving for a sustainable solution: Riverside Apartments utility crisis
In the quaint, small-town setting of Warfield, a crisis has been brewing – one that has turned the lives of Riverside Apartment residents into a maelstrom of uncertainty. The demand for low-income residents to shoulder the cost of deposits for water, sewer and electricity accounts within a short time has spurred outrage, distress and a…
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Crum Reservoir crisis demands urgent action
The current state of Crum Reservoir in Martin County is a cause for serious concern. The reservoir has reached a possibly all-time low level, with dead fish strewn along its banks, painting a grim picture of the severity of the situation. The absence of an intake pump at the river has become a primary concern…
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Drug court is not a ‘get-out-of-jail’ card
From the program’s humble beginnings in Martin County with just three participants in a pilot program back in 2003, drug court has evolved, dispelling the misconception that it is a “get-out-of-jail” card. Instead, it has become a transformative force that offers individuals an opportunity to reclaim their lives. Drug court graduation day in Inez symbolizes…
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Silencing Dissent: A troubling incident at the sanitation board meeting
The recent public comment session at the Martin County Sanitation Board meeting in Inez has highlighted a concerning incident that raises questions about transparency, accountability and the right of citizens to express their grievances. Two residents, Tena Jarrell and Drewie Muncy, came forward to voice their dissatisfaction with the board, citing the fact that they…
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Remembering fallen heroes
BY SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER The arrival of Memorial Day has come to feel like the start of summer, especially with so many students’ school years ending across the commonwealth. During the holiday weekend, families across our state will begin their yearly traditions and the memory-making we all enjoy. These moments with family and friends would…
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About that ‘border crisis’
BY THOMAS L. KNAPP I’m seeing a lot of back and forth lately on whether or not there’s a “crisis” at the border, with greatly increased migration and limited ability on the part of law enforcement to respond. Personally, I don’t consider it a “crisis” at all. Immigration is just people moving from one place…
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Terrible ideas + evil actions /= ‘mental illness’
BY THOMAS KNAPP “One problem I have with the whole ‘mental illness’ frame for talking about mass shooters,” Paul Campos writes at Lawyers, Guns & Money, “is that the ‘mental illness’ often appears to be garden variety authoritarian ethno-nationalist misogyny, with the misogyny being the really critical ideological lynchpin [sic].” Campos is riffing on reports…
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When one person rises out of addiction, we all rise
Treatment courts save lives and strengthen communities. Rather than continuing to allow individuals with histories of addiction and crime to cycle through the justice system, treatment courts keep them engaged in treatment long enough to be successful. The approach is no longer an experiment. More than 4,000 treatment courts nationwide will celebrate National Treatment Court…
Category: Editorial
