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Kentucky’s fight against substance abuse
Few challenges have weighed more heavily on Kentucky families and communities than substance abuse. Addiction has touched every county, every community, every school district, and countless homes across the Commonwealth. It tears apart families, burdens our health care and justice systems, and cruelly steals both lives and livelihoods. However, there is hope. Each September we
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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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Scots-Irish ancestry big part of our culture
There is no doubt that the immigrants from Scotland and Ireland had a huge impact on our culture in Appalachia. One of my wife Vicki’s favorite television series (mine too) in the last few years is “Outlander.” The show starts in Scotland but the characters end up in the Appalachian region of the United States.
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Please, conversation not assassination
Charlie Kirk was a man who had opinions and vocalized them. He believed in free speech. He also believed in the right of free speech for those who disagreed with him. In his Turning Point rallies, he gave untold numbers of people the opportunity to express their opinions and to debate him. He respectfully gave
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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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The power of prayer
BY VICKI LOVERN I recently experienced a cancer scare. The Big ‘C.’ If you haven’t experienced it yourself, you probably know someone who has. My dear mom and two uncles died of this devastating disease. It is a scary diagnosis. And regardless of how much you’re told that it’s not a definitive diagnosis. All you
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Your relationships and second chances
Do you give people a second chance? The joy of life is usually found in our relationships. Family, friends, co-workers, business partners, military comrades, fellow Republicans or Democrats, fellow church members, recreational buddies, teammates and more. These are the people we know. We spend our time with them. These relationships engulf our lives. We work,
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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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Lucky to have four seasons
The unseasonable fall-like temperatures we had last week were enjoyable. This comes after a very hot summer, during which the heat index hit 100 degrees several days in July and August. The humidity was extremely high, making it sticky and stuffy on many days. As we get older it seems like it is tougher to
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School killings: We need more than prayer
Satan will do anything. He knows no boundaries. He will do anything to kill or wound you or the most innocent, vulnerable people. Little children sat in their school mass last week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The students were at Annunciation Catholic Church which is also home to an elementary school. A shooter fired through stained
