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Martin County approves birth control plan for feral horses
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — After years of crashes, injuries and warnings about horses on roads, the Martin County Fiscal Court has approved a birth control plan for the county’s feral horse population. The Fiscal Court, in a March 26 special meeting, authorized Kentucky Humane Society Equine C.A.R.E. to begin using a fertility-control…
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Lafferty presses senate, governor for $26M WWATERS funds
Judge/executive invokes coal legacy BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty used a special Fiscal Court meeting March 26 to publicly urge the Kentucky Senate and Gov. Andy Beshear to approve $25.8 million in WWATERS funding for local water and sewer projects, arguing the county has earned basic infrastructure after…
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Flood buyouts in Martin County could begin in 60 to 90 days
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County’s USDA Emergency Watershed Protection flood buyouts could begin closing within 60 to 90 days, according to county officials. The Martin County Fiscal Court advanced the second reading of a $6.68 million budget amendment March 26 in a special meeting. Of that amount, roughly $6.3 million is…
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Martin County accepts sheriff’s annual fee settlement
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court accepted Sheriff John Kirk’s 2025 excess fees settlement during a special meeting March 26. The annual report showed the sheriff’s office ended the year with $53.23 in excess fees, no unpaid obligations and no outstanding debts. The settlement shows the office’s fee account received…
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Martin County Fiscal Court handles bids, board appointments, business in special session
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court approved board appointments, awarded mowing contracts and advanced several other business items during a special meeting March 26. Magistrates approved Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty’s reappointment of John Hensley and Colby Kirk to the Martin County Utility Board. The court also approved Karen Thoma to fill…
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KY chief justice warns drug, mental health courts would be wiped out by budget proposals
by Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern March 26, 2026 FRANKFORT — Kentucky judges and advocates issued a warning Thursday that, without more funding in the judicial branch budget, the state’s specialty courts could be closed. Kentucky’s Administrative Office of the Courts said the General Assembly’s two-year budget, as it now stands, would underfund court system operations…
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Frontier Housing fails to deliver jobs, says EDA chair
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Nine months after Frontier Housing leased the speculative building at the Eastern Kentucky Business Park in Debord, Martin County Economic Development Authority Chairman James Ayers said the project has produced neither the jobs nor the activity the board was led to expect. Speaking at the EDA’s March 11…
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Library trustees advance two finalists for open seat
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Public Library trustees Monday forwarded the names of Heather Perry and Jason James to the state as finalists for one of two open seats on the library board. The board reviewed four applications for the vacancy created by the expiration of John R. Triplett’s term. Richard…
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House backs $25.8M in Martin County water, sewer projects
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Martin County’s water and wastewater systems moved a major step closer to relief Tuesday. State Rep. Bobby McCool announced the Kentucky House passed House Joint Resolution 81, a measure that would release $52,502,260 in previously appropriated WWATERS funds, including $25,818,550 for eight Martin County water and sewer projects.…
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Martin County to host free waste tire collection March 26–28
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County residents can dispose of unwanted tires free of charge during a three-day waste tire collection event. The Martin County Waste Tire Collection Event will take place March 26–28 at the back lot of the old transfer station next to Frank Horn Field, 1014 West Main Street…
