-
Martin County advances street-legal ATVs
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Street-legal ATVs are one vote away from becoming reality in Martin County. The Fiscal Court gave initial approval Thursday to an ordinance that would let certain all-terrain vehicles hit public roads as “street-legal special purpose vehicles (SLSPV),” provided they pass a rigorous list of safety requirements. The move…
-
Kermit faces state mandate without funds
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — With no funding in place to build a customer notification system, Kermit officials are facing a state mandate they say they cannot afford. Mayor Charles Sparks informed the Town Council earlier in July that the West Virginia Public Service Commission issued an order requiring all public utilities,…
-
Legislative Update: Session Results—Appropriations and Revenue, Part 1
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOBBY MCCOOL The Appropriations and Revenue Committee is one of the most influential committees in the legislature because it oversees how state funds are raised and spent. Every budget, tax policy, and major financial decision must pass through this committee, making it central to setting the state’s priorities and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Its…
-
Fort Gay officials indicted for embezzlement
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT FORT GAY, W.Va. — Two former elected officials from Fort Gay in Wayne County have been indicted for embezzlement. Former Fort Gay Mayor Joetta R. Hatfield and former Treasurer/Recorder Sheila K. Bowen were indicted by a Wayne County grand jury for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds, according…
-
Swim for free this Friday at the Martin County Pool
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The wait is over. The Martin County Swimming Pool is back with major improvements. After eight years of sitting dry and silent, the community pool will make a grand reopening splash this Friday with free admission all day. Gates open to the public at noon and close at…
-
Brown water: Judge calls on PSC to rescind order requiring outside management of Martin County Water District
County fast-tracks weed-cutting BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty is calling on the Kentucky Public Service Commission to rescind its order requiring outside management of the Martin County Water District. He cited operational failures that have led to widespread brown-colored water and growing public frustration. In the same meeting…
-
$24M rejection: Martin County Water District threatens legal action
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Water District is weighing legal action against the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority and Big Sandy Area Development District, claiming the flawed scoring of the county’s water and sewer project applications cost one of Kentucky’s most distressed districts $24 million in critical funding. The issue centers on…
-
Congress must act to help the new postmaster general pull USPS back from the brink
BY MARTHA DIAZ ASZKENAZY The United States Postal Service is on the brink of a self-induced collapse. The failed policies of the Delivering for America Plan have driven away customers through a combination of sky-high rate increases and degraded service. David Steiner, who will take over as Postmaster General on July 14, 2025, has a…
-
Martin County Fiscal Court adopts $11.3M budget
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court adopted an $11.3 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year during a June 18 special meeting. “It’s essentially the same budget that we had last year,” Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty said. “We wanted to be able to provide raises for our folks, but, unfortunately,…
