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Gun control is not the answer to mass shootings
BY KYLE LOVERN School shootings and workplace violence are terrible, but taking guns away from everyone is not the answer. I have my concealed permit. I’ve had it for a few years now. West Virginia has a reciprocal agreement with several other states, including Kentucky, where if you have a permit, it will be honored…
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Mingo man charged with second-degree murder, five others arrested
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MATEWAN, W.Va. — Six people are in jail in connection to a murder in the Matewan area of Mingo County. On Friday, police charged one of those individuals with second-degree murder. Troopers with the Williamson detachment of the West Virginia State Police say Cory Marcum, 27, of North Matewan, died…
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Kyle’s Korner: We’ve come a long way from party-line phones
BY KYLE LOVERN When growing up at Nolan, not many people had telephones in their homes. It was indeed a luxury to have a phone in your house. I can remember having ours at a young age while in grade school and being able to call a couple of friends who also had the privilege…
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Remembering the devastating 1977 Tug River flood
If you lived through it, you will never forget BY KYLE LOVERN The devastating and horrendous Tug Fork River flood of 1977 forever changed the Tug Valley area. The natural disaster overwhelmed residents who lived along the watershed in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, including Mingo, Pike and Martin counties. Torrential rains fell from…
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Fire destroys home at Marrowbone Creek
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MARROWBONE CREEK, W.Va. — The Kermit Volunteer Fire Department received a 911 call Tuesday morning around 6:40 a.m. for a structure fire on the Left Fork of Marrowbone Creek near Kermit. Firefighters arrived on the scene to see the home fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported, but the house was…
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Man arrested for firing gun in Williamson
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A 24-year-old man was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the city limits for shooting out of a car and hitting houses and vehicles, according to the Williamson Police Department. According to Williamson Police Chief J.C. Dotson, police were alerted to someone shooting out of a vehicle on Vinson Street…
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I love spring but hate what it brings
BY KYLE LOVERN I truly love spring. I love hearing the echoes of the first frogs croaking on a mild evening. I love daylight saving time and getting that extra hour of sunshine. I love baseball season. I love watching the green grass grow again. I love seeing the trees like dogwoods and redbuds blossom…
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Ervin Stepp among inductees to Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Martin County native Ervin Stepp is among its 2023 Class of Inductees. The 14 inductees include players and coaches representing a great wealth of achievement over the decades. Stepp is the Region 15 representative. After playing his freshman and sophomore…
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One arrested, two others wanted for Kermit school break-in
BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — The Mingo County Sheriff’s Department has arrested one suspect and is looking for two other young adults in connection with the recent Kermit Pre K-8 School burglary. Dakota L. Blankenship of Williamson was arrested by deputies March 21 and charged with entry of a building other than…
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Tug boys well represented on All-State team
Two girls get honorable mention BY KYLE LOVERN MOUNTAIN CITIZEN NAUGATUCK — The Tug Valley boys basketball team was well-represented on the Class A All-State teams released this week by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Sophomore guard Joey Gollihue made the first team. The 6-foot-2 wing averaged more than 17 points per game for…