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Family of three left homeless after fire
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOWMANSVILLE — A propane tank explosion during a winter storm Sunday night destroyed a rented mobile home along U.S. 23 and left three adults with nothing but the clothes they escaped in, according to family members. Michael Maynard, his girlfriend Amanda Harrison and his brother Marty Maynard lost their home
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Regional jail authority names new leadership, reports overtime strain, stronger revenue
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — The Big Sandy Regional Jail Authority elected new leadership Friday, while administrators reported persistent staffing shortages, heavy overtime and one of the facility’s strongest months for housing revenue. Board member Billy Patrick of Martin County was named chairman, with fellow Martin County representative Bradford Preece selected as co-chairman.
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Big Sandy Regional Detention Center looks to Floyd County for female officers, cites no ‘hirable’ applicants in four counties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Big Sandy Regional Detention Center will temporarily expand its search for female correctional officers to Floyd County after administrators said the jail has not received “hirable” applicants from Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin or Martin counties. The jail authority voted 4–3 at its Dec. 18 meeting to approve emergency hiring
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Specialty Court celebrates Christmas with families
INEZ — Specialty Court programs serving Johnson, Martin and Lawrence counties hosted a Christmas party for participants and their families Friday at the Collier Center in Inez. Children enjoyed a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and received Christmas gifts. Event organizers said Specialty Court plays an important role in the justice system by providing
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Counties to pay more for inmate housing
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Member counties will pay $5 more per day to house inmates at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center after the jail’s governing board voted Friday to raise the daily rate to $36.34. The increase came during a special meeting called less than three weeks after auditor Darrell Blair
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Regional jail near financial collapse, will ask counties to pay higher inmate housing rate
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — The Big Sandy Regional Detention Center is teetering on the edge of financial collapse. In what officials describe as a last-ditch effort to keep the facility operating, the regional jail board is preparing to ask its four member counties—Johnson, Martin, Magoffin and Lawrence—to approve an increase in the
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Warfield man sentenced to 17 years in prison for violent crimes
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Warfield man has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison for felony convictions spanning both Martin and Lawrence counties, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced Thursday. Jimmy Dale Maynard, 45, received the sentence after his conviction of persistent felony offender, first-degree assault (domestic violence), first-degree strangulation (domestic
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Lawrence County’s Phill Barnett unveils debut single ‘Nowhere,’ an ode to home and heritage
LAWRENCE COUNTY — Mark your calendars. On Oct. 27, Lawrence County native Phill Barnett will step into the music scene with the release of his much-anticipated debut single “Nowhere.” Available to stream and purchase online and uniquely offered for purchase on floppy disc, “Nowhere” is more than just a song—it is a haunting and spiritual
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Eight-hour standoff ends peacefully after former Lovely resident fires at state police in Peach Orchard
BY RACHEL DOVE MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PEACH ORCHARD — A former Lovely resident is in jail after firing multiple shots at the state police during an eight-hour standoff Sunday night and Monday morning in the Peach Orchard community of Lawrence County. According to Kentucky State Police Trooper Shane Goodall, public affairs officer at Post 14 in
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Lawrence County gets more than $5.3 million for water and tourism
LOUISA — Gov. Andy Beshear’s senior advisor Rocky Adkins announced more than $5.3 million in funding to support cleaner water and increase tourism in Lawrence County. Adkins made the announcement Monday at the Garden Theater in Louisa. “The projects we’re funding are improving infrastructure and tourism that is bringing more people here to Eastern Kentucky,”
