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Magoffin County grand jury indicts three
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN SALYERSVILLE — The Magoffin County grand jury returned indictments against three individuals Feb. 25. Charges include theft by deception and multiple drug-related offenses. Mary Collinsworth, 48, of Coon Creek in Salyersville, stands indicted on charges of aggravated trafficking in a controlled substance – greater than or equal to 28 grams
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Patriot EMS announces station closures and workforce reduction
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT Patriot Emergency Medical Services announced that it will consolidate operations, close multiple stations and reduce its workforce by approximately 50%, citing what the company described as mounting financial pressures tied to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed insurance payments. The announcement comes amid growing concern across the region about ambulance availability, including in
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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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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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Man sentenced for crimes against children and family dog
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT SALYERSVILLE — A Magoffin County man got a decade in prison following his conviction on multiple charges related to child sexual exploitation and animal abuse. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the sentencing Thursday. Kent Simpkins, 43, of Salyersville, received the 10-year sentence after pleading guilty Nov. 21, 2024, to seven felony
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Magoffin man pleads guilty to child sexual abuse material, sex crime against animal
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT SALYERSVILLE — Salyersville resident Kent Simpkins, 43, will face a decade behind bars following a guilty plea to multiple felonies involving child sexual abuse material and a sex crime against an animal, Attorney General Russell Coleman announced. The investigation of Simpkins began following a tip to the National Center for Missing and
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Louisville woman charged with vehicular homicide in Magoffin County
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT SALYERSVILLE — A Louisville woman has been charged with vehicular homicide when under the influence after a three-vehicle crash in Magoffin County that claimed the life of one man, authorities said. The Kentucky State Police responded to the crash, which occurred around 7:42 p.m. Oct. 4 at the intersection of U.S. 460
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Martin County sweeps Magoffin
BY BOO NEWSOME MOUNTAIN CITIZEN Martin County Cardinals swept Magoffin County in a doubleheader, securing back-to-back district wins 17-7 at home April 17 and 13-9 on the road Thursday. Martin County coach TC Maynard feels good about the outcome. “It was good to start district play with two wins,” Maynard said. “We showed some great
