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Martin County arrest report
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Jason Kenneth Fields, 41, of Inez, was arrested March 30 on New Route 3 in Davella on charges of possession of controlled substance, first degree (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives) and possession of controlled substance, first degree, first offense (methamphetamine). According
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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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Countywide strategic plan moves from input to action
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County residents will have three more chances this spring to help shape a countywide strategic plan. Led by the University of Kentucky and Blueprint Kentucky, the effort that began is shifting from public input to action steps and final recommendations. Organizers will hold the remaining public sessions
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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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Needed first step on feral horse problem
For years, Martin County has lived with a contradiction. Free-roaming horses have become part of the county’s identity. People stop to photograph them. Visitors admire them. Officials have even pointed to them as part of the county’s rural charm. At the same time, those same horses have posed a real and growing danger on public
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Remembering the COVID shutdown
It has been six years, but it sometimes feels like only a few weeks ago. The world stopped due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and everything came to a complete halt during the shutdown. It began in March 2020, when the COVID-19 virus began spreading throughout the United States and the world. You may not remember
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Martin County court docket
INEZ — Judge John T. Chafin heard the following cases March 23 and March 24 in Martin District Court: Laura Victoria Giacomoni (arraignment) — Criminal trespassing, third degree: Pleaded guilty, defendant to pay $100 fine and cost, stay off the property of Maxwell Moore, show cause 9/8/26 at 10 a.m. Paul Hinkle (motion hour) —
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Martin County civil suits, deeds and marriages
INEZ — Martin Circuit Clerk Denise Gauze reported 10 the civil suits filed in her office through March 26. Meanwhile, Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles reported three deeds and one marriage recorded in her office through March 25. Civil Suits Charles Davis vs. Debbie Bowes et al. Charles Davis vs. Theodore Dalton Jr. et al.
