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Former lieutenant’s sentencing closes yearslong federal prison abuse scandal
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LONDON — A former lieutenant at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Martin County was sentenced Tuesday to 17 months in federal prison for falsifying records to cover up the beating of an inmate who had pleaded for protective custody. This is the final sentencing in a yearslong federal civil rights
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Tomahawk man pleads guilty to federal gun charge after undercover buys
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LEXINGTON — A Tomahawk man has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to one of two gun charges after authorities made undercover purchases of methamphetamine and a shotgun at his Martin County home in 2025. Jimmy D. Cornett, 61, pleaded guilty April 7 in U.S. District Court in Lexington
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VANISHED: Six years later family still searching for answers in Jonathan Coleman disappearance
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Six years after Jonathan Coleman vanished his family is still searching for answers — and still waiting to bring him home. Coleman, an Inez man with deep ties to the Wolf Creek community, was reported missing Jan. 24, 2020. Known as “Red” to family and friends, he would
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Martin County student earns statewide recognition in Conservation writing contest
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN A Martin County Middle School student has earned statewide recognition in a conservation writing competition that drew roughly 44,000 entries from across Kentucky. Olivia Maynard, a seventh grader at Martin County Middle School, was honored March 16 at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts’ annual awards banquet for her work
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No pinches here: Health Care Facility residents celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
INEZ — Residents at Martin County Health Care Facility turned out in style for St. Patrick’s Day, and not one seemed the least bit worried about getting pinched. They showed off festive green accessories, shamrock shades and plenty of smiles during the facility’s celebration.
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Wildfires keep Martin County crews on fireline for second weekend in a row
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For the second weekend in a row, crews battled multiple wildfires in Martin County, responding to three separate blazes. The first of this weekend’s fires broke out Friday night in the area of Sansom Drive off Big Lick Road. The Kentucky Division of Forestry and the Inez Volunteer
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Debord man admits stealing water service, ordered to repay utility
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County man admitted in court to stealing water service after authorities said he bypassed a shut-off and restored water at his Debord home. John Allen, 39, pleaded guilty March 5 in Martin Circuit Court to theft of services $1,000-$10,000, a Class D felony. Under the plea
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Sheriff recovers stolen backhoe, truck and trailer in Beauty
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN BEAUTY — The Martin County Sheriff’s Office recovered a stolen backhoe, pickup truck and dump trailer Tuesday morning in Beauty. Sheriff John Kirk arrested David Joshua Brown, 40, of Lovely, on Big Elk Road on a charge of receiving stolen property valued at more than $10,000. Kirk said Brown was
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Two inmates convicted in Martin County could gain early release
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Two inmates convicted in Martin County and several in surrounding counties could become eligible for early release after a Franklin County judge struck down part of Kentucky’s Safer Kentucky Act, a ruling the state’s top prosecutor warns could free more than 240 violent offenders statewide. Attorney General Russell
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Martin County civil suits and deeds
INEZ — Martin Circuit Clerk Denise Gauze reported 13 civil suits filed in her office through March 5. Meanwhile, Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles reported five deeds recorded in her office through March 4. Civil Suits MCLP Asset Company Inc. vs. Kraig Grayson et al. H&S Financial Inc. vs. Shannon Justice. Charles Davis vs. Brett
