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First State Bank Players of the Week: Dials and Harless
BY BRITTNI MCCOY MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Bryson Dials and Sophie Harless are the First State Bank Players of the Week. Monday night’s forecast included a downpour on the Pike Central hill. Dials made it rain on his way to a new school-record 13 3-pointers. He finished with a scorching 49 points in the 113-86
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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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Good news for coal industry
The coal industry received some fantastic news this past week. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Feb. 11 that three West Virginia coal-fired power plants would be among six modernized to provide energy to military installations. Locally, the coal industry has long driven the economies of Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. The domino
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Sheriff’s Office seizes over 86 grams of suspected meth in traffic stop
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN TOMAHAWK — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk and deputies seized more than 86 grams of suspected methamphetamine during a traffic stop Thursday night on Milo Road in Tomahawk. Authorities arrested Brandi Moore, 35, and Larry Joe Horn Jr., 58, both of Inez, following a consent search that also turned up
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Two arrested on criminal abuse, manslaughter charges in child death
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN Two Martin County residents are in jail facing felony charges in connection with the death of an 11-year-old boy Aug. 13, 2025, in Beauty. Patrick Speer, 34, of Warfield, and Christina Chapman, 40, of Beauty, were arrested following their indictment by a Martin County grand jury Feb. 5. Their charges
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Martin County arrest report
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Law enforcement arrested Joseph K. Scott, 47, of Hardy, Feb. 9 on KY-40 in Warfield on two warrants charging him with failure to appear for traffic and misdemeanor charges. Deputy Jameson Wall served the warrants at 11:49 p.m. Officers took
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Kirk & Crum Law Firm Player of the Week: Kenleigh Estep
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT Kenleigh Estep is the Kirk & Crum Law Firm Player of the Week. Estep won a Kentucky state championship Feb. 8 at Corbin Arena, becoming the first middle school girl from Martin County to claim a state wrestling title. Estep captured the middle school 95-pound division at the 2026 KFWC Middle School
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Martin County court dockets
INEZ — Judge John Kevin Holbrook heard cases Feb. 5 in Martin Circuit Court, while Judge Brett Butcher heard cases Feb. 3 in Martin District Court. Circuit Court Henry Butcher (change of plea) — Trafficking in controlled substance, first offense (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives): Pleaded guilty, six years, defendant shall forfeit any monies/firearms/vehicles seized as
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Martin County civil suits, deeds and marriages
INEZ — Martin Circuit Clerk Denise Gauze reported seven civil suits filed in her office through Feb. 5. Meanwhile, Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles reported three deeds and one marriage recorded in her office through Feb. 5. Civil Suits H&S Financial Inc. vs. Aaron Hinkle. Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC vs. Holly Mollette. Midland Credit Management
