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Tomahawk man sentenced to nearly nine years in federal fentanyl case
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A Tomahawk, Kentucky, man was sentenced March 2 to nearly nine years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl. Kody D. Harless, 28, received a sentence of eight years and 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent
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Library leases Collier Center gym to Martin County Extension Office
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Public Library is moving forward on two fronts: finalizing a lease of the Collier Center gymnasium to the Martin County Extension District and seeking additional applicants to fill two vacant seats on its board of trustees. The announcements came Tuesday morning during a special meeting
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Wrong-way driver crashes twice before arrest in Inez
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Lowmansville man was arrested Feb. 27 after almost hitting a Martin County Sheriff’s deputy head-on on the wrong side of the four-lane and crashing his car twice. Eric Mollett, 50, faces charges of fleeing or evading police, first degree (motor vehicle), wanton endangerment, first degree (police officer),
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BOE awards $24 million contract for new school construction
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education on Monday awarded a $24,069,161 construction contract for the new Martin County Elementary School during a special meeting in Inez. Rising Sun Developing, based in Lexington, submitted the low bid and got the BOE’s nod for the project. Board member Lorna Cassady
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Federal inmate charged in killing at USP Big Sandy
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN A federal inmate serving time at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy is facing a murder charge in the October 2024 killing of another prisoner. A grand jury in Ashland returned an indictment Feb. 26 charging Daviian Dwane Roberts, 35, of Midland, Texas, with the Oct. 15, 2024, killing of
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Four arrested after fight in school parking lot prompts soft lockdown
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — Four men were arrested and one woman was cited Monday after a fight between adults erupted in the parking lot of Warfield Elementary School. The incident prompted the school to initiate a soft lockdown. Officers Nathan Todd and Justin Bellamy with the Martin County Schools Police Department responded at approximately
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School placed on soft lockdown as precaution
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — Warfield Elementary School was placed on a soft lockdown Monday due to what school officials described as a neighboring situation. In a message to parents and guardians, school officials said the precaution was taken to ensure student safety and emphasized that the school itself was not under threat.
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Williamson man faces felony meth charge in Kentucky
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Mingo County man is facing a felony drug charge after the Martin Circuit Court filed a case against him Feb. 27 under Kentucky’s Rocket Docket program. David L. Williamson, 64, of Williamson, West Virginia, stands accused of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first
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Martin County wrestling finishes 1A runner-up; Muncy named Coach of the Year
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LEXINGTON — Martin County arrived at the 2026 KHSAA State Wrestling Tournament with purpose and left with pride. The Cardinals claimed 1A State Runner-Up honors, placed three wrestlers on the podium, finished among the top 10 teams overall and saw coach Josh Muncy named the Coach of the Year at
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Martin County Fiscal Court moves on buyouts, sewer upgrades, commercial kitchen
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — In a meeting that moved briskly from flood mitigation to economic development, the Martin County Fiscal Court on Thursday approved a new bank account for federally funded home buyouts, amended a multimillion-dollar sewer contract and set in motion grant applications that include a commercial kitchen in Inez. The










