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Fatal driveway shooting leads to murder arrest
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN THEALKA — A physical altercation erupted into gunfire Saturday on Main Camp Branch in Thealka, leaving a River man dead in a driveway and a West Van Lear man jailed on a murder charge, Kentucky State Police said. Kentucky State Police Post 9 responded to a residence on Main Camp…
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Inez woman arrested in stolen bank card case
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — An Inez woman was arrested Thursday after law enforcement said surveillance video showed her using a Johnson County man’s bank card to make about $2,000 in unauthorized purchases. Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy David Adams arrested Rose Ellen Johnson, 54, at her Route 3 residence at 8:20 a.m. on…
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ARC to pay $16.2M in Medicaid billing case — a nearly $11.5M reduction
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN ASHLAND — Addiction Recovery Care and two affiliated health care companies have agreed to a $16.2 million civil judgment to resolve federal allegations that they improperly billed Kentucky Medicaid for behavioral health and medical services over a period spanning nearly seven years. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District…
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Skyles: New law narrows voter ID options
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — With the Nov. 3 General Election approaching, Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles reminds voters that those who arrive at the polls without an acceptable photo ID have fewer options to verify their identity under a new state law that took effect July 15. The change removes Social Security…
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BentleyMade brings handcrafted artistry to Stidham Old Time Music Gathering
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN TOMAHAWK — Paintsville artists Brett Lee Bentley and Catherine Bentley returned to the Stidham Old Time Music Gathering July 24-25 for their second consecutive year. The two-day event took place at Webb’s Musical Repair and Sales on South Milo Road in Tomahawk, featuring live performances, guitar and banjo workshops, Appalachian…
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Music, moonshine, medieval flair take over Appalachian Artist Festival, July 31-Aug. 1
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For two days this summer, downtown Inez will become the sort of place where an Elvis tribute artist, a moonshine maker, a mounted archer and a mouth-painting artist can all reasonably be considered part of the same plan. The fourth annual Appalachian Artist Festival returns July 31 and…
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Drivers must stop for school buses across undivided four-lane roads
Martin County plans bus cameras BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Drivers on both sides of an undivided four-lane highway must now stop when a school or church bus flashes its red lights and extends its stop arm. House Bill 7 took effect July 15, expanding Kentucky’s school bus stop law and allowing school…
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‘Himler Heritage Exhibit’ ribbon-cutting set Aug. 5
Warfield exhibit to tell story of cooperative coal company, railroad BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — A new exhibit beside Warfield’s historic railroad caboose will tell the story of Martin Himler, the miner-owned coal company he established and the rail line that connected the community to markets beyond the Tug Fork. Martin County Judge/Executive…
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School starts Aug. 5 for Martin County students
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Summer vacation will give way to backpacks, buses and classrooms Aug. 5 when Martin County students begin the 2026-2027 school year. The Martin County School District calendar maps out 170 instructional days, with breaks spread from early October through spring. July will belong to teachers and staff, who…
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Debord man faces formal charges for drugs dropped at government center
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Commonwealth’s attorney formally charged a Debord man with two drug offenses July 16 in Martin Circuit Court. An information filed in the case charges Joshua Scott, 39, with possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, drug unspecified, and possession of a controlled substance in the…
