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Freedom Fest brings folks together for America 250
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Downtown Inez became one big hometown celebration Saturday as Freedom Fest marked America’s 250th anniversary with a full day of food, music, prayer, parades and fireworks. The celebration started early with breakfast at the Masonic Lodge, pickleball, a 3-point shootout, a car show and a vendor market. At…
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School board turns dirt on new Martin County Elementary School
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County’s long climb toward modern school facilities reached another milestone Monday as local and state officials gathered in Inez to break ground for the new Martin County Elementary School. Contractors have completed site preparation and are ready to begin the construction phase of the project, which will…
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Local man gets over 13 years in federal meth case
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LEXINGTON — A Martin County man will spend more than 13 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine after admitting he sold more than 100 grams of the drug to a confidential informant in Martin County. Cody Gene Spears, 30, of Lovely, was sentenced June 26 in U.S. District Court…
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Bridge without guardrails draws renewed safety concerns after motorcycle crash
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN BEAUTY — A motorcycle crash Thursday at the Buck Creek bridge on Kentucky Route 40 has renewed calls for safety improvements at what Martin County Sheriff John Kirk describes as one of the county‘s most dangerous stretches of roadway. The crash occurred while Kirk was investigating an unrelated motorcycle accident…
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Lovely woman charged after reported armed confrontation
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PILGRIM — A reported armed confrontation inside a Little Rockcastle Road home ended with misdemeanor charges Sunday after Kentucky State Police said they were unable to locate the handgun or baseball bat allegedly used in the dispute. Terri L. Sammons, 44, of Lovely, was arrested June 28 and charged with…
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Jake Hoot to headline Harvest Fest
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — After months of speculation, the Martin County Harvest Festival has named Jake Hoot, a winner of NBC’s “The Voice,” as the headliner for its 30th annual event. Hoot, who won Season 17 of “The Voice” in 2019 and “The Voice” All-Star Showdown earlier this year, will perform at…
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Weekslong water line flushing underway in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Water District is flushing water lines as part of a systemwide maintenance program that will continue over the next several weeks. Flushing started Monday in the Inez, Old Middlefork Road and Old Route 3 areas. Colby May, regional operations manager for Alliance Water Resources, the…
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Martin County adopts budget, awards asphalt contract
Magistrates also approve salaries, Extension District budget, board appointments BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court awarded its annual asphalt contract to a local company, adopted a $19.8 million budget for the coming fiscal year and approved the county’s employee salary schedule during a special meeting June 25. Magistrates awarded the…
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Freedom Fest update
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary July 4 with a full day of Freedom Fest events, from pickleball and a parade to live music and fireworks in downtown Inez. The celebration will include activities at several locations before moving to Courthouse Square for the evening program. “We…
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Martin County woman sentenced to five years in drug case
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOUISA — A Martin County woman was sentenced to five years in prison June 25 in Lawrence Circuit Court in a drug case that began with a 2025 traffic stop. Sherry Horn, 48, of Lovely, was indicted in July 2025 following a Kentucky State Police investigation stemming from an April…
