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Workmans chosen as Harvest Fest Parade Grand Marshals
‘Do something to make the community better’ BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — When Ronald and Lori Workman ride down Main Street as grand marshals of this year’s Harvest Fest Parade, they will carry with them decades of memories — festivals that packed the streets, Christmas celebrations that drew hundreds, ballgames at the old…
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Martin County Water District records 428 cutoff accounts for nonpayment
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District recorded 428 customer cutoffs for delinquent accounts from May 2025 through May 2026, according to a report it filed with the Kentucky Public Service Commission. The monthly total peaked at 55 cutoffs in June 2025. The district reported 42 in April 2026 and 26…
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Another motorcycle goes into Buck Creek on KY 40
Project on tentative letting schedule BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN BEAUTY — A motorcycle went off KY Route 40 and into Buck Creek near Big Elk Road on Saturday evening, the latest in a series of crashes along a stretch of highway the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet identified for safety improvements more than 13 years ago.…
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Martin County tosses flood demolition bids
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County will rescind a $560,500 flood-buyout demolition award and start the bidding process over after learning required USDA steps were not completed before the project was advertised. Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills said Sept. 1 that the Aug. 20 bid award to Howell’s Recycling & Sanitation of Debord…
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Regional jail raises inmate housing rate by $10
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Martin, Johnson, Lawrence and Magoffin counties will pay $10 more per day to house inmates at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, the latest move by the regional jail board to address continuing financial problems at the facility. The board voted Aug. 27 to increase the daily county…
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Kentucky PSC probes rising electric, gas costs
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN The Kentucky Public Service Commission has opened a statewide proceeding to examine the affordability of electric and natural gas service as residential customers face rising utility costs. The proceeding comes less than two months after the commission ordered a separate independent audit of Kentucky Power’s management and operations, an action…
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Three USP Big Sandy inmates indicted in alleged stabbing
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN A federal grand jury in Ashland has indicted three men in connection with an alleged stabbing at United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Martin County. Gilbert Saldana, Edward Rodriguez and Alfred Fabrow were indicted Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on a charge of…
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Johnson grand jury issues 14 indictments
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — A Johnson County grand jury returned 14 indictments against 13 people Aug. 26, with charges ranging from burglary and drug possession to firearm-related wanton endangerment and bail jumping. The indictments include: Misty Barker, 42, of Van Lear, was indicted on two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment involving the…
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Martin County chooses $560,500 demolition bid over $157,500 offer
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court voted Thursday to award eight federally funded demolition jobs to a local contractor whose bids totaled $560,500 — $403,000 more than a competing contractor — after a magistrate said he favored the local company because “it’s federal money” and “not like it’s coming through…
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Addiction Recovery Care faces eviction from White Oak Hill in Inez
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Pikeville company managed by property developer Greg May is seeking to evict Addiction Recovery Care from White Oak Hill (the former Inez Middle School property), alleging ARC owes nearly $300,000 in back rent and late fees. Ruach Holding LLC filed a forcible detainer complaint Friday in Martin…
