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Inez man charged with attempted murder in Dingess shooting
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. — Police have an Inez man in custody on an attempted murder charge for a Nov. 17 shooting in Dingess, West Virginia. The West Virginia State Police (WVSP) arrested 27-year-old Christopher Russell Mills, Nov. 29 in connection with the shooting that injured Shane Nelson. The second suspect,…
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Pilgrim man jailed after alleged violent domestic assault
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PILGRIM — A Martin County man faces multiple felony charges after a woman’s urgent 911 report of a violent domestic assault Nov. 29 on Frog Pond Road in Pilgrim. Dispatchers told Kentucky State Police Post 9 that the female caller could be heard saying, “Stop beating me,” followed by a…
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Federal probe widens: Former prison lieutenant admits cover-up in inmate assault
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKEVILLE — A former lieutenant at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy has pleaded guilty to falsifying records to conceal the violent assault of an inmate seeking protective custody. He becomes the latest official swept up in a widening federal probe into brutality and cover-ups inside the high-security prison in…
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Sheriff urges action as feral horses create danger on New Route 3
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk urged the Fiscal Court to take action on a growing hazard along New Route 3, telling magistrates at their Nov. 20 meeting that he has been fielding calls about feral horses increasingly drawn to salted roadways. “Now that they’re starting to salt the…
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Martin County rises in WWATERS ranking; lawmakers will decide funds
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — After receiving no funding last year due to scoring errors, Martin County returned to a competitive statewide process this fall with 12 water and sewer projects that ranked near the top for assistance under the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems program. The…
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Mr. and Ms. Christmas in the Mountains: Horn and Mills
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Christmas in the Mountains has named its 2025 royalty, honoring two longtime pillars of the community. Everett Horn Jr. of Inez will serve as Mr. Christmas in the Mountains, joined by Lovely’s Carol Sue Mills as Ms. Christmas in the Mountains. The pair will be crowned Sunday, Dec.…
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Heart of the Community Award: Carmel Cline
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Fiscal Court presented a Heart of the Community Award to the family of the late Carmel Cline, a social worker and longtime recovery advocate. Cline served as the Martin County CARES Program Recovery Resource Manager until her passing in early November. Accepting the award in the…
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Civics in action: Middle school student council shares agenda
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Middle School’s student council and principal Brent Haney outlined their growing slate of student-led initiatives during a recent Kiwanis Club luncheon at Giovanni’s in Inez. They described campaign-season shifts, new civic-learning projects, efforts to curb bullying, and a push to strengthen school culture. Their ideas ranged…
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Troopers shoot, kill Lawrence County man
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MARTHA — Kentucky State Police troopers shot and killed a 69-year-old Lawrence County man late Saturday while trying to serve an arrest warrant, officials said. Troopers fired at Timothy Keeton when he pointed a gun at them, police said. The shooting occurred around 11:45 p.m. on KY-1715 in Martha when…
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Already in state prison, Tomahawk man pleads guilty to federal fentanyl trafficking
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A Martin County, Kentucky, man already serving a state prison sentence pleaded guilty in federal court to buying fentanyl in Huntington with the intent to sell it. Kody D. Harless, 27, of Tomahawk, entered the plea Nov. 24. According to court records, Harless received approximately 4.75 grams…
