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Martin County Library debates loan as financial pressures mount
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Confronted with dwindling reserves, rising costs at the Collier Center and pressure to raise tenant rents, the Martin County Library Board on Monday debated seeking a $100,000 bridge loan and moving the library back to its former building. The meeting opened with an amendment to consider a Kentucky…
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Auditor reports stable finances for City of Inez
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Auditor Jim Bryant reported the City of Inez remains in solid financial condition following his review of the 2024 and 2025 financial statements. However, he noted a couple of transfer and accounting items that the city needs to correct. Bryant said in a Nov. 13 meeting that the…
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Martin County man arrested after firing shots
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Tomahawk man went to jail Thursday after he confronted his estranged wife in the roadway and fired two shots as she attempted to drive away, police said. Jonathan Edward Sherman, 37, was taken into custody at Frank Horn Baseball Field in Inez on a charge of first-degree…
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Kiwanis welcomes Martin County athletic director, basketball stars
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Kiwanis Club welcomed Martin County High School athletic director Chuck White and basketball stars Braxton Keathley and Bryson Dials as guest speakers Thursday. The trio outlined expectations for the upcoming season and previewed this year’s Zip Zone Classic set for this Saturday, Nov. 29 at MCHS. Keathley,…
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Martin County Sheriff launches Angel Tree to support local children
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk is asking residents to help make Christmas brighter for local children through the Angel Tree project. For the 11th year in a row, Kirk has posted Christmas Angels on his office door, available for residents to sponsor this holiday season. Each angel represents…
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Martin County communities launch packed Christmas season
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN Martin County is ushering in the Christmas season with community celebrations and activities across the county from November through mid-December. On Sunday, crowds packed in as Christmas in the Mountains lit the Christmas tree and made it snow on Court Street in Inez. The next event arrives Saturday, Nov. 29,…
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Floyd County man charged with murder
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FLOYD COUNTY — Kentucky State Police have arrested a Floyd County man in connection with the death of a Beaver woman discovered last week, authorities said Monday. Troopers took Joshua Gayheart, 35, of Beaver, into custody following ongoing investigative work, according to KSP Post 9. He is charged with murder…
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Martin County Schools post gains on state assessments
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Schools posted steady academic gains on the 2025 Kentucky Summative Assessment. Every school in the district either maintained or improved its performance rating under the state’s accountability system. The Kentucky Summative Assessment, administered annually to students in grades 3–8, 10 and 11, measures achievement in reading,…
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Mountain Citizen wins Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity
BY AL CROSS A scrappy little newspaper that has fought for more than 30 years for clean water and open government in its Appalachian county is the winner of the 2025 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism. The Mountain Citizen is a weekly paper serving the 11,000 people…
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Martin County man goes to jail for false reports to 911, father also charged
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County man went to jail after he called 911 repeatedly making false reports for the purpose of luring law enforcement to his home to harass them, police said. Moments after his arrest, police took his father into custody for interfering with government operations. Deputy Billy Wells…
