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Former lieutenant’s sentencing closes yearslong federal prison abuse scandal
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LONDON — A former lieutenant at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Martin County was sentenced Tuesday to 17 months in federal prison for falsifying records to cover up the beating of an inmate who had pleaded for protective custody. This is the final sentencing in a yearslong federal civil rights
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Tomahawk man pleads guilty to federal gun charge after undercover buys
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LEXINGTON — A Tomahawk man has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to one of two gun charges after authorities made undercover purchases of methamphetamine and a shotgun at his Martin County home in 2025. Jimmy D. Cornett, 61, pleaded guilty April 7 in U.S. District Court in Lexington
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Trash complaint sparks code enforcement reckoning in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A complaint about missed garbage pickups turned into a reckoning over code enforcement in the April 1 meeting of the Martin County Solid Waste Code Enforcement Board. Residents, officials and law enforcement questioned whether haulers are meeting contract requirements and whether the board and code enforcement are doing
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Election officials sound alarm on voter ID
Ayers, Skyles discuss election BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Board of Elections members James Ayers and Susie Skyles shared important updates on voter identification requirements, absentee voting and key deadlines during a recent Kiwanis Club luncheon at Giovanni’s in Inez. As has become their tradition leading up to elections, Ayers and
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Jordan Doyle publishes novel rooted in trauma, addiction and recovery
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN Martin County native Jordan Doyle has released a new novel, “The Girl Who Named the Fire,” a story of trauma, addiction and recovery. Now living in Floyd County, Doyle launched the book in June 2025. The novel follows a traumatic fire and the aftermath of rebuilding a life. “She didn’t
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Martin County wrestlers capture Adidas national titles
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INDEPENDENCE, Missouri — Two Martin County fifth-graders brought home national championships over the weekend, turning in dominant performances at Adidas Nationals in Independence, Missouri. Nolan Muncy won first place in the 135-pound division, and Colten Anderson captured first in the 100-pound division. With their victories, both wrestlers earned Adidas All-American
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Inez woman indicted in storage unit burglary
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County grand jury Thursday indicted an Inez woman for allegedly breaking into storage units and stealing property. Rose Johnson, 54, stands accused of three counts of third-degree burglary, one count of possession of burglary tools and one count of second-degree criminal mischief. The indictment alleges Johnson
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Kirk & Crum Law Firm Player of the Week: Bailee Hall
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Tug Valley’s Bailee Hall is the Kirk & Crum Law Firm Player of the Week. Hall opened the 2026 softball season with the kind of week few players can match, dominating in the circle and delivering at the plate. She helped power the Lady Panthers to a
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Water chairman questions vacant AWR manager post
District pays Alliance $181,550 monthly BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The search for a district water manager remains stalled nearly four months after the position became vacant, prompting Martin County Water District (MCWD) board members March 24 to question why the utility continues paying for the role through its $181,575-a-month management contract with
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Lafferty presses senate, governor for $26M WWATERS funds
Judge/executive invokes coal legacy BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty used a special Fiscal Court meeting March 26 to publicly urge the Kentucky Senate and Gov. Andy Beshear to approve $25.8 million in WWATERS funding for local water and sewer projects, arguing the county has earned basic infrastructure after
