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Martin County Public Library runs deficit, moves to fill vacancies
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Public Library is operating at a deficit with spending outpacing revenue through the first nine months of the fiscal year, according to financial statements presented in a library board meeting April 27. The library reported $535,854.09 in total revenue and $572,583.94 in expenditures through March
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Warfield appoints Ward, welcomes community garden
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — The Warfield City Commission accepted the resignation of a commissioner, appointed Jeff Ward to fill the vacant seat and approved plans for a new community garden during its meeting Thursday. Commissioners also heard from a county tourism official about plans for a Warfield Liberty Celebration. Ward was appointed
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Primary voting begins next week; public machine test Sunday
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County voters are entering the final stretch before the May 19 primary, with a crowded Republican local ballot, a public voting machine test set for Sunday and absentee and early voting windows opening next week. The Martin County Board of Elections will hold a public testing and
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Tourism maps out summer events, jams, celebrations
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — With weddings on the calendar, summer concerts taking shape and a longtime courthouse venue drawing steady bookings, the Martin County Tourism Commission painted a picture of a tourism season beginning to fill in. During its April 20 meeting, the commission welcomed Karen Thoma as its newest member, approved
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Hidden treasures of the hills
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Each spring, the woods of Martin County reveal treasures easy to miss unless one looks closely. From the uncommon yellow lady slipper to prized American ginseng and goldenseal, these native plants rise quietly beneath the hardwoods, reminders that some of Appalachia’s richest beauty blooms in the shade. Long
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Dempsey lease, water upgrades, board appointments top Martin County agenda
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court moved through a wide-ranging agenda at its April 17 special meeting. Magistrates approved a lease transfer for Dempsey Housing, a resolution joining a regional push for emergency radio upgrades, the appointment of water and library board members and a $1.24 million budget amendment
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Warfield kindergarteners steal show at Fiscal Court
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A field trip to the Martin County Fiscal Court turned into a memorable honor for Warfield kindergarten students April 17. They led the Pledge of Allegiance, received a county proclamation and earned a standing ovation from those in attendance. During the special meeting Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty
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Martin County lands historic $26M WWATERS funding
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For years, Martin County’s water crisis was measured in indignities. Brown water in bathtubs. Buckets carried up hillsides. Faucets that could not be trusted. A community forced to document its own hardship again and again, hoping that somewhere beyond the mountains, someone in power would finally pay attention.
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Frontier Housing drops DreamBuild factory in Martin County, seeks to abandon lease
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Frontier Housing wants to abandon its lease for Martin County’s industrial building in Debord, shelving a modular housing factory that was expected to create 20 to 40 jobs, Economic Development Authority (EDA) Chairman James Ayers announced during an April 8 board meeting. The Morehead-based nonprofit leased the 55,000-square-foot
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Inez advances Creek Walk extension, eyes bridge upgrades
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — City officials used a special meeting April 14 to outline a slate of practical and cosmetic projects. They set a timetable for the next budget, reviewed repairs to the city’s quilt-block sidewalk decals, advanced plans to extend the Creek Walk and discussed bridge washing and painting. Mayor Ed
