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Counties to pay more for inmate housing
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Member counties will pay $5 more per day to house inmates at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center after the jail’s governing board voted Friday to raise the daily rate to $36.34. The increase came during a special meeting called less than three weeks after auditor Darrell Blair…
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Students take center stage at Board of Education
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education celebrated student achievement both in and out of the classroom during its meeting Monday at the central office. ‘Medal of Honor’ Martin County Middle School (MCMS) “Congressional Medal of Honor Character Development Program” medal recipients Martha Maynard, Zoe Sammons and Zandra Sammons…
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Operation Christmas Child collection week Nov. 17-24
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 17 – 24. Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, including First Baptist Church in Inez and others in the region. For Inez First Baptist, this will be the…
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Kermit swears in Kominar
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — Kermit Mayor Charles Sparks swore in Steve Kominar as councilman Monday to finish the term of Councilman Hawkey Preece, who passed away in late August. “Taking this seat to replace Hawkey, I can’t do,” Kominar said. “Hawkey was not only my brother-in-law but my brother in Christ,…
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Todd joins Martin County Schools Police Department
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Schools Police Department has expanded its ranks with a familiar face. Police Chief Chris Kidd announced that Officer Nathan Todd of Inez has joined the department as its third officer. “Officer Todd was raised here in Martin County and went to school here his whole…
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School speech therapist arrested for public intoxication
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County school speech therapist was arrested Thursday afternoon at Eden Elementary after officers said she appeared to be under the influence while supervising students. Martin County Schools Police Chief Chris Kidd and Officer Nathan Todd arrested Leigh Ann Marquez, 44, of Paintsville, around 3 p.m. on…
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Six indicted in Martin County
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County grand jury indicted six people Thursday on charges that include drug trafficking, assault, wanton endangerment and driving under the influence. Hailee J. Joseph, 31, of Paintsville, is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (methamphetamine) and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.…
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Regional jail near financial collapse, will ask counties to pay higher inmate housing rate
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — The Big Sandy Regional Detention Center is teetering on the edge of financial collapse. In what officials describe as a last-ditch effort to keep the facility operating, the regional jail board is preparing to ask its four member counties—Johnson, Martin, Magoffin and Lawrence—to approve an increase in the…
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Christmas in the Mountains to transform Inez Dec. 7-13
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The City of Inez will again become the ultimate holiday attraction as it hosts Christmas in the Mountains the week of Dec. 7–13. Organizers are busy transforming the town with thousands of twinkling lights and impressive displays. Christmas in the Mountains organizer Linda Lou Webb revealed several attractions…
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Martin County wins $7 million to buy out flood-prone homes
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County is moving forward with an ambitious plan to buy out dozens of flood-prone homes, drawing on nearly $7 million in aid to help residents relocate from areas repeatedly hit by floods. Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills announced that the county has received approval for a $5.7 million…
