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Martin County BOE reports enrollment figures
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education conducted its first meeting of the new school year Aug. 11 with an enrollment report and regular business. Superintendent Larry James presented the enrollment figures showing the district has 1,552 students for 2025–26, a decrease of 21 from last year. Martin County
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Inez keeps real property tax rate flat
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Inez City Commission kept its property tax rate flat for the coming fiscal year, advanced work with FEMA and endorsed stronger federal black lung benefits during its Thursday meeting. Commissioners conducted the first reading of the property tax ordinance for fiscal year 2025-26. Unchanged from last year,
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BOE honors Martin County FCCLA students for national wins
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Board of Education opened its Aug. 11 meeting by celebrating four FCCLA students who earned top honors at the National Leadership Conference in Orlando. Superintendent Larry James praised the student’s achievements, noting that longtime FCCLA adviser Connie Harless recently retired. Her successor Nicole Hinkle, he
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Martin County seeks grant to renovate Collier Center: Public hearing Aug. 22
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court plans to apply for federal funding to renovate the Roy F. Collier Community Center and will hold a public hearing to gather input from residents before submitting the application. The hearing is on the calendar for noon Friday, Aug. 22, in the Martin
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Harvest Fest to bring biggest carnival ever, music hitmaker CJ Solar
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The countdown is on to Martin County’s biggest festival of the year and organizers say the 2025 Harvest Festival is shaping up to be the most exciting yet. With two full days of live music headlined by country hitmaker CJ Solar, plus a jam-packed carnival with more rides
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Grand jury indicts six: Sex crimes against children, copper theft, assault among charges
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County grand jury returned six indictments Aug. 7, including five counts of child rape, child sodomy, unlawful transaction with a minor, metal theft and assault. Tommy L. Bowens, 35, of Tomahawk, is charged with five counts of second-degree rape and one count of second-degree sodomy. The indictment
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Exclusive: Brawl leads to damaged police cruisers, arrests
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A domestic fight in the middle of the road early Tuesday spiraled into a confrontation with Martin County Sheriff’s deputies, leaving two cruisers damaged and prompting multiple assault charges, officials said. Deputy Jameson Wall responded to Little Laurel Creek in Inez around 1:40 a.m. after a caller reported
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Porch project on old courthouse paves way for ‘General Store’
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A porch rising on the old Martin County Courthouse Annex is a step toward turning the historic space into a general store where local farmers, food producers and artisans can sell their goods, officials say. Martin County Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills noted that the county is paying to
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Martin County property owners get two weeks to challenge 2025 tax values
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County property owners will have from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 to review and, if necessary, challenge the values placed on their real estate for the 2025 tax year. Bobby E. Hale Jr., the county’s property valuation administrator, said in a public notice that the real property
