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Fire leads to arrest of Inez woman on child endangerment charge
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Authorities arrested a 25-year-old Inez woman Thursday morning following a fire at a Martin County apartment building, charging her with child endangerment and drug offenses. Deputies charged Deanna Wiley with endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation for felony
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Foothills donates Starlink Mini to bolster emergency services
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — In an effort to strengthen emergency response capabilities in Martin County, Foothills Communications has donated a Starlink Mini to the county’s emergency services. The compact satellite system provides a mobile internet connection for first responders operating in remote and underserved areas of the county. The donation comes as
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BOE names new school as Martin County Elementary
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A new chapter in Martin County’s educational history is on the horizon as Inez and Warfield elementary schools will consolidate into a single institution known as Martin County Elementary School. At last week’s Martin County Board of Education meeting, the members unanimously approved the name of the new
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Martin County Schools embrace solar energy
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — In a step toward sustainability and long-term cost savings, the Martin County School District has completed the installation of a solar panel array on the grounds of Martin County High School, a move officials estimate will save the district approximately $15,000 annually in energy costs. With electricity prices
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Commissioner of Education honors legendary academic coach Frank Baldridge
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOUISVILLE — Kentucky’s Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher paid tribute Monday to the late Frank Baldridge, beloved legendary academic coach from Martin County. Baldridge was posthumously honored with the 2025 Kentucky Association for Academic Competition (KAAC) Legacy Award. The award was presented following the KAAC state tournament finals in a ceremony
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Water bill battle: Kermit Council resolves dispute after resident’s arrest and jail time
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN KERMIT, W.Va. — With a misdemeanor case still pending, the Kermit Council agreed to resolve the issue of an alleged broken lock and damaged water meter that led to the arrest of a resident. Officials gave Etta Kiser until March 21 to pay $175 for the damaged meter and labor
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Martin County woman faces drug charges
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin Circuit Court formally charged a Debord woman with drug-related crimes. Barbara J. Gordon, 44, faces charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. According to the information filed March 10, the Commonwealth Attorney for the 24th Circuit accuses Gordon of having methamphetamine
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Navigating disaster assistance: How to appeal FEMA decisions
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN In the aftermath of disasters, survivors seeking assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may find that their initial decision is not what they expected. But a denial or lower-than-expected award is not necessarily the final word. Individuals affected by disasters have the right to appeal any decision or
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Flood leaves Martin County’s water and sewer systems in ruins; repairs to cost millions
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN MARTIN COUNTY — The February flood that swept through Martin County, swelling Tug Fork River, left the county’s water and sewer infrastructure heavily damaged. Officials expect repair costs to approach $3 million. Floodwaters inundated the sewer treatment plant in Warfield as well as lift stations, grinder pumps and other critical
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Sheriff’s Office cracks down on copper theft
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — After the recent arrests of five suspected copper thieves, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has a clear message for anyone considering stealing AT&T phone lines: “You will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Chief Deputy Sheriff Chris Kidd said. “It is a felony.” Cable theft
