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Martin County Wrestling takes crown at Agie Skeens Memorial Tournament
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN GRUNDY, Va. — By the time the final mats cleared Saturday, it was unmistakable: something historic had happened. The Martin County Cardinals had climbed to the top at the 2026 Agie Skeens Memorial Tournament in Grundy, Virginia. Martin County claimed the team championship for the first time, doing it with
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Martin County Youth Wrestling claims third at Hatfield-McCoy
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKEVILLE — Martin County Youth Wrestling continued its tradition of strong showings on the regional stage, closing out 2025 with a strong performance at the Hatfield-McCoy Youth Wrestling Tournament. The team finished third overall and produced multiple champions, podium finishes and special awards Dec. 28 at Appalachian Wireless Arena in
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Martin County takes second at Bobby Bates Youth Classic
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WISE, Va. — Martin County Middle School wrestling delivered a strong team performance at the Bobby Bates Youth Classic. The team finished second overall, narrowly falling to Warhawk Wrestling 217-214, while producing multiple champions and podium finishes across every class. The event took place Dec. 21 at the University of Virginia`s College at Wise David
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Gas pump crash triggers meth bust by Sheriff Kirk
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — What could have been a dangerous collision at an Inez gas station instead became a methamphetamine bust with Martin County Sheriff John Kirk putting four people behind bars Dec. 30 on felony drug charges. A vehicle crashed into the concrete barrier protecting the gas pumps at Horn’s BP
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Big Sandy Regional Detention Center looks to Floyd County for female officers, cites no ‘hirable’ applicants in four counties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PAINTSVILLE — Big Sandy Regional Detention Center will temporarily expand its search for female correctional officers to Floyd County after administrators said the jail has not received “hirable” applicants from Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin or Martin counties. The jail authority voted 4–3 at its Dec. 18 meeting to approve emergency hiring
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2025: A year defined by water, weather and resolve
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — If 2025 had a shape in Martin County, it was uneven ground. The year rose with moments of promise and dropped without warning into loss and disruption, forcing people to find their footing again and again. Water told much of the story. It fell as snow and ice,
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Who is running in Martin County: Early filings set stage for 2026 local elections
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Candidate filing opened Nov. 5 for local offices that will appear on the 2026 ballot, with early filings showing a mix of crowded contests and largely uncontested races across Martin County. As of Monday, 26 candidates had registered to run for county and city offices. Sheriff The most
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Solid Waste Board weighs condemnation of properties
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Slow progress at multiple nuisance properties and a growing number of illegal trash dumps dominated discussion at a recent Martin County Solid Waste Board meeting. Officials weighed the possibility of condemnation and debated how far the county can legally go to address deteriorating and hazardous sites. Code enforcement
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Marquee sign stalls for City of Inez
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The City of Inez did not receive a T‑Mobile Hometown Grant to purchase a lighted marquee sign. Its application was not among the program’s most recent funding round. Interim city clerk Kayla Crum announced the outcome during the City of Inez Commission’s December meeting. “T-Mobile didn’t accept our
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Martin County Adult Education opens doors across generations
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — From evening classes held in local schools in the 1960s to current nationally recognized outcomes, Martin County Adult Education (MCAE) has evolved alongside the community it serves, instructor Vicky Jude told the Kiwanis Club during a recent meeting. She said the center’s GED program provides a high school
