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Sexton takes Mingo concerns to governor
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Mingo County activist Tara “Baby T” Sexton used West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s recent visit to Williamson City Hall to put a list of concerns facing southern West Virginia directly into the governor’s hands. “We brought the harsh reality of Southern West Virginia straight to the governor yesterday in…
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Workman outlines vision for Warfield area: Infrastructure, tourism, recreation priorities
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — Martin County District 5 Magistrate Ronald Workman is laying out an ambitious vision for the Warfield area. His priorities reflect a mix of long-standing infrastructure concerns and future-focused ideas to make the area more connected, accessible and attractive. If pursued, the projects could touch nearly every part of…
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Debord man admits stealing water service, ordered to repay utility
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County man admitted in court to stealing water service after authorities said he bypassed a shut-off and restored water at his Debord home. John Allen, 39, pleaded guilty March 5 in Martin Circuit Court to theft of services $1,000-$10,000, a Class D felony. Under the plea…
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Letter to editor: Martin County’s future depends on clean water
Editor: I am now in my 80s, and the water in Martin County has had unnumerable problems for over 60 years. I love my hometown. The people here have done an incredible job in beautifying it, and I would love for it to become a wonderful tourist attraction. But before that can happen, there must…
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Protective order lifted for Wayne water supply after mineral oil release
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WAYNE, W.Va. — Town officials lifted the protective order on Wayne’s drinking water supply Friday following three weeks of disruption tied to a mineral oil release at an Appalachian Power facility. Wayne Mayor Danny Grace officially ended the order at approximately 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7, according to the West Virginia…
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Martin County Water District asks PSC to end oversight
Opponents warn system remains fragile BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District is asking the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) to close a long-running oversight case and lift monitoring requirements imposed more than six years ago, arguing that the utility has made significant financial and operational progress under outside management. The…
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Martin County rises in WWATERS ranking; lawmakers will decide funds
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — After receiving no funding last year due to scoring errors, Martin County returned to a competitive statewide process this fall with 12 water and sewer projects that ranked near the top for assistance under the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems program. The…
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What’s the drip?
BY MADISON MOONEY Hello Martin County residents. My name is Madison Mooney. I work for the nonprofit LiKEN Knowledge (short for Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network) as their community care coordinator. I have been doing water-related work with LiKEN for over four years here in Martin County. Between my time with LiKEN and the prior four…
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Martin County still needs Alliance
BY NINA MCCOY In the wake of our most recent brown water event, people are rightly concerned and looking for answers, and possibly someone to blame. You can be assured the water board and Alliance are working with several entities to figure out what happened, and we will continue to report on what happened and…
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Mural unveiled in Inez honors fight for clean water
Beneath a vivid mural of a woman strumming a banjo as water flows from her figure through green mountains and starry skies, community members gathered Saturday in downtown Inez to celebrate the new public artwork honoring Martin County’s fight for clean, reliable drinking water. Appalachian Pioneer Program founder Austin Shuck commissioned the mural and led…
