LATEST NEWS

The Martin County Grand Jury issued indictments on December 7. Jordan Delong is being charged with endangering the welfare of a minor along with possession of Methamphetamine in the first degree. Commonwealth of Kentucky vs. Jeremy Jarvis. The Grand Jury charges: That on or before November 16, 2023, in Martin...

Shortly after a yearly parade that as usual featured Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as the Grinch, concluded, a large crowd gathered in the John Crum Memorial Park in Kermit on Friday, Dec.1, to take part in the town’s annual “Christmas in the Park” festivities. Along with the annual tree-lighting ceremony (this year Councilwoman Anna Mae Sartin Wellman was presented the honor to “throw the switch”), the 2023 holiday celebration included a live Nativity complete with donkeys, sheep and a camel named “Simon.”

This week in Martin County, Kentucky, several incidents occurred resulting in arrests and tragic outcomes. The incidents include an arrest for failure to make required disposition of property, an arrest for criminal mischief and alcohol intoxication, a former federal corrections supervisor sentenced for leading cover-ups of inmate assaults, multiple indictments involving methamphetamine-related charges, and a residential fire resulting in the death of two juveniles.

This week in Wayne County, West Virginia, there were three notable incidents. First, a man was charged with murder after a victim died from a gunshot wound in Dunlow. Second, a fire destroyed the clubhouse and restaurant at Creekside Golf Course in the Lavalette area. Lastly, the Lavalette community came together to support those affected by the fire, including jobless individuals and families who lost items for a toy drive.

Former Kentucky federal corrections supervisor sentenced to 5-1/2 years for leading cover-ups of inmate assaults. Cause of fatal fire unknown, no foul play suspected. Kevin X. Pearce, a former Bureau of Prisons supervisor, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Pearce was convicted after a six-day trial for leading two cover-ups of assaults on inmates held at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in Debord. His co-defendants, former corrections officers Samuel Patrick and Clinton Pauley, had previously pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law.

Mingo County Sheriff Joe Smith and Deputy Max Mounts set up their roadside donation drive at the Second Avenue/Harvey Street intersection on Saturday, Dec. 2, to collect money for the Mingo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association’s 26th Shop with a Deputy. This location was again one of several in the county at which MCSD deputies solicited donations throughout the day. This year Shop with a Deputy will provide 100 or more Mingo County elementary-age children with the opportunity to spend $150 on Christmas gifts, which MCDSA President Sgt. Norman Mines said is $30 more than last year. Like 2022, once again the event will be held two evenings this year at the South Williamson Walmart on Dec. 20-21, beginning at 5 p.m. each evening.

LOGAN COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – Six people are facing charges after a months-long drug trafficking investigation in Logan County. According to Logan County Prosecuting Attorney David Wandling, the suspects arrested Thursday, Dec. 7, include Christopher Hairston, Byron Young, Hollie Frye, Damian DeHart, Brandon Christian and Bryce Ball. Wandling says during the investigation, authorities seized 20 […]

The primary mission of Mingo County Schools is to provide the county’s students with everything they need to succeed academically. However, given the manner in which today’s many societal issues are adversely affecting the county’s kids outside the classroom — namely, rampant substance abuse and addiction by both adults and kids alike, as well as the lack of employment opportunities and the rising poverty rate being a real concern as a result — finding and achieving success can often seem little more than a pipe dream to school officials.

LINCOLN COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On Friday, December 8, 2023, at approximately 1:00 pm, Cpl. C. A. Lewis and Sr. Tpr. T. C. Hurley responded to a stabbing complaint on WV Rt. 34 in Lincoln County. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Peyton Cox, 27 of Charleston, WV deceased from apparent stab wounds. Upon investigation, […]

LOUISA, Ky. (WYMT) - Members of one Eastern Kentucky police department are saying goodbye to one of their own. In a post on the Louisa Police Department’s Facebook page, officials announced the death of retired K9 Kenya. Kenya served the office from 2015 until 2022 when he had to...

LOGAN COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Deadly accidents at U.S. 119 and Old Logan Rd. hit close to home for Sgt. Jamie Harris. Troopers including Harris, who is with the WVSP Logan detachment as the commander, said they have worked multiple fatalities at the intersection. “We just want people to be...

No criminal activity is suspected in the fire that destroyed a golf course clubhouse in Wayne County Monday.

SOUTH WILLIAMSON, Ky. — Following an extensive rebuilding project that took more than eight months to complete, the grand opening of the new South Williamson Food City was finally realized Wednesday, Dec. 6., when the ultra-modern store formally opened its doors for business at 8 a.m. Prior to the...

I think I was around 12 or so when I had my first, “hillbilly awareness” experience. It came one summer when a former Jerry Bottom (located at Huddy, Ky.) native and his family made their annual pilgrimage from Michigan to his place of birth and my neighborhood to visit his parents, who still lived there.

WAYNE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Four years ago, Rhonda Adams, a teacher at Wayne Elementary, lost her son Colt. At the time of his passing, Colt was a student at Wayne High School, where he was known for always helping others. To honor her son’s memory and his love of giving back, Rhonda established a […]

HAMLIN — Mingo Central and Lincoln County faced off on Friday night inside the Panther Pavilion in Hamlin and both teams were in search of their first win of the new season. It was the visiting Miners that notched the first 'W' in that win column as they used a 26-0 third quarter run to storm back and top the Panthers by a final score of 65-58.

HINDMAN, Ky. (WYMT) - The WYMT Food City Mountain Classic Basketball tournament returned to the boys side Friday night. Trent Noah led the way with an amazing 53 points for Harlan County. The Black Bears downed the Cardinals 86-76. If you missed the action, check out a full recap on...

MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Every day, dispatchers with Mingo County 911 work to connect callers to the right emergency service agencies for help. On November 28, leadership at the 911 Center said there was a nearly nine-hour-long outage at the center when a vandal cut a nearby Frontier fiber line. Director Doug Goolsby said calls could not get automatically rerouted to a neighboring county that day.

WILLIAMSON — A Williamson man lead police on a high-speed chase down US-119. According to a criminal complaint, Byron Young, 39 was driving KIA Optima when he was pulled over as part of an ongoing drug investigation. During the traffic stop, Trooper Ziegler of the West Virginia State Police could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the compartment area of the vehicle.

NEWTOWN — Mingo Central picked up their first signature win of the season on Saturday evening atop Miner Mountain as the No. 3 ranked Lady Miners knocked off No. 2 ranked Summers County in overtime by a final score of 50-45. The Lady Miners trailed by two at 40-38 late in regulation and Summers County had the ball, but Bella Hall picked up a steal to give the ball back to Mingo Central.