Mingo County, WV

MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A woman is facing charges after allegedly duct taping a child’s mouth. Elizabeth Russell, 19, of Delbarton, was charged with child abuse creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury and domestic battery. According to the criminal complaint, Russell used duct tape on the mouth and wrists of a 5-year-old who she was watching at the time.

WILLIAMSON — History was made in the 2021 running of the annual Hatfield McCoy Marathon as Williamson native Nick Goff became the first local resident to finish in first place for the full marathon. Goff finished the challenging course which traverses through the hills of both Pike County, Kentucky and...

Newly-elected Mingo County Commissioner Gavin Smith, 64, of Gilbert died late Monday night, June 7, as a result of natural causes according to courthouse officials. Smith, a Republican, was elected to office in November 2020 and began his first political term in January. A lifelong resident of Gilbert, he served as the MCC’s representative to the Mingo County Airport Authority (MCAA), where he became involved with the continuing development of Appalachian Regional Airport.

Tuesday was a good night for the incumbent candidates for mayor from each of the three municipalities in Mingo County which had council elections on June 8, retained their positions. However, come July 1, there will still be quite a bit of changes in the governing bodies in Matewan and Williamson.

MATEWAN — A man from Matewan was arrested and charged after police say he came to his mother’s house and told her there were dead bodies inside and that it was going to be burned down. According to a criminal complaint filed in Mingo County Magistrate Court, police responded to...

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The man accused of fatally shooting a Mingo County sheriff while he ate lunch in his car will likely spend the rest of his life in a mental facility. That is according to the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s office, who is the special council in the...

NEWTOWN — The administration at Mingo Central High School will begin their search for a new head football coach as three-year mentor Josh Sammons announced his resignation on Tuesday night. The news broke first late on Tuesday evening on the official Mingo Central Football Facebook page. "The Mingo Central High...

The unexpected death of Mingo County Commissioner Gavin Smith has left the question of how his replacement will be chosen. Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan “Duke” Jewell has advised the two remaining commissioners, Thomas Taylor and Diann Hannah, as to how the process should go, according to the West Virginia State Code.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic created a plethora of challenges for Mingo County’s federally funded Summer Food Service Program in the summer of 2020, school officials said the difficulties eventually modified and became more manageable. In fact, later that summer officials would feel confident enough to declare it a very successful...

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The Mingo County Commission announced Tuesday the death of Commissioner Gavin Smith. The 64-year-old Gilbert native joined the commission in January after defeating incumbent Greg Smith in last November’s election. “In his brief time as a commissioner, Gavin worked tirelessly to serve the people of Mingo County,”...

WILLIAMSON — This view from high atop the mountain above the old Tunnel Drive Inn provides a unique point of view of Williamson’s west end. Seen in the foreground is the historic Williamson Fieldhouse along with the accompanying Lefty Hamilton and Brother Reid Parks while to the right lies the Tug Fork River which separates Mingo County from Pike County, Kentucky. Also seen to the right of the image is Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s Williamson Campus.

GILBERT, W.Va. — Mingo County is mourning the loss of one of its leaders. County commissioner Gavin Smith, of Gilbert, died Monday, following a sudden illness. Smith was just months into his first term as commissioner, having been elected in November and sworn in on New Year’s Day. His colleagues...

WILLIAMSON — The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority provided a quarterly update during the Mingo County Commission June 2. Information provided included programs pertaining to broadband, solar energy and other plans for the county. Executive Director Lisa Johnson said the Redevelopment Authority was recently approved for a project to add solar...

WILLIAMSON — The Kermit Blue Devils baseball team made school history this past week as they captured the first ever Mingo County baseball title with an 11-6 win over Matewan in the championship game at Lefty Hamilton Park. Austin Smith picked up the win on the mound for the Blue Devils while Gage Whitt came in and got the save to help them secure the undefeated season. Chandler Copley went a perfect 4-4 at the plate to lead the Kermit attack while Dakota Walker also had a big hit that spurred a Blue Devil rally.

MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Tuesday, the Mingo County Commission posted on social media that it was mourning the loss of one of it’s commissioners, Gavin Smith. The post read, “His time on the commission may have been brief, but his impact is undeniable.”

Recently-elected Mingo County Commissioner Gavin Smith of Gilbert died late Monday night, June 7, apparently of natural causes, according to courthouse officials. Smith was elected to office in November 2020 and began his first political term in January. The Mingo County Commission confirmed Smith’s passing in a statement. “In his...