WARFIELD WET VOTE A LANDSLIDE, 67-4
The approximately 300 citizens of the city of Warfield decided this week to stop traveling across the Kermit bridge to get a case of beer and voted 64-4 to legalize the sale of alcohol within the city limits, Donald York, publisher of Martin County’s online news, The Mountain Wolf said today.
Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles told WSAZ the vote was 67-4 in favor of the wet-dry vote.
The state’s new law which allows cities and precincts, no matter the size to petition and vote on the issue made it possible for the vote to take place. Kentucky citizens have been forced to ravel across the bridge to Kermit to purchase alcohol for generations and many a family has become wealthy running bars, nightclubs and carry-outs in Kermit, W.Va.
Martin County Sheriff John Kirk could not be reached for comment about the additional work the vote will mean for his department. Warfield does not have a city police department.
Date: 09-28-2016
Paintsville mayor found guilty
By Elaine Belcher
The Paintsville Herald
After closing statements Tuesday afternoon, the jury in the case of the United States vs. Robert Porter, mayor of Paintsville, deliberated for four hours before returning with a guilty verdict on counts one, two and four of the superseding indictment.
The jury was released after rendering its verdict. A sentencing hearing has been set by Judge Danny C. Reeves, United States District Judge, for Jan. 12, 2017 at the federal courthouse in Pikeville.
Counts one and two are, “… misapplication of property, in reference to at least $5,000 for the payment of various Mayor’s personal expenses and utilities usage that was allowed to go unpaid, which money and property was in the care, custody and control of the city and Paintsville Utilities, all in violation of 18 U.S.C §§666(1)(A) and 2.” Porter faced this charge along with former Paintsville Utilities manager Larry Herald, who had been convicted in July on charges of lying to the FBI during the course of the investigation.
SEPT. 27, 2016
BODY FOUND IN MILO COMMUNITY OF MARTIN COUNTY, KY
By Donald York
SEPT 22, 2016 – MARTIN CO. KY – A body was found in the Milo community of Martin County, Ky. At this time I have been working with WSIP News Director Scott Ratliff to get details from KSP. Scott Ratliff spoke with Trooper Steven Mounts with the KSP, the Public Information Officer. He said at this time the only information they can release is that Human Remains were indeed found in the MIlo community. He did not speculate on male ore female, just said Human Remains. At this time, the lead investigator is Det. Jason Dials and he and others are still on scene gathering the Remains and other information. The Remains will be sent to the State Medical Examiners Office in Frankfort for positive identification.
Last year Martin County resident Scottie Fannin went missing and an extensive manhunt was undertaken to find him. Milo Lake was drained and dozens of people searched the area for Fannin, 32, of Milo.
The remains found this week were in the vicinity of where Fannin was last seen.