Local News in Letcher County
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The Mountain Eagle
Published September 09Couple arrested after visiting sheriff’s office to complain about their names appearing in the paper
A Millstone husband and wife were arrested when they went to the Letcher County Sheriff’s Office to complain that publication of their names in the newspaper had led to harassment, Sheriff Billy Jones said. Darrell E. Heiston, 38, and Luetta Heiston, 32, had been named in The…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 09Both school districts are projecting gains from property taxes
Property tax revenue is expected to increase for both public school districts in Letcher County under rates proposed for the coming fiscal year, although the Jenkins Independent School District plans to lower its rates. The Letcher County Board of Education is proposing a…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 09Food giveaway helps pets remain with families
What began as one woman’s plan to establish another animal shelter in Letcher County has become an effort to keep pets out of shelters and in the homes of people who already love them. Scarlet ’s Hope of Letcher County distributed free dog food, treats and chew toys in Fleming…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 09Funeral services are set for Linda Combs
Funeral services will be held Saturday for Linda Le Combs, 87, who died September 5 at Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital. Born at Ice on April 4, 1939, she was a daughter of the late William Hugh and Hazel Cook Brown. Mrs. Combs grew up in the Ice community and was…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 02Blackey’s unusual Dolly Parton connection
The town of Blackey is seen from above in this drone photograph by Mountain Eagle contributing photographer Malcolm J. Wilson, taken on a foggy morning before the catastrophic July 2022 flood altered parts of the community’s downtown. Blackey also has an unusual place in Dolly…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 02Sides disagree on where Stines trial should take place
Defense attorneys for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines are continuing to oppose moving his murder trial out of Letcher County, but say that if the trial is moved, they want it held in Pike County, where two of his attorneys grew up and attended school.…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 022nd plea brings same 10-year term
A Jenkins man who appealed his guilty plea to 185 sex offenses involving a girl under age 16 has pleaded guilty again to the same charges. He received the same sentence the second time. Gary Dean Adams Jr., 48, of Smokey Row in Jenkins, signed his original guilty plea in 2024,…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 02County officials are seeking feds’ help in clearing streams
A renewed push to remove sediment and debris from Letcher County streams has now been put directly before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the agency continues a major study that could determine how eastern Kentucky communities are protected from flooding for decades to come.…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 02Rogers: Federal prison project moving ahead
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers says planning is continuing for the proposed federal prison at Roxana, including work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Rogers gave the update while meeting with local officials and Corps representatives in Whitesburg on August 19. “I am receiving monthly…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 02Whitaker reverses course, now opposes data centers
State Rep. Mitch Whitaker, whose 94th House District includes all of Letcher County and portions of Harlan and Pike counties, says he has changed his position on large-scale artificial intelligence data centers and would no longer support the tax incentives he voted to expand…
The Mountain Eagle
Published September 02Corps widened Neon streams in 1962
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has worked on flood-control channels in the Fleming-Neon area before. A federal project completed in October 1962 widened portions of Boone Fork, Wright Fork and Yonts Fork in an effort to reduce flooding in the Neon-Fleming area. According to…