2021 Year in Review

January

• Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin Counties began 2021 the same way they ended in 2020 — in the red zone on the state’s COVID-19 incident rate map. But COVID-19 vaccinations arrived in the Big Sandy region with health departments in Lawrence, Martin and Johnson counties administering them to qualified individuals.

• The Lawrence County Courthouse remained closed by executive order and was to be reassessed on Jan. 8, 2021.

• A local karate kid and actor is featured in the Netflix series “Cobra Kai.” Shawn Weston Thacker, an eighth-grader at Louisa Middle School, plays a dojo student in the third season of the series, which is a sequel to “The Karate Kid” films and takes place three decades after the original movie.

• Sentencing was scheduled for April 30 in U.S. District Court in Pikeville for a Johnson County doctor who waived indictment and pleaded guilty to drug charges. Dr. Jason Castle pleaded guilty to criminal information charging him with eight counts of intentionally distributing a controlled substance through prescriptions that were not issued for a legitimate purpose.

• Two brothers, Donald Levoughn Gussler and Montie Gussler, both convicted of brutally killing an elderly Lawrence County man and his daughter in May 1986, were coming up for parole in May.

• U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. announced that he would resign effective at midnight on Jan. 24 and said that he would enter private law practice in Lexington.

• Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt announced his appointment to the National Justice and Public Safety Committee of the National Association of Counties.

• A Lawrence County teen, Emily Neal, was nominated for academic recognition as a delegate representing Kentucky at the 2021 Congress of Future Medical Leaders.

• A Floyd county man, Kenny Logan Chaffins, was arrested and charged with shooting his parents.

COVID-19 incident rates dropped in the Big Sandy region, but Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties remained in the red zone.

• Members of the Fallsburg Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire on 3-D Road, but the structure was a total loss.

• Following a three-year freeze on base rates for Kentucky Power customers, the Kentucky Public Service Commission issued an order setting new rates effective Jan. 14.

• The Louisa City Council authorized Mayor Harold Slone to apply for funding for a refurbishing project at Fire Station #1.

• Lawrence County native Bobby Cyrus and wife Teddi Cyrus released a new music video to accompany their new single, “My Wedding Day.”

• Fallsburg Elementary’s academic team won the District 68 Governor’s Cup championship and Johnson Central High School’s academic team won the District 60 Governor’s Cup championship.

• James Hager 48, of Inez, died in a commercial vehicle collision in the Hardy community of Pike County. Hager was operating a 1990 white Kenworth tractor trailer loaded with logs on Ky. 319 when he lost control, causing his vehicle to overturn. Debris from the vehicle struck a pickup parked in the driveway of a nearby residence. Larry Stanley 59, of Hardy was inside the vehicle but didn’t suffer any injuries.

• Lawrence and Johnson counties began offering in-person learning to students who wanted to return to the classroom. Paintsville Independent and Martin County planned to resume in-person instruction on Feb. 1.

• Christopher Newsome, 28, of Debord, was indicted for second-degree manslaughter; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, fentanyl; and second-degree persistent felony offender. According to the indictment, Newsome allegedly caused the death of Ryan Scott Marcum in July by providing him with fentanyl. He also possessed fentanyl and is a previously convicted felon.

• James Fitzpatrick, 26, of Fallsburg, was fatally shot in Fort Gay, W.Va., and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the case.

• Police confiscated drugs and $20,000 in cash when two people were arrested in Martin. Brian Shepherd, 37, of Prestonsburg and Tequila Gould, of Berea were both arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, crystal methamphetamine, and first and second-degree possession of a controlled substance. Officers recovered crystal meth, plastic baggies, other drugs and $20,000 in cash.

February

• The Lawrence County Courthouse remained closed, and it was agreed that the status would be reassessed on Feb. 5.

• The Williamsport Volunteer Fire Department in Johnson County reported a break on Hammond Hill, saying the road was getting worse and notified 911 that if there is an emergency, they would have to take the gravel road.

• The Martin County Water District announced that it would be reinstating disconnects for customers for non-payment.

• Pikeville Medical Center began offering COVID-19 vaccinations to both healthcare personnel working in any setting where patient care occurs, living or practicing anywhere in Kentucky, as well as persons 60 years of age and up preferably living in Pike, Floyd, Knott, Lawrence, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin and Johnson counties.

• Paul B. Hall Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

• Lawrence County native Jason Michael left the Indianapolis Colts to become tight ends coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Lawrence and Floyd counties were among 18 counties to receive a total of $580,000 to clean up illegal open dumps. As part of the grant funding, counties agree to provide a 25 percent match of the grant amount. Lawrence County was approved for $16,842.05 and Floyd County for $25, 731.65.

• A Pikeville man was arrested in Floyd County following a police pursuit of a vehicle that was reported stolen from Ohio. Daniel Brock, 21, was arrested and charged with numerous offenses following the chase, which began in Pike County.

• Freezing rain paralyzed the Big Sandy region. After being hit with an ice storm late in the previous week, the region got another round that was so severe that even state highway crews could do little to ease the situation.

• Brandon Chapman, 36, of Tomahawk, died after being accidentally electrocuted along the bank of the Tug River. Chapman allegedly got entangled in live electric wires and stuck with 7,200 volts, according to Martin County Coroner Chris Todd, who pronounced him dead at the scene.

• Lawrence County Animal Control announced on its Facebook page that animal ID tags have been ordered and are available through Jess Perry or the Lawrence County Judge-Executive’s Office. Perry said it is a requirement by county ordinance for pet owners to have a tag for their dogs or cats and that all owners will be required to purchase a tags before retrieving any lost animal.

• Louisa native Chandler Shepherd signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. Shepherd is a Lawrence County High School graduate and he pitched in five games, 19 innings for the Baltimore Orioles during the 2019 Major League Baseball season, logging five starts as part of his MLB debut campaign. Shepherd recorded 17 strikeouts in 19 innings during the 2019 Major League Baseball season.

• The Big Sandy region was recovering from ice and snow storms, with more than 51,000 Kentucky customers without power.

• Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin Counties changed colors as far as their COVID-19 numbers were concerned. After months of being classified as being in the red zone, the four counties switched colors as their numbers declined, with Lawrence in the yellow zone, and Johnson, Floyd and Martin in the orange zone.

• Michael Lee Sloas, 37, of Louisa, died in a house fire Feb. 17, and the fire marshal was investigating.

March

• Flooding replaced ice and snow as the latest weather emergency in the region. Roadways became waterways and flooding replaced the ice and snow as the latest weather emergency in the region and across Kentucky.

• Lawrence and Martin counties returned to the red zone on the COVID-19 map as Johnson and Floyd remained in the yellow zone.

• Johnson County High School won its 21st Governor’s Cup regional title, taking first place overall, and winning quick recall and future problem solving competitions as well as two individual contests.

• A Louisa man died as a result of injuries suffered in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Ky. 3 and U.S. 23. Gregory Lee Arrington, 56, was treated at the scene and then transported to Three Rivers Medical Center in Louisa, where he was later pronounced dead.

• Floodwater was gone in the Big Sandy region, but the recovery was just beginning. A section of Rt. 292 in Lovely, approximately 1.5 miles from the Pike/Martin county line, was closed until further notice because one lane collapsed into the river and the other was hollowed out beneath it, according to Martin County Sheriff John Kirk. A large embankment failure occurred at the Paintsville City Garage on River Road that affected multiple vehicles and other equipment.

• A Johnson County man died in a mobile home fire. Johnson County Coroner J.R. Frisby identified the victim as Ralph Blakeman, 61, of Sitka.

• A Johnson County doctor, Jason Castle, was sentenced to 22 months in prison after he waived indictment and entered a guilty plea to eight counts of intentionally distributing a controlled substance through prescriptions that were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose.

• Kentucky State Police conducted a death investigation in Martin County involving a woman, April Brewer, whose body was found in a ditch on River Front Road, along Rt. 292, in Lovely.

• An Ohio woman, Hope R. Grissom, 42, was arrested on U.S. 23 after police discovered that the Gummy Bears she said she had in her mouth were actually drugs.

• A domestic incident led to a police pursuit that begin in West Virginia, continued in Kentucky and ended in the Mountain State when Maynard Hay’s vehicle caught fire. A Louisa police cruiser was damaged during the incident when it was hit by Hay’s vehicle.

• Marlena Evans, 43, of Lovely, robbed a Warfield pharmacy at knife point but passed out before she could make her getaway and wound up in the hospital instead.

• The Louisa City Council was minus one member following the resignation of Mitch Castle. He resigned his seat because he was moving outside the city limits.

• Paintsville High School Senior Rexford Castle received a phone call from Congressman Hal Rogers notifying him that he had received an appointment to West Point Academy.

• Martin County Judge-Executive Bill Davis surprised everybody during a special Zoom meeting by offering his resignation, effective March 26.

• Paintsville firefighter and paramedic Brian Moore died from injuries he received in a motorcycle crash.

• Gov. Andy Beshear submitted a request for a federal disaster declaration for Kentucky counties affected by the severe winter storm system that hit Feb. through Feb. 19.

• The Louisa City Council was presented with the city’s 2019-2020 fiscal-year audit during a special meeting.

• A woman identified as Jane Doe by law enforcement was arrested for public intoxication after police received a call about a woman talking to a flag pole.

• William Chafin, 32, of Louisa, was charged with public intoxication of a controlled substance, excluding alcohol, after Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Chase Kirk observed him walking on Jefferson Street with sticks on his head. Chafin told the officer that he was a deer and showed him that he was no harm to himself or anyone. Chafin told Kirk that he had taken methamphetamine earlier.

• Members of Lawrence County law enforcement, fire departments and emergency service agencies as well as motorcycle club members escorted the hearse carrying the body of Paintsville firefighter and paramedic Brian Moore on U.S. 23 as it made its way to Paintsville from Charleston, W.Va.

• The Kentucky Supreme Court ordered a new trial for a Lawrence county man convicted of raping, sodomizing and sexually abusing a juvenile in 2016 and 2017. The state’s highest court reversed James Gartin’s conviction and 70-year sentence, saying the jury was not properly instructed by the judge.

• Martin County Magistrate Victor Slone was temporarily appointed by his fellow magistrates to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Martin County Judge-Executive Bill Davis.

Ale Keith, 47, of Mallie, and Ricky Copley, 32, of Lackey, were arrested after they fled from law enforcement on U.S. 23 with items including a large quantity of beef jerky taken from the Louisa Walmart.

• The Martin County Public Library announced that it signed a long-term lease with the Roy F. Collier Community Center that would provide an opportunity for the library to expand services and programs while also allowing the community center to regain prominence as a fun, family-friendly environment that the whole region can enjoy.

• The Lawrence County Public Library announced a limited time financial amnesty program for its patrons.

April

• Graveside services were held for Lawrence County’s longest-serving sheriff, Garrett Roberts, who died following an extended illness. The former sheriff who was laid to rest at Yatesville Memorial Gardens.

• Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties were included in a federal disaster declaration issued by President Joe Biden stemming from winter storms that hit the state in February.

• The Martin County Water District posted a customer notice on Facebook announcing that it was seeking a rate increase and had filed an application with the Public Service Commission.

• Yatesville Lake celebrated its 30th birthday with events and activities at the Lawrence County showcase.

• Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs, a Lawrence County native, announced that he had finally received his high school diploma, nearly 50 years after leaving school. Lawrence County School Superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher said he felt that Skaggs lacked only an English credit and that with all his writing country and bluegrass songs, it was evident that he deserved a high school diploma.

• Kentucky State Police in Pikeville launched a death investigation after the body of a Johnson County man was found outside a residence on Slate Branch Road. Terry Hall, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the cause of the death remained under investigation.

• A Paintsville woman, Lavonna L. Collins, 33, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at the Shell gas station on Ky. 321 in Paintsville. She was charged with first-degree robbery.

• Louisa City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Joey McClanahan to the seat vacated last month by Mitch Castle, who resigned because he was moving outside the city limits.

• Lawrence County High and Louisa Middle schools were on lockdown briefly when a man was seen near the campuses with what appeared to be a firearm. Bailey Maynard, 21, of Louisa, brought a BB gun upon school grounds and went walking toward the wooded area in a manner that raised suspicion and alarm, school officials said. Maynard was taken into custody and charged with terroristic threatening, menacing and second-degree disorderly conduct. He was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Johnson County.

• A Prestonsburg police officer with a background as a firefighter and certified EMT saved a female who had overdosed and was dumped out at a gas station, authorities said. Five hours later, the same officer arrested the alleged drug distributor, Phillip Burgin of Johnson County, who was charged with a parole board warrant; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, heroin; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, methamphetamine; first-degree wanton endangerment; two counts of second-degree wanton endangerment; tampering with physical evidence; first-degree promoting contraband; first-degree persistent felony offender and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• The Lawrence County Extension Service celebrated Earth Day with Lawrence County students by planting trees at Fallsburg Elementary and planting flowers at Louisa East Elementary.

May

• Septemberfest officials announced that the festival would return in 2021 after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

• A fundraising project was underway to raise money to pay for the preservation of two historic grave houses at a Lawrence County cemetery. A grave house is a structure built over or near a grave as a way to protect it and keep grave robbers away. The two structures are located at the Hay and Sparks Cemetery at Martha.

• The Louisa Cause For Paws fundraiser was held at the Lawrence County Community Center in Louisa, raising approximately $4,500 for the Lawrence County Humane Society to be used for food, medications, utilities or where they see the most need at the time.

• The Louisa Police Department announced that Jeremy Ray Burris was apprehended in Clarksville, Ind., and that he would be extradited back to Lawrence County to face a first-degree armed robbery charge in connection with a robbery at knife point at Walgreen’s in Louisa in April.

• The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued an order approving a compensation rate for energy exported from net metering customers under Kentucky Powers newly offered net metering tariff, NMS II.

• A couple was arrested in the Warfield community in Martin County after they were caught having sex in public. Bobby Douglas Cantrell, 29, and Ladona Jude, 33, both of Delbarton, W.Va., were charged with first-degree indecent exposure.

• Katie Webb, a Lawrence County native and former principal at Paintsville Elementary School, was hired as the new chief academic officer for the Lawrence County School District.

• A major highway project for Floyd County was announced at Floyd Central High School by Gov. Andy Beshear. The $34 million road project will complete the last section of a long-awaited connector highway between the communities of Minnie and Harold, according to Beshear.

• Kentucky State Police announced that they, in conjunction with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, will transition to regional test sites in June for people who are interested in obtaining a driver’s license.

• The Louisa Police Department extradited Jeremy Ray Burris from Indiana back to Lawrence County to face charges of first-degree robbery in connection with the Walgreens armed robbery in April.

June

• The Johnson County Fiscal Court awarded a bid for engineering services for its industrial park at Hager Hill. The $13,500 bid was awarded to Bocook Engineering of Paintsville during a special meeting May 26, and it is contingent upon its compliance with the bid specifications, according to Johnson County Judge-Executive Mark McKenzie.

• A Lawrence County man, Dale Allen Fraley, 49, was convicted by a federal jury in Ashland of 11 counts of child pornography charges and was scheduled for formal sentencing before U.S. District Judge David Bunning in October.

• The Martin County Fiscal Court terminated the employment of Martin County Emergency Management Director Eric Jude. Judge-Executive Victor Slone asked for a motion to terminate Jude’s employment. Magistrate Roger Preece made the motion which was seconded by Magistrate Mark Blackburn. Magistrates Jared Goforth and Derek Stepp abstained from the vote, and Magistrate Junior Hunt voted against the motion.

• Louisa Police Sgt. Steven Wilburn received the Louisa Police Commendation Medal at a meeting of the Louisa City Council. The medal was presented to Wilburn by Louisa Mayor Harold Slone and Louisa Police Chief Greg Fugitt for Wilburn’s heroic actions that saved two individuals in separate incidents on the same shift.

• A Martin County man died May 26 when the car he was working on fell on him. James Brandon Preece, 39, of Big Elk Creek, was working on the transmission of his Mustang, according to Martin County Coroner Chris Todd. “He had it up on metal ramps and it rolled on him and pinned him underneath it,” Todd said.

• Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan and his wife, Joy, were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and federal program theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington. Michael Hogan, 53, was charged with nine counts of wire fraud and five counts of federal program theft. Joy Hogan, 41, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

• The eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute Robotics Center officially opened in Paintsville with a celebration attended by invited representatives from both industry and government.

• A Pennsylvania man was indicted in a fatality that occurred earlier in the year in Lawrence County. Andrew J. Roxby, 34, of Pittson, Pa., was charged with reckless homicide in a Feb. 26 crash that claimed the life of Gregory Arrington.

• A 1-year old girl was flown to Cabell Huntington Hospital after being knocked down by a tractor that her grandfather was using to mow the hillside.

• Kentucky State Police arrested a Lawrence County man, Todd Whitt, 35, after he stabbed two people in Martin County. Whitt was charged with two counts of attempted murder after he stabbed Niki Boyles and Shawn Blevins, causing serious injuries to both, police said.

• Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan, 53, and his wife, Joy Hogan, 41, charged in a June 3, indictment involving wire fraud, federal program theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments in Lexington.

• A suspect was identified but no arrest had been made in a robbery at Citizens Bank of Kentucky in Louisa. Police were searching for Seth Garrett Frank, 33, of Louisa, formerly of Mason, W.Va. in connection with the robbery.

• Retired Circuit Judge Steven Nick Fraizer, whose ruling in a lawsuit led to a landmark Kentucky upreme Court decision in 1987 declaring the state’s broad form deed, unconstitutional, died at his home in Paintsville.

• The Lawrence County Board of Education would eventually have to revisit the controversial issue of a nickel tax in order to finance construction of a new Louisa West Elementary School, Superintendent Dr. Robbie Fletcher told board members at their regular monthly meeting. The issue popped up during the board’s regular meeting as Fletcher discussed recent funding for several school construction projects across the state in which Lawrence County was not included.

• The Louisa Police Department received several counterfeit money complaints from various locations throughout the city and asked residents to pay attention when accepting money.

• The Louisa City Council hired an engineer to help plan for a new wastewater treatment plant for the city. Council members approved Mayor Harold Slone’s recommendation to hire the Kentucky Engineering Group as engineer for the project. Slone said a new plant was estimated to cost $9 million.

• A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the site of AppleAtcha, a newly established apple orchard in Martin County that officials said would revive the area’s economy by creating new jobs and a new industry to replace the coal business that once sustained families. Local businessman James H. Booth talked about repurposing the reclaimed mine land by growing apples.

• The Louisa Police Department announced that four people had been arrested in connection with the department’s counterfeit money case. Dustin Henry, 37, Brian Wolford, 38, Amy Gantt, 32, and Kenneth Fitch, 47, all from Lawrence County, were charged with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, which is a Class C felony.

JULY

• Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Martin and Floyd counties along with the city of Prestonsburg were among the beneficiaries of $11.8 million in discretionary transportation funding for street and road repairs. Martin County received $278,000 for resurfacing Wolf Creek Old Country Road, Trace Fork, Davella, Long Branch and Big Mud Lick Road. Floyd County got $188,000 to resurface Happy Hollow Road, Shop Branch of Bull Creek Road and the Left Fork of Moore Fork Road, while Prestonsburg was allocated $11,839 to resurface Memorial Road.

• Youth service centers at schools in Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties received grants to fund educational support services needed due to COVID-19’s impact on schools, youth and families, with focus on early childhood education and child care.

• Lawrence County native Larry Cordle was nominated for inclusion into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

• The Lawrence County Fiscal Court approved its lease with Sullivan University, which has a learning center in the courthouse annex. The lease allowed the school to continue using the front of the building, to give Lawrence County students a 30 percent discount and to pay the utilities on the whole building.

• Figures from the Centers for Disease Control showed that more than 63,000 people in Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or had been fully vaccinated.

• New Louisa Rotary Club officers were sworn in, including President Patton Hart, Vice President Harold Slone, Secretary Ellen Taylor, Treasurer Ginger Copley, Chaplain Tommy Taylor, sergeant at arms/greeters Susie Chambers and Carolyn Thompson, song leader Dan Smith and photographer/historian Beverly Scarberry.

• Attorney General Daniel Cameron said his office had filed a regulation to establish a new standardized form that the public could use to make open records requests to public agencies subject to the Opens Records Act.

• Kentucky Power awarded a $35,375 grant to the Johnson County Fiscal Court for its Hager Hill industrial site development. The money will assist in the design and engineering phase of the plan to obtain a certification for the site.

• Kentucky State Police received a request for assistance from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office after a man was found dead in the Peach Orchard community of Lawrence County near Ky. 3.

The victim was identified as Carl Daniel, 58, and evidence at the scene suggested foul play, according to a release issued by the Kentucky State Police in Ashland.

• A judge granted a continuance in the federal trial of Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan and his wife, Joy, on wire fraud charges.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove rescheduled the Hogans’ Aug. 16 trial date to Jan. 18, 2022, and also declared the case complex.

Lawyers for the Hogans filed a joint motion asking that the case be declared complex and that their August trial date be continued.

• The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned 16 indictments Thursday, including one against a man accused of taking money from Citizens Bank of Kentucky in Louisa in June.

Seth Frank, 33, of Louisa, was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $500 and endangering the welfare of a minor for allegedly taking $2,342 in cash from Citizens Bank in Louisa and failing or refusing to exercise diligence in the control of a minor to prevent the child from becoming a neglected, dependent or delinquent child.

• Homeowners and renters affected by severe flooding earlier this year in Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties were given more time to apply for federal assistance when theFederal Emergency Management Agency again extended the deadline for Kentuckians affected by severe storms to apply for assistance under the individual assistance program.

• Maryland Conn Jr., 97, of Martin, was killed in a two-vehicle collision at Minnie, according to the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office. The preliminary investigation indicated that Conn was traveling east on Ky. 680 and attempting to make a left turn onto Ky. 122 when he pulled into the path of a utility/dump-style truck driven by Larry Compton, 56, of Minnie, who was driving south on Ky. 122.

• Johnson County School Superintendent Thom Cochran was one of several education officials who addressed a state legislative committee about how federal COVID-19 relief funding was being used across the state. Cochran told the Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education that figuring out how to effectively teach remotely was very difficult but allowed school districts to make “great improvements” in their educational technology.

• The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order authorizing the Martin County Water District an interim emergency rate increase “necessary to prevent the district from falling further into financial and operational distress.” The district had sought a rate adjustment in April and had requested emergency rates be permitted while the commission conducted a review of its rate adjustment.

• A Louisa man was arrested in connection with a stolen golf cart and Gator side by side in the Fallsburg community of Lawrence County. Kenneth McKinster, 32, was charged with three counts of failure to appear; second-degree criminal trespassing; theft by unlawful taking or auto to sell; theft by unlawful taking an auto $500 or more but under $10,000; drug paraphernalia-buy/possess; and two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

• The Martin County Grand Jury returned seven indictments, including one for assault of a former Martin County sheriff. Marion Marcum Jr., 35, and Mikaela L. Horn, 26, both of Inez, were charged with second-degree assault/complicity for allegedly, acting alone or in complicity with each other, intentionally assaulting former Sheriff Garmon Preece, causing him serious physical injury, on May 14.

• The Highland Elementary Site-Based Decision-Making Council selected Melissa Davis as the school’s new principal. A graduate of Johnson Central High School, Davis began her tenure in the Johnson County School District over 20 years ago as a math teacher at Johnson County Middle School. She has also served in the capacity of coach, 21st Century after-school coordinator and assistant principal at Johnson County Middle School.

• The Martin County Sheriff’s Office’s conducted a last call for its K-9 officer, Grim, who died suddenly.

• The Lawrence County Board of Education approved a “Safe Return to In-person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan” as the district prepared for the opening of school in August. The plan encouraged but did not require social distancing and the wearing of masks in school buildings.

• The Lawrence County Fiscal Court voted to terminate Joy Hogan from the county payroll. She and her husband, County Attorney Mike Hogan, were indicted in June on charges of wire fraud and federal program theft.

• Johnson Central High School Principal Noel Crum was named assistant superintendent and moved to the district’s central office. Justin Arms was hired as Crum’s replacement at JCHS.

• An August sentencing date was scheduled for Elwood “Woody” Six of Inez, who was convicted on a reckless homicide charge in the December 2017 shooting death of his cousin, Rodney Stepp.

• A Lawrence County man was arrested after being pursued through two states. Brandon Fasnacht, 23, was charged in West Virginia with fleeing in a vehicle, no insurance and driving on a suspended license. The pursuit began in Louisa with both the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the Louisa Police Department in pursuit to Boyd County. It continued to the Kenova area of Wayne County, W.Va.

• April Ann Harper, 37; Heather S. Savage, 44; Timothy S. Harper, 20; Jeffery A. Harper, 50; and James M. Kise, 53, all of Louisa, were charged with engaging in organized crime involving drugs.

• Leadership Kentucky announced the members of the BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2021, which included Chris Whitenack of Lawrence County, representing Addiction Recovery Care; Toni Ousley of Johnson County, representing Big Sandy Skills U; Timothy Caldwell of Floyd County, representing Mr. Tibbs Trading Company; and Colby Hall of Floyd County, representing SOAR.

• The Lawrence County Fair was held at its new permanent location on Pine Hill Road.

• The Johnson County Grand Jury declined to return an indictment in the Oct. 17, 2019, shooting death of Joseph Snipes II, saying “insufficient evidence was presented to warrant” charges. Misty Snipes told authorities at the time that she had shot her estranged husband.

• The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced that Lawrence was one of nine counties that would transition in August to a new, secure driver-licensing model, meaning that the Lawrence Circuit Clerk’s Office would no longer issue licenses after that date.

• Louisa, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Martin, Wheelwright, Wayland, Inez and Warfield were awarded a portion of more than $157 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to offset expenses related to COVID-19.

• Annexation and code enforcement were the main topics of discussion at the July meeting of the Louisa City Council.

• Members of Class #9 graduated from the Hass eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute in Paintsville.

• Rent to Own in louisa hosted a back-to-school bash to distribute school supplies to students from Lawrence County and the surrounding area.

• Randy Woods was named Prestonsburg’s new police chief, replacing his father, Larry Woods, who retired in June.

• Interim Floyd County School Superintendent Anna Shepherd was awarded a four-year contact by the Floyd County Board of Education.