ABINGDON, Va. — A pair of Wise County residents pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, related to what authorities describe as a major meth and fentanyl operation. Bradley Mitchell Chester, 39, and Jaime Allison Foster, 24, both of Pound, appeared in U.S. District Court in Abingdon on Friday, where they entered their guilty pleas. Authorities say the pair would travel to Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina to purchase drugs to resell in Wise County. Officials say they traveled to Kentucky and Tennessee multiple times a week to buy pressed fentanyl pills and would go to North Carolina once every three […]

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JENKINS, Ky. — A $20,000 grant from AARP Kentucky will help rebuild damaged sidewalks, create a walking trail, install benches and create a mural in Jenkins, as part of the recovery from the deadly 2022 flood that took the lives of 45 residents across Eastern Kentucky. Rachel Rosolina, communications director for the nonprofit Appalshop, explained because its headquarters was severely damaged by the flooding, staff has temporarily moved to neighboring Jenkins, where the grant will help improve walkability. She noted the new walking trail and benches will begin at a local senior center and extend about a mile into downtown. […]

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CLINTWOOD, Va. — Students can get free or low-cost training in skilled trades in Clintwood beginning this August, thanks to a partnership between the Dickenson County Industrial Development Authority and Mountain Empire Community College. The partnership and skilled trades training opportunity are the result of an Appalachian Regional Commission Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) grant, Project Amelioration. The project is a community-partnership program that supports those seeking recovery from substance use disorder by providing career training to help participants re-enter the workforce. Enrollment is open to anyone 17 years old and older; a GED or high school diploma is […]

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RACCOON, Ky. — A Pike County couple is facing a child abuse charge, after their daughter sought a neighbor’s help when they passed out and she couldn’t wake them. The neighbor called police after the 7-year-old girl showed up at her house just after 2 a.m., Friday. Police went to the home on Keene Village Drive at Raccoon and couldn’t get anybody to come to the door, but they went inside after looking through the window and seeing a woman on the couch who appeared to be possibly dead. The woman, identified variously in public records as either 46-year-old Mandy […]

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A former Pikeville psychiatrist has been ordered to spend more than two years in prison, for illegally prescribing ADHD medications to patients without a legitimate medical need. Jason Noah Stamper, 52, pleaded guilty in March to a single count of distributing amphetamine. In his plea agreement, he admitted to improperly prescribing Ritalin and Adderall to an undercover DEA agent, after the agent asked for something to give him “a kick in the britches.” On Monday, U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves ordered him to serve 32 months in prison. In his sentencing order, the judge recommended that he […]

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