Prestonsburg, Ky -Officials in Floyd County have announced a free tire collection event set for March 19 through March 21. It will be held in the open lot beside Dollar General at the intersection of Highway 80 and Highway 680. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first two days, and from 8 a.m. until noon on the final day. They’ll accept farm implements, bicycle, motorcycle, go-cart, ATV, tractor, truck and passenger vehicle tires. For more details, you can visit the Floyd County Judge-Executive’s Facebook page.

Prestonsburg, Ky – The Floyd County Fiscal Court is partnering with Pike and Martin counties to upgrade regional emergency communications systems. At its February 18 meeting, the court approved a resolution to jointly seek funding from the Center for Rural Development for a new, regional two-way radio system. The resolution notes communication struggles during the 2022 Allen shooting and recent catastrophic flooding and says working together as one region will create a stronger communications network. The court supports all efforts to secure state and federal money for a trunked radio system that provides full coverage for first responders across the three counties.

Prestonsburg, Ky – Olympic cycling qualifiers are returning to the region, and this time they’re headed to Eastern Kentucky. The Kentucky Road Racing Series, the state’s USA Cycling–sanctioned race series, will bring top cyclists to Prestonsburg this summer. Organizers Nikki and Don Fields are helping ensure the event runs smoothly. The course is a 17-mile loop that runs through downtown Prestonsburg before circling back through Jenny Wiley State Park.

Pike County, Ky – A Pike County man originally charged with manslaughter in a fentanyl overdose has been given a probated sentence on a lesser charge. Twenty-eight-year-old Jimmy Gage Adkins of Robinson Creek was sentenced to two years in prison, probated for two years without supervision, for first-degree possession of a controlled substance as part of a plea deal. He was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter and as a persistent felony offender, after prosecutors said he distributed fentanyl that led to another man’s death. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Smith said the agreement was reached in felony mediation with the victim’s family, after concerns about the strength of the evidence. Court records show Adkins has five prior felony convictions, including drug trafficking.