Prestonsburg, Ky – A Johnson County man who once shot a Prestonsburg Police officer is facing a new charge for allegedly threatening the Floyd County Jailer. Robert Powers, 38, of Sitka, formerly of Auxier, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2018 for the 2015 shooting of officer Adam Dixon, who survived. Prosecutors say Powers was released after serving just under 10 years on Kentucky’s Mandatory Reentry Supervision program. While being held at the Floyd County Detention Center, Powers allegedly said he knows where Jailer Steve Little lives and isn’t afraid to “do the same” to Little that he did to Dixon.

Prestonsburg, Ky – Leaders gathered in downtown Prestonsburg Thursday to celebrate the completion of a new outpatient clinic dedicated to serving local veterans. The Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center Clinic, now open on North Highland Avenue, is designed to double the usable space of the previous facility, allowing more room for patient care, services, and staff. During a ribbon cutting ceremony, local and federal officials praised the project as a major investment in veterans’ health in Eastern Kentucky, and an open house that followed gave veterans, families, and community members a first look inside the expanded clinic.

Martin County, Ky – Martin County residents will have two more opportunities this year to take care of driver licensing needs closer to home as popup licensing events return to the public libraries. On August 4, services will be offered at the Rufus Reed Public Library on Riverfront Road in Lovely, and on October 6, they will be available at the Martin County Public Library in Inez. Registration for the August 4 event opens July 21 at 8 a.m., and registration for the October 6 event opens September 22 at 8 a.m. Residents can sign up and find more information by visiting drive.ky.gov.

Boyd County, Ky – A Lawrence County, Ohio man will serve 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a minor and producing child pornography in Boyd County. Federal prosecutors say 26‑year‑old Michael Merrick of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced April 14 in U.S. District Court in Ashland to 360 months for production of child pornography. According to court documents, in September 2024 Merrick sexually abused a minor and took sexually explicit photos of her on his phone in Boyd County. Under federal law, he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence and will be supervised by the U.S. Probation for 25 years after his release.