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The Mountain Eagle, Whitesburg, KY (2026)

10/01/2026

STINES ASKS APPEALS COURT TO BLOCK SECOND MENTAL HEALTH EXAMINATION

Attorneys for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines are asking the Kentucky Court of Appeals to stop a second court-ordered mental health examination that is scheduled for Oct. 14.

In a petition filed Sept. 30, Stines’ lawyers argue he already underwent a criminal-responsibility evaluation through the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center after prosecutors requested one. The defense says prosecutors have not identified any flaw or deficiency in that examination that would justify requiring Stines to submit to another interview.

Prosecutors later sought an additional examination by Indiana psychiatrist Dr. George Parker. Special Judge Christopher Cohron approved that request Aug. 11.

Stines’ attorneys argue a second compelled examination could violate his Fifth Amendment rights and potentially reveal defense strategy. They are asking the Court of Appeals to overturn Cohron’s order or, alternatively, limit prosecutors to having another expert review the existing KCPC report and related records without conducting another interview.

The defense also filed an emergency motion seeking to block the Oct. 14 examination while the appeals court considers the case.

Stines, seen in the photo accompanying this report, is charged with murder in the September 2024 shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins inside Mullins’ chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse.

The Court of Appeals had not ruled on either request as of the filing.

The Mountain Eagle will continue to follow the case as new court filings and rulings become available.

10/01/2026

CLUB CLOSES RATHER THAN GET LIQUOR LICENSE, OFFICIAL SAYS

The City of Jenkins did not close American Legion Post 66, but it did stop the post from operating an unlicensed bar after state investigators documented alcohol sales there, according to city officials and records obtained by The Mountain Eagle.

Link to story in first comment.

09/30/2026

If you think putting gas in your car is draining your wallet dry, ask a trucker what it costs to fill up the two 125-gallon tanks on a typical long-haul tractor.

And even more importantly, consider what it does to everyone’s household budget.

With diesel prices here in Letcher County around $6.299, the cost is around $1,570 per fill-up if a truck’s dual tanks are empty. And while that directly affects truck drivers, it also affects your grocery bills. Transportation costs normally account for nine to 15 percent of a family’s grocery bill, but according to the Independent Grocers Association, that has risen to around 30 percent on some foods since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

Diesel and gas prices have already climbed above the predicted averages here, putting a pinch on local consumers and businesses. Experts including Matt Randolph, a recognized oil and gas industry expert who posts online under the name Mr. Global and a contributing writer for Forbes Magazine, and Tom Klozer, Chief Energy Advisor for Gulf Oil, both predict prices for gas and diesel with continue to rise, especially when the high-demand season hits later this year.

What can you do when prices are exploding for everything you pay for at the pump, the store, and the mailbox? What about small business, churches, nonprofits, government agencies?

Appalachian Citizens Law Center will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. October 6 at the Letcher County Extension office to discuss energy bill reduction strategies for small businesses, churches, and nonprofits. Complete information on the meeting is below. To read how energy prices are eating your tax dollars, read about diesel prices squeezing the county schools’ budget in this week’s edition of The Mountain Eagle.
https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/diesel-costs-squeeze-county-schools-budget/

09/30/2026

PRO WRESTLING FUNDRAISER SATURDAY AT LETCHER COUNTY REC CENTER

Kentucky Championship Wrestling will bring its “Last Rites II” event to the Letcher County Recreation Center on Saturday, October 3, as a fundraiser for the center.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with wrestling beginning at 6:30 p.m.

General admission is $10, and Golden Tickets are $25. One child age 12 or younger will be admitted free with each paid adult.

Tickets are available online or at the recreation center. For more information, visit kyprowrestling.com.

09/30/2026

SOUP BEAN DINNER FRIDAY; MONEY-SAVING LESSON MONDAY

The Letcher County Extension Service is promoting two upcoming events: a soup bean dinner benefiting ovarian cancer research and a lesson on making household dollars go further.

The Homemaker Soup Bean Dinner will be held Friday, October 2, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Letcher County Extension Office. Meals cost $7 and include soup beans, sauerkraut and wieners, cornbread and a drink. All proceeds will go to ovarian cancer research.

“Stretching Your Dollar” is scheduled at the Letcher County Extension Service at noon Monday, October 5. Wolfe County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Andrew Warren will present tips on managing bills, prioritizing expenses, spending wisely and saving on groceries and other essentials.

See the accompanying flyers for details.

09/30/2026

COUNTY GOVERNMENT VOTES TO STUDY FEASIBLITY OF SMALL NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Could small — but expensive — nuclear power plants have a future in Letcher County?

The Letcher Fiscal Court voted unanimously to study the feasibility after a resident proposed generating electricity and supplying data centers as economic development tools. The vote was to explore the possibility; it did not approve construction of a small or micro nuclear power plant.

The cost of bringing $10 million to $50 million for a 20-megawatt unit, one fifth the output needed by a mega-scale data center used for Artificial Intelligence purposes. For a 60 to 300-megawatt unit, the price increases to $1 billion to $3 billion.

Meanwhile, questions remain about enforcing the county’s previously adopted data center moratorium.

Read Sam Adams’s full report in this week’s Mountain Eagle, available in print and online at www.themountaineagle.com.

NOTE: The image accompanying this posting appears courtesy of Nano Nuclear Energy

09/26/2026

COREY SMITH TO CLOSE MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL TONIGHT

The 2026 Letcher County Mountain Heritage Festival wraps up today (Saturday, Sept. 26), with a full schedule of events in downtown Whitesburg and a closing performance by festival headliner Corey Smith.

The opening ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Letcher County Courthouse, followed by the parade at 11 a.m. Food and craft vendors open in Festival Village at 10 a.m.

Family activities include free train rides and a free LEGO mobile tent from noon to 6 p.m. The carnival opens at 1 p.m., and a character meet and greet is scheduled at City Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.

The main-stage schedule begins with a card trading show at noon. Music follows with Donaven Blevins & the Hillbilly Drive Band at 2 p.m., Appalachian Overdrive at 3 p.m., The Drift at 4 p.m., Coal Camp Revival at 5 p.m. and Dirt Famous at 6:30 p.m. Coal Camp Revival plays ’90s country, while eastern Kentucky’s The Drift blends indie rock and Americana.

Smith, who built his following through independent releases and years of touring, is known for songs including “If I Could Do It Again” and “Twenty-One.” The festival’s Saturday schedule lists his closing performance for 9 p.m.

All events are scheduled for downtown Whitesburg. Check the festival’s announcements for any last-minute changes.

09/25/2026

CARNIVAL, MAGIC SHOW AND LIVE MUSIC FILL FRIDAY’S MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

The Mountain Heritage Festival is underway in downtown Whitesburg today, Friday, Sept. 25. Food and craft vendors opened at 10 a.m. in Festival Village, and the carnival is scheduled to open at 1 p.m.

Music on the main stage begins at 4 p.m. with Something Sandy, an indie rock band from Berea whose sound draws on influences including The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Johnny Pop Day, a singer-songwriter from Pikeville, follows at 5 p.m.

A magic show is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Festival Village. Back on the main stage, Karlee & the Kenmont Band perform at 7 p.m.

The evening closes with Already Gone at 8:30 p.m. The central Kentucky tribute band performs the music of the Eagles.

09/25/2026

KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT SUSPENDS ATTORNEY JENNIFER TAYLOR

The Kentucky Supreme Court has suspended attorney Jennifer Lynn Taylor from practicing law anywhere in the state for at least one year. Taylor has practiced in Whitesburg and was suspended from practicing in U.S. District Court earlier this year.

In its order entered September 24, the state’s highest court said Taylor failed to communicate with bankruptcy clients, missed hearings and admitted a lack of diligence in representing two clients. She did not respond when the Supreme Court asked why it should not impose the same discipline in Kentucky.

The opinion also describes a U.S. Bankruptcy Court order requiring Taylor to return $12,000 in fees to clients in 10 cases. A federal trustee reported on July 29 that Taylor had provided no proof of payment and that none of the former clients had confirmed receiving a check. The opinion does not say whether any payments have been made since then.

Letcher Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Butler said in a public statement that his office received allegations Taylor stole from clients. He said he referred the allegations to Whitesburg City Police and stepped aside from any possible prosecution. Butler said his understanding is that a special prosecutor declined to bring charges. Those allegations are separate from the findings in the Supreme Court’s disciplinary order.

Butler advised clients who believe they have complaints against Taylor to contact the Kentucky Bar Association, Whitesburg City Police, the bankruptcy trustee if they had a bankruptcy case, or a private attorney.

Taylor cannot resume practicing law in Kentucky simply when the year ends. She must also be reinstated in federal Bankruptcy Court and obtain a separate reinstatement order from the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Taylor was in the news this past winter when she filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Jenkins blogger Elizabeth Jones but was suspended from practicing in federal court shortly thereafter. Taylor was replaced in the Jones case by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who earlier this month helped her win a $70,000 settlement from the Jenkins Independent School District.

Read the court’s opinion:http://opinions.kycourts.net/sc/2026-SC-0331-KB.pdf

09/24/2026

CARNIVAL, LIVE ROCK AND A FOAM PARTY ON TAP THURSDAY AT MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

The Mountain Heritage Festival continues in downtown Whitesburg today, Thursday, Sept. 24, after Wednesday night’s events ended early because of the weather. Food and craft vendors are now open in Festival Village, and the carnival opens at 4 p.m.

Music begins at 5 p.m. on the main stage with Gigi the Rock N Roll Princess and her band, ADHD. Gigi is Geneva Turner, a young singer and musician from Hazard who performs classic rock and pop-rock covers.

From 6 to 8 p.m., the festival will hold a free foam party downtown. If you’ve never been to one, a foam machine fills a play area with piles of bubbles for people to move and play in. It’s open to all ages, and participants should wear clothes and shoes they don’t mind getting damp.

A Deal or No Deal game begins at 7 p.m. in Festival Village. At 8 p.m., Midlife Crisis takes the main stage with classic rock favorites. The band celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and has opened for acts including The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet and Black Stone Cherry.

Festival events are in downtown Whitesburg. Check the Mountain Heritage Festival’s announcements for any changes to the schedule.

Accompanying this story are photos of Midlife Crisis and the Rock N Roll Princess and her ADHD band.

The Mountain Eagle

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