Mrs. Johnson

Pauline Catron Johnson, 72, of Old Flemingsburg Road, passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at her residence.

She was born on October 26, 1936 in Carter County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late John and Kate Nickels Catron.

Mrs. Johnson was a retired supervisor for Cowden’s Manufacturing having worked there for 25 years and she was also a former caregiver.  She was of the Methodist Faith and enjoyed sewing and quilting.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Johnson, who passed away on September 4, 2003, one son, Rocky Wayne Johnson, who passed away on June 25, 2002, three brothers, Franklin “Jack” Catron, Herbert Owen Catron and Herman Catron and two sisters, Jessie Oxendine and Olive Lee Pierce.

Survivors include two sons, Rickey Johnson of Hillsboro and Stearl Johnson of Morehead, two daughters, Debbie Goodan of Morehead and Mary Davis of Charlestown, Indiana, four sisters, Jewell Seagraves and Christine Johnson both of Morehead, Maxine Stephens of Lebanon, Ohio, and Martha Silcox of Ypsilanti, Michigan, eight grandchildren, Donnie Goodan, Shane Johnson, Toby Johnson, Bradley Johnson, Autumn Johnson, Michael Kessler, Adam Kessler and Jessica Kessler, three great-grandchildren, Jessie Goodan, Hannah Goodan and Haley Goodan and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 18, 2009 in the chapel of the Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home with Rev. Harley Sexton, Jr. officiating.   Burial was in the Catron Cemetery in Elliott County. 

Pallbearers were Donnie Goodan, Jessie Goodan, Shane Johnson, Bradley Johnson, Michael Kessler and Adam Kessler.

To view the online memorial and sign the guest book, please visit www.lanestuckygray.com

Puckett trial underway

According to the Ledger-Independent, the jury was selected and opening statements were presented Monday in the trial of a charity operator accused of using cash generated from bingo and pull-tabs to pay personal expenses for himself and his wife.
Prosecutors say Gerald E. Puckett, 53, transferred just over $2,000 in charitable gaming funds from one organization to another between October 2006 and November 2006, and eventually withdrew the cash to pay for personal expenses like gas for his vehicle and utilities for his home.
Court records show Puckett and his wife, Joanne Colgan, were the primary operators of the nonprofit organizations Kentucky Charities United, Inc. and Feed God's Children. KCU is now dissolved, but FGC is still registered as an active nonprofit organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Like Puckett, Colgan was also indicted for two counts of diverting charitable gaming funds. Last year Colgan reached a deal with the commonwealth for a five year sentence on the charges, but the state will recommend diversion (similar to probation) in exchange for her testimony against Puckett and her agreement to pay restitution to local charity groups.

Investigators with the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming started looking into the operations of KCU soon after the organization received approval to conduct charitable gaming events like bingo on Oct. 14, 2006, according to DCG Director of Licensing Leah Boggs, who testified for the prosecution. Boggs said Department of Charitable Gaming investigators had received informal reports from local residents that KCU was "not a real charity," but the investigation began in earnest after the DCG received a letter from a local businessman about cold checks associated with KCU.
Although the signatures of other KCU officers, including Colgan, appear on accounting documents for the KCU funds, the records indicate Puckett was generally responsible for taking the money from the gaming premises (the bingo hall) and making deposits.
Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday and the case could potentially go to the jury the same day.
If convicted, Puckett faces one to five years in prison on each count.

Mr. Hunt

Charles C. Hunt, 75, of Battle Run died Sunday, April 19, 2009, at the Fleming County Hospital.
He was born in Fleming County, March 21, 1934, to the late Russell D. Hunt and Mary Mitchell Hunt.
He was a longtime cattle trader.
He is survived by a daughter, Sherry (Dwayne) Maze of Salt Lick; a son, Charles C. (Melissa) Hunt Jr. of Montrose, Mo.; three grandchildren, Jacob Maze, Cindy Hunt and Melinda Hunt; five great-grandchildren, Kari Dunn, Dillion Dunn, Trey Dunn, Zachary Gilliam and Nathan Reynolds; three sisters, Marguerite Hawkins of Flemingsburg, Emogene (Jay) Bailey of Dayton, Ohio and Janice Flora of Elizaville; and three brothers, J.C. (Mary) Hunt of Gas City, Ind., Jimmy Hunt of Lexington and Harold Hunt.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Freida Kerns and Virginia Stephens; and two brothers, Donald L. (Pop) Hunt and R.D. Hunt.
Services are 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at the Denton - Workman Funeral Home with pastors James Hickerson and Herbie Stallard officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizaville Cemetery at Elizaville.
Visitation is 6-8 p.m., today, April 21, 2009, at the funeral home.

Mr. Burgess

Ray Willard Burgess, 80, of Felicity, Ohio died Friday, April 17, 2009, at the Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati.
He was born Aug. 14, 1928, in Wayne County to the late Maish Burgess and Lula Bell Burgess.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena Grace Smith Burgess.
Mr. Burgess was a self-employed auto body worker.
He is survived by three sons, Dave (Paula) Burgess of Cincinnati, Ron (Diane) Burgess of Plymouth, Mich., and Steve (Heather) Burgess of Lebanon, Ohio; two step-daughters, Nancy (Earl) Becker of Indiana and Jo Ann Suttter of Indiana; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Michael Burgess.
Services are 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Mount Carmel.
There will be no visitation.