Puckett trial is April 2009

According to the Ledger Independent, a two-day jury trial is scheduled to begin April 20, 2009 in the case of a Flemingsburg man accused of taking more than $2,000 in donations intended for Feed God's Children, a charity he operated with his wife.
Gerald E. Puckett, 52, was indicted in January on two counts of diversion of charitable gaming funds and faces one to five years in prison on each count if convicted. The indictment, alleging he used money intended for charity to pay personal expenses for himself and his wife, came just as Puckett launched a campaign to unseat incumbent Fourth District Rep. Geoff Davis in the Republican primary.
Puckett's wife, Joanne B. Colgan, 52, was also indicted in January on two counts of complicity to diversion of charitable gaming funds. Colgan, however, reached an agreement with the commonwealth that will allow her to avoid jail time, providing she testifies against her husband.
Colgan entered a guilty plea to both counts of her indictment on Sept. 10 and the commonwealth recommended a sentence of four years on each count to be served consecutively. Court documents indicate the commonwealth also agreed to a three-year supervised diversion, which is similar to probation.
In addition to providing "truthful testimony" in Puckett's trial, Colgan must not "serve as an officer or organizer, fund-raiser or member of any charitable organization" and she will be responsible for paying half of $2,115.96 sought for restitution. The court has determined restitution will be divided equally between two licensed charitable organizations in Fleming County, the Cancer Care Club and VFW Post 1834.
Colgan is expected to appear for a Dec. 5 status hearing in Fleming Circuit Court.
Puckett and Colgan were reportedly co-chairs of Feed God's Children, Inc., which shared a mailing address with Kentucky Charities United, Inc. Both organizations are specifically named in the second count of Colgan and Puckett's indictments, with the commonwealth alleging Puckett "diverted funds from a legitimate charitable purpose or lawful expense to his financial benefit by transferring charitable gaming funds from Kentucky Charities United, Inc. to Feed God's Children, Inc. to pay personal expenses for himself and/or his spouse" between Oct. 24, 2006 and Nov. 16, 2006.
Count one of each indictment alleges Puckett "failed to deposit proceeds from bingo and pull-tabs, and kept the profit for himself and/or his spouse" between Oct. 22, 2006 and Nov. 26, 2006.
Records show Feed God's Children, Inc. has been in operation since at least 2002 and periodically held bingo games at a Flemingsburg bowling alley. Those games have ceased. Prior to indictment, the charges were investigated by the Kentucky Department of Charitable Gaming.
This story was written by Michael Arthur of The Ledger Independent

Mr. Richmond

Samie Paul Richmond, 57, of Bethel, Ohio, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, in Batavia, Ohio.
He is survived by his wife, Mattie J. Harcourt Richmond.
Mr. Richmond was born Sept. 22, 1951 in Fleming County to the late Hesie and Marie Richmond.
He was a landscaper for Heitmeyer Tree Nursery.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Ryan Bargar of Dunkirk, Ind.; two step-sons, Rodney Harcourt and James Harcourt, both of Bethel; two brothers, Donald Richmond of Fleming County and Ray Richmond of Goshen, Ohio; two sisters, Lillie Willoughby of Dunkirk, and Joyce Miller of Fleming county; and three grandchildren, Ryder Bargar, Prince Bargar and Cheyenne Harcourt.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Charles Richmond, Bob Richmond, Ben Richmond, Jim Richmond and Danny Richmond; and one sister, Mable Crump.

Services are 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008, at the Denton-Workman Funeral Home with James Ray Hickerson officiating.
Interment will follow in Goddard Cemetery, Flemingsburg.
Visitation will be at the funeral home after 11 a.m., Tuesday until the time of the service.

Tony Cooper

Charles Anthony "Tony" Cooper, 43, of Ewing died Nov. 28, 2008 of apparent heart attack.
Tony was born in Flemingsburg on Oct. 29, 1965, to Rosie Wallingford Cooper and the late Gordon Cooper.
Surviving in addition to his mother is his wife, Sandy Jolly Cooper; two children, Joanie and Jessica Cooper, both at home; three brothers, Freddie (Connie) Cooper, Frankie (Patty) Cooper and Danny (Cathy) Cooper; and two sisters, Leona (Randy) Cooper and Rosetta (George) Cooper.
Services will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday at Price Brothers Funeral Home in Elizaville with Rev. David Shumaker officiating.
Burial will follow in the Mount Tabor Cemetery.
Visitation is 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Herbert "Wood" Butcher

Herbert Woodford (Wood) Butcher, 84, of Hillsboro died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 in Hillsboro.
He was born March 31, 1924, in Fleming County to the late Bascom Butcher and Electa Butcher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Genevive Butcher. Mr. Butcher was a farmer.
He is survived by two brothers, Russie (Lelia) Butcher of Hillsboro, and Leo Butcher of Fleming County; three sisters, Mary (Garr) Manning of Flemingsburg, Thelma Dunaway of Flemingsburg and Jessie Basford of Centerville, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Goble Butcher; and a sister, Opal Conley.
Services are 1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at the Denton-Workman Funeral Home in Flemingsburg. Rev. Ford Hinton will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Newman Cemetery in Hillsboro.

Visitation is 3 -6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at the funeral home.

Phyllis Gray

Phyllis Ann Medley Gray, 65, of Cowan passed away Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008, at University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington.
Phyllis was the widow of Paul Harrison Gray and a member of Pleasant Ridge Christian Church in Cowan.
She was born in Carlisle, Nov. 2, 1943, to the late William and Frances Wright Medley.
Phyllis is survived by three children, Paula (Randy ) Hunter of Blue Licks, Tina Tubbs of Cowan and William (Mistie ) Gray of Cowan; two brothers, Earl Medley and Robert Medley of Carlisle; and a sister, Mary Tincher of Carlisle.
Preceding Phyllis in death was a daughter, Amy Furnish Hutchison; a brother, James Medley; and a son-in-law, Fred Furnish.
Sservices are 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at Price Brothers Funeral Home in Elizaville by the Rev. Jeff Green and the Rev. Craig Yates.

Burial will be in Elizaville Cemetery.
Visitation will be 6-9 p.m., Sunday at Price Brothers Funeral Home in Elizaville.

Pauline McDowell Roseberry

Pauline McDowell Roseberry, age 78, of Plummers Landing passed away Monday evening at St. Claire Medical Center in Morehead,
She was the widow of Hersel Roseberry.
She was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Fleming County, the daughter of the late Edgar and Mahala Tackett McDowell.
Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Donaldson of Plummers Landing, Teresa Schultz of North Vernon, Ind., and Denise Wasson of North Vernon; two sons, Robert Roseberry of Columbia, Ins. and James Roseberry of Wallingford; 16 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Larry H. Roseberry; and a brother, Clarence McDowell.
Graveside services are 1 p.m., Friday at the Wallingford Cemetery with Rev. Danny Cooper officiating.

There will be no visitation.
Boone-Nickell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Allie Lea Corbin Emmons

Allie Lea Corbin Emmons, 87, of Elizaville Avenue, passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, in the Fleming County Hospital after an extended illness.
She was born on Feb. 3, 1921. in Bath County, a daughter of the late Thomas D. and Nancy Sorrell Corbin.
Mrs. Emmons was a farmer and landowner, having raised tobacco, cattle and had a large dairy operation.  She was also an employee of Clark-Taylor Insurance Agency for many years and was a member of the Tilton United Methodist Church, the Rebekah Lodge, an election officer for many years and the 1999 Beta Sigma Phi Lady of the Year.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elbert "Dick" Emmons; three brothers, Thomas "Jumbo" Corbin, Bobby Corbin and Jim Corbin; and two sisters, Betty Corbin Marshall and Anna Marie Vice.
Survivors include one brother, Billy Corbin and his wife, Jackie of Tilton; one sister, Maxine Campbell of Tilton; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at the Denton-Workman Funeral Home in Flemingsburg with Rev. Bob Ray and Rev. Ben Cain officiating.

Burial will follow in the Fleming County Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Ray Corbin, Tommy Allen Corbin, Michael Corbin, David Corbin, Kevin Corbin, Kent Corbin, Robbie Campbell, Tommy Campbell, Anthony Marshall, Rodney Marshall, Martin Marshall, Corbin Marshall, Courtney Marshall, Sarah Jane Gray and Rayann Gray. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Kinder, Kenny Hickerson, Brownie Emmons, L. L. Emmons Jr., J. E. Smith and Richard Thompson.
Visitation is from 5 - 9 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Tilton United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are by Lane-Stucky-Gray Funeral Home in Morehead.
To view the on-line memorial and sign the guest book, please visit http://www.lanestuckygray.com.