Mr. Ripato

Michael Ray Ripato, 56, of Flemingsburg, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 at his home.
He was born Sept. 16, 1952, to Ray and Lois Ripato of Maysville.
Mr. Ripato was a diary farmer for many years, served on the American Dairy Association Board, as well as the Southern United Dairy Industry Association Board of Directors. He was also the owner of the Fox Run Farms Trucking.
He was a graduate of Mason County High School and the University of Kentucky. He also attended Asbury Theological Seminary and was a member of the Olivet United Methodist Church.
Survivors in addition to his parents are two sons, Peter Ripato and wife, Amy of Flemingsburg, and Brandon Ripato of Maysville; one grandson, Levi Turner Ripato; two sisters, Patty Firesheets and husband, Don of Marietta, Ga., and Ruth Ann Furby of Maysville; and two brothers, Rev. Silas Ripato and wife, Carolyn of Louisville and Bobby Ripato of Maysville; two nieces, Bethanie Ripato and Courtney Ripato; and three nephews, Justin Firesheets, Nathan Firesheets and Cory Ripato.
Services will be held Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at 1 p.m., at the Barbour and Son Funeral Home in Tollesboro. Rev. David Green will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Olivet Cemetery in Mason County. Serving as pallbearers will be Peter Ripato, Brandon Ripato, Silas Ripato, Bobby Ripato, Randy Barker and Jim Meadows.
Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 at the funeral home from 5-9 p.m.

Mr. Flora

Samuel J. Flora, 81, of Elizaville, passed this life, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at his residence.
Sammy was born in Fleming County on April 25, 1927, to the late Maude Moran and Paul J. Flora.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha.
Sammy and his wife, Martha operated Flora Grocery in Elizaville for many years. He was a former employee of the Elizaville Cemetery and served as a member of the cemetery board.
He is survived by one daughter, Jennifer Flora James and husband, John of Elizaville; five siblings, Ollie Ray (Nancy) Flora of Flemingsburg, Aaron (Sue) Flora of Flemingsburg, Cora Helphinstine of Ewing, Berry Burke of Ewing, Eric (Shirley) Flora of Flemingsburg and Marion (Suzanne) Flora of Flemingsburg; a sister-in-law, Janice Hunt Flora of Elizaville.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Edward (Buck) Flora, Ovel (Jip) Flora and Bobby Flora; and one sister, Nancy Carrie Flora.

Services are 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at the Price Bros. Funeral Home. Rev. Rich Anderson will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Elizaville Cemetery.
Visitation is 6 - 9 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.

Murder charges filed

According to the Ledger Independent, the parents of infant Kaylee Buchanan are facing murder charges related to the death of the child, according to documents filed in Fleming County Circuit Court Friday.
Nearly six months after Kaylee Buchanan died at a Lexington hospital, a Fleming County grand jury indicted Terry Joe Buchanan, 31, and Jessica Marie Allen, 22, on one count of murder and one count of first-degree criminal abuse each. Both individuals could face a maximum of life in prison if convicted.
On July 20, 2008, 4-month-old Kaylee Buchanan was transported by ambulance from a Ewing residence on Connector Road (Kentucky 165) to University of Kentucky Hospital, where she died approximately three days later, according to investigators familiar with the case. The case officially became a homicide investigation late last month after the Fayette County Coroner's Office determined that the death was caused by "blunt force head trauma."
The criminal abuse count of the indictments alleges both defendants "intentionally abused Kaylee Buchanan, who was less than 12 years of age, or aided and assisted another, by causing serious physical injury to said child, when her right femur and fibula were broken, which required medical treatment."
The abuse allegedly occurred "on or about the period of July 9-13, 2008," according to the indictment.
The murder count alleges "on or about July 20, 2008" the defendants "struck, or aided and assisted another, to strike Kaylee Buchanan's head one or more times, which resulted in her death."

Fleming County Council for the Arts

The new Fleming County Council for the Arts will present the Herman Chittison Celebration of the Arts in Flemingsburg as its initial project. The all-inclusive organization is in the process of legal incorporation and application for non-profit status. More details and event dates will be released as they become available.

The next meeting of the Council for the Arts will be Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m., at the Fleming County Public Library. Everyone with an interest in the arts, of any kind, is welcome to attend and join. Annual dues for individuals are $25.

Mrs. Gibson

Mary Lee McClain Gibson, 71, of Watson Road, Hillsboro died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at her residence.
She was born March 3, 1937, in Hillsboro, daughter of the late Byrom and Lucille Royse McClain. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Byrom McClain Jr. Her husband, William Franklin Gibson, died Aug. 3, 2002.
Survivors include one brother, Don (Janie) McClain of Hillsboro; three sisters, Billie (Gabe) Alderman of Morehead, Louise England of Maysville and Carolyn (Ronnie) Helphenstine of Flemingsburg; and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Gibson was a 34-year employee of the U.S Shoe Corp. / Nine West in Flemingsburg, Ripley, Ohio, and Maysville. She was a member of the Hillsboro Christian Church.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, at the Hutton Funeral Home with the Rev. Harley Sexton Jr., officiating.
Burial will follow in the Hillsboro Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kevin Fulkerson, Mike McClain, Rick Rhodes, Harold Dean Sorrell, Dick Adams, Steve Call, Calvin Flora and Claude Reffitt.

Visitation for Mary Lee McClain Gibson is after 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at the Hutton Funeral Home in Hillsboro.

Transportation crews treating, patrolling roadways

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. - Transportation Cabinet crews in several northeast Kentucky counties are treating and patrolling roadways as light snow moves through the region.
Salt truck crews are out in Mason, Fleming, Lewis, Rowan, Bath and Carter counties in Department of Highways District 9. In neighboring District 7, crews are spot-treating in Scott and Bourbon counties until midnight.
National Weather Service forecasts call for bitter cold and snowy weather through Thursday. Highway crews will monitor road conditions and treat as necessary. Motorists should watch for slick spots, and remain aware that bridges and overpasses often freeze first.
Road and weather conditions for major highways across Kentucky are available online at 511.ky.gov or by dialing 511. Kentucky's Snow and Ice Treatment Map may be viewed online at http://kytcgis.ky.gov/snow_ice/. The map shows highway crew activity in each county.

Panthers beat Augusta

Fleming Co. 71
Augusta 56

Fleming Co.
22
18
14
17
71

Augusta
9
5
29
13
56

Fleming Co. (7-9) -- Gray 21, Jolly 17, Dugan 11, Clark 8, Fraser 4, Newsom 6, Kinder 2, Taylor 2.

Augusta (4-9) -- Kelsch 28, White 14, Krebs 7, Gibbs 3, Pue 2.