Grange City bridge OK for Festival

According to the Ledger Independent, the Grange City Covered Bridge has been cleared for pedestrian traffic for the 12th annual Covered Bridge Festival.
The safety of the bridge was called into question earlier this month at a Fleming County Fiscal Court meeting by the Hillsboro Homemakers, who often have demonstrations at the bridge. The Kentucky Department of Transportation was requested to assess the bridge to determine the level of deterioration, and whether there should be a limit on the number of people on the bridge at one time.
Debbie Richardson, assistant to the executive director of the Fleming County Chamber of Commerce, said the DOT has cleared the bridge for festival activities with no limitations on crowd size.

Mr. McClain

Donald Gene McLain, age 64, of Sunset Road, Hillsboro, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at his residence.

Born January 23, 1945, in Hillsboro, Kentucky, he was the son of the late Byrom and Lucille Royse McClain. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Byrom McClain, Jr., and one sister, Mary Lee McClain Gibson.

Don is survived by his wife of 45 years, Willa Jane Daulton McLain, whom he married November 9, 1963; one son, Michael McLain and Paula Story of Hillsboro, Kentucky; one daughter, Martha Ann and David Simms of Flemingsburg, Kentucky; and two granddaughters, Jesshia and Kevin Fulkerson and Michaela Jane Boone.

Other survivors include three sisters, Billie Alderman of Morehead, Kentucky, Louise England of Maysville, Kentucky, and Carolyn (Ronnie) Helphenstine of Flemingsburg, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews; and his canine companion, Ginger.

Don was a heavy equipment operator and farmer; former fire chief of Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, and former owner of McLain Grocery in Hillsboro. He loved to fish and hunt. Don was a member of the Sharkey Freewill Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, August 21, 2009, at the Hutton Funeral Home with the Rev. Harley Sexton, Jr., and the Rev. John Tucker officiating. Burial will follow in the Hillsboro Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Stevie Call, Mike Hawkins, Herbert Jolly, Harold Dean Sorrell, Sammy Lewis, Ricky Smoot, Tim Vise, and Claude Reffitt.

Visitation is after 6 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009, at the Hutton Funeral Home, Hillsboro, Kentucky.

Mr. Beckett

John Fred Beckett, 58, of Foxport died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at his residence.
He was born Aug. 16, 1951, in Wallingford, to the late Argee Fugett Beckett and Kathrine Everman Beckett.
Mr. Beckett was a carpenter and worked in construction. He was a member of the Foxport Baptist Church.
He is survived by two children, John Fred Beckett II of Foxport, and Anna Davis of Fleming County; a special companion, Doris Poe and daughter, Maddison Napper of Flemingsburg; one grandchild, Hailee Brooke Davis; two brothers, James Beckett of Aberdeen and Jessie Beckett and wife, Virginia of Sardinia, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Argee Beckett and Dallas Beckett; and two sisters, Elizabeth Beckett and Ida Beckett.
Services 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at Barbour and Son Funeral Home in Tollesboro. Bro. Stoney Hamilton and Bro. John Dotson will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Burtonville Cemetery in Burtonville.
Visitation is 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Koehler

Bonnie Jean Arnold Koehler, 73, of Elizaville died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Fleming County Hospital.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Flemingsburg.
Mrs. Koehler was born in Fleming County on April 17, 1936, the daughter of the late Ben and Donna Adkins Arnold.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, June Koehler; two sons, Mike (Lois) Koehler of Bardstown and Ed (Michelle) Koehler of Elizaville; one daughter, Debbie (John) Donovan of Ewing; six grandchildren, John Michael (Erin) Koehler, Andrew Koehler and Sarah Koehler, Katie and Jake Donovan and Madison Koehler; and one brother, Ben (Becky) Arnold Jr. of Columbus, Ohio.
Mass of Christian Burial will be intoned at 11 a.m., Wednesday at St. Charles Catholic Church in Flemingsburg with Rev. Verne F. Hogan officiating.
Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery.
Visitation is 9 -10:30 a.m., Wednesday at Palmer Funeral Home in May’s Lick.
Condolences to www.palmerfuneralhome.net.

Blood drives scheduled

Fleming County Hospital has announced a blood drive to honor Lucas Cannon. The drive will be held Thursday Aug. 20 at the hospital from noon until 6 p.m., according to Joyce Fidler, marketing director.

Fleming County High School will also hold a blood drive Monday Aug. 24 at the high school. Donors must be 16 years old and have a permission slip from parents. High School Principal Jinny Hurdle will be sending letters home for parents.

No blood drive today

There is no blood drive today at the hospital for Lucas Cannon, but Joyce Fidler is working to get such a drive scheduled and will notify us when a date and time are set.

Mr. Barker

Ernest Barker, 77, a resident of U.S. 62, Maysville, died Friday Aug. 14, 2009.
Mr. Barker was a well-known farm owner and operator and was known for his extensive cattle operation. He was born in Carter County on Aug. 27, 1931, the son of the late James C. and Bessie King Barker.
Mr. Barker was a member of the Maysville VFW, the NRA and the Orangeburg Christian Church. He served as a military policeman during the Korean War while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nadine Crawford Barker; one son, Randy Barker and his wife, Jeanie of Fleming County; and two daughters, Debra Cotterill and her husband, Charles of Maysville and Myra Dillon and her husband, Danny of Midlothian, Va.; six grandchildren, Hillary and Justin Stevens of Lawrenceburg, Whitney and Shawn Askew of Blacksburg, Va., Jared Dillon of Midlothian, Va., Dana and Kyle Fawver of Glen Allen, Va., Deena Cotterill of Lexington, and Katie Cotterill of Napa, Calif.; and three great-grandchildren, Marcy and Tristin Stevens and Meredith Fawver.
Also surviving are one sister, Virgie Holt of Mount Vernon, Ohio; and three brothers, Thomas Barker of Olive Hill, Ercel Barker of Indianapolis, Ind., and Arlen Barker of New Castle, Ind.
Services for Ernest Barker will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday at the Knox and Brothers Funeral Home with Rev. Norman Wasson officiating.
Burial will follow in the Wedonia Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Matt Rushmeyer, Steve Fitch, Melvin Lynch, Mark Dearing, Alan Dearing and Marion Buchanan.
Visitation will be today from 5-8 p.m., at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Mason County Homemakers Scholarship Fund, 800 U.S. 68, Maysville, Ky 41056; St. Patrick School, 110 East Third Street, Maysville, Ky. 41056; and Orangeburg Christian Church, 7135 Mount Carmel Road, Maysville, Ky. 41056.
Guestbook at knoxbrothersfuneralhome.com