Bill Ashcraft read aloud from a plaque that honored Dr. James Rich for his 36 years of service as District 5 Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. Pictured from left, Dr. James Rich, Bill Ashcraft, Linda Saunders, Dan Saunders, Joseph Ruessler, John Pferrman and Chet Hayes. Photo by Roger McKinney.

By Roger McKinney, Reporter

The District 5 League of Kentucky Sportsmen held its January meeting in Cold Spring on the 29. The event was hosted by the Pferrman’s Gun Club. More than 100 individuals were in attendance and over 30 sportsmen clubs were represented.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife oversees nine state districts or areas. District 5 includes these 13 counties: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson and Trimble. 50 League of Kentucky Sportsmen Clubs are active in District 5.

Before the actual business meeting a banquet was served for an hour, beginning at 7 p.m. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Biologists gave a number of reports. The sportsmen were informed that the Kentucky deer harvest for 2012 was 131,388 and that the wild turkey harvest for 2012 had exceeded 30,000 birds for the third year in a row. The sportsmen were told that the level of water in Kincaid Lake would be raised by 24 inches after written permission was given by lakeside land owners.

Cassandra Elfers and her attorney Eric Deters walk out of her arraignment hearing this past Tuesday. Photo by April DeFalco.

Cassandra "Cassie" Elfers and her attorney Eric Deters appeared in Pendleton District Court on January 29, 2013 and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges of sexual abuse.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled at 1 p.m. on February 12. Deters told The Falmouth Outlook in an interview that based on what his client has told him, and she hasn't been untruthful, her case is defendable.

"This is the fourth case having to do with a sexual abuse charge I have defended," stated Deters. His most recent case was with a teacher at Dixie Heights, Sara Jones. Cassandra had her for a teacher when she attended Dixie Heights High School.

When you feel like the snowfall is for the birds what do you do? Some folks make birds instead of snowmen. That's what Sarah Trimble and daughter, Katie Kaiser, along with their neighbors, Darian and Paige Fletcher did on Saturday, February 2 with Pendleton County's latest snowfall. This fine, featherless bird has been dubbed an "Owlgle." The creation began as a Snow Owl, but Katie and Paige say it looks more like an eagle. So a new fowl has been discovered in the snowy hills of Kentucky. This friendly fellow can be seen on Loop Road for any local bird watchers wanting to have a look and see at the newest addition to their bird collection. Photo by Sarah Trimble.

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By Roger McKinney, Reporter

Pendleton County Judge Executive Henry Bertram, along with the magistrates of the fiscal court and Emergency Management Director Mike Moore have proclaimed February 2013 as Earthquake Awareness Month in Pendleton County.

Geologic and seismic experts believe future earthquakes are inevitable, especially in the area known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone. In 1811 an earthquake involving this fault, which snakes through parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee, caused the Mississippi River to run backwards from 10 to 24 hours and created Reelfoot Lake in the northwest portion of Tennessee.

A member of the Pendleton County Board of Education has been appointed to the board of directors of the largest organization of elected officials in Kentucky.

Mark Ross of DeMossville will serve the remaining two years of an unexpired term as Northern Kentucky Region chairman of the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA). He will represent school board members from the Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton county districts and the Augusta, Beechwood, Bellevue, Covington, Dayton, Erlanger-Elsmere, Fort Thomas, Ludlow, Newport, Silver Grove, Southgate, Walton-Verona and Williamstown independent systems on the association’s governing board.

The Northern Kentucky Firefighter's Association honored firefighters and EMS personnel from across the area for their contributions over the past year at the 20th Annual Awards Banquet at Receptions Banquet Center in Erlanger, Kentucky on Saturday, January 26. The Master of Ceremonies for the event was WKRC reporter Joe Webb.

Lt. Adam Bradbury of the Northern Pendleton Fire Department was selected as the Firefighter of the Year for Northern Kentucky.

Bradbury, 32, of Peach Grove, serves as both a firefighter and EMT. He has been with the Northern Pendleton Fire Department for seven years, beginning his career in 2006.

Congratulations Lt. Bradbury on this prestigious honor!

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This article below is being run again because of some information that was incorrect in the January 29, 2013 issue. The article stated that former Mayor Gene Flaugher had been impeached late in his term. That information was incorrect as he was never impeached. We are sorry for any problem this may have caused.

Former Falmouth Mayor Elbert "Gene" Flaugher, 82, of Falmouth passed away on January 21, 2013. Black bows were placed on all city buildings the week of January 21 in his honor.

Flaugher served as mayor from 1999 through 2005. When he came in there was still much destruction caused by the flood. He had his work cut out for him."I laugh sometimes when I think of Gene as mayor," said Terry England. "I say he was kind of a cosmetic mayor. In that he was very meticulous about every thing in the city looking pretty and nice. He was responsible for the city welcome sign on KY 22 East coming into the city. He had the city workers to keep flowers at both welcome signs to the city. He just wanted everything kept clean.

"We saw a very different side of him that others may not have always seen," said England. "Gene was a very giving person, kind and very considerate of others. He was a great boss for my staff and was always supportive of us and treated us with the utmost respect."

Pendleton County Judge/ Executive Henry Bertram said "I found Flaugher always willing to communicate with me or what good he could do for the city. He always kept the city of Falmouth in his foresight. We always had a good working relationship. I could always depend on him."

"Gene was very instrumental for getting many of the grants the city got after the flood," said Dan Woodhead.

"He really cared a lot for the city and the downtown area," said Community Development Director Bill Mitchell. "He was a lot of support when I needed something. Both Flaugher and Bertram got the largest grant ever got here for two million dollar sewer grant. Flaugher also got a 1.2 million grant to revitalize the downtown area when he was mayor."

Gene knew many lawmakers and others serving in Frankfort and he went to them when his city or community needed something.

Early on Flaugher served 16 years on the Pendleton County School Board and was very dedicated to making the schools in Pendleton County better.

"Gene told you what he was going to do and he did it. You didn't have to remind him about it. He never did a halfway job on anything. He had a good business mind," said Outlook editor Debbie Dennie. "He gave a 110% on any project he undertook.

"I remember how he use to drive around town, early in the morning, midday or evening. Residents would say to him why are you always driving around town so many trips? His reply to them was he was watching for city workers not doing their job and if he saw that then he knew the community would see that."

Gene had a kind heart and would often spend his money he got as mayor, plus some of his own money, on someone that was in need of something.

He was known quite well throughout the community. He had driven a milk truck picking up milk at local dairy farms.

He and his wife were active members of Falmouth Baptist Church and he will be sorely missed in the community.

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Narconon reminds families that dealing with someone who has an addiction can be a stressful time for substance abusers and their families. Learn how to recognize if there is a problem and how to keep your family safe.

Call Narconon for a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all classes of drugs.  Narconon also offers free addiction counseling, assessments and referrals to rehabilitation centers. Call 877-413-3073 or NarcononWorks.com.

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The new Dollar General Market, located on Ridgeway Avenue, will open for business on Friday, February 1.

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