Local News
Former minister charged with rape, abuse
A Richmond city building inspector and former youth minister has been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury on six counts of third-degree rape, five counts of third-degree sodomy, one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.
Gordon H. Lunceford, 47, of the 1000 block of Walnut Grove Circle, is accused of molesting two victims between February and November of 1992, according to court records obtained by The Anderson News in Lawrenceburg and provided to the Register.
The victims in the indictment were both under 16 years of age, but are identified only by initials.
Lunceford is a former youth minister at churches in Anderson, Franklin and Madison counties, according to Kentucky State Police.
A Gordon Lunceford served as a youth minister at First Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg in 1992, church employees told The Anderson News.
The Rev. Bill Fort, pastor of First Baptist Church on the Eastern Bypass in Richmond, said Lunceford was interim youth director “for a very short time” about two years ago.
Fort said there were no complaints or accusations against Lunceford during the brief time he worked with youth at First Baptist.
A member of Rosedale Baptist Church said Lunceford had once worked with the church’s youth group, but attempts Friday to reach two of the church’s trustees were unsuccessful.
Lunceford posted a $10,000 cash bond and was released from the Franklin County Regional Jail after he surrendered to authorities on June 5, jail officials said Friday.
He is employed by the city of Richmond as a building inspector, but has taken personal leave and has not been on the job recently, according to City Manager David Evans.
Evans said he learned of Lunceford’s indictment Thursday evening through the news media and would “take a look at this” on Tuesday.
City Hall will be closed Monday for the Independence Day holiday.
Lunceford is scheduled for a pretrial conference in Anderson Circuit Court on July 21.
If convicted, Lunceford could receive one to five years in prison on each of the rape and sodomy charges as well as the first-degree sexual abuse charge, which are all Class D felonies. Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by 12 months in jail if convicted.
State police Detective Luke VanHoose, of Post 12 in Frankfort, is investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Post 12 at 1-502-227-2221.
An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
Bill Robinson may be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
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Increasing access
A rural health clinic soon will be able to serve more people, offer more services and operate longer hours because of grant funding received from Catholic Health Initiatives.
The $398,610 grant will be administered over a three-year period. The cost of the grant is mostly for salaries, according to Katie Heckman, community relations manager for St. Joseph — Berea. -
Emergency sirens to sound Saturday
The bi-monthly test of the Madison County siren, tone alert radio and local emergency notification system will be conducted Saturday, Sept. 4 at 12:20 p.m.
In the event of threatening weather, the test will be canceled.
The system is tested the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month.
Local Emergency Alert System radio stations include: WEKY, 1340 AM; WCBR, 1110 AM; WCYO, 100.7 FM; WEKU, 88.9 FM; WKXO, 1500 AM; WLFX, 106.7 FM; and WIRV, 1550 AM. -
Foothills, White House provide school supplies
Kentucky River Foothills and White House Clinic have teamed up to help provide free school supplies to children in Madison and Estill counties.
This is the first year for the program, which was created to help students in need be able to focus more on learning. -
Local SBA disaster loan centers to close
BEREA — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will close its temporary Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Madison County on Thursday. Another center in Carter County also will close Thursday.
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Some not happy with cemetery conditions
Richmond Cemetery trustee chair Donald Roberts and his predecessor Tom Smith both acknowledged in a Richmond Register interview published that not everyone was happy with cemetery upkeep, but that much progress had been achieved in the nearly 11 years both had been on the board.
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Kentucky author celebrates latest issue of ‘Appalachian Heritage’
BEREA — On Friday at 8 p.m., the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center at Berea College will celebrate the summer 2010 issue of Appalachian Heritage with a featured reading by acclaimed author George Ella Lyon.
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Dog reported stolen in Berea returns home
A boxer dog that was reported stolen from an Elm Street yard on Aug. 23 was recovered the next day, according to Capt. Ken Clark, Berea Police spokesperson.
As the dog’s owner talked about the pet’s loss at his work, a colleague said he had found it in his neighborhood and put it up for the night, Clark said.
The dog, valued at $400, was returned that evening. -
Recycling event to benefit Madison County Humane Society
Toyota South and Innovacycle Document Destruction will host a free, secure document shredding on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Toyota South, 961 Four Mile Road.
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Tuesday public forum set for city tax increase
The public is invited to discuss the city’s intentions of implementing a small increase in property tax rates for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
A forum will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7 at Richmond City Hall, and is required by state law before a new tax rate can be adopted by the city commission.
The first reading of an ordinance setting property tax rates for the 2010-2011 fiscal year was heard by the city commission on Tuesday, Aug. 24. -
Church celebrates 225th year
A good church is not only a place of worship. It also is a center of the community it serves, providing for the social, as well as spiritual needs of its members.
Tates Creek Baptist Church in Richmond has been doing just that for an amazing 225 years and members and friends celebrated the church’s long history Sunday with specially themed services and a traditional potluck. - More Local News Headlines
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