Business Association adopts January promotion, elects officers, donates profits from chili cook-off, hears reports

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By Desiree Cross
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway businesses will try to jazz up January, usually a slow month, with a “Taste of Kentucky”/Winter Clearance Sale promotion.

The Midway Business Association adopted the idea at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5. It also elected Cortney Neikirk president for 2019, allocated profits from November’s chili cook-off and heard reports on Toys for Tots, Midway University and the plan for a tourism-oriented entrance to the town.

The January promotion will be a two-week event in which restaurants offer specials on appetizers, lunch and dinner entrees, and desserts, and retailers would have special clearance sales. Members of the association plan to spend no more than $500 on advertising it.

Officers: Neikirk, the MBA president, is co-owner of Sweet Tooth. Steve Morgan was elected vice president, Leslie Penn was re-elected treasurer, Katie Hicks was elected secretary, and Justin Werner and Doug McDaniel were chosen for member at large.

If you are interested in joining the Midway Business Association, there will be an open house membership meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019 at the Brown Barrel Restaurant. Following the meeting, or at 10 a.m., a Fall Festival contract meeting will be held.

Toys for Tots: Collections for Toys for Tots, a program for underprivileged children, have at least doubled from last year, Morgan reported. He and Logan Nance are delivering toys collected this week to the Marine Reserves unit in Lexington.

“I think that is such a statement … as a community, for us to even double what we did last year,” President Peggy Angel said.

Google map, labeled, shows tract proposed for town entrance

Town entrance: Morgan reported that Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, Cynthia Bohn of Equus Run Vineyards and members of the City Council continue to discuss with RJ Corman Railroad Co. and property owner Helen Rentch the idea of a railroad-themed entrance to Midway at the corner of Midway Road (US 62) and Leestown Road (US 421).

The location would be one of the trailheads for the hike, bike, canoe, and horseback trail portion that is being established between Frankfort and Midway.

Campus report: Ellen Gregory of Midway University gave an update on projects on the campus. In addition to the new sports field house, for which a ceremonial groundbreaking was held Nov. 8, Pinkerton Hall is being converted back to a residence hall and is expected to reopen by fall 2019 with space for up to 52 students.

The upstairs floor of Marrs Hall is being converted into a welcome center for admissions, the business office and financial aid, and the ground floor will house accounting, human resources and marketing. 

Chili cook-off: The Nov. 17 chili cook-off made a profit of $840. Members decided to give half, $420, to the Midway Area Ministerial Association. The association has donated $200 to the Presbyterian Church backpack program and also contributed to Northside Elementary art classroom supplies.

Members also agreed to provide a $50 gift card to Christy Reeves to thank her for providing the model train exhibit on Dec. 8 and 15.

In other business, Penn reported on the Renaissance Living History Committee, announcing there are now five photo plaques posted downtown. Most recently, a map of the city in 1852 is now on display at City Hall.