Message from the mayor: Starting a weekly update as we deal with the coronavirus and its covid-19 disease

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway

This is a weekly reminder that we’re going to get through this. I commend everyone who is doing such a great job practicing social distancing and taking more care to keep good personal hygiene – you may be saving someone’s life by doing so.

Some people are understandably starting to ask when we can expect life to go back normal. The short answer is we don’t exactly know yet for sure, but we should be prepared for this lifestyle change to have to last for months. The better we adhere to the guidelines recommended by health officials, the more likely we’ll get through this sooner.

In a conference call with other mayors today and Gov. Beshear, it became clear the governor wants us to expect to practice these new techniques well into the time we see the cases spike, and then we’ll even need to wait a bit longer once they decline to make sure we’ve beaten this thing on the first try. How long that is, is hard to say. But, be prepared to buckle down for weeks and months.

I also encourage you to think about your mental health right now. 100 percent of us are experiencing high anxiety at times, some more often than others, and that’s completely normal. What I want to ask each and every citizen of Midway is: How are you doing? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you giving yourself time when you need it? Are you letting yourself process, are you making sure you’re not beating yourself up over trivial things? It’s so important that we take care of what’s going on in our own minds so that we can be motivated and optimistic, so that we can beat this thing together. As Midwegians (or Midwayans), as Kentuckians, as Americans, and as humans, we will beat it. Let’s keep looking after ourselves and each other – you’ve done a great job so far.

There are many resources for those who need help right now. Midway citizens have formed a volunteer group to run errands for those in need. If you need assistance call the Midway Christian Church, who is offering the office space for this volunteer program, at 859-846-4102. If you’d like to volunteer, e-mail Melissa Scheier at mscheie0@georgetowncollege.edu.

If you would like to visit Woodford County’s page for resources and information, we have a link to that on our homepage at meetmeinmidway.com. We have many options for you to support our local restaurants: Mezzo (curbside 846-4077, closed Mondays), Brown Barrel (takeout, pickup, and delivery, meats, and retail package goods, closed Sunday, 859-403-2003), Heirloom (curbside, gift card lottery, 846-5565, closed Sunday and Monday), Darlin' Jeans (takeout, 846-9485), Goose & Gander (carryout and curbside, 846-9933), Holly Hill Inn (order and pay online, curbside pickup, 10% off for medical professionals, 846-4732), Wallace Station (order and pay online, curbside pickup, free delivery in Woodford County, 10% off to medical professionals, 846-5161.), Midway Bakery (curbside service, online ordering, 846-4336). Midway Corner Grocery has many canned goods and other groceries (846-4712).

We as a city government are looking into other ways we can help our citizens and our businesses, and those details will be shared once they’re hammered out more and as the situation becomes more and more clear. But if you need anything, you can call me on my cell at 859-361-6320.

Our employees are still working and all functions are still in place. City Hall is open for appointment only, but you can still pass items through the drop box or leave them there overnight. And you can still call City Hall between 8:30 and 4:30 at 846-4413. We will not be doing water cut-offs this month, but we ask that you pay your bill to the best of your ability.

No one likes uncertainty, but we deal with it in our normal lives more than we think, so remember not to overestimate your fears and underestimate your abilities. We are all capable of getting through this, but we must protect the most vulnerable among us.

Keep practicing social distancing, but when it’s nice out, go to the park, take a walk, just don’t get together in close circles or play basketball or soccer together. If you’re sick, stay in, and stay six feet from your loved ones in the home if you’re ill.

If you need emergency assistance you can still call 911. If you feel ill you can still call your local physician. Railroad Drug is open and is also offering curbside service and free delivery, at 846-4146. Ken Glass ensures that there will be no supply-chain issues on medicine, so there’s no need to order months of it at a time; he’s got your back too.

If you need anything, please call me. I’m here for you, and we’re here for each other. I’ve said it many times through this, but I think it rings true: we have to stick together, even if we’re forced apart. Great job, and God bless.