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Wednesday, May 31, 2023

CLIPPINGS FROM THE CLIPPER - from the June 1 edition of the Woodford Sun

June 4, 1903… 
Nantura Farm has 10 foals listed for 1903 with the sires being Longfellow (4), Jils Johnson (2), Ten Broeck, Imp. Rossington, King Alfonso and Patton. 

Dr. W.E. Sleet and family of Paducah are visiting friends here. Doc says there’s no place like home. He and his family will return here to live in a short while.

Alex W. Offutt, 81, former resident of Midway, died last week in Shelby County. He was born in Fayette County in 1822 but had lived mostly in Shelby, except for the few years he lived here with his son, W.A. Offutt. He was the father of 10 children, but only three survive.

The music pupils of Miss Nancy Mitchell gave a recital at her home on Turner Street last Friday night.

Today is the birthday of Henry L. Martin Sr., Midway’s pride and Woodford’s grand old man first saw the light of the world 76 years ago in a little farmhouse in Midway on the north side of Railroad Street and now occupied by Tom May. He was the oldest son of Jesse and Margaret Thornton Martin. His father was engaged in the dry goods business in Midway from 1846 to 1851, when he moved to a farm a couple of miles out of Midway. He attended common schools until he was 14. General Bragg came through here about that time, and he enlisted around age 15 in Company A, 5th Kentucky Cavalry Confederate Army, and was for 18 months a scout under General Nelson. Only six men from this company survived the war. He was captured at Cynthiana in June 1864 and remained a prisoner until March 1865. After Lee’s surrender, he returned from Virginia to Midway on his 17th birthday. He raised tobacco until 1868 and then went into Midway and was engaged as a salesman for different merchants for about five years. He then embarked in the horse and mule business, forming a partnership in 1873 with Oliver P. Alford of Kentucky. This took him to New Orleans until he sold out in 1879, returned to his farm and in 1880 organized the company of Scoggan, Martin & Co. at Louisville, dealers in mules. This firm did a tremendous business all over the world. He finally engaged in the banking business and is now president of Citizens State Bank of Midway. In 1893, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from the Scott-Woodford-Jessamine District. He was active in passing legislation, which implemented the state’s new constitution. In 1896 when the issue was between a single gold standard and the free coinage of silver at the ration of 16 to 1, Mr. Martin engaged himself with the Republicans for the first time. Mr. Martin is a millionaire, and he made his money himself. He lives in a palatial home (The Maples) surrounded by 1,400 acres of the best bluegrass land in one tract. J.P. Rigner provided the toast, “Heres to our sage, why mention his name, he’s sung of in song, he’s honored with fame. The sage of “The Maples” comes from a line of Kentucky’s soldiers and patriots fine. He’s been with us 76 of his time, let’s hope he’s still here when 90 and nine. Let’s drink to his virtues, his virtues sublime, let’s drink his good health in ruby red wine. Let’s drink it in claret, in Moselle and Rhine, and all of the juices that come from the vine. For the sage that I toast you is one, super fine. Let’s drink to his virtues, his virtues sublime.” [NOTE this item is for historical purposes only. We should remember that slavery and armed support of the Confederacy is a tragic part of Woodford County's history] 

The Clipper desires to make this correction in regard to the auto accident Sunday night, May 18. The car was driven by Luther Rambo, Jack Baker was in the car with him. Lyman Fisher was in his own car and came upon the scene after the accident occurred. There were no girls present when the accident occurred.

Fashion notes say that yellow shoes are again in style with that Panama hats are a thing of the past.

June 5, 2024

Mrs. William McCarthy, who has been conducting a notions stand at the interurban station for several months, has closed up her business.

Lee Beihn, B.F. Foraker, Kendrick Johnson, Bird Watts, James A. Agee, Eugene Wilson, Sam P. Dozier and George Caudill of Midway appeared before the board of education advocating a county high school at Millville. Their plea was granted by the board.

A two-horse team hitched to a wagon owned by Roy Blackburn, became rightened Monday at Farmers Union coal yard and ran down Main Street, colliding with a buggy occupied by Miss Howard, daughter of Brack Howard, near the Farmers Union Supply Store. Miss Howard was uninjured, but the buggy was damaged.

While playing Sunday afternoon in a vacant lot near the Midway Distillery, some small boys discovered two gallons of red whiskey hidden in a hole covered over with tin. It was evident that the booze had been in storage for some time as the weeds all around were quite high and bore no signs of being trampled recently. Chief Osborne took possession of the whiskey.

The Widow’s colt, Black Gold, won the $50,000 Kentucky Derby.


WOODFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT AUTHORITY MEETING OF MAY 26


By Melissa Patrick
Woodford Sun Staff 

The Woodford County Economic Development Authority (EDA) held a short informational meeting May 26, with some discussion about the progress of the county’s Comprehensive Plan and the importance of figuring out where future economic development in the county will happen.
Executive Director Lucas Witt commended the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission and the Kentucky League of Cities for their work with the four comprehensive plan community listening sessions, noting that land use is a “hot topic.”
“From an economic development perspective . . .  I think it’s important for the EDA to be thinking about what’s to come,” he said. “Midway Station is now wrapped up. . . You’ve got 118 acres in Edgewood and then what’s next?” 
Planning Director Steve Hunter told the group that the data collected from the listening sessions are available at the bottom of the “home” page on the planning commission’s website: woodfordplanning.org. 

Land sale:  Michalisin said the EDA had closed on a pending land sale deal for lots 18 through 20 at Midway Station to Orange Consulting in the net amount of $77,813. Witt noted that this has been a 20-year project. 

READ THE FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S WOODFORD SUN - SUBSCRIBE FOR PRINT OR DIGITAL ONLY OR PICK UP THIS WEEK'S PAPER AT MANY STORES.

POIGNANT MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE HELD AT MIDWAY CEMETERY




By Scott White, Woodford Sun staff


    Midway’s Memorial Day event was a poignant service of remembrance in front of the War Memorial with about forty in attendance. Mayor Stacey Thurman welcomed everyone and introduced Woodford Fiscal Court Magistrate Liles Taylor who invited attendees to share about their loved ones who served the country in the military. Several shared about grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts and siblings who both served or who died protecting our freedoms in combat. 

    This year’s remarks were given by Midway Councilmember Mary Raglin, who is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, Reserves. Raglin gave a strong yet moving speech about the need to not only remember, mourn and celebrate the lives of those killed in action, but to honor their sacrifice by treasuring our freedoms and working for a better world and kinder community. 

     The service closed with a startingly beautiful solo performance of “America the Beautiful” by Midway Councilmember Dee Mason who had only decided that morning to perform for and honor her friend and colleague Mary.


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DEE MASON SINGS GORGEOUS ACCAPELLA RENDITION OF "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" AT MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE



MIDWAY Councilmember Dee Mason sang a poignant rendition of “America the Beautiful” during the Midway Memorial Day service on Monday. (Photo by Scott White)

MIDWAY Memorial Day SERVICE - MARY RAGLIN GIVES INSPIRING REMARKS


MIDWAY COUNCILMEMBER MARY RAGLIN spoke during the Midway Memorial Service on Monday, which touched on her own service in the Army and the importance of remembering service members who died for our freedoms every day. (Photo by Scott White)

Thursday, May 25, 2023

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS EXPERIENCE RESORT LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF MIDWAY DISMISSED BY JUDGE MATTOX

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By Bob Vlach
Woodford Sun Staff

Woodford Circuit Judge Jeremy Mattox dismissed claims against the City of Midway as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Bluegrass Experience Resort (KBER) in a May 18 order.
“We were pleased (with the dismissal). How could we not be,” said Grayson Vandegrift, who was Midway’s mayor when the city was added as a defendant in the lawsuit against the Board of Adjustments (BOA).
KBER and its owners, Andrew Hopewell and Joey Svec, filed the lawsuit in early February 2022, seeking to overturn the BOA’s decision in December 2021 denying KBER’s request to treat the RV park’s wastewater using a private treatment facility. The City of Midway was added as a defendant last May after the city council voted 5 to 0 in October 2021 to deny KBER’s request for municipal water and sewer service.
Hank Graddy, an attorney representing KBER in the suit, told the Sun that he will file a motion asking Judge Mattox to reconsider his decision. “If that is unsuccessful, then my expectation is we will ask the Court of Appeals to reverse his decision,” Graddy said.
He argued the City of Midway does not have the discretion as a public utility “to refuse to provide sewer service” when they are “at your front gate” – calling its decision discriminatory.
The lawsuit filed against the City of Midway cited a May 6, 2021 email from then-Mayor Vandegrift expressing his support for the RV park. “I’m so happy to have heard last night that your plans were approved by the BOA. We are very excited about this opportunity to grow Midway’s tourism and local economic potential. … As you all get an idea of how much sewer capacity you’ll be using, let me know and we can start talking services.”
Graddy argued the council’s decision was political. “They believe,” he said, “they can provide sewer by popularity,” referencing a large public outcry opposing the RV park.
“The arguments (in the suit) to me,” Vandegrift told the Sun, “were more geared towards an attempt to embarrass me than … any kind of legal argument.
“If that was their goal, I was never embarrassed. Sticking up for my constituency’s what I’m supposed to do as an elected official.”
Vandegrift said he originally liked the concept of having a campground on the property (located north of I-64 at the Scott County line) rather than an industrial or residential use, but changed his mind after “the plan changed. It got bigger and bigger.”
In his May 6, 2021 email, Vandegrift was referring to the conditional use permit granted a day earlier, which allowed overnight accommodations for up to 472 guests as a Tourist Destination Expanded enterprise. In addition to the guest RV sites, the permit allowed 15 sites for employees and 11 owner sites.
The amended CUP request filed in November and heard in December 2021 – after the Midway City Council decision to deny municipal services – asked to add a new condition that “All campsites and facilities will be supplied with water from Kentucky American Water, and all wastewater will be treated by KY Division of Water KPDS permitted facility in compliance with the Clean Water Act.”
Graddy said his clients are considering whether to drop the lawsuit against the BOA and make a different request, with another method of wastewater treatment for the RV park.

CLIPPINGS FROM THE BLUEGRASS CLIPPER - From the May 25 Woodford Sun




May 28, 1903… 

The will of Miss Margaret Logan of Versailles, who died last week in Florida, was probated Monday. Among her bequests is one for $20,000 for establishment of a free public library at Versailles.


A Louisville Southern passenger train struck a buggy containing two men at the Clifton Pike crossing, one mile west of Versailles, Saturday night, killing Charles Harris and seriously injuring James Jackson. The horse was killed, and the buggy was splintered.

For the first time, the L&N had in operation a Sunday train service last Sunday. The train was put on to accommodate the road’s patrons who wishes to take in the city on that day. Sunday is the only day on which many people can get away from home and it was to please this class mainly that the service was inaugurated. It will doubtless prove popular.

Captain James Blackburn returned last Saturday from New Orleans, where he had gone to attend the Confederate veteran’s reunion. [NOTE this item is for historical purposes only. We should remember that slavery and armed support of the Confederacy is a tragic part of Woodford County's history] 

Robert S. gray, of this county, is to be one of the clerks in the office of State Auditor Hager, provided Hager is not defeated by a Republican in the November election.

May 29, 1924… 

From the Danville Messenger: “The identity of the young man who was stripped of his clothing and left on the Perryville Pike last Thursday night by some companions, who then drove away in a car, has been learned. The youth was a member of the freshman class at Centre College and was kidnapped on the night of the flag rush by a group of sophomores, taken out on the Perryville Road, relieved of everything but a suit of BVD’s and a pair of shoes. The freshman, Jim Parrish, who hails from Midway, walked back to town, clad in underwear.

Thomas F. Duffy offers for sale his Ford Touring car.

Dr. J.W. Tyler, former pastor of the Midway Presbyterian Church, died Monday at his home in Winchester after a brief illness. He was succeeded in Midway by the present pastor, the Rev. S.M. Logan.

Mr. and Mrs. T.F. Rogers and daughters have moved to their camp at Clifton for the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine Hughes of Versailles have returned from their wedding trip to Cincinnati.

A group in New Haven, Connecticut have announced the finding of an apparent cure for scarlet fever. The vaccine is now being tested quite successfully.

MIDWAY CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION - MIDWAY IN GOOD FISCAL CONDITION & TIN MAN


By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff

The Midway City Council held a work session on Monday, May 22, to continue developing the budget for the 2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024). Councilmember Kaye Nita Gallagher was the only member not present.
Mayor Stacy Thurman led the council members through the administration’s proposed plan. Thurman noted that given how collegial and cooperative the council worked, that nothing was set in stone and that all items were up for discussion and decision. The council anticipates having its first reading of the budget at the next regular meeting as it proceeds towards adoption.
As demonstrated at the last regular meeting, the city is in solid fiscal condition. Thurman said the proposed budget was “conservative given the current needs” and that it would also allow the city to “plug away at things that need to be done.” The primary task aside from agreeing on a 6 percent wage increase for city employees, is knowing the capital projects that needed to be addressed this year and what was coming down the road.
While pointing out that Midway’s water rates are on the lower end of comparable municipalities, Thurman said that the budget will not require a rate increase. 
Each department head submitted a list of possible projects depending on both available funds and whether any emergency situations arise that impact available funds. Projects in the budget this year include: a water filling station for bottles and pets that will be constructed on Main Street; the cemetery roads will be paved as part of the Gayland paving project; a sidewalk between First and Second streets (along the southern side of Midway Road east of the Corner Grocery) which addresses a public safety issue; a contract for third-party maintenance for bearings in the sewer system; and, changing out old valves in the water system. Possible projects include: a new gear box and a new pump for the wastewater system, a new manhole behind Ed Hardy Road, and planning for a possible new generator at the wastewater plant.
Tin Man
There was a robust discussion about the unused water tower in town – known as the Tin Man – given there was no proposed line item relating to it. Councilmember Sarah Hicks expressed concern that the tower was not being discussed in this year’s budget and given that it’s iconic and many residents liked it being in the cityscape. she believed the council should explore options and even advertising opportunities. Thurman advised that she had been exploring some of the related issues and that she was “open to ideas” and that the council should continue its discussions. Councilmember Logan Nance cautioned that repair and abatement costs and other city priorities needed to be understood, and Councilmember Patrick Hall said that public safety should always be the determining factor. Hicks agreed but noted that the tower was a potential safety issue and that options needed to be understood so sound choices could be made. Council members Mary Raglin and Dee Mason echoed Hicks’ safety issues given the tower is visibly rusting. Thurman said this discussion was welcome, illuminating and why budget work sessions are important. She will reach out to other cities that have dealt with historic or iconic water towers that were no longer in use to help the council assess Midway’s options and welcomed other members to look for options to bring back for discussion.


Friday, May 19, 2023

MOVIE "MR.MANHATTAN" USES MIDWAY AS A STANDIN FOR AN UPSTATE NEW YORK VILLAGE!

 


A  CREW FILMING THE MOVIE “MR. MANHATTAN”, last Wednesday on Main Street used Makers Market and the east side of Main Street as locations. The movie is a production of Great American Family, was in Midway last Wednesday, May 10. When completed, the movie will be shown on Peer Flix channel. (Photo by Scott White) 



CLIPPINGS FROM THE BLUEGRASS CLIPPER - MIDWAY'S HISTORIC NEWSPAPER (SUBSCRIBE TO OR BUY THE SUN FOR COMPLETE STORY)


May 22, 1924... 

Four white robed Ku Klux Klan members marched down the aisle of the Methodist church after the sermon Sunday night and knelt and led in prayer and then presented a donation to the Rev. L.E. Williams. They then marched out of the church. No one knew them or believed them to be from Midway. [NOTE: we are reprinting this from the original edition of the Clipper for historical purposes as evidence of the overt racism the forebears of our African-American Woodford Countians faced only 100 years ago. We implore all Woodford Countians today to stamp out racism in all its overt and implicit forms].

Henry Phillips, Robert Jackson and Henry Richardson, charged witch striking with intent to kill, were tried this week in Versailles. Richardson pleaded guilty and got three years. The others each got five years. Phillips and Henry Green, charged with stealing an auto, were given five year terms. Richardson and Jackson pleaded guilty and will be tried later. They came here from Louisville on Mary 5 and were arrested by Deputy Sheriff James Lewis. Deputy Ewell Hoover was attacked and thrown out on the railroad while driving them to jail. They were then arrested and indicted.

Mrs. William Cannon and daughter, Annie Elizabeth, have been visiting C.H. Jones on Elm Street in Versailles.

May 21, 1903... 

The Telephone Girl will have to go. The Telephone Girl, like the street car mule, will have to “go.” Modern science has acknowledged what Cupid has failed to do, and it will only be a short time until the musical “hello” of the blond and brunette “centrals” will be a thing of the past. Already the “girl-less telephone” is in use and threatens before many moons to put the “hello” girl out of business. The new invention is an automatic and secret service telephone without a human central. Harper’s Weekly says that it is already satisfactorily working in a dozen cities of 25,000 or more. Its promoters claim that they are certain of its complete success in the larger cities. It is added that by mean of an automatic switchboard the Telephone Girls in the exchange or central station are absolutely done away with. When a number is wanted, one simply turns a small dial, like that which operates the combination of a vault, to the numerals which make up the required number, in their consecutive order, then a button is pressed which rings the call bell of the other telephone, and the connection is complete. Its operation is said to be instantaneous, no one can break it, interrupt or overhear it, and a person speaking cannot be shut off before he has finished talking.


Buried the Hatchet... The McCoys and Hatfields have settled at Greenup. Jones Hatfield, at one time a leader of one faction of the great West Virginia feudists, has purchased a fine farm in Woodford County and will spend is remaining years in peace and quietude. The venerable gentleman is now nearly 80 but as spry and active as many men of 40. He has been in a great many skirmishes with the famous McCoy family and always came out safe and sound. A great many of the McCoy family have also located here, but both parties apparently have buried the hatchet. They send their children to the same school, the adults worship in the same church, and vote at the same election house.

Dr. W.E. Risque has rented a portion of Mrs. Lucy Davis’ residence on Winter Street and will move his family there about June 1.

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WHITE LINES COLUMN, Scott White, "Midway Messenger is back!"




By Scott White

When I attended Woodford County High School in the mid-1970s, Midway was this exotic town on the way to Georgetown surrounded by wealthy horse farms with a railroad running through the middle of it. Kids went to Midway Elementary School, and it was not until junior high (now middle school) that they joined with everyone else from the county. Midway kids had their own tribe. They never saw themselves as WoFoCoians – they were Midway Proud!
Though only eight miles away, Midway definitely is not Versailles – it is unique from every other part of the county. Sure, we share many things in common. But, not everything. Midway is much more equine-centered. It has long been on the map of “foodies” with its dining destinations like Holly Hill Inn, Gibson’s, Heirloom and Goose and Gander, and others before them. It is famous for its historic downtown with a distinctive shopping corridor and longstanding bed and breakfasts. It hosts well-known annual events like the Midway Fall Festival and Bourbon and Blues Fest. It had its own independent school system until consolidation in the late 1960s and is the only Woodford County school to win a state high school championship back in 1937, that is still on a road sign as you enter from Leestown Pike or Wiesenberger Mill Road. Heck, WCHS has only been to two Sweet 16s with the most recent this past season.
It is also home to the only university in the county, Midway University which competes at high levels in both men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletics and will have a football team this fall. Midway U is already gaining status in a number of academic disciplines under the visionary leadership of President John Marsden.
We here at the Sun appreciate its uniqueness too. You will read reports in these pages on city council meetings, local business news and events, and various issues unique to Midway like the recent conditional use permit application denial involving a distillery. Even so, we are committed to providing a Midway-specific news source for Midway residents and businesses, but that is also available to the entirety of Woodford County and the region.
This is nothing new. From 1875 until 1942, the Lindsay family published the Bluegrass Clipper in Midway. The digitized archival copies are at both the University of Kentucky and the Woodford County Historical Society. Marla Carroll, the Sun’s design editor, selects stories from the Clipper each week which appears on page two . .. just look beside this column. You cannot imagine the number of folks who tell us how much they enjoy this window back into Midway and Woodford County’s history.
More recently, following a conversation between former long-time Midway Mayor Tom Bozarth and Al Cross, the director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, the online newspaper Midway Messenger was begun in 2008. As described by Al, though an online and non-commercial publication, the Messenger’s purpose was to offer a real-world journalism experience for UK students as well as to serve the people of Midway. In 2022, the Sun took over the Messenger from UK while still offering to use a UK journalism student as an intern and to mix in stories from the Sun staff as well. 
Since last fall, we had to put the Messenger on pause as we adjusted to the loss of our publisher, Whit Chandler, in January 2022, and then the departure of editor John McGary in December to WEKU news. John was responsible for managing the Messenger content (you can still hear John’s excellent journalism on 88.9 FM - his reports appear usually during the 4 to 7 p.m. time period). In fact, until two weeks ago, the most recent news post on the Messenger was from September 2022.
That now is behind us, and we are BACK! The Midway Messenger is current and updated numerous times during the week. We will continue to focus its content on Midway stories, news, sports, community events and issues. We will also be offering advertising opportunities for businesses, educational institutions, community organizations, and non-profits. These rates will soon be set and advertisers will have the option to advertise in the print edition of the Sun as well as the Messenger with a discounted up-charge. You can expect to hear more from us as we get around to visit folks.
If you know about some news, or a person we should write a feature on, or an issue that needs looking into, please reach out to me at scott@woodfordsun.com.
In the meantime, bookmark as a favorite the Midway Messenger and keep current with what’s happening and shaking in Midway! Find it here at: https://midwayky.blogspot.com.


MIDWAY CITY COUNCIL, MAY 15, 2023 "MIDWAY IN GOOD FISCAL CONDITION"

 



By Scott White, Woodford Sun staff

Midway has begun its budgeting process for 2023-24 with a work session held last Thursday, May 11.
At this week’s regular council meeting on Monday, May 15, Mayor Stacy Thurman advised that projections for the occupational tax and other revenues are on track so there should be sufficient money available. Any budget requires choices given the limited pool of money, but “hard choices” or a cut back in services will not be required. Thurman said that the “takeaway from our fiscal status is that Midway is in a good position economically.” 
A priority of the council and Thurman is a pay increase for city employees. Thurman stated she would propose a 6 percent increase in the budget draft. Thurman scheduled a second work session for Monday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. which is open to the public. The council and city staff will then be able to engage in a more detailed analysis and have the ability to finalize a budget to be voted on later. Thurman indicated this should allow council to enact the budget on time.


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Thursday, May 18, 2023

"A LIKELY STORY" BOOKSTORE OPENS IN MIDWAY - READ ABOUT OWNERS ASHLEE AND ANNIE DENINGTON

 

A LIKELY STORY, A NEW MIDWAY BOOKSTORE, held its Woodford Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting last Wednesday, May 10. Pictured from left: Midway Councilmembers Logan Nance, Patrick Hall, co-owners Ashlee and Annie Denington, and Mayor Stacey Thurman. (Photo by Scott White)

By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff

Annie Denington and her mother Ashlee were at Amelia Island in August 2019 – not on vacation but attending a seminar on how to start and run a bookstore. Not your typical Florida vacation. Annie and Ashlee, part of a very close-knit group of Midway family and friends, were in Florida because, as crazy as starting and running a bookstore from scratch with no prior experience may sound, they decided to take a risk.

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MIDWAY BRANCH OF WOFOCO LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS



 


 

THIS FRIDAY, MAY 19, FUNDRAISER FOR MOVIE TO BEGIN FILMING IN MIDWAY THIS SUMMER




Please join Patrick & Jillian Hall at their home in Midway for a cocktail and silent auction fundraiser for the movie "Lazarus Games", filming locally this summer!  The fundraiser is THIS Friday, May 19, 5:30-7:30, at 105 North Winter Court.  


Come meet cast and crew!  

Call Jillian Hall at 859-396-1712 for additional information

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

MIDWAY UNIVERSITY TO PRESENT 9TH ANNUAL SPOTLIGHT AWARDS


Midway University will be holding the Ninth Annual Spotlight Awards on May 25, 2023. The event will be held on campus in the Marshall Gymnasium inside McManis Student Center. The cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and awards at 7:00 p.m.

All proceeds from the dinner and awards ceremony will go to support ongoing academic programming and student scholarships at Midway University.

This year's theme will be "All Aboard" and our honorees will be James E. "Ted" Bassett III, receiving the Pinkerton Vision Award, and Linda L. Green, will receive the Midway University Legacy Award.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.midway.edu/events/spotlight-awards.html


Monday, May 15, 2023

HOLLY HILL INN GENERAL MANAGER, MIDWAY NATIVE JACKIE ANTHONY, PUTS THE HAPPY IN FINE DINING

 


By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff

As nationally-known figures Chris and Ouita Michel have grown their hospitality business, it is easy to forget that it all started with the iconic Midway fine dining restaurant Holly Hill Inn – notable for Chris’ wine knowledge and Ouita’s creative high-end cuisine.

Jackie Anthony is the native Midwayian to whom the Michels’ entrust the business operation of their flagship.

As Ouita tells it, “COVID changed the way I was thinking about our business.” She wanted someone who could manage the operation of the restaurant, allow her and Chris to focus on other aspects of the growing Holly Hill brand, and who understood their core principle of “making our guests just be happy.”
Jackie “more than anyone else in our Holly Hill family – and we think of it as a family – embodies the true meaning and spirit of hospitality, even more than me,” says Ouita.

High-praise indeed.

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Sunday, May 14, 2023

MIDWAY U. PROVIDES INTERNS FOR MENTORS & MEALS



MIDWAY UNIVERSITY provided interns who offered outstanding service as tutors and mentors with the Mentors & Meals program in the 2022-2023 school year.  Pictured, from left, are Tarice McKinney and Madeline Parm. (Photos submitted) 

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PUBLIC MEETING AT NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY


A LARGE NUMBER OF MIDWAY RESIDENTS turned out to give their input on land use and development during a listening session at Northside Elementary on May 8.  (Photo by Bob Vlach)

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Friday, May 12, 2023

Midway Equestrian Western finishes in third at IHSA National Championship Show

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- After a month and a half off from competition, the Midway equestrian western team returned to action on May 5-7 when they competed in the IHSA National Championship Show at Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.

After winning IHSA Semi-Finals for the first time in program history, Conner Smith’s squad continued their success by posting a third-place finish as a team.

The third-place finish marks the second consecutive season that the Eagles have finished inside the top 10 coming off their sixth-place finish last year.

“I am so incredibly proud of my team,” said Smith. Their determination to succeed is a force to be reckoned with; in my eyes, these student-athletes are winners in both the horse show arena and in life.”

Smith added, “We look forward to what is in store for Midway’s equestrian western team. This wouldn’t be possible without the continued support from Midway University, friends, and families. It’s a great time to be #MidwayProud.”

Team Results

Leading the way for the Eagles on the team side of the competition was true freshman Chase Summerville who was named Reserve National Champion in two events. The Albany, Pa. native took second in both Level II Horsemanship and Ranch Riding.

Collecting a pair of third-place finishes in their respective events was the duo of Daylon Stafford (Martin, Ky.) and Sofia Getty (Dayton, Pa.). Stafford’s came in Beginner Horsemanship, while Getty took third in Rookie Horsemanship.

Sadie Tullock (Cleveland, Tenn.) then took fourth in Level I Horsemanship, while Kaylee Tingle (New Castle, Ky.) took seventh and eighth in Open Horsemanship and Reining, respectively. 

Individual Results

Becoming Midway’s first individual national champion since Smith took over the program in 2019 was Jordan Schauer. A native of Centerburg, Ohio, Schauer won the first national title of her career with a first-place finish in Ranch Riding. The sophomore then followed that up with a fourth-place finish in Level II Horsemanship.

Lakyn Wilson, a senior from Hanover, Ind., became Midway’s second Reserve National Champion at the show after claiming a second-place finish in Level I Horsemanship. 

Tingle, the High Point Rider of the region, took ninth in the High Point Rider competition, while she was named a finalist in the Reining class.

CLIPPINGS FROM MIDWAY'S BLUEGRASS CLIPPER

May 14, 1903… 

Out of a total of about 200,000 Democratic votes in the state, only about 60,000 were cast in the primary on Saturday.
Woodford's vote in the primary: Governor, Beckham 648; Lt. Gov. Thorne 467, Renick 128; Auditor, hage 465, Chenault 168; Treasurer, Bosworth 571, Griffith 27, Richardson 9; Secretary of State, McChesney 519; Attorney General, Julian 272, Hays 14, Mitchell 302, Carroll 18; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sugg 20, Watts 83, Fuqua 43, Watkins 29, Arnold 417; Commissioner of Agriculture, Hedger 236, Vreeland 282, Frazee 35; Clerk Court of Appeals, Chinn 359, Greene 250.
D.L. McGann, brother of D.J. McGann of Midway, is the crack first baseman of the New York National League team and has been made the captain.
John W. Buck came up from Louisville last week to remain some time on his farm near town. 
Dr. W.E. Sleet and family left this week for Paducah, their new home.
M.D. Offutt caught a white mole in his garden last week, which is quite a curiosity. We do not remember to have ever seen one before.
Lewis A. Berry has resigned his position as circuit clerk and gone to Kansas City to accept a good job with standard Oil Co.

May 15, 1924… 

John Wesley Langley of Kentucky’s 10th District is the first Congressman in a decade to be convicted of a felony. The charge involves a whiskey conspiracy. Four years in prison and a fine of $20,000 are possible.
The contract for oiling Midway’s streets has been awarded to the Kentucky Oiling Co. of Frankfort.
The senior class play, “Out of the Stillness,” was presented Monday night at the Midway Picture Show. Seventeen girls and eight boys appeared in the play, including little tots such as Lora Willis, Hudson Redden, Jean Davis, Lillian Bootz, Ruth Gatrell, Harold Langley, Anna Jane McChesney, Raymond Graves and Milton Davis Jr., who had a very large part. The cast included Adele Logan, Louise Gatrell, Grace Yocum, Lottie Featherston, Alfred Portwood, Robert W. Lacefield Jr., Mary Lewis Marvin, Florence Rodgers, S.L. Gatrell Jr., Viola Rodgers, Wade Litrell, Lillian Phillips, Leslie Childers, Dorothy Yocum, Forest Yocum and Henry McKinivan.
The class roll includes Louise and Katherine Gatrell, Dorothy Yocum, Mary Williamson, Anna Cracraft Roberts, Alice Brophy, Viola Maye, Henry McKinivan, O.P. Lancaster and Fred Faust.
The Rev. R.C. Gresham preached the baccalaureate sermon Sunday morning at the Christian church. His theme was “White Souls and Soiled Souls.” He is pastor of the Baptist church.
Miss Lucile Cole, Woodford County Demonstration Agent, resigned on account of her mother’s health. Mrs. Herbert Newman, former agent, was appointed to the vacancy on a temporary basis.
Mrs. John H. Edge, Woodford County jailer, gave a dinner Saturday to the member of Fiscal Court and the county officers.
Hiram W. Johnson of California was called by Henry Watterson “one of the seven little governors who thought Theodore Roosevelt should be elected president until he was taken out of the White House, feet first” He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1916 by 296,815 while Hughes was losing the state to Wilson by 3,773. This gave Johnson enormous prestige, which increased after Roosevelt’s death. He was unable to secure the GOP presidential nomination in 1920 and was reelected to the Senate in 1922 by a greatly reduced margin, over Charles C. Moore. Now, Coolidge has side-tracked Johnson and his presidential ambitions and dreams are at an end.
Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Cogar and sons, Jams and Joseph, and Miss Mayme D. Cogar returned home Saturday from a three months’ stay in California.

 

TAG: MIDWAY NEWS