State investigating complaints by Highview Drive residents of damage from herbicide spraying on farm

Photo from corner of Highview and Oak shows the effect of the herbicide on a field that was green. (Photo by Al Cross)

Rebecca Herpick of Highview Drive says her young
tree was damaged by the nearby spraying of paraquat.

Story and photos by Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Residents of the Highview Drive area in southeast Midway found herbicide sprayed on their properties last week. They’re upset, and the state agriculture department is investigating.

“Our garden backyard’s our sanctuary” in the covid-19 pandemic, said Rebecca Herpick of the 100 block of Highview. “That's how we're getting through this thing. It was, but it's my therapy, and just to see all your plants dying is just, like, devastating.”

The herbicide was sprayed on one or more farm fields next to the residential area. That was confirmed after Herpick had a conversation with farm owner Susan Coats, who told her that the spraying was done by Joe Greathouse of Midway, who is leasing the land. Herpick’s partner, Sean McDonald, said he believes wind blew it onto the residential property.

Herpick and her partner, Sean McDonald, say
this damage was caused by the spraying.

Greathouse and Coats could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

McDonald said Coats told him that the herbicide was paraquat, which is commonly used to kill grass before planting crops.

McDonald and Herpick said they noticed spots on their lettuce on Wednesday, June 3. Two days later, when they went to grab lettuce for a weekend camping trip, the spotting looked worse, but they did not think of much of it, they said.

"It just had this ominous dead look to it and we're like ‘Wow’,” McDonald recalled. "We didn't think about a chemical or anything like that." 

The couple still packed the lettuce and ate it while on their trip. When they returned Sunday, however, they realized there was undoubtedly a problem.

“Everything had major damage," McDonald said. "I told Rebecca, man, the whole place looks like we've got a disease."

Eating food contaminated with paraquat “could poison people,” says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Herpick shows damage to her garden. (For
a larger version of any photo, click on it.)

Herpick and McDonald reported no symptoms, but Herpick said, "I just kept feeling so violated. We have a small dog . . . he could have died.” A study by Cornell University has found that paraquat is highly toxic to animals by all routes of exposure.

Angry, McDonald posted photos of their garden on the Midway Musings group on Facebook, and others reported similar experiences.

“The leaves in my trees and bushes are dying,” wrote Melissa Scheier, whose yard runs along Highview. “They all have the same spots.”

Warren Carter of Highview wrote, “I complained to Mr. Greathouse a few years ago about this same issue. I lost my garden in my back yard. When he sprays and the wind is coming from the southwest you can smell the chemical is your house. At least in mine. . . . Something must be done about this issue."

The problem isn't just on Highview Drive. Mary Williams Greene of Richardson Street commented on McDonald's social-media post Tuesday: "I noticed this evening that some of my plants on the side of the house nearest Highview had that same spotting."

A closeup of other damage. 

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift encouraged the residents to file complaints with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

 “We are going to keep an open line with the Department of Agriculture as it proceeds, and will do tests of water in Lee's Branch to see if any pesticides show up. We'll look especially for paraquat, unless an investigation leads us to look for any other pesticide as well.”

The Agriculture Department has received two complaints, and “We have two inspectors looking into it,” spokesman Sean Southard said. “Over the course of the next four to six weeks, we should wrap up the investigation which will determine if a violation has occurred.”

Under state law and regulation, the fine for applying herbicide not according to its label is $100.

Service for Mildred Buster 11 a.m. Monday at cemetery

Mildred Martin Buster

A graveside service will be held at Midway Cemetery at 11 a.m. Monday, June 10, for Mildred Martin Buster, who died at her Audubon Farm on June 4 at the age of 99.

Buster was a founder of the Logan-Helm Woodford County Library, served as a board member for many years and helped start a branch library in Midway with her friend Helen Hicks. She was a lifetime member of the Woodford County Historical Society and New Union Christian Church on Old Frankfort Pike. She spent many years working to ensure that the church’s landscaping was maintained for the congregation to enjoy. The church's former pastor, the Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, will officiate at the services.

At Audubon, on Moores Mill Road, she maintained extensive gardens that were visited by many throughout the years. She was an original and longtime member of The Little Garden Club of Woodford County, which she served as president in 1963- 65. In 1991, she and Kristina Minister initiated the Midway African-American Oral History Project.

She and and her late husband, Gen. William R. Buster, who led the Kentucky Historical Society in 1973-83 and died in 1995, gave many years of service to Midway University. In 1995, she started the Ruth Slack Roach Leadership-Scholarship Program in honor of her late, close friend. Memorial gifts to the fund are suggested in lieu of flowers.

A Woodford County native, Buster was a graduate of Margaret Hall in Versailles, Stuart Hall in Virginia and Pine Manor College in Massachusetts. She was known as “Marmee” to close family members, who surrounded her at the end of her life.

She is survived by her son, William R. Buster Jr., of San Leandro, Calif.; two daughters, Kathryn Martin Buster (who is in the process of relocating to Kentucky after more than 40 years in Colorado) and Martha Buster Martin (David Lynn) of Midway; two granddaughters, Kathryn Todd Martin (Benjamin Baranek) and Jessica Martin Gwaltney (William) of Lexington. They "remember fondly their childhoods on the farm and spending time with her," her obituary said. "Katie and Jessica are grateful for the many things they learned from Marmee, such as cooking, reading, enjoying good food, a love of exploring the world through travel, and an appreciation for beautiful flowers. In the final years of her life, Mildred found joy through spending time with her great-grandchildren, Caroline Todd Gwaltney and William James Gwaltney."

Milward Funeral Directors of Lexington is in charge of arrangements.

Community garden is in its 11th year of providing food, knowledge and 'quality relationships' for Midway

John Davis worked in the garden Saturday.

Story and photos by Sarah Ladd

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Members of the Midway community met Saturday to continue planting tomatoes and peppers in the Community Garden on the grounds of Midway Presbyterian Church at 103 N. Turner St.

The garden is starting its 11th year of providing a free planting space, food and agricultural education for the Midway public. According to its Facebook page, its official mission is "To educate, to encourage and to support our community with quality food, quality relationships and quality knowledge about nature and nutrition."

John Davis, who has been involved with the garden since its beginning in 2008, said it originally only had two rows of vegetables. With more volunteers and space, it now has five long rows with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, beets, carrots, okra, potatoes, radishes, cabbage, garlic, onions, cucumbers, squash and kale. The space also has an herb garden and a pollinator garden designed to attract helpful insects with pollen and nectar.

Next to the garden the church has created a playground for children.

Davis said part of the garden’s beauty is its multiple facets. The church put in some playground equipment as well as a recycling bin. "You can bring your kids down here to play, and while they're playing, you can pick your dinner," he said.

Through the summer, children come to play on the swing set and pick cherry tomatoes on their way home, proving it is a way to teach them about raising their own food and taking care of agricultural life, Davis said. To protect the children, no pesticides are used on the plants.

"It's not just about the garden," Davis said. "It's the conversation! The goal is to have fun." With picnic tables, a sandbox, flowers and benches, the space is a welcoming place for neighbors to socialize.

Poles are ready for vines of green beans.

The garden is open to the community, with official work days each Saturday at 10 a.m. when volunteers weed and water the plants.

When harvest time comes, everyone who needs food may help themselves to the produce. Whatever is left is donated to the Woodford County Food Bank or to the free monthly community dinner at Midway Christian Church.

The Presbyterian Church and other donors in the community donate the plants and seeds for the garden each year. The church is selling T-shirts this year to raise money for the garden's increased expenses. For more information, email office@midwaypresbyterian.org or call 859-846-4751.

St. Patrick's Day in Midway: business specials, sidewalk vendors, a parade, leprechauns and probably some rain

LIVE UPDATE: Leprechauns strutted in the parade.
(Image from Blake Jones's Facebook Live video)

Members of the Midway Business Association are hoping that rain won't dampen the spirits for Saint Patrick's Day in Midway, the group's latest promotion. The association says a parade and other events will be held regardless of the weather. The forecast for Saturday is for a 50 to 60 percent chance of showers, with  a possibility of thunderstorms at mid-afternoon.

Specials will be offered by shops beginning at 10 a.m. and by restaurants beginning at 11 a.m. Each restaurant will have a beverage, appetizer, and meal special. Sidewalk vendors will also offer food, games, crafts and St. Patrick's Day items. Five participating restaurants are promoting the Shamrock Ramble, in which customers will get their tickets marked to be eligible to win one of five prizes.

Dr. John Marsden

The grand marshal of the Shamrock Parade at 3 p.m. will be Midway University President John Marsden, whose heritage is Irish. The parade will include an equine unit from the university, an Irish court of honor, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift, the city's new fire truck and several other units. The World’s Tallest Leprechauns will walk in the parade and then walk around tying balloons and so forth until 5 p.m.

Midway Renaissance, the community garden group and the Friends of Walter Bradley Park will promote “Go Green in Midway” with electric cars and information booths about the garden, the park, recycling and solar energy.

The event is co-sponsored by Coolmore America Ashford, which bought Waterford Farm just east of Midway about two years ago.

Expert on Monarch butterflies will show how to create habitat for them Thur. night at Midway Christian Church

Would you like to help create a way station to support and sustain migrating Monarch butterflies? The Woodford County Extension master gardeners will host a presentation on it by Joanna Kirby of the Kentucky Garden Club at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 1 in the fellowship hall of Midway Christian Church, 123 E. Bruen St.

The butterfly's numbers have declined, supposedly because of development of corn and soybeans resistant to herbicides that kill weeds including milkweed, which they need during breeding.

The program is free, but advance registration is required. To sign up, call the Extension office at 873-4601. (Wikipedia photo)