Larry Cory, singing and leading his band

Story and photos by Sarah Ladd

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
For a larger version of any photograph, just click on it.

Hundreds of people came out for the third annual Midsummer Nights in Midway event Friday evening.

Debra Shockley of Midway Renaissance, which was experimenting with a new parking and traffic flow with vendors and the band set up in the westbound side of East Main Street, said the new arrangement was working.

Lily McDaniel (left) and Ainsley Lynch danced.

Shockley said with signs informing people of additional parking, “it worked out well. We got all the vendors in and none of the merchants are complaining, so I guess it’s a good thing.”

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said the new setup was “working out really well. We’re very excited about that.”

While the street closure made room for more vendors, Shockley said the crowd for this year’s first event was about the same as in other years. Midsummer Nights will also be held on the last Fridays of July and August.

Adults had fun browsing around 20 vendors and listening to Larry Cory and The Passport Band, but it was the children who stole the show.

Early on, Emma Davis (right) danced with a flower she received from Locally Grown’s booth, where the youth ministry was set up selling T-shirts and giving away flowers. Her godmother, Angela Blackburn, watched her dance with a smile. She said she loves Midsummer Nights in Midway. “It’s great,” she said. “Every town should do this.”

Later, with the band in full gear, Midway’s Ainsley Lynch and Lily McDaniel (above) danced their hearts out to the band’s music, earning laughter and smiles from the crowd. Bandleader Larry Cory joked about the girls being his “backup dancers.”

Brenda Jackson (right) and Breauna Pennie at Jackson's craft table

Brenda Jackson, a member of Midway’s Second Christian Church, set up a table at the event to raise money for Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan’s Purse ministry that allows people to send a shoebox full of goodies to less fortunate children around the world at the holidays. Jackson said she has been filling the shoeboxes for about five years and comes to Midsummer Nights to raise money for the contents and the shipping. “It keeps getting more expensive each year,” she said, but added that she is able to sell considerable produce at the event.

Her booth was full of interesting trinkets such as wooden trains featuring soda caps, candle holders, and jewelry, all of which she made herself for the ministry. She was sporting one of the bracelets she was selling. She said she made them after taking a class on jewelry making. She said the boxes are her own labor of love and “it’s just part of my passion for the church.” She said Breauna and Benisha Pennie, also members of Second Christian Church, help her with the boxes each year.

The westbound side of East Main Street, closed for the event, was filled with vendors and event-goers.

Tax to replace high school fails by 4.4 percentage points; Midway area votes narrowly in favor of it

By Sarah Ladd
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Woodford County voters decided Tuesday not to approve the proposed 5.5-cents-per-$100 property tax for building a new county high school in Versailles. The tax failed by 52.2 percent to 47.8 percent, with 3,758 votes against it and 3,442 for it.

Voters in the Midway city precinct favored the tax 235 to 162 but opponents carried the rural Midway precinct, 134 to 84. The combined vote of the two precincts was 319 to 296.

Interested voters waited for election results at the county clerk's
office in Versailles Tuesday evening. (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

The referendum came after a heated campaign that “divided the community immensely,” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. Those voting for the tax felt they were looking after the future of the county’s children, while the opposition felt that the school’s contingency funds should be used to lessen or eliminate the tax increase.

A voter at Northside Elementary School in Midway, who identified herself only as a local farmer, citing the controversy, said she felt like her hands were tied with the proposed tax and was certain it would pass. “They should have come up with a better plan,” she said. The thought of “being forced to pay more taxes” was “irritating” to her, she said, adding that she already pays too many.

Deborah Wheat of Midway said she was against the tax because “the high school they have is fine” and because she did not want her taxes to increase.

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said he was surprised and disappointed at the outcome. "But the democratic process played out, and we all have to respect that," he said. "I am worried about future economic development prospects being hindered because their workforce is heavily tied to the school system. But," he added, "I’ve never known determined Woodford Countians to give up on a cause they believe in, and I’m positive that all possible solutions available to us will be pursued in the coming years."

Efforts by the school board to promote absentee voting in the election paid off, but not enough; the absentee ballots went 291 for the tax and 222 against.

Ambrose Wilson IV of Midway, who chairs the school board, could not be reached for comment on the results. He predicted last week that the tax would pass.

Message from the Mayor: Midway turns blue

Crowds of people, many of them dressed in blue, gathered in Midway on Sunday
to meet men's basketball team and Coach John Calipari. (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway

On Sunday afternoon, starting around 3 p.m., I watched as downtown Midway slowly started turning blue. But it wasn’t the bad kind of turning blue – it was Big Blue Nation making its way to the United Bank parking lot where fans of all ages met the incoming team and Coach John Calipari.

It was a whirlwind whistle-stop tour. I was notified on Friday that the team was coming via RJ Corman Railroad Co. and was asked if I could help secure a location and spread the word. The post I made to my political Facebook page alerting the region to the impending Cat sighting was shared over 100 times – far and away more than any previous post I’ve made on that page. Whether you’re a true blue fan or a casual observer, this is what UK basketball does for us Kentuckians – it unites wide swaths of us from all parts of our commonwealth. Yesterday, folks from all walks of life met in Midway to meet some Cats.

Calipari signs a poster for a fan. (Photo by Sarah Ladd)

My initial estimate of the crowd size was around 750 people, but Coach Cal tweeted that it was more like 1,000. I don’t know if his calculations would meet the rigorous standards of the “McDaniel Density Equation,” but since the guys were nice enough to stay an hour later than planned so everyone could get an autograph and a picture, we’ll defer to the coach on this one.

Another Midway happenin’ is taking place downtown this Friday. Larry Corey & and the Passport Band will be performing at the kickoff of the third annual Midsummer Nights in Midway summer concert series. As in previous years, there will also be local vendors, food & drink, but this Friday we’re going to try a new set up. We’ll be closing the lower (north) side of East Main from 5:30 to 10 p.m. for increased safety and functionality. We’re hopeful this will make the event even better, but if unforeseen issues arise from it, we’ll go back to the drawing board. I hope to see you downtown this Friday night.

UK basketball team draws hundreds to Midway, giving new Wildcat players a rural taste of Big Blue Nation

Coach John Calipari waves to the hundreds who greeted the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team at a train stop in Midway Sunday evening. The team had planned to sign autographs for 30 to 45 minutes and leave Midway by 6:30 or so, but so many people showed up from such a wide area that they didn't finish until 7:08 p.m., according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Story and Photos by Sarah Ladd

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

C-A-T-S! Cats! Cats! Cats!

Crowds in Midway chanted the Wildcat cry on Sunday as they waited in the United Bank parking lot for the University of Kentucky’s men basketball team to arrive by train.

Head coach John Calipari brought the 2018-19 players to Midway on the team’s way back to Lexington from a kids’ basketball camp in Frankfort to give the Big Blue Nation a chance “to meet the entire team,” a UK press release said. Their R.J. Corman Railroad car arrived just after 5:30 p.m. to the cheers of fans, where they began signing autographs, giving away posters and taking pictures. 

Chris Blanton talks with friends while waiting to meet the team.

Chris Blanton of Versailles said while he waited in line that he had never met Coach Cal or any of the players present and thought the stop in Midway was a “terrific” idea. “This is a great opportunity to let these new players meet Kentucky, and let Kentucky meet them.” He said he thought the use of the train was a “fun avenue” that appealed to the children in the crowd. 

Tim Bernal, executive associate athletic director at UK, said the stop in Midway was chosen in part because “it’s one of those iconic towns in Kentucky.” He said the stop might have been right along the way of their return trip to Lexington, but “when you have a chance to do an event like this in a great town like this, you take advantage of that,” he said. “The people showing up the way they did kinda proves that it was a good decision.” Crowds were tightly wrapped around the bank parking lot.

Bernal said Midway represents rural Kentucky, but more than that, it represents Kentucky as a whole. “These are the nicest people and the most appreciative people,” he said of the crowds gathered. “I’ve got a saying that I kinda use: ‘as long as my gratitude exceeds my expectations, I’m in pretty good shape’ and everyone just seemed very grateful that we had come.”

Calipari echoed Bernal's sentiment when he told the Lexington Herald-Leader while preparing to leave Midway, "I want these guys to know the impact they have on people in the state, so I think it ended up being a good trip."

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said he was "amazed, but not surprised" by how many people came to see the Cats. "It’s incredible that the team can draw about 1000 people with 48 hours notice," he said. "Every time we have something like that, it becomes a great showcase for Midway and reminds us all of what a happening little city we live in."

Blanton said after meeting Coach Cal and the rest of the team that the experience was “pretty cool.” The team, which was scheduled to be back in Lexington at 7 p.m., stayed in Midway until around 7:15. Blanton said it was nice of the team to make time for everyone in line. “Coach Cal has a way of pushing all the right buttons,” he said.

Players signed posters, basketballs and other items for Wildcat fans.

Wildcats to make train stop in Midway at 5:30 p.m. Sun.

Image provided by University of Kentucky Athletics; the mileage appears to be the distance from Frankfort to Lexington.

The University of Kentucky men's basketball team will make a stop in Midway around 5:30 p.m. Sunday as it takes a train back to Lexington from an afternoon camp for kids in Frankfort.

With the team roster "fully intact for the 2018-19 season, Head Coach John Calipari is inviting the Big Blue Nation to meet the entire team," a UK press release said. The players will greet fans, sign autographs and take pictures at Darlin' Jean's Apple Cobbler Cafe. Complimentary posters will be available while they last.

The players will board the train in Frankfort around 4:30 and head to Midway. Fans in Lexington can greet the team when it arrives back at the R.J. Corman Central Kentucky Line platform near Rupp Arena around 7 p.m. The team is expected to spend 30 to 45 minutes at each stop, the release says.

The Wildcats will be returning from a "satellite camp" at Franklin County High School. The camps give fans "the opportunity to get up close with our players," Calipari said. "The only problem is, until now, we haven't had our full team. With Ashton Hagans and Reid Travis here, I wanted to give our fans an opportunity on the way back from camp to meet these guys."

The satellite camp, from 1 to 4 p.m., is still open for registration. Fans can sign up by visiting ukathletics.com/camps. It is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through 12th grade. "Spots are available for all camps and are based on a first-come, first-served basis, with online registration recommended as the fastest and most efficient form of registering campers," the release says. "The cost for the camp is $90 per camper and includes a camp T-shirt, three hours of instruction with Coach Calipari and the Kentucky basketball staff and available players, competitions, autograph sessions, along with question and answer sessions with Coach Cal." Camp-related questions can be called into the men's basketball camp line at 859-257-9457 or 859-257-1916 or by email at ukmbbcamps@uky.edu.

The release cautions, "NCAA rules prohibit payment of camp expenses (camp tuition, transportation, spending money, etc.) for prospects (seventh grade and above) by University of Kentucky boosters. For men's basketball, a prospect is an individual who has started classes for the seventh grade. NCAA rules also prohibit free or reduced camp admissions for prospects. If you have any questions, notify camp officials prior to attending camp."

'Cool Summer Nights Concert Series' to start Sunday evening at the Gathering House at The Homeplace

Brett Franklin, Leslie Penn, Blake Jones and Bill Penn played
during the jam session before the first concert last winter.

The "Cool Summer Nights Concert Series" begins Sunday evening, at an alternate location. Because rain is forecast, it will be held at the Gathering House at the entrance to The Homeplace at Midway.

"We may move it outside at the Homeplace if the weather is nice," organizer and performer Blake Jones told the Messenger. "Just don’t want us to set up at Walter Bradley [Park] and get rained out."

The concert, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., will feature singer-songwriter Maggie Lander, guitar slinger Dale "Tonedr" Adams, and Jones, who plays several instruments, for an evening of acoustic music ranging from blues to bluegrass.

The evening will begin with an open jam session at 6 p.m. The Gathering House was the site for the "On a Winter's Night Community Artist Showcase" last winter.

Jones, who is also a singer-songwriter, has lived in Midway with his family since 2000. He grew up in a family of eight and traveled the country with The Jones Family Band, with which he stills plays at the Midway Fall Festivals. His music ranges from traditional bluegrass to contemporary folk music. He teaches in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, and is a therapist in private practice.

Council to meet Monday morning on garbage contract; likely to seek extension to allow time for another bid

(Revised upon notice from city at 11:25 a.m. Friday.) The Midway City Council will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Monday, June 25 at City Hall to discuss the city's garbage-collection contract. The meeting notice from the city says no action may be taken., but Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said in an email that he has notified Rumpke Waste & Recycling "of our intention to ask for an extension of 120 days so that we can seek another bid," because the sense of the City Council is that "such a contract should not be agreed to without receiving a second bidder." All council meetings are open to the public.