City in line for pandemic relief funds; mayor proposes giving up to 40 businesses $2,000 each for shortfalls

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The city of Midway can get more than $129,000 in for expenses related to the covid-19 pandemic, and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift has proposed funneling the money to small businesses.

The mayor said in an email to city council members Thursday that he plans to apply for over $49,000 to reimburse the city for the $40,000 it spent on the “Midway Bucks” voucher program and $9,000 for expenses such as hand sanitizer,  protective spray in city vehicles, masks and food programs.

Vandegrift said he will apply for $80,000 to “grant 40 businesses in Midway with $2.000 to help make up for the revenue they lost due to being forced to close or partially close. While I feel it is unlikely that more than 40 would apply, should that happen, I propose we award grants first to businesses that were forced to close their doors completely.”

He said that would be “clearly reimbursable,” more so than the voucher program, which “is not specifically spelled out” in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which appropriated the money. “I am very confident the voucher program will be reimbursed . . . because frankly, it’s that cutting edge,” Vandegrift write. “In reading a summary of the act, I do feel that it falls under the eligibility requirements.”

The mayor said the grant application process would be simple and “would likely verify that the business applying are in good standing with the city on taxes and plan to stay open.”

He said he would ask applicants to say how much revenue they normally make in April and May, “though we would not ask them to open their books to us,” and probably require each to report by year’s end how they used the money: “payroll, rent, supplies, debt, etc.”

Vandegrift said the grants “would give a much needed shot in the arm all at once for all Midway businesses, and help them stay open and contribute to our tax base and culture.”

When Council Member Sara Hicks asked if businesses in Midway Station would be eligible, Vandegrift said the grants would be available only to businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

Council Member John Holloway endorsed the idea in an email, with a caveat: “I like the idea that they can apply for funds in proportion to how much loss they've actually had rather than giving everyone the same amount, but only if we can determine a way to do that without causing infighting over the amounts.  Not everyone has been impacted in the same way, or to the same degree. Things are generally more complex than they first appear.”

Vandegrift said the council will discuss the plan at its meeting June 15.

Ken Carroll, son of former governor and retiring state senator, seeks father's seat as an independent in fall

Ken Carroll (State Journal photo)

By Jordan Hensley

The State Journal
    Ken Carroll, the son of retiring state senator and former governor Julian Carroll, wants to take his father’s place.
    Ken Carroll, 65, filed last week to run as an independent in the state Senate District 7 race.
Since independent candidates do not run in a party primary, the deadline to return their petitions of nomination for the 2020 election was Tuesday.

    “I just felt like with my experience and background and education, I can bring value to the district and help folks in the district as well as the commonwealth find solutions,” Carroll said.
    Once a registered Democrat, Carroll changed his voter registration to independent nearly six years ago. “Basically, I just could no longer identify as a Democrat and I felt like both parties had become polarized in their positioning,” he said. “And things that were being done in the legislative bodies, whether it be federal or even state, seemed to be pointed to what was best for the party rather than what was best for people.”

Rep. Joe Graviss (Legislative portrait)

  Although Carroll is running to take his father’s place in the state Senate, he will not receive his father’s endorsement. Julian Carroll had already endorsed 56th House District Rep. Joe Graviss, D-Versailles, the lone Democrat seeking the Senate seat.
    On Thursday, Julian Carroll told The State Journal that his son expects him to keep his promise to Graviss.
    “You know, he actually has told me for several years he’d like to run for my old seat,” the elder Carroll said. “... I said, ‘Well, son, I have already endorsed Joe Graviss,’ and he said ‘Yes, and I expect you to keep your word.’”
    Ken Carroll said he made his decision to run after his father had already announced he was retiring and would endorse Graviss.
    “Matter of fact, when I told Dad, I said, ‘Would you please call Mr. Graviss and let him know my decision?’” he said. “Out of respect for him and my dad, I wanted to make sure they were aware and heard it from me, basically. My dad’s a man of honor and his word is his bond, so I said ‘That’s fine. I understand clearly you have endorsed Joe and I have no problem with that.’”

Sen. Julian Carroll (Legislative staff photo)

    On Thursday, Graviss told The State Journal he welcomes as many people who want to be involved.

    “He is new and late to the scene and I hope he is willing to stick around when it's over,” Graviss said. “My strategy has always been to work incredibly hard, to respond to people’s concerns, advocate for their interests and do it 24/7. My whole strategy is built around hard work and persistence and involvement. This is not a part-time job.” Graviss said he is extremely grateful for Julian Carroll’s endorsement.
    As for how an independent candidate will impact the election, Al Cross professor and director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentukcy, said Ken Carroll's candidacy could split the Democratic vote and lead to a Republican winning the seat.
    "It remains to be seen how good a candidate Ken will be, since he has not played that role before," Cross said. "His father’s political punch has been greatly diminished by the passage of time and the controversy that marred his final term, but the name still brings recognition and a degree of credibility, which will be useful."
    The controversy Cross is referring to occurred in 2017 when Julian Carroll was accused of sexual harassment and assault. Senate Democrats stripped him of his leadership position.As for how he sees Franklin County voting, Cross said he's not 100% confident in predicting how the electorate will vote.

    "I think there's still a lot of regard for Julian Carroll and Kenny might get more votes because of that than Joe will for getting Julian's endorsement," Cross said.
    Senate District 7 covers Anderson, Franklin, Gallatin, Owen and Woodford counties. It has 53,611 Democrats, 33,389 Republicans and 2,897 independents and 3,944 members of other parties.
    "If the Republicans were able to capture this seat, it would be a tremendous coup," Cross said. "This seat is presumed to be a Democratic seat because of Franklin County."
    Right now, there are no independent state senators, Cross said. The last independent in the state Senate was Paducah's Bob Leeper, who represented the 2nd District.
    Cross said Carroll is not the usual independent candidate: "I would expect he would be able to raise the sort of money it takes to run a real campaign, but you never really know about things like that."
    Carroll has lived in Frankfort since 1972, when his father was lieutenant governor, and is a graduate of Frankfort High School and Western Kentucky University, where he has a double degree in speech and government.
    His background includes more than 20 years in state government, where he’s been a legislative committee staffer, a research and policy development analyst and a bill drafter with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission among other roles in the legislative and executive branches.
    Carroll is also the current president and CEO of Advanced Manufacturing Professionals Inc., a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to facilitate talent solutions for companies.
    If elected, Carroll said, he plans to work on improving Kentucky’s pension system. He would like to see an extensive audit of the system. He also plans to focus on economic and tourism growth.
    “In terms of careers for individuals, I think we need to give more focus to technical careers and I’m not just talking about manufacturing and service support,” he said. “There’s a lot of great careers in health care, logistics, energy, and we need to really focus on that and let people know what the pathways are to get there.”
    He said he would also like to work on creating efficiency and savings in the health care industry.
    Graviss, a Democrat, is running unopposed in the June 23 primary and will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
    Calen Studler, Cleaver Crawford, Katie Howard, Adrienne Southworth and Linda Thompson are vying for the Republican nomination.
Al Cross is an extension professor in the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media, which partners with The State Journal on coverage of state government and politics. He and his students produce the Midway Messenger.

In foaling season just concluded, disease that kills foals appears to have been the second worst ever

University of Kentucky chart, with labels placed by Midway Messenger; click on it to enlarge.

The original version of this story, in May, was based on data that were misinterpreted by the Messenger, and it has been revised. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.

By Hayley Burris

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The infection that causes Thoroughbred foals to be aborted or born dead or underdeveloped is slacking off as this year’s foaling season nears its end, but it appears to have caused the second most documented cases ever.

Nocardioform placentitis can cause the placenta to detach, causing premature birth or stillbirth.  Foals that live usually have a compromised lifespan due to being underdeveloped or undersized. 

Every year, at least a small number of horses in Kentucky are affected by this infection but this year the numbers set an apparent record, with 310 cases through April.207 cases through May. That was second only to the 328 cases in the 2010-11 foaling season.

University of Kentucky chart

Woodford County had 21 cases this season.  Fayette County has had 163 cases and Bourbon County has had 13. Cases in other counties were Scott, 5; Harrison, 2; Oldham, 2; and Shelby, 1.

The Midway Messenger was unable to identify any particular Woodford County farms with cases. Research suggests it is likelier on larger farms.

In a typical season, Kentucky has 20 to 50 cases, according to the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center at UK. The cause of the infection remains unknown, and so does why there have been so many this year.

The Gluck center is researching that through submitted placentas, mares, and foals, with the help of $132,000 in emergency funding from the foundation that supports the center. The money comes from an endowment created to address such emergencies.

“We are very fortunate to have had the help of local practitioners and farm managers/owners to obtain samples of normal and affected placentae for research given the extremely difficult situation we all find ourselves in with the coronavirus pandemic,” Emma Adam, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment said in an email.  “Our vets and farms have been amazing in still submitting samples in spite of these challenges.”

Kentucky tends to have more documented cases of nocardoioform placentitis, because it produces about 40 percent of the nation’s foals, but also because it does more research on horses, UK professors say.

Mayor's update: Reaching out at a time of high anxiety, anger and sadness, and remembering to stay safe

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway
     I have been reaching out to leaders in our church community in hopes of continuing a conversation we started in our park nearly 3 years ago so that they can help us decide where we should go next. I will keep you updated as to those details.

     Ours is a time of high anxiety, anger, and sadness. Since I have no answers about what the future holds, I always find comfort in looking to the past. Our shared history and my faith teaches me that we are not novel in struggling with racism, division, and pandemic. We continue to have a problem with institutionalized racism in this country, but we can lay the next stepping stone to healing.
     To my black and brown neighbors, I see you, and I’m with you. To those still suffering from the plague of hatred, I hope you find a way to open up your heart.
     We are merely temporary on this stage, so each of us has no choice but to decide whether we will help lay the path forward to peace, or whether we look the other way to more anger and division. Even if all of our efforts only lay one stone on a path of a thousand, we should lay it anyway.
     As we continue this struggle for equality, let’s not forget about the global pandemic we are also dealing with, and while it is a more temporary situation, it is still here. Keep practicing good social distancing; try to keep get-togethers outdoors; wear a mask if you can when you enter a store, pharmacy, or any place with tight quarters; and practice good personal hygiene. Stay well, and God bless.

5 incumbents, 5 others run for City Council; 2 for school board; largest field of council candidates since 2012

The top six vote-getters on Nov. 3 will be elected.

Five incumbents are among 10 candidates for six seats on the Midway City Council, and there's a contested race for the Midway area's seat on the Woodford County Board of Education, following passage of Tuesday's filing deadline for nonpartisan offices.

Two more incumbents and two newcomers completed the council filings, and Ian Horn filed against Amanda Glass for the school-board seat being given up by longtime member Ambrose Wilson. The election is Nov. 3.

Council Members Kaye Nita Gallagher and Bruce Southworth filed for re-election Tuesday. Southworth said he had thought the current two-year term would be his last, but he said he had miscalculated the date of the 20-year review of the city's wastewater system and wanted to be on the council for that. He formerly operated the system.

Candidates who filed earlier were incumbents Sara Hicks, Logan Nance and Stacy Thurman, and Adam Bailey of Old Towne Walk.

Bailey, 33, is director of marketing and community outreach for a long-term and subacute care firm in Lexington. He said he and his wife Amy grew up in Woodford County (his father is EMS Director Freeman Bailey) and they have lived in Midway for five years. He said he is running to give back to a community that has a neighborly culture.

The signers of Bailey's nominating petition were his wife and Mayor Grayson Vandegrift and his wife Katie. The mayor said he signs such papers for anyone who asks "so long as I think they have their heart in the right place." He also signed for Southworth and Nance. (Magistrate Liles Taylor and his wife Robin also signed for Nance.)

Other newcomers filing for the council Tuesday were Mary C. Raglin and Andrew B. Nelle.

Raglin, 69, of the 400 block of South Gratz Street, was appointed to the Midway seat on the Woodford County Human Rights Commission in 2016. She would have to resign from the commission if elected, Vandegrift said. She would the the first African American on the council since Aaron Hamilton didn't seek re-election in 2014; he signed her nominating petition.

Raglin said she is retired from the 911 branch of the Lexington police department. She said she is running because she wants to be a voice and a positive influence for Midway, and was asked to run by two people. She declined to say who they were, but said one is a public official. Vandegrift, asked if it was him, said it was. "I’ve known Mary for quite some time and seen her dedication on the HRC," he said, "and felt she could add new perspectives."

Nelle, 36, said he delivers for Amazon and is a part-time chaplain assistant and staff sergeant in the Air National Guard. He said he was in the Air Force from 2008 to 2016, leaving as a senior airman. He said he moved from Lexington to Midway in early November 2019, just in time to meet the one-year residency requirement. Vandegrift said Nelle has watched every council meeting since.

Nelle said he is running because he is familiar with the workings of government and his parents inspired him to public service. "In service of others is the most noble of paths," he told the Messenger. Two of his four nominating-petition signers were merchants and fellow musicians Bill and Leslie Penn.

Only one incumbent, John Holloway, did not file for re-election. He was elected in 2018 and serves as the unpaid manager of Walter Bradley Park.

Two former incumbents, John McDaniel and Steve Simoff, filed for the council on Monday, June 1. They each served one term in 2017-18; McDaniel finished a close seventh in an eight-way race for six seats in 2018, after running third in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination for Midway-area magistrate on Woodford County Fiscal Court. Simoff didn't seek re-election that year.

The 10-candidate field is the largest since 2012, when 10 people ran for the council and Southworth and Hicks were first elected. They are now the longest-tenured members. Mayors serve four-year terms; Vandegrift was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.

School board: Amanda Glass filed for a four-year term in the District 1 school-board seat on May 21. She and her husband Ken own and operate Railroad Drug and Old Time Soda Fountain on East Main Street. The Vandegrifts and Thurman signed her petition.

Ian Horn filed for the seat at 2:26 p.m. Tuesday, County Clerk Sandy Jones said. He could not be reached for comment, but his LinkedIn page says he is an information systems engineer for the state Division of Geographic Information.

Council passes resolution saying it will confront racial issues in city; deadline to file for council is 4 p.m. Tues.

By Aaron Gershon and Al Cross
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway City Council committed itself Monday to confronting racial issues and “taking an equitable approach to all decision-making” amid the nationwide protests of police brutality and racial injustice.

The all-white council unanimously passed a resolution saying the city will examine “the racial biases embedded in our city” and “the racial impacts of city polices,” encourage people of color to participate in government and try to “improve the quality of life for all residents of Midway by asking these questions: Who benefits? Who is burdened? Who is missing? How do we know?”

The resolution’s author, Council Member Stacy Thurman, said “I felt it was good to acknowledge what’s going on in the world right now and know that Midway can always do better . . . and maybe lead to a list of action items.”

Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said he had already begun the process by reaching out to African American pastors. Noting the annual observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s birthday, he said he had long asked “how we have a discussion beyond a day in January every year … It’s almost like the country doesn’t have the appetite to tackle this problem,” which he said began when the Constitution included compromises on slavery.

“The founding fathers were well aware of the hypocrisy,” he said. “They created a great country with a terrible flaw to it.” He said solving it “starts with the heart, and it starts in the home, and it branches out from there.”

Council Member John Holloway, who first asked how the resolution would be implemented, shared a personal story to illustrate the racial divide that needs bridging.

He said one of his neighbors, an African American, reportedly said “one of the most awful things I ever heard” before the last election: that he was not going to vote “because voting’s for white people.”

“I was just crushed when I heard that,” Holloway said. “I’m not sure the relationship between the races in Midway is as rosy as what white people think it is.” Vandegrift agreed. “It’s not enough to say you’re doing better than other cities. That’s a pretty low bar.”

Council Member Logan Nance said the resolution was “a great first step,” but “We need to make sure people in the community that are minorities feel they do have a voice and that they can be part of this. . . . We can use this resolution as a reminder for ourselves when doing projects to make sure everyone has an equal voice.”

Nance said he has encouraged African Americans to run for office. The last black city council member was Aaron Hamilton, who did not seek re-election in 2014.

Holloway expanded the electoral encouragement to Latinos, saying he would vote for candidates of color and would even pay the $50 filing fee for any in Midway wanting to run for council. The deadline to file is 4 p.m. Tuesday, at the county clerk’s office in Versailles.

(Holloway and Council Members Kaye Nita Gallagher and Bruce Southworth had not filed for re-election as of 4 p.m. Monday, but Southworth and Gallagher said Tuesday morning that they plan to file; the other three members had. Other filers were Adam Bailey of Old Towne Walk and former council members John McDaniel and Steve Simoff.)

The resolution says “The City of Midway seeks to unify efforts aimed at reducing disparities and commit to intentionally and collectively advancing equity,” and “is committed to hearing individuals who meaningfully engage in raising awareness of disparities and in actively engaging in suggesting and supporting methods by which they may be resolved.”

Council Member Sara Hicks alluded to the shortage of affordable housing in Midway, saying “If we have the intention not to be a gentrified community, we can make policies as a city that will provide those things.”

In other action, the council approved an encroachment permit for an eight-foot-wide concrete driveway behind 230 South Gratz St., the former Midway Woman’s Club building, leading to Stephens Street; and reappointed Michael Michalsin to the Woodford County Economic Development Authority board for a three-year term. 

“He understands all sides of our goals of growth, to grow reasonably sustainably, slowly but to also fit into what makes us who we are,” Vandegrift said.

Michalsin said, “I am keenly aware that I am the only that I am the only Midway appointee to that board. I really do try to think about that and represent what’s important to us.” The EDA controls the Midway Station commercial and industrial development.

Mayor reminds post-office-box users to respond to census, urges them to vote by absentee in primary

By Aaron Gershon
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway residents are getting a letter from Mayor Grayson Vandegrift urging them to fill out their census forms, encouraging them to vote by absentee ballot in the June 23 primary election and giving an update on the “Midway Bucks” program.

The notice about the census was prompted by a note the mayor and the Midway Messenger received from civic activist Helen Rentch, saying that she and many people in town had not received a census form. “Those of us who can only get our mail at the post office did not get them because our forms had been sent to our street address rather than our P.O. boxes,” she wrote.

The Postal Service couldn’t deliver the forms because it does not deliver mail to residences in Midway, with a few exceptions. “I hate for Midway/Woodford County to get undercounted,” Rentch said. “I suppose there will be surveyors come door to door, when restrictions for such are lifted. Just seem to have so little faith in the Feds right now!”

Vandegrift said in his letter, “In order for Midway and Woodford County to be appropriated the federal resources required it is important that as many of us as possible fill out our census.”

He encouraged anyone who had not received a direct email with instructions on how to fill out their census form to call or email him or visit the 2020census.gov website.

Voting: The mayor announced that there would be no in-person voting at the Northside Precinct on primary election day due to the covid-19 pandemic, and asked all citizens to cast absentee ballots by mail.

The State Board of Elections is mailing notices about the election changes to voters at their physical addresses, so post-office box users will need to request an absentee ballot by going to elect.ky.gov.

Vandegrift said anyone not able to vote by mail can request an appointment to vote at the Woodford County Courthouse by calling 873-3421. Anyone who enters the building will be required to wear a mask unless they can provide a medical reason not to do so.

Midway Bucks: The mayor reminded Midway residents that they would each receive $50 in “Midway Bucks,” five $10 vouchers redeemable at local, non-franchised businesses to encourage local shopping as retail reopens amid the pandemic.

“This is a local stimulus we share with you as dividend residents from our large budget surplus,” Vandegrift explained.

“I am happy to say we’re the first in Kentucky with such a program,” Vandegrift said. “We see it as a way to help our local brick-and-mortar businesses to get through this time.”

The mayor said the city’s expense for the program would be reimbursed by the federal government with money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. He encourages residents to use their vouchers by the expiration date of June 30 to support local businesses.

Vandegrift wrapped up his letter by praising residents for their efforts during the covid-19 pandemic.

“We have stayed together and respected each other in a caring way,” he wrote. “Midway throughout the ages has always responded admirably and courageously to difficult circumstances and this time is no different."