Leslie M. Sharon, longtime builder and restorer, dies

Longtime Midway builder Leslie Murphy Sharon died Thursday at 88. For 70 years he built or restored hundred of homes, churches and businesses in Central Kentucky, first as partner in Sharon and Stone Builders, then on his own.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jean Clifton Sharon; his daughters, Midway City Council Member Leslie “Libby” Warfield (David), Margaret “Peggy” Sharon, and Cynthia Jean Karrick (Philip); six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a brother, Marvin Clay Sharon (Bessie).

Sharon was a native of Scott County. His visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Johnson’s Funeral Home in Georgetown. The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Midway Baptist Church, with burial in the Midway Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the church, where he was a deacon, Sunday school superintendent, teacher, trustee and finance committee chair, and took a leading role in major restoration of the building during the 1960s.

"He gave of his time and talents where needed to help make a stronger community," and was "often seen working on something around town that needed to be fixed," says his obituary; read the full version here.

Firefighter leaders Armstrong, Price build city's department over 23 years of volunteer work

Story, photo and video by Leah Sharp

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

Midway Fire Chief Butch Armstrong and Assistant Chief Vincent Price make up a long-running team at the Midway Fire Department.

This summer, Armstrong and Price celebrated their 23-year anniversary of being chief and assistant chief. They took on their leadership roles in June 1993.

“The only way I was going to take on being chief is if Vince would serve as assistant chief,” Armstrong recalled.

Armstrong has been with the fire department since he was 20, in 1974. He said he joined “because it was a family thing on my in-laws’ side of the family” and his brother-in-law invited him to join.

Price joined the department in 1976. He grew up in Midway, he said, so “it was a calling” for him to become a firefighter.

Armstrong said that a little after he had joined the department, Midway made some changes by stopping “old habits of being unorganized.” 

“Before Midway organized the volunteer fire station, a siren would go off and whomever could come to the station would hop on a truck and go put out the fire,”  Armstrong recalled. Now a team is organized to come to the fire station if a call is made.

“What once started out to having just a helmet and rubber jacket to now having a full body suit,” Armstrong said. “A lot has changed since we have joined.”

Current regulations require all volunteers to have their own full body suit and accessories that come with it.

The department has 13 volunteer firefighters. Armstrong works at Lehman’s antiques store. Price has been retired for 12 years.

Armstrong and Price said they have no intentions of stepping down from their positions any time soon.

“Together we have stuck it out, and built it up with the city’s help,” Armstrong said. “I think we did a good job.” In 2015, the city bought a new fire truck, and they were able to customize it to fit their needs. Price talks about the "brotherhood" of the department:

Council agenda: annexation, animal traps, Midway Station, sidewalk deals and more

The Midway City Council has a long agenda for its regular meeting Monday evening at 5:30 at City Hall.

The council plans to hold first reading of two ordinances: one annexing more than 33 acres of farmland next to the Midway Station industrial zone, and one putting animal trappers on notice that they are expected to leave domestic animals unharmed. The farmland is in line for industrial development, and a citizen's requested a ban on trapping after her cat was killed by a trap set for a groundhog.

The agenda also includes an update on developments involving Midway Station, appointments to the new Park Board and Trail Town Committee, two event permits and a resolution declaring surplus the house at the cemetery, so it can be put up for bids for sale and removal.

Also on the agenda is an update on sidewalks. Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said this week that all three property owners who were offered a city subsidy of 50 percent, up to $1,000, for repair of their dangerous sidewalks, have accepted.

All meetings of the council and its committees are open to the public.

First-ever men's basketball team at Midway University loses its first home game, 89-74; now 0-3 on season

By Matthew Hunter

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

               After starting its inaugural season in the Marian Classic in Indianapolis over the weekend, the Midway University men’s basketball team fell in the program’s first-ever home game to Lindsey Wilson College on Wednesday.

               The Eagles (0-3) came into the matchup undersized and attempted to combat that by playing zone and limiting Lindsey Wilson’s touches inside.

               Midway’s only lead of the game came just after tipoff at 4-2. Then the Blue Raiders (3-0) used a flurry of transition points off turnovers to fuel a 17-2 run, prompting Midway Coach Joe Krupinski to use his first timeout.

Lindsey Wilson worked the baseline and frequent passes to the middle to open up Midway’s zone defense to draw fouls and find open teammates.

               Midway’s backcourt wouldn’t concede the game that easily, though. Freshman guards Bryson Harris and Brandon Johnson led the Eagle attack in the first half, each netting eight points. Midway was efficient on offense in the first 20 minutes, shooting 14 of 26 from the floor, and converting on four of nine from the 3-point line.

               Krupinski said his Eagles shot well because “We moved the ball a lot better and we shared the ball better. Some of the guys finished around the rim, which that hadn’t really happened the other day.”

               Lindsey Wilson led at halftime 44-34, getting production out of forward Charles Sutton, who led all first half scorers with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a pair of threes.

               The start of the second half showed some fight for Midway as Harris was the catalyst in a 15-3 Eagle run that pulled his team within two, 49-47.

               “He’s taken it upon himself to be the heart and soul of the team in trying to get us better every day,” said Krupinski, who coached Harris and other Eagles-to-be at now-closed Saint Catharine College last year. “He’s the one guy we have back who’s playing right now who had a significant role on the team last year.”

               Veterans Tyler Smothers, Gerry Milligan and David Jump are the other returning players who Krupinski said he wanted to get into the game plan moving forward.

               After almost losing its lead, Lindsey Wilson responded with a 25-8 run to create the largest deficit of the game, 74-55. Turnovers, which have plagued Midway’s offense early in the season, were again an issue for the Eagles.

               “Our motion offense involves them reading defenses, and we got to get better at reading those plays so we don’t continue to turn it over,” Krupinski reflected.

               Midway continued to chip into the lead as they narrowed the margin to10 with just under four minutes to go. The Blue Raiders were too much on this night as they prevailed 89-74.

               Three Eagles scored in double figures. Harris led the way with 19, freshman Brandon Maxwell contributed 14 and Johnson had 13. Lindsey Wilson’s Sutton led all scorers and tallied his first double-double of the season with 31 points and 10 rebounds.

               There was no recorded attendance for the evening, but students, faculty and community members alike showed up for the home opener.

               “I told the guys, ‘100 years from now when the first team is on the wall, that’s going to be you’,” Krupinski said with a grin. “I hope we can all look back on this and remember that we were a part of something when it gets to be really big.”

University, community team up for 'A Day for Midway'

L-R: President John Marsden, Joyce Evans, Ellen Gregory (MU photo)

By Alexandria Kerns

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The Midway community and Midway University teamed up Thursday evening, Oct. 27, at “Day for Midway” to honor community spirit and raise money for Woodford County students.

A Day for Midway honored Joyce Evans and her late husband, Joel, with the 2016 Community Spirit Award. Ellen Gregory, the university's vice president of marketing and communications, thanked Evans for all of her hard work in the community and introduced her. In accepting the award, Evans told a story about the first time her husband volunteered in Midway.

 “It was pretty bitter between our group and the city council,” said Evans. “When we left a city council meeting Joel said ‘I’m going to fix something,’ and he went down the next day, and found the clerk and he fixed the chairs that were squeaking during all those meetings.”

Supporters surveyed the silent auction. (Photo by Alex Kerns)

“Day for Midway” started with a silent auction that raised money for a scholarship for any Midway student from Woodford County.

According to Gregory, who organized a “Day for Midway,” the silent auction had around 100 items, including a trip to Disney World with a three-day hopper pass and four nights at a deluxe studio. This was valued at $3,800 and was donated by Jan Hunter. Other items included a gift card from Midway Chiropractor, a coffee and tea basket, and a gift card for My Old Kentucky Dinner Train.  These items came from businesses and residents in Midway.

Midway University students were involved with a “Day for Midway.” Precious Holloway, a freshman from Alabama studying equine sciences, painted two pumpkins for the auction. Holloway said that the event was a great way to see how the town wants to help the university. 

“I like painting so when she sent out the email about painting pumpkins, I was like I have to do it,” said Holloway.

Other students volunteering for the event included Taylor Gregory, a senior from Somerset, who is also studying equine sciences, and volunteered last year as well. Gregory said she loved seeing the town rally to help raise money for scholarships for students.

“The support we get is phenomenal,” said Gregory. “I would really like to see fellow students start supporting local shops like the Fashion Filly. It’s a fun little boutique, and they give a 10 percent discount to students.”

Many faces from Midway attended a “Day for Midway” including non-incumbent city council candidates John McDaniel and Steve Simoff. McDaniel said the event reminded him of something the town used to do in the 60’s called “International Days.” Simoff said he had been to the event the last two years, and loved to see the community and the university work together.

“I would like to see more students downtown, and find more things for them to do,” said Simoff. “I would like to visit with some of the students to see what they would like to see or do in Midway.”

Midway University adds more sports; first home game for men's basketball team is Wednesday at 7 p.m.

By Matthew Hunter

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

               This fall, Midway University opened its doors to men for the first time since it was founded in 1847. That meant the addition of men’s sports, and the school announced recently that it will add three more sports next fall.

               The new teams will be men’s tennis, men’s cross country and co-ed cheerleading.

               “They were natural extensions of what we already had,” Athletic Director Rusty Kennedy said in a phone interview. “We had the facilities in place and it made sense to expand.”

               The announcement came after the institution’s decision to add six teams earlier this year, bringing the total number of sports offered to 17.

               The men’s basketball team began play Friday at the Marian Classic in Indianapolis, losing to Marian University 90-76. It lost the second game of the event to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 94-68.

Assistant Coach Marquis Estill and Coach Joe Krupinski watch

the men's basketball team practice. (Midway University photo)

               The team, which has former University of Kentucky standout Marquis Estill as assistant coach, tips off their first-ever home game against Lindsey Wilson College this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Marshall Gymnasium.

               Both men’s golf and soccer are well underway. Kennedy is encouraged from what he has seen in the first couple of months of the seasons.

               “Our men’s golf team is solid and has had good finishes,” he said. “Soccer has a winning record and are third in their conference, which is impressive because there are highly ranked NAIA [National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics] teams they compete with. We are very excited for basketball, baseball and the rest of the sports to get underway in the coming months.”

               Next fall, Midway University will have men’s and women’s teams in cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, equestrian hunt seat, equestrian Western, and cheerleading. Baseball for men, and volleyball and softball for women, are also offered. Kennedy said archery will also be co-ed starting next fall.

               “Thanks in part to the addition of male and co-ed sports this year, we’ve enjoyed a record undergraduate class of incoming students,” Midway President John Marsden said in the press release.

               Kennedy, who became athletic director about nine months ago, said athletics have been a strong component of the student life experience at Midway for more than 40 years, when the institution was Midway Junior College.

               As a result of Midway admitting men and the closing of Saint Catharine College near Springfield, participation in athletics has increased partly because student-athletes and coaches migrated from Saint Catharine.

               According to Kennedy, Midway had 92 student-athletes across eight different sports when he arrived. Now, Kennedy says, Midway has 260 student-athletes across 14 different sports.

               “The decision to add these new sports so early into the academic year is so our coaches and admission staff have ample time to work to recruit for the upcoming year,” Kennedy said in the press release.

               Midway coaches go far beyond the borders of Kentucky, and even the United States of America, to recruit prospective student-athletes. In men’s soccer alone there are players from Chile, England, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Panama. In baseball, there are athletes from California and Texas.

               “We try to recruit Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio the most,” said Kennedy. “It’s our best base but we recruit neighboring states and internationally as well. We are not bound by a geographic area.”

               Prospective student-athletes are encouraged to visit Midway’s athletic site and fill out a recruiting form to get in contact with coaches, according to Kennedy.

               “It’s an exciting time at Midway University with all the growth,” Kennedy concluded. “All the things we are doing is to benefit and to open up opportunities for our students.” 

Candidates for state representative disagree on Versailles bypass, state pensions, backgrounds

By Claire Johnson and Elizabeth Allen
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

The candidates for state representative from Woodford County in the Nov. 8 election disagree on building another Versailles bypass, and on the incumbent’s background and his work on the state pension problem.

Fister and Kay appeared at a Frankfort forum. (State Journal photo)

Democratic Rep. James Kay and Republican challenger Dan Fister are both from Versailles. The 56th District also includes much of Franklin County and part of Fayette County.

Fister recently endorsed a northwest Versailles bypass that could funnel traffic toward Midway, which opposes the project.

“I think a lot of the fear Midway has about traffic is – I don’t want to say is unfounded, but I think they’re a little too worried about it,” Fister said. “I don’t think it’s going to be what they think it is.”

Much of the concern is about truck traffic. “I don’t see a lot of that heavy traffic going that direction,” Fister said. “Now they will maybe say they’re headed towards [Interstate] 64 at that point, but I think they would tend to go to Lexington if they’re going south or further east and go towards Frankfort if they’re going back the other direction.”

Kay says the state does not have the money for the estimated $30 million project, especially when Woodford County has so many other infrastructure problems, including potholes and crumbling shoulders on Midway Road.

“I want to have as many citizens on board to support the project before we move ahead and spend money that we don’t have,” Kay said. “My challenge to my opponent is to tell me which taxes he would raise so that we can afford a bypass.” Taxes on motor fuels support the Road Fund.

Fister, who manages rental property on Main Street in Versailles, said his tenants are having trouble making payments due to lack of business.

“We are systematically destroyed downtown,” Fister said. “We have a lot of big trucks and a lot of heavy traffic that should not be there.” He fears heavy traffic is damaging old buildings, “built in a time when the heaviest things on the road were a horse-drawn wagon.”

While the bypass is a key issue for Midway voters, Kentucky’s pension problem is also a prominent issue for both Fister and his opponent. The 56th District includes a small part of Fayette County and a large part of Franklin County, and includes many state employees.

The 56th House District is in blue.

Kentucky has the worst funded pension system in the nation.

Kay pre-filed two bills in September to address the issue. One would fund legislators’ retirement through state employees’ retirement system; the other would create more transparency in the system’s finances.

Fister said the bill does not provide enough transparency, and said Kay opposed Republicans’ 2016 Senate Bill 2, but drew from it for the new legislation. “He cut and pasted little parts of that out and copied it over,” Fister said.

Kay passed on the bill when a House committee approved it. House Democratic leaders did not allow a floor vote on it. He told the Midway Messenger that he passed because it “gave the governor total control over the retirement systems.” His bill would have added a board member elected by retirees in addition to those named by the governor.

“I’m the only member of the House of Representatives, Democrat or Republican, who proposed a compromise to Senate Bill 2 which would protect state employees and provide transparency,” Kay asserted. “Dan Fister is misleading, if not outright lying.”

Kay said, “State employees and retirees know that the number one issue with our pensions is the underfunding. The secondary issue, which is also important, is transparency. I have been a leader in the House of Representatives on working on measures to make our pension investments more transparent so that we’re not getting ripped off by hedge funds and Wall Street, who have been making money off the backs of hard-working Americans and Kentuckians for decades.”

Fister has challenged Kay to sign the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solution’s “Legislative Pension Transparency Pledge,” to “support and vote for making the Commonwealth’s legislative pension system fully transparent, including requiring the disclosure of the name, status and projected actual retirement benefits . . . of all current and former members of the General Assembly.”

Kay had not signed the pledge as of Oct. 28, but said, “I’m happy to sign any pledge that provides for transparency.”

Fister also says the district needs a representative who is more involved in the community. “He’s my representative and I’ve never met him,” Fister said. “I’ve never seen him at anything that I’m at until I started running for office.”

Kay replied, “I’m one of the most community-minded and civic-engaged individuals that is an elected official across all three counties.”

Fister said Kay’s perspective is limited because he has not raised a family or started his own business. Kay said he does have a business, his law firm, and his fatherhood of a 10-month-old brings a needed perspective to the House.

“I’m raising my child. The future has never been more important to me than it is right now,” Kay said. “I know the issues of this community and the people of this community better than anyone in this race, and I will challenge my opponent to prove otherwise.”

Fister said in an interview in September that he was confident that he has the election “pretty well won.” He added, “That may sound arrogant, but everybody I’ve talked to is tired of the status quo. They want something different, and I think I’m that.”

Kay replied, “I’ll give Dan Fister the benefit of the doubt that he thinks he’s won the election, but no one is working harder than me to meet the voters of Woodford County, of Midway and my district . . . If I do lose, it won’t be because I got outworked.”

For short biographical profiles of the candidates (and those for Midway City Council), click here.