Halloween weather forecast delays trick or treat

Midway's ghosts and ghouls will have to wait out Halloween's spooky weather. Officials decided to move trick or treat to Friday because stormy weather is expected.

Midway Mayor Tom Bozarth told The Messenger that he, Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott and Woodford County Judge-Executive John Coyle decided Wednesday to move the observance. The hours will remain 6 to 8 p.m.

Council discusses local business's flyers on windshields, sets trick or treat for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31

By Holly Brucken
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Midway residents have complained about flyers from a local business on their car windshields, leading to a Midway City Council discussion about a possible new city ordinance if the situation creates a greater problem. 

Council Member Grayson Vandegrift, who operates a West Main Street restaurant, brought the issue to the council’s attention at its meeting Monday evening. “It’s unattractive to a lot of visitors,” he said. “It’s unattractive to a lot of residents.” He said no merchants had complained to him.

West Main Street on a busy day (file photo)

Helen Ringus, the owner of EquiTreasures, placed the flyers on the windshields of cars parked on West Main Street. She recently moved her store from West Main, where most of Midway’s shops are located, to behind Darlin’ Jean’s Apple Cobbler Café, invisible from Main, and said in an interview after the meeting that using flyers “is the only way I can get business.”

The issue was discussed by the council as a possible violation of the ordinance that requires business solicitors to be licensed, but Vandegrift said Ringus was unlikely to fall under this description. City Attorney Phil Moloney said the activity falls into “a gray area.” He said “It’s going to need to be tightened up somewhere,” particularly if residents are complaining.

Vandegrift said after the meeting that there haven’t been enough complaints to justify changing the ordinance or passing a new one. “If that starts happening, then the council will need a new ordinance,” he said. “What we can’t have happen is people doing it like crazy. . . .  It takes away from our quaintness and our charm a little bit.”

Ringus said in the interview that customers are grateful to be reminded of her store. “Women thank me for the cards,” she said. “Very few people complain.”

That will be the standard for future action, Vandegrift suggested: “If the vast majority of people are okay with it, then majority rules.”

Mayor Tom Bozarth commented on two races that brought traffic into Midway, the Iron Horse Half Marathon on Oct. 13 and the Bourbon Chase Oct. 18-19.

“This was the best event managed, as far as traffic, that we have had with the Bourbon Chase,” said Bozarth. “It looked to me like the restaurants were full.” He also said the Iron Horse Half Marathon, which had a record number of nearly 1,300 runners complete the race, went very well.

These events and the Midway Fall Festival in September may have led to a spike in visits to the meetmeinmidway.com website, on which Vandegrift reported.  The site had a 43 percent increase in total visits from August to September, and he said it was encouraging that the events calendar was the third most visited page on the site and real estate was the fifth most visited. Total page views were up 33 percent from August to September. According to Vandegrift’s report, more locals are using the site as well as visitors.

Among other items of business, the council designated the time for trick-or-treating as 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

The council heard first reading of an amendment to the alcohol beverage license fees ordinance, drafted to be consistent with a reclassification of alcohol licenses by the Kentucky General Assembly. The city is “just having to mirror the changes,” said Council Member Sharon Turner.

The ordinance adds three classifications of liquor licenses: historical sites, sampling sites and hotels.

Council members said after the meeting that they are not aware of any plans for a winery, distillery, brewery or a hotel in Midway, but “We’re hoping for a hotel,” Turner said.

Presentation of the city’s annual audit report, originally part of the agenda, was delayed until the next meeting.

Great weather, lots of runners and a welcoming community bless the fourth annual Iron Horse Marathon

Story and photos by Holly Brucken

University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

The sun illuminated Midway Sunday morning as the city welcomed the fourth annual Iron Horse Half Marathon, bringing runners together to enjoy a scenic 13.1-mile race through the city and surrounding area.

Midway’s beauty was a draw for many participants, including Carolyn Karageorges and Naomi Sayles. They chose to run the Iron Horse Half Marathon after seeing an ad at the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati, where they live. 

“It’s supposed to be a pretty run,” said Karageorges, explaining why she decided to participate in this particular half marathon. She and Sayles agreed the race lived up to its reputation.

“It was beautiful,” said Sayles.

The race, hosted by John’s Run/Walk Shop in Lexington, started on South Brand Street, took runners out to Spring Station, back through town and on to Weisenberger Mill, before returning to the finish line at South Brand Street.

Race coordinator Chuck Griffis said the Iron Horse Half Marathon was put together to reflect “what we like to do,” going out into the country.

The picturesque course was not an easy one, due to small valleys created by creeks and underground drainage. This landscape posed a challenge to many runners.

“I would encourage faster runners to do it,” said Sayles, who noted the toughness of the course.

The landscape did not scare away Geoff Parker of Lexington. “I heard that it was gonna be hilly,” said Parker, who was participating in his first half marathon.

“I love the scenery,” he said, admiring the beautiful morning. “I’m happy that I finished it. It was fun training for and I’m proud of myself for doing it.”

The top finisher was 24-year-old Josh Nadzam of Lexington, who ran the half marathon in one hour, 16 minutes and 24 seconds, a pace of five minutes and 50 seconds per mile. Josh Wolf from Shepherdsville, also 24, finished second in 1:17:55. His pace was 5:55 per mile.

Betsy Laski, a 30-year-old from Lexington, was the first female finisher. She ran the race 1:29:23, a 6:49 per-mile pace. Another Lexington resident, 34-year-old Elizabeth Salt, was the second fastest woman, in a time of 1:30:54.

After collecting their medals, racers congregated with family and friends in front of Darlin’ Jean’s,
walking around the town center and enjoying music, fellowship and a beautiful, sunny day.

Organizers said 1,500 entrants pre-registered for the race, and an additional 27 people were allowed to participate unofficially as part of training or charity groups. Of this number, 1,252 completed the race, according to www.TimingSpot.com, where the official results are posted.

The Iron Horse Half Marathon was open to runners of all levels and included a variety of age groups ranging from 14 to 74. The race results and winners of each age group can be found at www.ironhorsehalfmarathon.com/results.

Participants came not only to enjoy the race, but for the experience, which includes everything from the course to fellowship. “These types of things are changing,” Griffis said.“People are there for a total experience, to join in with other people.”

The sense of fellowship was not limited to race participants and their families. Residents could be seen watching the race from their front porches. Midway Christian Church served a pancake breakfast for spectators during the race, bringing participants and citizens together. Several local businesses sponsored the half marathon, including the Midway School Bakery.

Claire McCarthy, Midway resident and owner of Celtic Trends, took advantage of the race to open her shop early.

“I don’t normally open until noon on a Sunday,” said McCarthy, who opened her store at 8 a.m.

“It’s fantastic,” she said, commending the race and the people it brought to Midway. “Of course, the weather was great,” she added, attributing the day’s mild temperatures and sunny skies to the date, earlier than Previous Iron Horse Marathons.

Iron Horse Half Marathon, doubled in size from its initial running, will start at 8 a.m. Sunday

By Holly Brucken
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

The Iron Horse Half Marathon, to be held in Midway this Sunday, has doubled participation since its conception in 2010.

Named 21st out of the top 28 half marathons in the United States by Runner’s World Magazine, the 13.1-mile event has grown rapidly. Between 700 and 800 runners participated in its first race. That number increased to 1,500 entrants this fall, according to the race coordinator Chuck Griffis, who represents John’s Run/Walk Shop in Lexington. Last year’s event had 1,240 entrants and 1,000 finishers.

The race kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, starting and finishing on South Brand Street in downtown. Runners will go to Spring Station, back through town to Weisenberger Mill, then back to Brand Street. (Click on image for larger version)

The race started when John’s Run/Walk Shop in Lexington saw the need for a locally sponsored race. “We were asked five years ago to help with a group from out of town to help with the Lexington Half Marathon,” said race coordinator Chuck Griffis. After helping with that race, the team from John’s came up with the Iron Horse Marathon, an event that would be organized and executed locally.

Griffis said many races such as the Lexington Half Marathon have little benefit to the communities where they are held, because the organizers come from outside of the community. “These types of events should be more beneficial to the community,” he said, adding that the race also stands out because it is produced by an organization with roots in running, rather than an outside cause.

The organizers of the Iron Horse Half Marathon chose to move the event from Lexington to Midway in 2011, and think one of the most valuable assets of the race is its location. “The beauty of the course is its rural location in Midway,” said Griffis, who highlighted not only the scenic attractiveness of the course, but also the support that comes from the community.

In 2011, Midway citizens were concerned that the event caused parking and traffic complications, because it occurs on Sunday morning, when many residents attend church. Such problems have been resolved. This year, parking should not be a concern, because the race is being held during Midway College’s fall break, and participants will be able to park on campus.

Griffis can boast a positive relationship with members of the Midway community. Mayor Tom Bozarth said of last year’s race, “It was very well run.”

Organizations in Midway host events surrounding the race. For example, the Midway College cross-country team will host a pre-race dinner Saturday, Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the McManis Student Center. The profits of this event benefit the cross-country program. Midway Christian Church will serve a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. on Sunday, for spectators to enjoy while waiting for the runners to start, come back through town or finish.

"We are drawing in more and more of the community," said Griffis. The Iron Horse Half Marathon returns the support by investing some of its earnings in the community. A portion of the proceeds will be given to the Woodford Humane Society. Last year, John’s Run/Walk Shop donated $2,500 of the proceeds to the city of Midway, which used it to buy software for the cemetery. The Woodford Humane Society received $7,500.

More information about the race can be found at www.ironhorsehalfmarathon.com. Here's a map of the entire route and another version of the detail map (click on image for larger version):

Drake, forced out at Midway last year, becomes senior VP of Mid-Continent University in Graves County

By Midway Messenger staff

Former Midway College President William B. “Butch” Drake has found a new job as the senior vice president of Mid-Continent University near Mayfield, Ky.

Drake was president of Midway for 10 years, before being asked to resign after a disastrous venture to build a pharmacy school in Paintsville. The college withdrew application for accreditation twice after warnings that it would not pass. Millions of dollars were spent on the project and only an empty building stood to show for it.

Dr. William "Butch" Drake

Since March 2012, Drake has operated his own consulting firm, Drake, Marcum and Associates, LLC. He said in a Mid-Continent news release that he appreciated the confidence President Robert Imhoff had in him. “I look forward to the challenge of using my experience to help continue the growth and expansion of Mid-Continent University,” he said.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Dr. Drake’s experience and ability,” Imhoff said in making the announcement. “His primary assignment will be to help meet the ever-increasing regulations imposed by the federal government and accrediting agencies.” Imhoff said he was impressed by Drake’s Christian faith, and his accomplishments at Midway, including doubling enrollment, increasing donations and building new facilities.

Fall Festival draws thousands to downtown Midway

Story and photos by Morgen Wells
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications

Vendors, shoppers, families and performers lined the streets of Midway Saturday and Sunday for Midway’s annual Fall Festival. Crowds gathered to browse what local and out-of-town artists and craftsmen had to offer, from handmade jewelry, scarves and handbags to fresh squeezed honey lemonade.

The family-friendly atmosphere included balloon animals and pony rides for the kids. For adults, Wildside Winery of Versailles had tastings for 25 cents each, or five for a dollar.

Midway’s small-town charm shone through as families pushed strollers, greeted friends and even brought the family dog along to enjoy the festival. Early forecasts showed rain for Saturday, but the skies cleared shortly after noon and remained bright and blue the remainder of the weekend.

Many unique booths enjoyed attention from festival goers, and many potential vendors were turned away due to the high level of interest.

Dru Perry of Lexington set up shop to sell her handcrafted wind sculptures. The sculptures, which hang from clear line and include twisted brass wire and cut glass elements, are one of a kind and have names such as "Surf’s Up" and "Into the Blue." Perry said she started making them in 2000, after her experience with making stained glass windows.

“The emphasis is on light and movement, not as much sound as with wind chimes. They’re very durable; some people leave them out all winter,” Perry said in between sales of her work.

Because she never repeats a design exactly, her work makes a great gift. “They’re guaranteed to not have anything like it!” Perry said.

Daniel Coles, representing Hudson River Inlay of New Windsor, N.Y., manned a booth selling American marquetry woodwork. The booth included intricate tables and mirrors featuring inlaid designs of Koi fish, autumn leaves and other nature designs.

“The studio goes back to ’79, and I’ve been there since the 80’s,” said Cole. “It’s the second year we’ve been here.”

Some booths were set up to raise awareness for local causes. Miss Woodford County Emily Varner, 16, hopes to compete for Miss Kentucky and share her story with others. “I want to do the best that I can in everything I do,” said Varner. “As Miss Woodford County I talk to different people in the community and share my story. I tell them that it’s okay to be in pageants, they’re not stereotypical.”

Varner has been to the Fall Festival before, both for fun and as Miss Teen Woodford County three years ago. “It’s a lot different now that I’m older,” said Varner. “I see more people I know and I can talk to them on a higher level.”

The Woodford County Humane Society had a booth promoting awareness of animals in need of forever homes. Because it is a no-kill shelter, some animals can wait years to find families. This is the organization’s eighth year at the Fall Festival, and their ninth year selling the annual Woodford Humane Society calendar.

“The calendar comes out the Friday before” the festival, said Katie Hoffman, community outreach director for the society. “It’s a limited edition comprised of pets adopted from us. We auction off the front and back pictures and also have owner-submitted pictures.”

The society no longer brings adoptable pets to the festival, but that doesn’t mean the shelter’s presence goes unnoticed. Hoffman said, “We’ll have people come out to adopt and say ‘Hey, we saw you out there!’”

There were lots of people to see and be seen at the festival. Restaurateur Grayson Vandegrift, the festival chairman and a city council member, was pleased with the turnout. “I’d say between 10 and 12 thousand people came out,” he said. “Last year was a record, and we didn’t quite get there this year, but there was a huge turnout today. Usually Sunday is slower, but Sunday was busier today.”

“This year was harder to put together with more challenging logistics,” Vandegrift said. “We had more vendors than ever.” More than 70 vendors were turned away this year because of lack of space, he said.

Vandegrift said the only complaint he heard was that the festival didn’t last longer. “A lot of people want the hours extended. That’s the main thing I heard from them.”

The festival, which was dedicated to the late railroad baron R.J. Corman, had the Old Smokey steam locomotive on display. The presence of the train was appropriate considering the impact the railroad had on Midway’s development. The town was founded as a place to lodge railroad workers, and expanded with industrialization.

The Midway Fall Festival showcased a variety of different vendors, food, organizations and artwork, proving that small-town charm doesn’t mean limited possibilities.

Francisco's Farm Art Festival will return to Midway College and also move its date, to mid-May

Sara Hicks signs contract for Midway
Renaissance as John Marsden looks on

Francisco's Farm Art Festival will return to the campus of Midway College in 2014. The festival was started in 2003 by Midway Renaissance on the Midway College campus grounds, where it was held until 2010. For the past three years the Festival has been hosted by Equus Run at its vineyard off Moores Mill Road, more than three miles from downtown Midway, displeasing some local business interests.

The festival will move to mid-May from its recent schedule of late or mid-June. Organizers hope that will help reduce heat, which has been a limiting factor the last few years in June.

“Midway Renaissance is looking forward to once again engaging the many Midway and Woodford County volunteers and supporters of the Francisco’s Farm Art Festival to stage one of the region’s recognized top arts festivals,” said Sara Hicks of Midway Renaissance, who also serves on the Midway City Council. “Our committee has already begun discussing the ‘new improved’ Festival and how we will infuse new ideas to unveil at the 2014 Festival.”

Dr. John Marsden, president of Midway College, said "The college is enthusiastic about welcoming the festival back to our campus. Our beautiful, historic campus is ideal for this type of event. I am supportive of the connection between Midway College and the City of Midway and believe the return of the festival is one way to strengthen that relationship."