Band returns fee, gives up return gig after allowing spectator to sing anti-gay lyric at Friday night event

Shades of Grass early in their performance

The band at Friday's Midsummer Nights in Midway event allowed a spectator to sing an anti-gay song, prompting protests from the crowd. Now Shades of Grass has returned the $500 fee it received from Midway Renaissance and asked that the money go toward an LGBT cause, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift told the Messenger Wednesday afternoon.

“We don’t condone any kind of speech like that in Midway, whether it’s racist or sexist or anti-gay or anti-religious or anti-Christian or anti-Muslim or anti-Jewish,” Vandegrift said. “We don’t want any of that happening, especially in a public performance like that.” The mayor said he and Renaissance would write a letter of apology.

Vandegrift said he asked for a meeting with Renaissance members to discuss the matter. The meeting was held Tuesday night at City Hall, and included Sara Hicks, a city council member who is on the Renaissance board and is the immediate past president of the group. The gathering was not subject to the state open-meetings law, and Vandegrift said he saw no need to involve the public.

Midsummer Nights in Midway will repeat July 22 and Aug. 19. Shades of Grass was scheduled to play at the latter event but won't now. “I think the band recognized the error of their ways and decided it wouldn’t be prudent to play again,” Vandegrift said.

Renaissance President Jo Blease said she didn't witness the episode and the band had gone home "by the time we figured out what was going on," so she called band leader Steve Norman later "and he was very apologetic. . . . He immediately said he did not want any bad reflection on Midway or the event." Later, "His wife called and said they were going to return the fee."

Blease said the song, "Come on Down to the Farm," has been played at bluegrass music events for some time, so when the man began to sing, the band apparently recognized the tune, but erred by not stopping when they heard the lyrics. She said of Norman, "He's done everything he can to try to make it right and I hope it doesn't continue to reflect badly on that band."

Blease said the band played for four hours, one more than scheduled, without a break, and for less than their normal fee, "because they believe in Midway and the whole event. . . . I feel horrible that people were there and made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable."

Norman did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday night. 

Two from Midway on dean's list at Midway University; many from Versailles, Georgetown, Frankfort

Amanda Elkin and Kristina Thompson of Midway are on the dean's list at Midway University for the spring semester, according to a news release from the school. Dean's listers from Versailles were Irene Alcaraz-Perez, Tara Gayheart, Kathryn Gosnell, Liliya Leskiv, Tania Orihuela, Michelle Varner, Mria Vieyra and Carolyn Wetherington.

Those on the list from Georgetown are Tiffany Beeler, Corey Blevins, Kasalina Brown, Danielle Despard, Rebekah Hamilton, Kaitlin Johnson, Kathryn Lawler, Terea Morris, Mark Nicholas, Joseph Shrewsberry and Erica Sims. Those from Frankfort are Kennedy Burch, Lyndsey Coffield, Ryan Fluharty, Lauren Horne, Macy Johnson, Courtney Murphy, Alexus Page, Amy Smith and Cait Smith.

The University of Kentucky reports its dean's list by county, not hometown. For a list of Woodford County students on the UK dean's list, click here.

Sparks in the Park to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 2; council candidates will speak at 6:30

The annual Sparks in the Park celebration for Independence Day will be held Saturday in Walter Bradley Park, starting at 6 p.m. Candidates for city council in the Nov. 8 election will have an opportunity to speak for two to three minutes, starting at 6:30. They will speak in alphabetical order: Steven Craig, Kaye Nita Gallagher, Sara Hicks, John McDaniel, Steve Simoff, Bruce Southworth and Libby Warfield. Food will be served at 7:15.

Midsummer Nights in Midway gets off to a good start

The first installment of Midsummer Nights in Midway is on. Shades of Grass is providing the musical entertainment, and the weather is ideal, so it looks like the Midway Renaissance project is off to a good start. Here's a video of most of their performance of "Up on Cripple Creek:"

IMG_2302 from Al Cross on Vimeo.

EDA negotiating with prospective Midway employer of 240, helping pursue idea of grain mill in Versailles

The Woodford County Economic Development Authority voted today to reject a letter of intent from a potential employer to buy its 43 acres of industrial property in Midway Station, but said it would continue negotiating with the prospect, which could employ 240 people.

The EDA board discussed the matter in a closed session, which is allowed under the Kentucky Open Meetings Act. After returning to open session, it took the vote and Chairman John Soper said negotiations will continue.

Soper told Fiscal Court 10 days ago that the CEO and four other executives of a California-based company looked at the site around June 1. He said Midway has "a real shot for competing against North Carolina and another city in Central Kentucky," and state inventory-tax incentives might be the deciding factor, The Woodford Sun reported last week.

Among other discussion, Soper said Columbia Gas won't run a line to the American Howa Kentucky plant under construction next to Midway Station, or the Brown-Forman whiskey warehouses to be build behind it, because the companies would use gas only for heating and "Gas used in production is what moves the needle" for extension of gas lines.

Soper said Brown-Forman might have "a little bit more pull" once it starts construction, but in the meantime EDA will pay for propane service to AHK with the escrowed profit it made selling the former Roach family property to the company. The profit was intended to help provide gas service.

EDA would find it "pretty hard" to pay for a gas line now, even with later rebates, because of its $4.7 million outstanding debt for Midway Station, EDA staffer Craig McAnelly said. Prospective developer Dennis Anderson is paying the $11,380 monthly interest on those bonds in return for the right to buy and develop the property.

The developer recently got encroachment permits from the city for a gas-and-convenience store and two other retail buildings at the front of Midway Station, and Soper said Anderson has filed a proposed amended plat for the development with the Planning Commission.

In an agriculture-related matter, Soper said local farm interests are very interested in getting a grain mill to supply the More than a Bakery plant to be built in Versailles. "The farming community is really rallying behind this thing," he said, and "sees this as a real possibility to create an ag-industrial complex" that could also include processing of wheat straw and industrial hemp.

Soper said More than a Bakery will use enough wheat and other grains to sustain 12,000 to 15,000 acres of crops, but advocates of the mill need to decide what its optimum size would be. He said they are consulting with Weisenberger Mills about that, and County Extension Agent for Agriculture Adam Probst wants to pursue the idea of a cooperative to build and operate the mill.

Midsummer Nights in Midway starts this Friday at 5

Midway Renaissance is sponsoring "Midsummer Nights in Midway" starting this Friday, June 24, and repeating on July 22 and Aug. 19, also Fridays, starting at 5 p.m.

"The pop-up fair events will provide wholesome family fun and serve as a platform for local businesses, artists and non-profits to reach new audiences. The events will highlight the historic, small-town warmth of our community," Renaissance says on the event website.

Each event will have live music (dancing is encouraged), local bourbon and brews, street vendors, a mini farmers market, kids activities, classic cars, and a chance to win local goods. Many stores will be open for shopping.

This week's music will come from Shades of Grass, a Bluegrass band that says it plays a variety of acoustic music. The music is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Snacks and desserts will be offered on Main Street by The Midway School Bakery, 2 Ladies and a Kettle, and St. Matthew AME Church. Midway Renaissance and Mezzo Italian Cafe and Provisions will have beverages on the street.

Street vendors will include Kentucky Honey Farms, Weisenberger Mills, Bellaire Blooms, Bob Mickler's, Goff Club Collection, uniKYly Crafted, Rediscovered Treasures, Summer Starts Here Farm, Shop Twenty Something and the Midway United Methodist Church.

Walnut Grove Events will have a photo booth, Rebecca Partin will paint faces, and balloon artist and stilt walker Tiny Tallman will appear. A city fire truck and classic cars will be on display, and there will be a children's activity area and a cornhole game.

Besides Midway Renaissance, the event sponsors are Graviss McDonald's Restaurants, Mezzo Italian Cafe and Provisions, the Lexington law firm of Sturgill, Turner, Barker and Moloney, The Grey Goose, The Homeplace at Midway, Kentucky Honey Farms, Railroad Drug and Old Time Soda Fountain, Midway Shell and Foodmart, 2 Ladies and a Kettle, Damselfly Studio and Gallery and May and Co. of Midway.

Renaissance is selling Midsummer Nights in Midway T-shirts, with the proceeds intended to help install a public restroom downtown. The $20 shirts are available at City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at the event.

Volunteers needed to spread mulch on trails in Walter Bradley Park on Saturday morning

Cecilia Gass posts on Midway Musings:

"This coming Saturday, June 25 we will be having a work event to spread mulch on the Park trails. We will meet behind the dog park at 9:30 am and work until 11:30 am. If you have a leaf rake, or a wheelbarrow, feel free to bring it. If you don't, just bring yourself. Gloves are helpful. The mulch does a great job of making the trails more walkable and visible. Please join us even if you can't stay very long."