CLIPPINGS FROM THE CLIPPER - from the June 1 edition of the Woodford Sun

June 4, 1903… 
Nantura Farm has 10 foals listed for 1903 with the sires being Longfellow (4), Jils Johnson (2), Ten Broeck, Imp. Rossington, King Alfonso and Patton. 

Dr. W.E. Sleet and family of Paducah are visiting friends here. Doc says there’s no place like home. He and his family will return here to live in a short while.

Alex W. Offutt, 81, former resident of Midway, died last week in Shelby County. He was born in Fayette County in 1822 but had lived mostly in Shelby, except for the few years he lived here with his son, W.A. Offutt. He was the father of 10 children, but only three survive.

The music pupils of Miss Nancy Mitchell gave a recital at her home on Turner Street last Friday night.

Today is the birthday of Henry L. Martin Sr., Midway’s pride and Woodford’s grand old man first saw the light of the world 76 years ago in a little farmhouse in Midway on the north side of Railroad Street and now occupied by Tom May. He was the oldest son of Jesse and Margaret Thornton Martin. His father was engaged in the dry goods business in Midway from 1846 to 1851, when he moved to a farm a couple of miles out of Midway. He attended common schools until he was 14. General Bragg came through here about that time, and he enlisted around age 15 in Company A, 5th Kentucky Cavalry Confederate Army, and was for 18 months a scout under General Nelson. Only six men from this company survived the war. He was captured at Cynthiana in June 1864 and remained a prisoner until March 1865. After Lee’s surrender, he returned from Virginia to Midway on his 17th birthday. He raised tobacco until 1868 and then went into Midway and was engaged as a salesman for different merchants for about five years. He then embarked in the horse and mule business, forming a partnership in 1873 with Oliver P. Alford of Kentucky. This took him to New Orleans until he sold out in 1879, returned to his farm and in 1880 organized the company of Scoggan, Martin & Co. at Louisville, dealers in mules. This firm did a tremendous business all over the world. He finally engaged in the banking business and is now president of Citizens State Bank of Midway. In 1893, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from the Scott-Woodford-Jessamine District. He was active in passing legislation, which implemented the state’s new constitution. In 1896 when the issue was between a single gold standard and the free coinage of silver at the ration of 16 to 1, Mr. Martin engaged himself with the Republicans for the first time. Mr. Martin is a millionaire, and he made his money himself. He lives in a palatial home (The Maples) surrounded by 1,400 acres of the best bluegrass land in one tract. J.P. Rigner provided the toast, “Heres to our sage, why mention his name, he’s sung of in song, he’s honored with fame. The sage of “The Maples” comes from a line of Kentucky’s soldiers and patriots fine. He’s been with us 76 of his time, let’s hope he’s still here when 90 and nine. Let’s drink to his virtues, his virtues sublime, let’s drink his good health in ruby red wine. Let’s drink it in claret, in Moselle and Rhine, and all of the juices that come from the vine. For the sage that I toast you is one, super fine. Let’s drink to his virtues, his virtues sublime.” [NOTE this item is for historical purposes only. We should remember that slavery and armed support of the Confederacy is a tragic part of Woodford County's history] 

The Clipper desires to make this correction in regard to the auto accident Sunday night, May 18. The car was driven by Luther Rambo, Jack Baker was in the car with him. Lyman Fisher was in his own car and came upon the scene after the accident occurred. There were no girls present when the accident occurred.

Fashion notes say that yellow shoes are again in style with that Panama hats are a thing of the past.

June 5, 2024

Mrs. William McCarthy, who has been conducting a notions stand at the interurban station for several months, has closed up her business.

Lee Beihn, B.F. Foraker, Kendrick Johnson, Bird Watts, James A. Agee, Eugene Wilson, Sam P. Dozier and George Caudill of Midway appeared before the board of education advocating a county high school at Millville. Their plea was granted by the board.

A two-horse team hitched to a wagon owned by Roy Blackburn, became rightened Monday at Farmers Union coal yard and ran down Main Street, colliding with a buggy occupied by Miss Howard, daughter of Brack Howard, near the Farmers Union Supply Store. Miss Howard was uninjured, but the buggy was damaged.

While playing Sunday afternoon in a vacant lot near the Midway Distillery, some small boys discovered two gallons of red whiskey hidden in a hole covered over with tin. It was evident that the booze had been in storage for some time as the weeds all around were quite high and bore no signs of being trampled recently. Chief Osborne took possession of the whiskey.

The Widow’s colt, Black Gold, won the $50,000 Kentucky Derby.

WOODFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT AUTHORITY MEETING OF MAY 26

By Melissa Patrick
Woodford Sun Staff 

The Woodford County Economic Development Authority (EDA) held a short informational meeting May 26, with some discussion about the progress of the county’s Comprehensive Plan and the importance of figuring out where future economic development in the county will happen.
Executive Director Lucas Witt commended the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission and the Kentucky League of Cities for their work with the four comprehensive plan community listening sessions, noting that land use is a “hot topic.”
“From an economic development perspective . . .  I think it’s important for the EDA to be thinking about what’s to come,” he said. “Midway Station is now wrapped up. . . You’ve got 118 acres in Edgewood and then what’s next?” 
Planning Director Steve Hunter told the group that the data collected from the listening sessions are available at the bottom of the “home” page on the planning commission’s website: woodfordplanning.org. 

Land sale:  Michalisin said the EDA had closed on a pending land sale deal for lots 18 through 20 at Midway Station to Orange Consulting in the net amount of $77,813. Witt noted that this has been a 20-year project. 

READ THE FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S WOODFORD SUN - SUBSCRIBE FOR PRINT OR DIGITAL ONLY OR PICK UP THIS WEEK'S PAPER AT MANY STORES.

POIGNANT MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE HELD AT MIDWAY CEMETERY

By Scott White, Woodford Sun staff

    Midway’s Memorial Day event was a poignant service of remembrance in front of the War Memorial with about forty in attendance. Mayor Stacey Thurman welcomed everyone and introduced Woodford Fiscal Court Magistrate Liles Taylor who invited attendees to share about their loved ones who served the country in the military. Several shared about grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts and siblings who both served or who died protecting our freedoms in combat. 

    This year’s remarks were given by Midway Councilmember Mary Raglin, who is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, Reserves. Raglin gave a strong yet moving speech about the need to not only remember, mourn and celebrate the lives of those killed in action, but to honor their sacrifice by treasuring our freedoms and working for a better world and kinder community. 

     The service closed with a startingly beautiful solo performance of “America the Beautiful” by Midway Councilmember Dee Mason who had only decided that morning to perform for and honor her friend and colleague Mary.

READ COMPLETE STORY IN THIS WEEK'S WOODFORD SUN = SUBSCRIBE OR PURCHASE AT MANY LOCAL STORES

DEE MASON SINGS GORGEOUS ACCAPELLA RENDITION OF "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" AT MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE

MIDWAY Councilmember Dee Mason sang a poignant rendition of “America the Beautiful” during the Midway Memorial Day service on Monday. (Photo by Scott White)

MIDWAY Memorial Day SERVICE - MARY RAGLIN GIVES INSPIRING REMARKS

MIDWAY COUNCILMEMBER MARY RAGLIN spoke during the Midway Memorial Service on Monday, which touched on her own service in the Army and the importance of remembering service members who died for our freedoms every day. (Photo by Scott White)

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS EXPERIENCE RESORT LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF MIDWAY DISMISSED BY JUDGE MATTOX

\

By Bob Vlach
Woodford Sun Staff

Woodford Circuit Judge Jeremy Mattox dismissed claims against the City of Midway as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Bluegrass Experience Resort (KBER) in a May 18 order.
“We were pleased (with the dismissal). How could we not be,” said Grayson Vandegrift, who was Midway’s mayor when the city was added as a defendant in the lawsuit against the Board of Adjustments (BOA).
KBER and its owners, Andrew Hopewell and Joey Svec, filed the lawsuit in early February 2022, seeking to overturn the BOA’s decision in December 2021 denying KBER’s request to treat the RV park’s wastewater using a private treatment facility. The City of Midway was added as a defendant last May after the city council voted 5 to 0 in October 2021 to deny KBER’s request for municipal water and sewer service.
Hank Graddy, an attorney representing KBER in the suit, told the Sun that he will file a motion asking Judge Mattox to reconsider his decision. “If that is unsuccessful, then my expectation is we will ask the Court of Appeals to reverse his decision,” Graddy said.
He argued the City of Midway does not have the discretion as a public utility “to refuse to provide sewer service” when they are “at your front gate” – calling its decision discriminatory.
The lawsuit filed against the City of Midway cited a May 6, 2021 email from then-Mayor Vandegrift expressing his support for the RV park. “I’m so happy to have heard last night that your plans were approved by the BOA. We are very excited about this opportunity to grow Midway’s tourism and local economic potential. … As you all get an idea of how much sewer capacity you’ll be using, let me know and we can start talking services.”
Graddy argued the council’s decision was political. “They believe,” he said, “they can provide sewer by popularity,” referencing a large public outcry opposing the RV park.
“The arguments (in the suit) to me,” Vandegrift told the Sun, “were more geared towards an attempt to embarrass me than … any kind of legal argument.
“If that was their goal, I was never embarrassed. Sticking up for my constituency’s what I’m supposed to do as an elected official.”
Vandegrift said he originally liked the concept of having a campground on the property (located north of I-64 at the Scott County line) rather than an industrial or residential use, but changed his mind after “the plan changed. It got bigger and bigger.”
In his May 6, 2021 email, Vandegrift was referring to the conditional use permit granted a day earlier, which allowed overnight accommodations for up to 472 guests as a Tourist Destination Expanded enterprise. In addition to the guest RV sites, the permit allowed 15 sites for employees and 11 owner sites.
The amended CUP request filed in November and heard in December 2021 – after the Midway City Council decision to deny municipal services – asked to add a new condition that “All campsites and facilities will be supplied with water from Kentucky American Water, and all wastewater will be treated by KY Division of Water KPDS permitted facility in compliance with the Clean Water Act.”
Graddy said his clients are considering whether to drop the lawsuit against the BOA and make a different request, with another method of wastewater treatment for the RV park.

CLIPPINGS FROM THE BLUEGRASS CLIPPER - From the May 25 Woodford Sun

May 28, 1903… 

The will of Miss Margaret Logan of Versailles, who died last week in Florida, was probated Monday. Among her bequests is one for $20,000 for establishment of a free public library at Versailles.

A Louisville Southern passenger train struck a buggy containing two men at the Clifton Pike crossing, one mile west of Versailles, Saturday night, killing Charles Harris and seriously injuring James Jackson. The horse was killed, and the buggy was splintered.

For the first time, the L&N had in operation a Sunday train service last Sunday. The train was put on to accommodate the road’s patrons who wishes to take in the city on that day. Sunday is the only day on which many people can get away from home and it was to please this class mainly that the service was inaugurated. It will doubtless prove popular.

Captain James Blackburn returned last Saturday from New Orleans, where he had gone to attend the Confederate veteran’s reunion. [NOTE this item is for historical purposes only. We should remember that slavery and armed support of the Confederacy is a tragic part of Woodford County's history] 

Robert S. gray, of this county, is to be one of the clerks in the office of State Auditor Hager, provided Hager is not defeated by a Republican in the November election.

May 29, 1924… 

From the Danville Messenger: “The identity of the young man who was stripped of his clothing and left on the Perryville Pike last Thursday night by some companions, who then drove away in a car, has been learned. The youth was a member of the freshman class at Centre College and was kidnapped on the night of the flag rush by a group of sophomores, taken out on the Perryville Road, relieved of everything but a suit of BVD’s and a pair of shoes. The freshman, Jim Parrish, who hails from Midway, walked back to town, clad in underwear.

Thomas F. Duffy offers for sale his Ford Touring car.

Dr. J.W. Tyler, former pastor of the Midway Presbyterian Church, died Monday at his home in Winchester after a brief illness. He was succeeded in Midway by the present pastor, the Rev. S.M. Logan.

Mr. and Mrs. T.F. Rogers and daughters have moved to their camp at Clifton for the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Irvine Hughes of Versailles have returned from their wedding trip to Cincinnati.

A group in New Haven, Connecticut have announced the finding of an apparent cure for scarlet fever. The vaccine is now being tested quite successfully.