10 Years Ago

April 7, 2016

Woodford Feed, one of Versailles’ oldest, continuous operating businesses, celebrated 76 years and counting. Located at the intersection of Lexington Road and the Versailles Bypass, it has long been the “welcome to Versailles” landmark for folks traveling west from Lexington and makes it clear Woodford is an agricultural county. The business first opened on Main Street by Robert Cleveland, was relocated to its present location right after WW2 and is now operated by his son Bob Mac.

The Master Gardeners of Woodford County held a workshop where they shared their expertise and cuttings. A photo of Master Gardener Debbie Tichenor holding a two-pound tomato she had grown was a testament to her skill.

The Versailles City Council passed a five-year property tax exemption for the Indiana-based company Richmond Baking Company which is seeking a location for a new commercial bakery operated by its subsidiary “More Than A Bakery,” if it locates in Versailles. The company will produce snack crackers and other items in a yet to be built 400,000 square foot facility. This is in addition to two other economic development lures the council and fiscal court have already dangled: a ten-year payroll tax exemption and paying the cost for water and sewer lines to the facility. Bill Quigg, the president and CEO of Richmond Baking, held a two-hour public forum for Woodford County residents to ask questions and raise concerns with the large project which will be located on Big Sink Road.

Bridgett Hofler, the public defender representing Ronald Exantus on the charges of murder and assault of 6-year-old Logan Tipton, said the trial is no where near ready to be given a trial date since the prosecution is seeking the death penalty. Hofler said the defense will probably ask that the trial should be moved away from Woodford County given the pre-trial publicity and “racial” comments appearing on social media accounts. The Tipton family expressed their growing frustration in getting a trial date.

Courtney Roberts, the manager of the Woodford County Farm Bureau Insurance office, was named agency manager of the year for District Three.

Midway City Council continued to debate changing the sidewalk repair ordinance passed in 1990, which Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said was “draconian” and had not been enforced.

The WCHS girls and boys track teams did well at the Bryan Station High School All-Comers meet, finishing seventh and eighth respectively out of 11 teams in their first meet after Spring Break.

Kate Spencer of Versailles and a WCHS graduate, won the American Quarter Horse Association 2015 High Point Youth Pleasure Horse Championship with her horse, “Just A Little Lazy.” Kate is a freshman Brown Fellow Scholar at Centre College.

25 Years Ago

April 5, 2001

Hillsboro Baptist Church will celebrate its 200th anniversary throughout this year. The church was established in 1801 and the original building was on the current location.

Distinguished Kentucky author Wendell Berry will speak at the Pisgah Presbyterian Church on April 21.

The Versailles City Council has approved two zone changes for the Versailles Center, paving the way for a project that will expand and significantly revamp the aging shopping center on the U.S. 60 Bypass.

Four Romanian medical professionals recently visited Bluegrass Community Hospital here during a tour to gain a better understanding of how health care is managed in this country.

Simmons Elementary School’s academic team won second-place honors in regional Governor’s Cup competition on March 24.

Holly Hill Inn in Midway will reopen as a 68-seat restaurant in May, under the ownership of Ouita and Chris Michel.

Versailles artist and sand sculptor Damon Farmer participated in an international sand-sculpting event in China in March.

40 Years Ago

April 3, 1986

Elementary school students in Woodford County, the first county in the state to begin the IBM-developed Writing to Read program, are enthusiastic about their use of computers in their composition course.

James E. “Ted” Bassett III of Woodford County has been named chairman of the board of Keeneland, and William C. Greely of Lexington has been named president to succeed Bassett. Greely is the brother of Woodford County horseman J.J. “Bud” Greely III.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Steen and children, Laura and Matt, have moved from their townhouse at Mill Road Place to the house on Winter Street in Midway recently vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Roach and family, who moved to their farm on the Leestown Road.

Members of the Lions basketball team, winners of the Recreation junior varsity league and tournament titles, are Kary Allen, Brian Wallace, Stephen Dawkins, Kevin Luckett, Joey Britton, Ryan Chancellor, Jamie Ethington, Fred Seitz, Eric Taylor, Brad Stout, Brian Weil, Matt Willey, Jason DeBold, and Todd Hunter. Coaches are Bob Stout and Dick Ethington.