10 Years Ago
June 9, 2016
Marcellus “Marc” Stepp, a Versailles native, passed away at 93. Stepp was an alum of the University of Detroit where he received an accounting degree and a U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II. Stepp was inducted into the University of Detroit’s Hall of Fame for his remarkable career which included serving as Vice President of the United Auto Workers Union and service on the national board of the NAACP for 14 years. He was also well-known and recognized for his leadership and work during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He was buried in Woodford County.
The request of Frontier Nursing University for a conditional use permit which will allow it to operate its new campus at the Methodist Home property it recently purchased was approved by the Planning Commission.
Woodford Circuit Judge Rob Johnson scheduled a competency hearing for August 8 to determine if Ronald Exantus is mentally competent to stand trial for the murder of 6-year-old Logan Tipton and assault against his father and sibling.
Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said the Tax Increment Financing plan approved by the city council is on “life support” since developer Dennis Anderson chose to pull out of his planned project. This will leave the city on the hook for $34,133 of attorney fees, though Vandegrift said he is exploring options with City Attorney Phil Moloney.
With the increased revenue from occupational taxes generated by the Homeplace at Midway, Vandegrift told the Midway council there are more funds to appropriate, a portion of which will be spent on upgraded sidewalks and roads.
Charles “Gene” and Betty Brown and Randall and Martha Berger each celebrated their fiftieth Golden Wedding anniversary.
Graduating senior Irene Alcarez-Perez of Versailles received the prestigious Midway Woman Award at the Midway University graduation ceremony. The award goes to the senior who demonstrates a profound sense of service to others and an outstanding leader and role model.
Versailles City Council approved a payment of $12,000 to Eric Henn to refurbish the horse painting on the Versailles water tower visible from the Bluegrass Parkway.
The Ladyjackets softball team lost to Scott County, 4-1, in the finals of the Regional tournament ending a highly successful season where the squad ranked fourth in the state going into post-season play. Charlie Corum and Jack Ockerman were named to the 41st District All-Tournament baseball team.
25 Years Ago
June 7, 2001
Matthew Luckett and Paul Bach were valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Woodford County High School Class of 2001. Commencement exercises will be held June 9.
WCHS junior Antoine Wilson won the triple jump competition at last weekend’s state high school track and field meet at the University of Kentucky.
Woodford Sun Managing Editor Moss Vance has announced that he will retire at the end of this month.
Woodford County’s Jack Jouett House is featured in a national American Revolution guidebook.
Joe Richards of Versailles graduated cum laude from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., on May 20.
WCHS graduate Daniel Wrenne is the recipient of this year’s Woodford County Woman’s Club Scholarship.
The Rev. John Jerald “Jerry” Johnston, 80, a retired Episcopal priest who lived in Versailles while completing his seminary studies, died recently in Woodlands, Texas. A lawyer at the time he began seminary studies, he was city attorney of Versailles from 1958 to the spring of 1961.
The WCHS girls’ fast-pitch softball team defeated Lexington Catholic in the first round of the 11th Region softball tournament on May 30.
40 Years Ago
June 5, 1986
Kathryn Gentry and Jennifer Green are the valedictorians of the Woodford County High School Class of 1986. No salutatorian was named. Diplomas will be awarded to approximately 250 graduates tomorrow night.
With three years to prepare, Woodford County officials and interested citizens are setting out to plan a series of activities for the celebration of the county’s bicentennial.
Paige Weisenberger McClellan of Houston, Texas, fonnerly of Versailles, has been admitted to the Texas State Bar. She graduated in December 1985 from the University of Houston Law Center.
Recipients of the Girl Scout Silver Award were Carla Hughes, Kim Hudson, Sarah Christenson, Wendy Warfield, Kim Herring, Krissa Lauderdale, and Sissie Gibson. Recent graduates include Margaret Rowden Curlin and Brenda Kay Terry from Transylvania University and Stephanie L. Johnson, Michael Kaufman, and Richard R. Peck from Western Kentucky University.
Gary Wayne Hogg, formerly of Versailles, a U.S. Air Force pilot stationed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, has been promoted to captain.