Olive Garden development plan OK’d for Richmond Centre

The Richmond Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a development plan for the Olive Garden restaurant in the new Richmond Centre near Exit 87 of Interstate 75.

The plan calls for a 7,500-square-foot building with seating for 263 and 128 parking spaces.

The approval clears the way for Olive Garden to apply for a building permit.

Mark Naylor of the Roberts Group, the Lexington engineering/architectural firm that represented the Olive Garden, said construction typically takes six months.

The restaurant will be located in an out parcel near Richmond Centre’s main entrance next to the Logan’s Roadhouse that is nearing completion.

Also approved were:

• Phase 2-A of Heritage Place, across Barnes Mill Road from Richmond Centre. The plat calls for 21 residential lots of about one-quarter acre each on a 6.8-acre track behind another residential track already platted. The portion of Heritage Place fronting on Barnes Mill Road is zoned commercial.

• The development plan for a 5,400-square-foot classroom and assembly building for Abundant Life Ministries, 1705 Irvine Road.

• A zone-change request, from B-3 (Highway Business) to R-3 (Multi-family Residential) for East Ridge Apartments. The change would bring existing use into conformity with revised regulations, attorney Michael Eaves told the commissioners.



Six Madison Countians named to EKU Homecoming Court

The 2008 Homecoming Court at Eastern Kentucky University included six Madison County residents: Madison Central High graduates Andy Smith and Terre Willmott; Madison Southern High graduates Joe Knuckles and Jeremy Reed; and Kendall Stapp and Christopher Rutherford, graduates of Model Laboratory School.

Rutherford, a senior computer electronic networking major at EKU, was chosen as first runner-up. He is the son of Jack and Pat Rutherford of Richmond.

Stapp, the daughter of David and Kay Stapp, is a senior elementary education major.

A senior journalism major, Reed is the son of Billy and Sheila Reed of Paint Lick.

Knuckles, the son of Ricky and Patricia Knuckles of Berea, is a senior journalism major.

A senior health education major, Willmott is the daughter of John and Teresa Willmott of Richmond.

Smith, a senior agriculture/animal science major, is the son of Richard and Charlotte Smith of Richmond.

Amy Gruenwald was crowned Homecoming queen and Cory Clark was chosen Homecoming king during half-time of EKU’s win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.



MCHS, MSHS bands in state semi-finals Saturday

Both the Madison Central High School and Madison Southern High School bands will compete in the Kentucky Music Educators Association state semifinal competitions Saturday.

Madison Southern’s performance in the 4-A semifinal competition will be 12:15 p.m. at South Oldham High School in Crestwood.

Madison Central is scheduled to appear in the 5-A division semifinal 2:30 p.m. at the University of Louisville Papa John’s Stadium.

Four finalists will be chosen from the 16 bands in each semifinal. The final round will begin 6 p.m. at Papa John’s Stadium, with the 4-A competition at 9 p.m. and the 5-A competition at 10 p.m.



MCHS Christmas Bazaar booths available

Booth rentals, $20, for Madison Central High School’s Holiday Bazaar are available to the public, according to Linda Bowles of the school.

To reserve a booth, call Bowles at 625-6109 prior to the bazaar.

It will be open 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the lobby of the school’s gymnasium. Proceeds will be used to buy Christmas presents for the schools needy students.



EKU Madrigal Feastes tickets will go on sale Thursday

Tickets for Eastern Kentucky University’s 38th annual Madrigal Feastes go on sale Thursday.

The feastes, with after-dinner performances by the 22-member University Singers, will be served Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13, in the grand ballroom of the Keen Johnson Building. Doors will open 6:30 p.m., with seating at 6:45.

Tickets, $26, may be purchased in the Colonel 1 Office, Room 17 of the Powell Building. Visa and MasterCard reservations may be made by calling 622-2179.

Dr. Sue Ellen Ballard directs the University Singers.



EKU Fall Music Crawl scheduled next Friday

A fall music crawl to benefit Eastern Kentucky University’s Music Industry Organization will take place Friday, Nov. 7, in downtown Richmond.

The crawl will spotlight the diverse musical talents of Ben Lacy, Kuntry Noize, Ted and the Polka Dots and Hard Sunday.

Lacy, a jazz/funk guitarist, will perform at Creative Arts by Sherri, 200 S. Third St., from 8 to 8:45 p.m. Hip-hop act Kuntry Noize will play at the Players Club, 212 W. Water St., from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Next up, also at the Players Club, is Ted and the Polka Dots, a polka act, from 10 to 11 p.m. The Crawl concludes with the classic rock stylings of Hard Sunday at JW’s, 246 W. Main St., from 11 p.m. until midnight.

Tickets may be purchased for $8 in advance, either online at kytickets.net or at the Powell Corner on EKU’s campus today and Nov. 5-7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Tickets will be $10 at each venue door.



Boone Tavern Hotel to have limited services through Dec. 15

BEREA — To allow for the next phase of the ongoing “green” renovation of Boone Tavern Hotel in Berea, the hotel will begin providing limited services before fully closing in December.

Guest rooms in the historic hotel, owned by Berea College, will be closed beginning Saturday through mid-February 2009. The Boone Tavern dining room will serve meals at lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and dinner (5 to 8 p.m.) on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only from Saturday through Dec. 15, and then close until Feb. 15. The dining room will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

All currently booked catering events (banquets, wedding receptions, etc.) will be accommodated in November and through Dec. 15. The newly renovated hotel and dining room both will re-open fully next spring to coincide with Boone Tavern’s 100th anniversary.



‘Thread Painting’ quilting workshop Nov. 8

BEREA — The Berea Parks and Recreation Department is excited to offer “Thread Painting” with Cindy Vough on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Broadway Building.

This new, all-day quilting workshop is designed for those with experience in free-motion quilting experience. Deadline for registration is Monday. Call 986-9402 for more information.