Because the top three spots in the largest category of the state high marching band competition have gone to either Lafayette or Dunbar high schools in Lexington for most of the past 20 years, members of the Madison Central High School band had come to believe that fourth or perhaps third was the best they could ever rank, said Sara Smith, one of the band’s three field commanders.
“While we never doubted our ability and always hoped for the best, the question most people asked was, ‘who would slip into fourth place behind the Big 3 of Class 5-A,” she said.
As the results of the Kentucky Music Educators competition were called out just after 11:45 p.m. Saturday in Louisville’s Papa John’s Stadium, all of that changed.
“When we heard Dunbar called for fourth place, we started to believe we could even come in first,” Smith said. “To be honest, I’d never felt that before.”
A championship seemed to come even nearer to reality when North Hardin was announced as the third-place winner.
The next name called, however, was Madison Central, and Lafayette took home first-place honors.
Still, placing second was a new high for the MCHS program since it was placed in the same category as Lafayette and Dunbar four years ago. In 2004, Central won the 3-A state championship.
Last year, Central failed to make the finals, but two years ago they were in the finals with Dunbar, Lafayette and North Hardin and came in fourth.
“I’m really proud of every member of the band,” said Smith, a senior, who shares field command duties with senior Raechel White and junior Alexis Atkins.
“After we missed the finals last year, the seniors came to band camp this past summer determined to get back in the finals this year,” she said. “Although we missed a lot of practice time because of all the rain we had this summer, it was the best band camp I’d ever had. When the freshman saw how determined the seniors were to make the finals, they were inspired to do their part.”
The band also lost much outdoor practice time this fall because of the cold rainy weather.
The 120 band members got little sleep Sunday morning because they did not spend the night in Louisville. Their bus arrived back in Richmond at 3:30 a.m. and was met by a police escort at the city limits.
They had to get as much rest as possible Sunday night, because they were giving concerts at the three county middle schools in Richmond on Monday, starting with B. Michael Caudill at 8 a.m.
The band was supported in Louisville by about 50 members of the band boosters club who moved sets and percussion instruments and performed other logistical tasks, said Marc Whitt, the organization’s president.
Among the more than 20,000 spectators in the stadium were more than 200 fans from Madison County, Whitt said.
“The band members really appreciated their making the trip to show their support,” he said.
Kentucky has one of the strongest, most competitive high school marching band systems in the country, said MCHS band director Brent Barton.
“When you can break into the top two, especially when those positions have been taken by one of the three same schools for more than 20 years, you know you’ve done something pretty special,” he said.
In addition to their three middle school concerts Monday, band members are wrapping up their annual citrus fruit sale, Barton said.
“The MCHS concert band has been invited back to the Bands of America Festival in Indianapolis, March 3-4,” the director said. “We really don’t have the money for that right now. I hope the community will remember the bands achievement during the fruit sale.”
Richmond Centre has made a vacant location available to the band to sell their fruit there when it arrives, Barton said.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
Local News
Strike up the band
MCHS band members hopeful but surprised by second place finish in state competition
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Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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A Richmond country club is no longer offering dining to members, but remains available for catered events and will be open on certain holidays.
Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.
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A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.
About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.
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Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.
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Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.
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Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.” -
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org. -
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For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus. -
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200. - More Local News Headlines
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