As Ben Chandler, Lucie Chandler and I began working on converting The Woodford Sun to a non-profit three years ago, in many ways, we were groping in the dark.
That’s because there were very few examples of legacy community newspapers like the Sun that had made that leap. A legacy newspaper is one that began publishing before the internet era, or prior to 1980. However, there were a few for us to consult, and we received useful advice from longtime Kentucky journalist and academic Al Cross, Woodford County citizen Lori Garkovich, the Sun’s attorney, Tad Myre, and publishers of both digital-only and print newspapers in Arkansas, Wyoming, Colorado and Vermont who had made the move to non-profit.
As we began this endeavor, an idea that struck a real chord to better position the paper’s success, was to pull together a diverse group of folks who had been in Woodford County for a significant amount of time, were part of different aspects of the community, and were committed to the survival of the Sun.
We call it the “Sun Advisory Committee,” and it has been working since mid-February 2026, meeting at least monthly, sometimes more often. The members have infused our thinking with new ideas, energy, and accountability.
The committee has developed and carried out an initial fundraising campaign; it has created a college internship pilot program focused on the county’s equine industry, which we plan to replicate with other topics; and, it has advised Lucie and I in more ways than we can list here.
The committee has proven to be one of the fundamental pieces to positioning the Sun for success in our next chapter.
Every person we asked, you probably are not surprised, agreed to take part in the committee, and not just that, but immediately ask, “What can I do to help?” The members are: Lori Garkovich, Helen Rentch, Lynn Pruett, Bill Phelps, Joe Graviss, John Hutcherson, Nick Nash, Bob Rouse, Nancy Blackford and Tom Biederman.
The group is marked by folks deeply involved in the county’s civic life.
They come from every part of the county, including Midway and Versailles. We have academics, former elected officials, real estate professionals, folks involved in the equine industry, farmers, nonprofit officials, writers, journalists and folks whose families have been here for generations or have themselves come here with no prior connection to Woodford County.
Are there some missing elements? Yes. But the plan is to add more Woodford Countians to better ensure all voices and groups have a voice at the Sun.
We asked members of the Advisory Committee to write about why they chose to be a part of this project. Here is what some of them said.
Nancy Blackford
The Woodford Sun is more than a company in the place where I live; it is part of a community I care deeply about and feel proud to be part of. The Woodford Sun has been woven into the life of this town for over 150 years, helping preserve our shared history while keeping neighbors informed about the people, families, organizations and news events that make The Woodford Sun special.
I have watched the newspaper grow and become more thoughtful and responsive in its coverage, including inclusion, especially in recognizing minority communities, their accomplishments, their concerns and the contributions they make to our town. That progress is meaningful to me because The Woodford Sun reflects who we are as a community. When diverse voices and experiences are included, it sends a powerful message that everyone belongs here, everyone’s story matters, and every part of Woodford County deserves to be seen and valued.
I will forever be grateful for the way The Woodford Sun covered the Isaiah House Gala event that named a pharmacy after my son. The newspaper captured the very essence of a mother’s love for her son and our family’s dedication to keeping his memory alive by helping and serving others in this community. That story was deeply meaningful to me and showed how The Woodford Sun can honor not only an individual, but also the love, compassion and service that strengthen our entire community.
I want to serve on the Advisory Committee because I believe in The Woodford Sun’s future and want to help protect and strengthen its role as a trusted community resource as it becomes a nonprofit organization. I want to help identify ways to invite more minority residents to contribute stories, share events, report on community efforts and become active participants in shaping the newspaper’s coverage. Let’s keep The Woodford Sun sustainable in this small, uniquely family-oriented town.
Lori Garkovich
I believe healthy, engaged communities are the foundation of any society. When we who live in this place understand and accept that it takes everyone pulling together to reach shared desired outcomes, there is nothing that can stop us.
I believe a community newspaper is an essential part of the foundation of a strong community. A local newspaper informs, investigates, reveals, encourages, builds a sense of pride and belonging, and inspires change. A community newspaper shines a light on who we are and what we do. It highlights what connects us as well as what divides us. A community newspaper celebrates our successes, memorializes the work of those who have gone before and encourages us to recognize and pursue our possibilities. It explains and reveals how our local governments and agencies work.
I believe in the power of the stories of those who have gone before us and who challenge us to move toward a better tomorrow. Community newspapers impartially record, explain and give meaning to how our history and connections to each other are both a strength and a challenge in building a better community. Mark Twain was right, “A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.”
I walk the path of my beliefs, and I believe the gift of the Woodford Sun Community Newspaper is a transformational legacy. It will enable this special place to have a source of inquiry, information, insight and inspiration that is powered by residents. So, I have and will continue to share my talents and resources to honor this gift.
John Hutcherson
Having lived in Woodford County for most of my life, The Woodford Sun has always been at the center of our community. Knowing that the paper is on solid ground for years to come is very important to me, so when given the opportunity to help with transitioning it to a community nonprofit newspaper, I wanted to be involved.
It is our hope that the community will embrace the Woodford Sun Community Newspaper so that it continues for generations to come.
Your support means a lot to all those involved.
Nick Nash
Woodford County has always been more than the place I call home. It is part of who I am. At 30 years old, I’ve been fortunate to spend much of my adult life involved in this community, and I believe if you love a place, you have a responsibility to give something back to it. That is a lesson that started in my family long before I was born.
My grandparents, J.C. and Barbara Moraja, loved Woodford County and believed deeply in giving back. I never had the opportunity to meet my grandmother, Barbara. She passed away in 1986, years before I was born. She was a teacher, and among the students whose lives she touched was Ben Chandler. So when Ben asked me to be part of this project, I couldn’t help but feel there was something special about it, almost as if I was holding a seat that I know she would have occupied herself if she were still with us. I know her through stories and through the family she and my grandfather built. Those values live on in their children, my mother Linda, my Uncle Mike and my Aunt Dee, and through them, they were passed on to me.
That is why participating in the Woodford Sun Community Newspaper project means so much to me. It is an opportunity to carry forward what J.C. and Barbara started and what Linda, Mike and Dee have continued: loving this community enough to invest in its future.
The Woodford Sun is more than a newspaper. It is a record of our community, the people who came before us and the stories worth preserving for those who come next. I’m proud to play a small role in making sure that continues for another generation.
Bill Phelps
The Woodford Sun is more than a newspaper—it is an essential part of our community. By reporting on the decisions, achievements and events that shape daily life in Woodford County, it helps residents stay informed, connected and involved.
Local government accountability: Coverage of city council and fiscal court meetings helps residents understand how public officials are making decisions, spending taxpayer dollars and addressing local concerns.
School news and decisions: Reporting on school board meetings keeps families informed about policies, programs, budgets and other matters that affect students, educators and the community.
Community events: The newspaper promotes festivals, fundraisers, civic activities and other local gatherings, helping residents participate and support the organizations that make Woodford County a vibrant place to live.
Local sports: Coverage of school and community teams recognizes the hard work of local athletes, coaches and families while building community pride.
A shared community record: The Woodford Sun documents local milestones, accomplishments, challenges and changes that might otherwise go unnoticed or be forgotten.
Without a dependable local newspaper, many residents would be unaware of decisions and events that directly affect them and their families. Supporting The Woodford Sun—by subscribing, advertising, contributing news and encouraging others to read it—helps preserve a trusted source of local information and strengthens the entire community.
Lynn Pruett
I appreciate the chance to serve on the Advisory Board for The Woodford Sun. I join a group of people with a variety of experiences, from business people to farmers to journalists to non-profit leaders, educators, attorneys, longtime residents and native-born folks. All are committed to free speech and the integrity of journalism, but most importantly, to giving the people of Woodford County a voice and attention.
As The Woodford Sun grows in its new status as the community’s paper, it’s been exciting to add new subjects, such as covering the equine and ag industries in depth. The Sun provides a glimpse into the county’s history, which is an unusual and popular feature. More importantly, it is news, not just opinion. Journalism is fact-based. We need to know facts today as social media overwhelms us all with unverified opinions and AI threatens the very concept of human expression.
With the demise of the Lexington Herald-Leader and its embrace of AI and elimination of most local reporting, The Woodford Sun will rise to the occasion and lead the way back to what our Founding Fathers envisioned: a country with a free press of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Helen Rentch
I have subscribed to The Woodford Sun for the last 30 years. For the 35 previous years, while away in college and raising my children in West Virginia, my parents subscribed for me. I have given it as gifts.
My earliest memory of the Sun is of a photo Jim Curtis took of my sister and myself… randomly … 1965 or ‘67. I like it so much I sometimes think I may use it of my teenage self…for my obit mugshot!
Actually, I also remember Jim’s pictures of our Midway Pony league team going to play in the tournament in Frankfort, with Coach Bill Clark and his goat, the team mascot, “Miss Midway.”
I am now 80 and consider myself an engaged citizen who has always identified as a Midwegian and a Woodford County resident. And I believe it is because of The Woodford Sun, and all of its stories and columns, that I know who I am and I know where I “belong.” It is extremely valuable to me.
I genuinely believe the community exists because of the Sun. It tells us about our neighbors, about our history, our political and economic issues, where the fires are, who sold their farm, who (besides me) got caught speeding. The content is rich and full of valuable information.
I have seen what happens to local papers that get bought up by corporations. They become advertising flyers with maybe the football schedule and a picture of the new business in town. Not worth picking up. I am very aware that could have, and yet could, happen to us.
So, I know what the Sun is talking about when wanting a new plan/model to become “sustainable.” I was really surprised and really pleased when they asked me to be on the Advisory Committee to help figure it out. I hope many more will want to add their two cents… and add to the content.
This is one of the treasures of being a Woodford County resident that we can no longer take for granted.
Preservation, reincarnation. Please get on board!
Bob Rouse
What I did on my Sun-er vacation:
There are two things I like most about The Woodford Sun: what it has been and what it will be.
For my entire life, The Woodford Sun has given me a vital connection to my community. The big stories on the front page help me understand the issues our elected officials deal with and the decisions they’re making. I’m just as interested, though, when I turn pages to learn about everything from local festivals and ball games to lawsuits and property sales.
I read From Our Files and Clippings from the Past sections to consider where our community has been. I read about the people in our schools and neighborhoods to glimpse where we’re going. Every Thursday, I’m eager to read the Sun.
And I’m every bit as excited for the future of the paper. Sharing a table – and ideas and insights – with neighbors on the Woodford Sun Community Newspaper advisory board is a treat. We’re talking about bringing more community voices into the paper, covering Woodford County more widely and deeply, and making all of it easier to access through an enhanced website.
I want The Woodford Sun to keep being what it has always been for me – a connection to my community – while finding new and better ways to make that connection even stronger.