About Us
The Woodford Sun was first published in 1869…
A LOCAL PIECE OF HISTORY: The William Garrett House and the surrounding area is historically connected to the Garrett family. The nearby historic community of Fort Garrett was established on the land of Revolutionary War veteran William Garrett.
Community-rooted, The Woodford Sun brings you all the news you need in Woodford County. Learn more about our mission and service across Woodford County communities.
A KENTUCKY LANTERN: In a historic shift, Kentucky newspaper The Woodford Sun has made the shift to become a nonprofit newsroom.
A local piece of history: The Central Kentucky newspaper with about 2,700 subscriptions became the first legacy newspaper in Kentucky to become a nonprofit. A legacy newspaper is one that began publishing before the internet era.
The Woodford Sun has become a nonprofit news organization. This new model of community journalism and sustainability charts a new path for local journalism.
Ben Chandler
Publisher
The Chandler family has owned and operated The Woodford Sun for 80 years. Ben and his wife Jennifer have three adult children – Lucie, Albert and Branham. He assumed the position of publisher in January 2022.
Our Story
The Woodford Sun Community Newspaper, Inc., is Kentucky’s first legacy print newspaper to convert to a nonprofit corporation, relying entirely on donations, philanthropy and grants to publish a community newspaper on both print and digital format.
The Sun was first published in 1869. and is located in Versailles, Kentucky, the county seat of Woodford County, Kentucky. The weekly paper was founded by the Bowmar family, who sold it to then U.S. Senator A.B. “Happy” Chandler, a Versailles resident, two-time Kentucky governor, and the Commissioner of Baseball. His son, Albert B. Chandler Jr., an inductee into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, ran the paper as publisher and columnist until his retirement when his son Whitney took over the reins.
Sadly, following Whitney’s untimely passing, his brother A.B. “Ben” Chandler III, a former U.S. Congressman, Kentucky Attorney General and State Auditor who went on to a successful career as a nonprofit/foundation executive, took over. He brought in his lifelong friends Scott White and Bill Nave to help save the paper from what appeared a likely failure in the current context of fading print journalism and community newspapers. The family legacy continues, with Lucie Chandler now the editor.
The Sun continues its primary purpose of being a community resource, providing excellence in journalism, with the mission of being the “eyes, ears, and voice” of Woodford County. Our current nonprofit structure is informed by a small, yet diverse in the fullest sense of the word, advisory committee and board of trustees representative of Woodford County.
Our Staff
Meet the dedicated members of our newsroom. Love what we do? Consider making a tax-free donation today.
Lucie Chandler
Editor
Biography to be supplied by the client.
Scott White
Community Liaison
Biography to be supplied by the client.
Bob Vlach
Reporter
Biography to be supplied by the client.
Contact Us
Covering Woodford County news since 1869 — the best local coverage.
Have something to say or an issue to discuss? Send your letters to the editor to news@woodfordsun.com or: The Woodford Sun, P.O. Box 29, Versailles, KY 40383.