By Erin Petrey Guest Columnist Imagine a political system where the most crucial election is decided by a small fraction of voters, and over 326,000 of your neighbors are locked out before the race even begins. Kentucky is one of 16 states that hold closed primaries, which means that you are only allowed to vote for candidates who match your party registration. In other words, Republicans and Democrats can only vote for candidates running for the nomination of their own party

Dan Ruff Grayson Vandegrift Teter and Melvin Montgomery By Bob Vlach Woodford Sun Staff As a new year begins, the Sun asked locals: What do you hope to do in 2026? Here are their responses. “To become a better person who has eyes to recognize a need in a fellow human being when I am around them. To have a mind that understands that need; a heart to have compassion for that person and his/her need; hands and feet to fulfill that need. I personally live in a world that I have n

By Bob Vlach Woodford Sun Staff The Christmas shopping season was just what the retail communities in Versailles and Midway needed after a very tough year economically speaking, according to Emily Downey, president of the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce and executive director of Woodford County Tourism. There were many contributing factors to the successes this holiday season, she said, including national events like Pink Friday and Small Business Saturday, “and getting p

STATE SENATOR AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, who represents Woodford County, attended a Legislative Breakfast in November, along with Versailles Mayor Laura Dake. Students from all seven county schools presented examples of their work to state legislators at the breakfast to demonstrate the effectiveness of the “Portrait of A Learner” program. (Photo by Katherine Rannenberg) By Katherine Rannenberg WCHS student journalist Resilient learner. Empathetic communicator. Reflective collabora

THE FAVORITE ORNAMENT of each crew member. (Photo by Scott White) COUNTY AND CITY OF VERSAILLES workers in front of the city’s Christmas tree with all of the new ornaments made by students from all seven Woodford County Public Schools. From left, County Maintenance Supervisor Rick Wade, Assistant Maintenance Supervisor Rick Hartley, county worker Tim Cox, community service worker who helped on the project Ted Sharpe and city workers, Andy Ingraham and Petey Bravo. (Photo by S

SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS, Sammy Higgins and Sarah Dennison, give instructions to Vixen (Ellowyn Caldwell, far left next to Santa) and Rudolph (Ryann Richardson, far right, next to Mrs. Claus), and the other reindeer and elves as Christmas Eve deliveries are finalized. (Photo by Emily Downey) TWO OF SANTA’S REINDEER were on hand to provide harmony vocals. (Photo by Emily Downey) Southside Elementary hosted its annual holiday program on Tuesday evening, Dec. 16, in the school audi

By Bob Vlach Woodford Sun Staff The Woodford County Board of Education (BOE) learned at its Dec. 16 meeting that cost-cutting measures are being implemented to reduce the district’s operating deficit. “So please know that we are actively stopping the bleeding as much as possible,” said Interim Chief Operating Officer Josh Rayburn. Later adding, “We are actively working on reducing, reducing, reducing this year because we can’t wait until next year” to begin cutting expenses.

By Bob Vlach Woodford Sun Staff The 2026-27 school year will begin on Thursday, Aug. 13, and end on Wednesday, May 26, according to the recommended calendar presented to the Woodford County Board of Education (BOE) at its Dec. 16 meeting. The BOE will be asked to approve a calendar for next school year at its January meeting. Assistant Superintendent Garet Wells told the BOE that the district’s calendar committee had to provide more than one calendar option to the board. He n

Midway University The following students have been named to Midway University’s 2025 fall dean’s list: Jonathan Aguilar, Brian Alvor, Jonah Branham, Caitlyn Butcher, Gillian Case of Versailles, Zella Garcia of Versailles, Fabian Garcia, Makenna Harley, Emily Harlow, Akayla Hersey, Jonathan Kocis, Victoria Korchuk, Robert Little, Abigail Lyle, Tyler Moskovitz, Tabitha Nichols, and Griffin North of Versailles; Marilee Herrera, Alicia Sanglas Sanglas and Katherine Witt of Midway

MENTORS AND MEALS STAR (Smart, Trusting, Achieving, Respectful) Students of the Month for December are Woodford County Middle School sixth graders, Lauren Burke and Sebastian Morales. These students come to M&Ms with a smile and a good attitude every day. From left, Lauren Burke, Program Director McKenna Halderman and Sebastian Morales. (Photo submitted) MENTORS AND MEALS STAR Mentors of the Month for December are Harper Beasley and Will Goode. These Woodford County High Sc

By Al Cross Guest Columnist Bestowing fanciful, pointed presents to Kentucky public figures at Christmastime, through the lens of current events, is a 45-year-old tradition for this column – inaugurated by the late Ed Ryan, continued by his successors at the Courier-Journal’s Frankfort Bureau, and by your humble servant for most of that span. This year, with some help from anonymous elves, we start in Frankfort and move on to Washington. Gov. Andy Beshear: Two weeks in Califo

The Tie That Binds was organized two years ago this January so ladies attending the traditional and contemporary services at First Christian Church could get to know one another, says Diana Weaver. Their fellowship meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month and include an activity like “Name That Hymn” or a program, which is often given by one of the ladies who belong to The Tie That Binds. Birthdays are celebrated with everyone singing “Happy Birthday,” and the m