About Us
This is a short description of what can be found in this section
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
Since 1869, the Sun has served Woodford County with photographs and reporting on our community’s schools, farms, businesses, churches, sports, and local government. And since 1957, my family has owned and operated the newspaper.
Clarence Greathouse and Captain Henry McLeod produced the first issue of The Woodford Weekly, as it was then known, and the paper later was published by J. J. Hayes. In about 1875, Daniel M. Bowmar Sr. and others bought The Woodford Weekly, but the paper was sold a short time later to the Rev. Benjamin Deering when Mr. Bowmar moved to Chicago to return to the insurance business.
Deering consolidated The Woodford Weekly with The Midway Sun, thereby providing the present name, The Woodford Sun, which then passed into the hands of Samuel Field and Willis Field.
Because of ill health, Mr. Bowmar left Chicago and returned to Versailles in 1881, and on Jan. 1, 1882, again took possession of the newspaper. He continued as its publisher and editor until forced to retire because of ill health in 1885.
His sons, Aitcheson A. and Daniel M. Bowmar Jr., though barely in their teens, took over active operation of the firm and continued to publish and edit The Woodford Sun until the latter’s death in 1942, at which time the paper was sold to A.B. “Happy” Chandler, whose family still owns the paper.
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.
