Patrick returns to Sun as reporter

Published 12:36 pm Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Who says you can’t go home?

Veteran newspaperman Randy Patrick is doing just that.

After several years away, Patrick, who grew up in Clark County and was formerly managing editor of The Sun, has returned.

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Patrick’s first day back at the Sun was Monday.

Patrick comes to The Sun after working at The Kentucky Standard in Bardstown for more than seven years.

Along with his time at The Standard, Patrick has been most of the last 30 years working at various community newspapers in and around Central Kentucky, including in Paris, Irvine, Mount Sterling, Richmond, Williamsburg and Nicholasville.

Patrick was the managing editor at The Sun from 2005 to 2011, and said he is excited to return to his hometown as a reporter this time.

“I lived most of my young life here,” he said. “I think it’s great to be back. I like returning here as a reporter because I never got to do enough of that when I was here before. I was managing a big staff and there were a lot of reports and things like that. I just really enjoy being a reporter, getting out in the community and meeting people and hearing their stories and telling their stories.”

For Patrick, the most exciting part of his new job is the opportunity to come home.

“I’ve lived here most of my life,” he said. “It’s home. I just wanted to be closer to my family. I always liked living in this area. I’ve lived all over Central Kentucky, but this is home.”

He said he’s also eager to get out in the community and tell its stories, which is why it was fitting he spent his first day on the job covering the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

“I think the first time I thought that I would like to come back here if the opportunity ever came up was at a Martin Luther King Day breakfast here in Winchester that I attended with my brother-in-law,” he said. “It was a good first day to come back. It was very uplifting. And with it being the beginning of the year, it just starts everything off on a positive note.”

Sun editor Whitney Leggett said she is glad to have Patrick join the staff.

“I’m thrilled to have the experience and expertise Randy brings to the table,” Leggett said. “I think he will make a great addition to the wonderful team we already have in place. As someone who is also a Clark native, I know how wonderful it is to work and live in this community. I’m excited we were able to bring Randy on board and allow him to come home and have the opportunity to work and live here again.”