Arkansas Publisher Weekly: August 3, 2023

Fundraiser established for award-winning editor

Guest Column:

By Pam Lowe

APA Editorial Contest General Excellence winners recogonized

Newspapers and journalists from across the state were honored recently in the Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Editorial Contest for 2022.

More than 1,000 entries were judged by members of the Mississippi Press Association.

Awards were presented at APA’s 150th annual convention at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Little Rock.

“The quality of entries this year was outstanding and reflects the hard work accomplished on a regular basis by journalists across the state,” said APA executive director Ashley Kemp Wimberley. “It is critical that local communities receive timely and accurate information, as well as quality feature and human interest stories and photos, and I am proud to say that Arkansas newspaper staffs are doing just that.”

Five newspapers were recognized as the best in their circulation category in winning the coveted General Excellence award. Here are comments from a representative of each winning newspaper:

LARGER DAILIES

Lisa Thompson, Managing Editor Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

We strive to be the source of news and information for our community.

As a WEHCO Media paper, we always ask about the reader first. What does the reader need to know? What is new here for the reader? Have we given the reader the context to understand and decide for himself how he feels about this news and its potential impact?

I often remind the staff one of the services we provide for the reader is not to waste

her time with reporting on events that carry no impact. They trust if we dedicated resources to reporting and writing about a topic, we think it’s important and something she should know.

Unlike most areas of the state, Northwest Arkansas has four, equally important cities. Read that as four large school boards, four large city councils and planning commissions and two county courts and

The newsroom of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette works toward one goal, summarized in our mission statement:

(Left to right, top to bottom) Lisa Thompson, Greg Geary, Steve Watts, Scott Loftis and Andrew Bagley.

See Excellence page 4

“Mary Fisher Day” declared in Danville by Mayor Gilkey

Fundraiser established for award-winning editor

A GoFundMe has been established in order to assist Helena World and Monroe County Argus Editor Rick Kennedy with mounting medical bills.

Kennedy suffered a major heart attack in late May and was airlifted from Helena to Methodist Hospital in Germantown, Tennessee, where he was stabilized and treated. Doctors found multiple arterial blockages, but due to other health complications, Kennedy needs a specialized surgical procedure that few surgeons in the area can perform.

Kennedy was released from the hospital after two weeks and continues to work from home when he is able, but his medical bills have so far totaled more than $57,000, according to Helena World publisher Andrew Bagley. Additionally, the estimated cost of the necessary surgery is $27,000.

A 1988 graduate of the University of Louisiana, Kennedy has worked in the newspaper industry for nearly four decades, and has won numerous awards for his reporting. In addition to the Daily World and Monroe County Argus, Kennedy has worked at the Pine Bluff Commercial, the Hope Star and at newspapers in California, Idaho, Louisiana, Oregon and Mississippi. The fundraiser can be found at gofund.me/c65c7f10

Danville Mayor Bill Gilkey declared Thursday, July 27 as “Mary Fisher Day” in recognition of late Yell County Record and Dardanelle Post-Dispatch Managing Editor and Co-Publisher Mary Fisher’s remarkable life and achievements. The proclamation was read at her funeral that same day, then presented to her family.

Rick Kennedy

A Greater Voic e

AMPLIFYING THE POWER OF THE PRESS.

Bank OZK proudly supports the Arkansas Press Association (APA) and its vital mission to nurture Arkansas newspapers with the knowledge and resources they need to grow and thrive. As one of the state's most esteemed professional associations for 150 years, the APA has been a powerful voice for freedom of the press. By connecting our communities through authentic and impactful content, we can unlock even greater possibilities.

MEDIA INQUIRIES

Michelle Rossow

Chief Communications O cer

michelle.rossow@ozk.com | (501) 471-8475

Excellence

Continued from page 4

quorum courts. It takes a lot of hustle to keep an eye on them all.

While the area grows each day in population — latest estimates are 36 people a day into the region — the staff of the NWADG does not. We’ve learned to be efficient. We also depend on our sister paper the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for much of what we offer our readers.

Many papers award cash to contest winners and other gifts or bonuses. We don’t. It takes the newsroom working together to produce a product of which we can be proud. A good photograph cropped and handled poorly becomes a bad photo. A good story had editors, designers and others working to make it the best it could be. Video, audio and podcasts have to be recorded, edited and posted - usually by someone other than the person who gathers or arranges them.

We’re lucky to have a newsroom of journalists who have decades of experience, most of it in this region. As managing editor, I couldn’t ask for a better group of professionals to do this important work.

SMALLER DAILIES

Steve Watts, Editor

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

holding a second full-time job in radio. Filling out our small staff is Sports Editor Jason King, who also focuses on covering White County, using as little national sports coverage as possible despite only being part time.

Good journalism starts with good people who make connections in the community, earning the trust of those they cover by being fair and accurate, and I feel that we have that.

I believe that the value of a newspaper like ours is community coverage. We’re not going to outdo others on state news or national news, and readers can get that without us so they don’t need our paper to be filled with it. Most of what they get from us, they can’t get anywhere else. And if they do get it somewhere else, it’s generally going to be because we broke it.

I would say that our commitment to this community is reflected in receiving first place in General Excellence, but I believe there are many newspapers in the state that have the same commitment, so I don’t think we’re anything special in that regard. So many of us just want to be good community journalists. We want to tell the stories that are important to our readers and inform them about those things they won’t learn about elsewhere (or at least not in informed detail).

LARGER WEEKLIES

Jonathan Feldman, Editor and Publisher

The Leader, Jacksonville

The Arkansas Leader staff is grateful to the Arkansas Press Association for honoring us as one of the state’s best newspapers. We know the APA staff works hard to organize a statewide contest like that every year. We appreciate all you do to support us yearround.

Community newspapers should never be written off. They matter now, and they must remain valuable community assets in the future – Facebook or A.I. can’t document, pay tribute to people we’ve lost, celebrate milestones, analyze and offer solutions to problems in the community. We’re irreplaceable.

With newsrooms getting smaller and smaller, it’s hard to know how you are going to stack up against other newspapers that are larger than yours. Of course, everyone in this industry is dealing with the same problem — how to cover their communities thoroughly with fewer reporters.

Thankfully, I’ve been blessed with a hardworking staff. Community Editor Wendy Jones helps make sure that we are keeping our papers as local as we possibly can and wears so many hats that I can’t even list them all, which allows me to focus my energy on news stories. And staff writer Greg Geary works tirelessly to cover anything and everything he can despite

It feels good when you believe that you’ve accomplished that, when you believe that you are putting out a product that covers your community as well as you think you can reasonably cover it. When we reduced to publishing only two print editions a week (but online each weekday), there was some concern about our coverage being reduced, but we fought to keep those two editions larger and not lose any of the local coverage that we had been providing.

We’ve received several compliments about how loaded our papers are from those who had those concerns. Obviously, you always feel like there are things you could do better, but I am proud of the community coverage that we produce, of the award-winning efforts of this staff, and plan for us to keep it up as long as I’m here.

But we need community support and earning it means attending every meeting, civic group lunch, ribbon cutting, groundbreaking and politician visit within a 100-mile radius. That’s what my parents taught me and that takes a bigger newsroom team than the one we have now. Next year, I plan to hire a couple of more reporters who can get out in the field and get some scoops because that’s how community newspapers earn community support and ultimately new subscribers in print and online and deliver.

Since my father, who founded the paper with my mom, died in 2021, I’ve had to take on new responsibilities. It’s a lot of hard work: juggling payroll, ordering newsprint and press plates, fixing computer problems, servicing AC units, finding ways to cut costs, all while planning the news and laying out the paper.

We also welcome any newspapers across the state and beyond to come to us for printing. Our printshop team’s customer service and high quality is second to none. We’ll do a good job for you so give us a call.

See Excellence page 8

Clanton named managing editor of The Weekly Vista

Samuel Clanton has been named managing editor of The Weekly Vista in Bella Vista.

Clanton holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication/ Public Relations from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, where he wrote for the student newspaper, The Outlook. He started his working journalism career at the Tri-Lakes Tribune in Branson and later served as editor of both the Taney County Times in Forsyth and the Stone County Gazette in Kimberling City. He has also worked in news radio as a producer.

Clanton recently moved to Benton County after a stint in the music industry in Nashville. He succeeds Bennett Horne, who took the position of managing editor at the Siloam Springs HeraldLeader in July.

Fuller new sports reporter at Times Record, will cover Razorback beat

North Carolina native Jackson Fuller has joined Gannett in Fort Smith as a sports reporter, covering the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Times Record and USA Today.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Media Studies from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, where he covered baseball for the student newspaper, The Seahawk. Following graduation he covered high school sports for the Wilmington Star News and the Mount Airy Reporter, and has done freelance sports reporting as well. He is pursuing a master’s degree in international sports journalism from St. Mary’s University, Twickingham, England.

In the announcement of his hiring, Fuller said, “I’ve spent most of my life in North Carolina, the heart of ACC Country. This will be my first time rigorously following the SEC. I don’t know the origin story of Woo Pig Sooey and I’ve never seen a Hog Call in person. I thought a Razorback

was a fictional animal until I accepted this job.”

Fuller said he is looking forward to getting to know Arkansas and Razorback fans. “I hope you’ll bear with me as I get accustomed to this new gig,” he said. “If you see me around Fayetteville or at the University of Arkansas, feel free to say hello and point me in the direction of the best golf courses and food your town has to offer.”

Connecting People and Communities

Jackson Fuller

Samuel Clanton

Excellence

Continued from page 4

MEDIUM WEEKLIES

Scott Loftus, Editor and Publisher Carroll County News, Berryville

award in 2017, But our commitment remains the same. We want to provide our readers with the best newspaper we are capable of providing.

We were awarded first place for General Excellence among medium-circulation weekly newspapers for the fourth consecutive year. The newspaper has taken first place for General Excellence six times in the past seven years.

Ownership partners David Bell, Steve Johnson and I are very proud to receive the General Excellence award again this year. We’re also very humbled to be recognized among an outstanding group of weekly newspapers in Arkansas. We don’t do what we do to win awards, but we’re proud of our consistent success and we believe it’s one way that we can measure our performance in carrying out our ultimate mission, which is to provide the people of Carroll County with the information they need and deserve about what’s happening in their communities.

In addition to the overall honor, we also received 24 individual honors, including six individual first-place awards.

Our staff is much smaller now than it was when we won our first general excellence

That commitment goes beyond the newsroom staff. We would not be successful without everyone pulling in the same direction. Reporter Rick Harvey, freelance photographer Charlie Chappell, office manager Melody Strodtman, circulation manager and advertising coordinator Rhonda Worrall and driver Mary Kay Abbott are all vitally important to what we do.

SMALLER WEEKLIES

Andrew Bagley, Co-Owner and Publisher Helena World

A few whirlwind days later, we had saved The World and reopened as a weekly on September 18, 2019.  Empowered by Chuck to take some risks and implement a vision to reinvigorate the paper, I made the decision that Gatehouse’s worst mistake was cutting the content and expecting an increase in profits.  We invested in producing high-quality local content.  We expanded the number of pages.  Sports and features were brought back in addition to more aggressive coverage of local government and crime as well.

Fast forward to today.  We just received the General Excellence award for best small weekly newspaper for the second year in a row.  I am so proud of the work of our staff and our writers.  Everyone has worked so hard and that recognition represents a lot of blood, sweat and tears.  I attribute that success to our decisions to put high quality local content in the paper and to get as much of it as possible.

In the first week of September of 2019, Gatehouse Media announced the pending closure of the Helena World and began composition of one of the oldest newspapers in Arkansas whose rich history stretched back to 1871.  Unable to imagine the void such a closure would create, Chuck Davis, my business partner, and I met at his apartment overlooking historic Cherry Street and decided to try to buy the paper.

We aren’t perfect.  Stories still occasionally get by us.  But circulation is more than double what it was when we took over from Gatehouse.  Advertisers are coming back.  Our publication was described by one local public official as “setting the agenda for what the community talks about.”  That’s why we have been able to rise from the ashes to win two General Excellence awards.  We are giving readers something to look forward to and talk about every edition.

APA Convention and Awards Luncheon, Saturday July 22, 2023

Lori Freeze leads the panel discussion on operational efficiencies.

APA Past Presidents visit during the keynote luncheon on Friday, July 21.

Janet Harris of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation delivered the Friday keynote. APA members met for sessions both on Friday and Saturday during the convention.

Attendees enjoyed visiting with their peers from around the state.

APA Past Presidents Ron Kemp and Rusty Fraser visit between sessions.

Sonny Albarado of the Arkansas Advocate led the panel on breaking stories using FOIA. APA staffers celebrate a successful 150th anniversary convention.

Newspaper professionals from across the state chat between sessions. APA staff register convention attendees as they arrive for Saturday’s events.

Winners of the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest were announced at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday.

First place winners, weekly newspapers.

First place winners, daily newspapers.

Michael Ledbetter and Eplunus Colvin of the Pine Bluff Commercial show their awards. Jeremy Gulban and CherryRoad Media staff enjoy the convention.

Sonny Albarado of the Arkansas Advocate led a second panel on investigative reporting.

Senate committee tells HHS to advertise in community weeklies to promote rural public health messaging

Jul 28, 2023

The Senate Appropriations Committee is directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that local media, including non-daily newspapers, are part of their federal advertising campaigns, according to the National Newspaper Association.

The Committee is focused on improving rural public health. In an appropriations report for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins October 1, 2023, the Committee directs the HHS Secretary to prioritize local news media in its advertising programs. Led by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi, two advocates for improving rural health, the report said:

“The Committee recognizes the critical role local media plays in delivering public health messages to small or rural communities. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary to ensure that local media in small or rural markets are part of the Federal public health advertising

campaigns. To further this goal, the Committee directs the Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and their media buyer contractors, to prioritize local news media in rural areas for HHS Federal advertising campaigns to reach citizens in these communities with key health messages. Local media should include newspapers, including non-daily newspapers,

television, and radio.”

The Committee requires a report on HHS’s efforts within 90 days of enactment on the advertising work and a breakdown of the money allocated to local media in rural areas for public affairs campaigns from the prior fiscal year, 2023.

NNA Chair John Galer, publisher of The Journal-News in Hillsboro, Illinois, said NNA was gratified by the strong language in the report. Urging the federal government to do a better job of investing in local newsrooms through advertising has recently been a top priority of NNA, which represents nearly 2,000 community newspapers across America.

“This is just a first step in our ongoing campaign to persuade the federal government that it can do a better job of getting messages out and supporting endangered local newsrooms at the same time,” Galer said.

Steve Eddington 501-228-1383 | steve.eddington@arfb.com Jason Brown 501-891-1475 | jason.brown@arfb.com

Ever since the news broke a couple weeks ago that the former owners of my community’s newspaper closed their publishing company, I have answered and fielded questions about the future of the Clay County Courier from concerned residents. I more than appreciate the concern. I’ve written many times about news deserts and the devastation to communities when they lose their newspaper over the past five years. If anything this concern that the paper could ever close should serve as a flag that newspapers need support.

It’s important to realize that business and industry owners are looking for towns that have a strong advertising base. They are looking in communities’ newspapers to determine the strength of a city’s school system, if the area businesses advertise robustly, the churches available, and to get a feel for the community. Industries and businesses are looking in newspapers for a town with potential for growth and hope.

There may be some who may feel that their newspaper wouldn’t be missed if it were to fold. These people would be wrong. It’s like anything else that people take for granted in their towns, until they are gone. Then begins the cries of what happened? How could this happen?

Guest Column: Fight for your newspaper . . .

By Pam Lowe

Why didn’t someone do something? And negativity begins to spread like a cancer through people who haven’t participated in trying to improve things, but feel they must state their opinions.

Our paper, though a small town newspaper, has achieved a great many things. I won’t go into a list, but there are many issues we’ve covered that have helped our community. That is the thing of which I’m proudest. All newspapers work for their communities.

The Arkansas Press Association is a staunch supporter of the Courier as it is all their member newspapers. The APA’s Better Newspaper Editorial Contest winners were announced last Saturday. The Courier won four awards. Awards are nice, but they are like school grades, they are subjective. I’ve judged newspaper contests in other states and I know how difficult it can be to choose winners. There are some fantastic writers and reporters out there and one person’s opinion varies from another in judging their work. The Courier runs its own race to try to improve upon itself. I submit pieces so that our small town paper has a chance to get some recognition for our town. Most people who work at award winning newspapers will tell you

that it’s not about awards. It’s not why they miss family time, pull all nighters and work so hard. It’s about the people for which they are covering the news each day. It’s about the people in their communities. Do you know what’s more important to a newspaper than winning awards? It’s having a community that supports it wholeheartedly. I would gladly shake hands and make a deal to never win another award if the trade was community support.

Jeremy Gulban, our publisher, took a risk investing in a newspaper in a town that was down on its luck. He was tickled to death over the response to his purchasing the Courier and the number of people who came to our Open House two years ago, which he flew down from New Jersey to attend. I’m sure he felt if he invested in our town and our people by purchasing a business that the community would respond in kind and support the paper; in essence, take a newspaper with a strong publishing birthright and build upon its rich history to transform it into its best self.

At the end of 2022, when I was at a low point after my dad and grandmother’s passing within a few weeks of one another, I felt I had nothing left to give because

See Fight page _

my personal reservoir was empty. I tried walking away from the paper. My love for my town, our people and the newspaper drew me back. I’m not one to give up easily when I feel passionately and believe in something and I believe in our newspaper. I want our people to love and believe in it too. I have fought, sometimes behind the scenes, for our town and community, our senior citizens, our veterans, our children, our school, and just about every aspect of Corning. Along the way I have fought to work on mail and delivery issues, printing issues, and FOIA issues as well as many other newspaper problems. What the Courier needs, what every newspaper needs now, is for the community to fight for it. Are you having an event, a yard sale, do you need to sell something? Do you own a business? Fight for your newspaper and purchase advertising. Become a subscriber. Your newspaper needs sustainable and consistent advertisers.

On the front page of our newspaper this week is a report of the awards our newspaper won in the APA contest. Pictured is a winning photo of the celebration after our high school football team won a game against a cross county rival. The photo of the 2022 Rice Bowl Champs titled, “Their cup runneth over” is an example of just one reason why local newspapers are important in towns like ours. Families. Our town is a football town. It bleeds black and gold. That photo brings back the exuberance in the air that night. The unadulterated joy as players hoisted the Rice Bowl trophy up in the air, whooping and hollering with rice spilling up and out of the cup

raining down on them. The whole town rejoiced in the win. Published in the newspaper it is a moment that readers, players and their families can recall and enjoy whenever they want. There are many people who cut items out of the newspaper to read later. Don’t underestimate the power of a sports photo and a mama making a scrapbook for their child.

I venture to say there’s not a week that goes by that someone doesn’t call, write or message me to say thank you for publishing a photo of my child, my event, my family reunion. These small things that some people may gloss over when reading the paper are mighty major things to others. The photos of school activity pictures are a big deal. Do you know who they matter to? Families. They take pride in seeing their child(ren) in the newspaper. As I’m writing this column I’ve already been thanked this week for an article that is in the works I’ve not yet published. I know how families feel because I know how my family feels when one of our bunch gets some type of recognition. And that’s why I go out of my way to make sure that other families feel that public pride. I often go beyond the surface information, I dig, research, contact people, in order to do my best to make our kids, our people, our town, look their best.

If your town’s newspaper eventually closes due to lack of community and business interest, life will go on and you all will go on. But your community won’t have local coverage of fact-based news and events. Your community will likely rely on social

media information and that thought is insufferable because the information there is so often unreliable, not to mention negative. Your community deserves better than that.

Our paper is not closing. We published that announcement last week after the confusion of the publishing company closing. Our owner and publisher still believes in the power of small town papers. But there could come a day when the bottom line will take precedence. We can prevent this from happening to our community newspapers. The time to do that is now before it is too late. The messages I received last week concerned about my paper tell me that there are people who care about local newspapers and feel it’s important. I have urged my community to use the alarm some felt last week at the news of the closing of the publishing companies as a precautionary tale to prevent the closing of our newspaper.

Communities are at their best when we join in a fight together for what we believe in. While it is important to fight to bring in new businesses to our towns, it’s just as vital that we support and keep our existing businesses, especially a business that protects, informs and cares about our community. Your newspaper knows your city. It is your city. Fight for your newspaper.

Pam Lowe is the editor at the Clay County Courier in Corning. She can be reached at plowe@cherryroad.com or (870) 455-9009.

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Then who killed Johnny?

Greg Geary

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

No renewal for Stanley

Greg Geary

Third Place

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home Sisters supporting sisters

Helen Mansfield

Honorable Mention

Times-Herald, Forrest City

Couple facing capital murder for boy’s death

Tamara Johnson

Larger Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

25 Evictions in state

Teresa Moss

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

All charges dropped in fatal crash

Tracy Neal

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Experts pan census data scrambling

Doug Thompson

NEWS STORY

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Wynne Progress

Paschal not returning

David Owens

Second Place

Wynne Progress

Memorial Day

David Owens

Third Place

Helena World

At HWHSD, Cleaning Gets Dirty Again

Andrew Bagley

Honorable Mention

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Tornado damage reported after storms

Karen Sherrell

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

‘Nothing to it:’ Reese responds to police report, tax liens

Scott Loftis

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville Hot mic records ES cemetery commission

Rick Harvey

Third Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Beyond the grave

Tammy Curtis

Honorable Mention

Carroll County News, Berryville Recordings contradict ES mayor’s testimony

Scott Loftis

Clay County Courier, Corning

Jett announces fifth term to be his last

Pam Lowe

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Residents take sides over proposed bar

Ellen Kreth

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Cyclist’s killer

Rick Kron

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Phantom charge

Jeffrey Smith

Honorable Mention

Stone County Leader, Mountain View Businesses get creative in response to challenges

Steve Watkins

The Leader, Jacksonville

Sheriff strikes

Jeffrey Smith

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Cold War Relics

Nena Zimmer

Second Place

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home

A fond farewell to the famous fish

Helen Mansfield

Third Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Tosh makes history ...

Nena Zimmer

Honorable Mention

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Surviving 1952 tornado

Greg Geary

Larger Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Satan in real

Philip Martin

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Danyelle Musselman

April Wallace

Third Place

Texarkana Gazette

Sound of change: Downtown hearing aid center to close

Lori Dunn

FEATURE STORY

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Wynne Progress Boxes ‘blessing’ Wynne residents

Dan Brawner

Second Place

Wynne Progress

Luker remembered for service

David Owens

Third Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Farm Family

Karen Sherrell

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Bringing Brady back

Tammy Curtis

Second Place

The Sheridan Headlight

DeSoto helps Ukrainians through mission trips

Cason McGarrah

Third Place

Carroll County News, Berryville Daring Rescue: Local residents help save driver’s life

Scott Loftis

Honorable Mention

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy He’s a living, breathing hero

Tammy Curtis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Legion honors dad

Rick Kron

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Walk across America

Rick Kron

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View Music is lifelong love

Lori Freeze

Honorable Mention

Hot Springs Village Voice

Life imitating art

Sandy Johansen

Honorable Mention

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Paws and Claws Thrift Cottage 10th Anniversary

Chardonnay Brown

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

Excessive Force

Eplunus Colvin

Second Place

The Saline Courier, Benton

Sen. Alan Clark ethics fiasco

Destin Davis

Third Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

House of Disagree

Greg Geary

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Mulberry beating series

Thomas Saccente, Alexandria Brown

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Jonesboro officer falls ill

Teresa Moss

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Seal put on filings

Teresa Moss

SERIES REPORTING

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Demolish

Karen Sherrell

Second Place

Helena World

Will English Stay Or Go In HWHSD?

Andrew Bagley

Third Place

Helena World

Marvell-Elaine Schools Teetering

On the Brink

Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

A Breast Cancer Awareness

Month Special

John Allen French, Jessica Rainwater

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville Ballinger Ag Days

Scott Loftis

Third Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Watermelon festival growers

Tammy Curtis

Honorable Mention

Carroll County News, Berryville

CAPC recordings

Scott Loftis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

To build or not to build

Ellen Kreth

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Mayors races

Rick Kron

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Bus series

Rick Kron

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

All Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Public Defenders

Will Langhorne (Winner of IF Stone Award)

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Vet Cemetery

Will Langhorne

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Vertac Investigation

Will Langhorne

All Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville Charges filed and board members replaced Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

CAPC investigation

Scott Loftis

Third Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy Ozark Acres Suburban Improvement District woes

Tammy Curtis

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home

Helen Mansfield

Second Place

Log Cabin Democrat, Conway

Jeanette Stewart

Third Place

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

Steven Mross

Honorable Mention

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home

Helen Mansfield

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Tracy Neal

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,

Little Rock

Joseph Flaherty

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Stacy Ryburn

BEAT REPORTER

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Bobby Stapleton

Second Place

Monroe County Argus, Brinkley

Andrew Bagley

Third Place

Wynne Progress

David Owens

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Scott Loftis

Second Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Tammy Curtis

Third Place

The Sheridan Headlight

Jacob Palmer

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Ellen Kreth

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Jeffery Smith

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Jeffrey Smith

SPORTS NEWS STORY

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Lacewell’s impact on game, others

celebrated

Kevin Turbeville

Second Place

The Saline Courier, Benton

Dominant Showing: Panthers’ golf

Tony Lenahan

Third Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Lady Bearcats earn berth ...

Kevin Turbeville

Honorable Mention

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home

Historic Comeback

Neal Denton

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Bentonville claims OT win in 7A-West thriller

Chip Souza

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Backup quarterback leads West over Rogers

Chip Souza

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Hogs’ 6-game run

Bob Holt

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend State BB

Bobby Stapleton

Second Place

Wynne Progress

T-Birds excelling at track

David Owens

Third Place

Helena World

Newport District Investigating Brawl

Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Nashville News-Leader State champions! Scrapperettes bring home first basketball title

John R. Schirmer

Second Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Highland Lady Rebels first district championship in 20 years

Tammy Curtis

Third Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Oo, Bobcats claim Carroll County

bragging rights

Scott Loftis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Eagles stopped short of state

baseball finals

Rod Harrington

Second Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Buzzer Shot

Lori Freeze

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Beebe wins

Ray Benton

Honorable Mention

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

June’s gonna go by fast

Rod Harrington

SPORTS FEATURE STORY

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Blackman ready to be A-State’s ‘Problem Solver’

Kevin Turbeville

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Angler not hooked by handicap

Greg Geary

Third Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

High school teams go to shot clock

I.C. Murrell

Honorable Mention

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home Adversity, community support fuel Lady Panthers to title

Neal Denton

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Honoring No. 70

Chip Souza

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Last cast

Bryan Hendricks

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Brookhart’s last prep game a Salty showdown

Henry Apple

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Wynne Progress

Voice of the Jackets retiring

Dan Brawner

Second Place

Wynne Progress

‘Faith, family, fishing’

Dan Brawner

Third Place

Wynne Progress

Slaughter makes NFL playoffs debut

Dan Brawner

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Nashville News-Leader

Scrapperette coach looks back on state championship season

John R. Schirmer

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Local swimmer making a splash

Rick Harvey

Third Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Local roper finishes seventh at International Finals Rodeo

Tammy Curtis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

In search of several big bites

Rod Harrington

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Dunn running her way to Junior Olympics

Rod Harrington

Third Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Watkins, Eaton reflect on college careers

Rod Harrington

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Log Cabin Democrat, Conway

Death of MSU coach shows how fragile life can be

Mark Buffalo

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Don’t be sour about pickleball

Steve Watts

Third Place

Log Cabin Democrat, Conway

Some things are more important than sports after tragedy in Conway

Mark Buffalo

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

‘Inexperienced player’ brings some joy

Rick Fires

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Transfer portal spirals out of control

Rick Fires

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

‘Opt outs’ diminish importance of bowls

Rick Fires

SPORTS COLUMN

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Helena World Scores Show Cougars vs Bears Would Be Entertaining

Andrew Bagley

Second Place

Wynne Progress

Arkansas football, what might have been

Dan Brawner

Third Place

Helena World Let the Games Begin

Rick Kennedy

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Carroll County News, Berryville Making memories

Scott Loftis

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville Razorbacks are snakebit vs. Aggies

Scott Loftis

Third Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

The Good Stuff

Mike Thompson

Larger Weeklies

First Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View Basketball Urge Still Strong

Lori Freeze

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Joys and Ploys

Rick Kron

Third Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

My tiny link to the Razorbacks

Rod Harrington

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Being left with broken pieces

Steve Watts

Second Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

It’s OK to hit an inmate how many times?

Byron Tate

Third Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy Rally around Chandler

Steve Watts

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Unprecedented

Greg Harton

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Sentence fragments

David Barham

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

A Stand or a Stunt

Greg Harton

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Helena World

HWHSD Heads Should Roll Since Busses Don’t

Andrew Bagley

Second Place

Helena World Stop Fighting: Do Something About the Dogs

Andrew Bagley

Third Place

Helena World A School Board President to Make PT Barnum Proud

Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Speaking French: Merry Christmas!

John Allen French

Second Place

Advance Monticellonian, Monticello What is it going to take?

Ashley Hogg

Third Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Speaking French: The Twelve Days of Christmas

John Allen French

Honorable Mention

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy Shame on a few elected officials

Tammy Curtis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Lingering questions compound confusion and frustration

Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn, Rod Harrington

Second Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View Literacy

Lori Freeze

Third Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Caught with his pants down

Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn, Rod Harrington

Honorable Mention

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Gag order denied; need for transparency continues

Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn, Rod Harrington

NEWS AND POLITICAL COLUMN

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

Mayor faulted for transparency

Byron Tate

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Feeding need for better barricades

Steve Watts

Third Place

Paragould Daily Press

The games AGs play

Steve Gillespie

Larger Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

The lion you want to hug

John Brummett

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

A governor’s charge

Rex Nelson

Third Place

Texarkana Gazette

Poll workers are treasure and should be treated as such

James Bright

Honorable Mention

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

The last communist

Bradley Gitz

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Monroe County Argus, Brinkley

Double Standard for Arkansas Like Everywhere Else

Rick Kennedy

Second Place

Helena World

As Fred Sanford Would Say, “You Big Dummy!”

Andrew Bagley

Third Place

Monroe County Argus, Brinkley

Improvements Needed At Brinkley

High School

Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

A fool’s errand

Scott Loftis

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Freedom of Information

Scott Loftis

Third Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Confessions of a Constitutionalist

Cara Bryant

Honorable Mention

Carroll County News, Berryville

Ballinger’s real record

Scott Loftis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Madison County needs a new senator

Ellen Kreth

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Voters need to give someone else a chance

Ellen Kreth

Third Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Ballinger’s memories appear lacking

Ellen Kreth

Honorable Mention

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Plastics Recycling

Lori Freeze

GENERAL INTEREST COLUMN

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Let’s talk about it

Gretchen Hunt

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Desks burst fireworks feeling

Steve Watts

Third Place

Paragould Daily Press

‘To the Shores of Tripoli’

Steve Gillespie

Honorable Mention

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Tornado emergency?! ... Where’s

Walmart?

Steve Watts

Larger Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

For Brent

Philip Martin

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

It’s time to invest in learning

Karen Martin

Third Place

Texarkana Gazette

Memories of my father help me raise my son

James Bright

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Monroe County Argus, Brinkley In Life’s Game of Musical Chairs, Where Do You Sit

Sandra Bagley

Second Place

Helena World What It Really Means to Love

Sandra Bagley

Third Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Shop Small

Karen Sherrell

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy Newspapers... History in the making Tammy Curtis

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Just another day

Robert Cox

Third Place

Clay County Courier, Corning Lowe Down_The Goal of Learning

Pam Lowe

Honorable Mention

Nashville News-Leader

Flags at half staff. Mournful occasions are marked by lowered flag

Louie Graves

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Offense

Rick Kron

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Heroes

Rick Kron

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View Message for Graduates

Lori Freeze

HUMOROUS COLUMN

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Paragould Daily Press

Keeping Santa busy with local letters

Steve Gillespie

Second Place

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

Googled to death

Harry Porter

Third Place

Paragould Daily Press

A little too much information

about sandwiches

Steve Gillespie

Honorable Mention

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

Disappearing chocolate

Harry Porter

Larger Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Chatting with the overlord

Philip Martin

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Midterms are driving us insane

Helaine Williams

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

From 25 to 108 in minutes

Lisa Kelley-Gibbs

Smaller-Medium Weeklies

First Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Speaking French: Birthday Party

John Allen French

Second Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Speaking French: Christmas!

John Allen French

Third Place

Advance Monticellonian, Monticello

Calling poison control

Ashley Hogg

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Thanksgiving

Rick Kron

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville Offense

Rick Kron

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Snack Pops With Nostalgia

Lori Freeze

FREELANCE RECOGNITION

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

Gunshot hits Cash

Richard Ledbetter

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Life given in murder, no parole

Tara Thomas

Third Place

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

Enjoy a scenic drive on a hot summer’s day

Corbet Deary

Honorable Mention

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Guilty of murder, jury says

Tara Thomas

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

As The Cookie Crumbles

Kat Robinson

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Vultures’ virtues

Jerry Butler

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Once a cowgirl

Dwain Hebda

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Guilty

Angelia Roberts

Second Place

Helena World

Hendrix Left Her Mark on Phillips County for Decades

Ladell Tyler

Third Place

Helena World Free Internet Wifi Comes to Downtown Elaine

Candace Williams

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy Convicted killer speaks out

Angelia Roberts

Second Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Local church fills void in the community

Jessica Rainwater

Third Place

Nashville News-Leader

Early files

Patsy Young

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Cabot thumps

Kathyrn Bland

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville Activity center opens to delighted community

Jamie Smith

Third Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Emitt family takes 4-H motto to heart

Chardonnay Brown

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

‘D-word’ not nasty for Wildcats

Steve Watts, Jason King

Second Place

The Saline Courier, Benton

King reigns over Star City

Tony Lenahan

Third Place

The Saline Courier, Benton

Pitching propelling Panthers into state

Tony Lenahan

Honorable Mention

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home

‘Witch’ candy’s your favorite?

Helen Mansfield

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Credits to roll soon for drive-in

Mark Mondier

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Crowning moment

Graham Underwood

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Don’t fall for it

Greg Harton

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Wynne Progress

Go fiche

David Owens

Second Place

Wynne Progress

Plenty of fight in ‘The Dog’

David Owens

Third Place

Helena World

At HWHSD, Cleaning Gets Dirty Again

Rick Kennedy

Honorable Mention

Helena World

English to HWHSD: Take This Job and Shove It

Rick Kennedy

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Pocahontas Star Herald

Redskins grab the Cats by the tail

John Allen French

Second Place

Nashville News-Leader

State champions! Scrapperettes bring home first basketball title

John R. Schirmer

Third Place (tie)

Carroll County News, Berryville

On time departure

Scott Loftis

The Sheridan Headlight

Collecting the bear essentials

Millie McClain

Honorable Mention

Nashville News-Leader

One of the good guys ‘

John R. Schirmer

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Check bounces

Jonathan Feldman

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Caught with his pants down

Ellen Kreth, Shannon Hahn

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Biker Event At Full Throttle

Lori Freeze

not nasty for Wildcats

Aug.

2022 SCHEDULE

Sept.

Harding Academy Wildcats Jason King

some type of slogan, when really, culture is what you do on a daily basis. There are a lot of people with a lot of slogans that for whatever reason are not living up to them.”

Evans, who was named 3A coach of the year in 2019, also has a tal-

ented group of assistants, including offensive coordinator Will Francis, defensive coordinator Bronson Smith, receivers coach Alex Francis, defensive backs coach Eric Wallace and offensive line coach Kyle Evans. The Wildcats return three starters on the offensive line. Sophomores Kaynan Harris and Josh Luallen both started last year as freshmen, while junior Jack Seger makes up the third returning starter. The competition on the left side of the line has been more up in the air, with sophomore Xander Province and junior Hayden Page battling for the starting left-tackle position. Senior Jaden Spears moves from the defense to left guard on offense this season.

The Harding Academy Wildcats, seen here during summer practice, are making the move from Class 3A to 4A this season.

“We really feel good about how far those guys have come along,” Evans said. “Of course, the three returners we knew and felt good about, but the two new guys we felt good about just coming through fall camp.” Sophomore Owen Miller gets the job at starting quarterback with former starter Kade Smith now dedicated strictly to the baseball diamond. Senior Heath Griffin and sophomore Trenton Hall will share time at running back.

The bread and butter of Harding Academy’s offense has always been its talented corps of receivers, and this year is no exception. Sophomore Endy McGalliard brings his tall 6-4 frame into the fold as an outside receiver, and is joined across the field by senior Jude Fager on the right side. Senior Landon Koch is a team captain for the Wildcats and comes in at slot receiver, along with junior Kyler Hoover. “We take a lot of pride in catching

the ball,” Evans said. “I know that sounds cliché to say for receivers, but we really put an emphasis on no drops. We feel like that is such a big part of what we do. Yes, you can look at our offensive numbers and know our receivers have been a huge part, but that’s a collective effort – it’s the culmination of that entire offensive unit working together.” Evans said this year’s defensive line could possibly be the best unit

See WILDCATS page B3

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

Gunshot hit Cash

Richard Ledbetter

Second Place

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

Man shot, killed in local parking lot; three ‘persons of interest’ in custody

Andrew Mobley

Third Place

Malvern Daily Record

Malvern FD responds to structure

fire Monday

Virginia Pitts

Honorable Mention

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

‘No immediate needs’

Al Fowler

Larger Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Memorial Day

Thomas Metthe

(Photo of the Year)

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Austin Petting Zoo

Staci Vandagriff

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Water rescues carried out

J.T. Wampler

Honorable Mention

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Hospital Shooting

Staci Vandagriff

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Total loss

Joe Beavers

Second Place

Helena World

Out of Control

Andrew Bagley

Third Place

Helena World

DISINFECTANT NEEDED

Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Flash Flood takes truck

Tammy Curtis

Second Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Goehler Perp Walk

Tammy Curtis

Third Place (tie)

Carroll County News, Berryville

Rat Race 2022

David Bell

Nashville News-Leader

A tradition at the courthouse monument

Louie Graves

Honorable Mention

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Throwing Melons

Tammy Curtis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Solar array

Jeffrey Smith

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Rain can’t dampen Rodeo Parade

Rod Harrington

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Massive crowd

Jeffrey Smith

Honorable Mention

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

A Courthouse Christmas

Rod Harrington

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

PHOTOS/TAMMY

Pie contest winners announced

The winners from this year’s Arkansas Pie Festival have been announced.

COMMERCIAL: Best overall: Raspberry Cream CheeseTrio’s, Little Rock

Best decorated:: Bee’s Knees - Ozarka

Culinary

Fruit: Old-Fashioned Blackberry Sour Cream - Jamie

Land Cream: Peanut Butter Pie - Pea Farm Bistro Chocolate: Chocolate Raspberry Mint Mousse - Chow on the Square Nut: Brown But-

ter Coconut Pecan - Apple -

Ninth and Tenth graders about careers in welding tual and augmented reality

SINGLE FEATURE PHOTO

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Showing their colors

Greg Geary

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

It’s the great pumpkin

Greg Geary

Third Place

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

Haley Chronister looks in the opposite side

Courtney Edwards

Honorable Mention

Camden News

College’s Welding Academy creates future opportunities

Michael Hanich

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Towering tire change

Spencer Tirey

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Where cleanliness meets creativity

Andy Shupe

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Soaking it In

Thomas Metthe

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Pelicans

Joe Beavers

Second Place

Helena World Winter Wonderland

Andrew Bagley

Third Place

Monroe County Argus, Brinkley

Queen of Clarendon

Cameron McMath

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Nashville News-Leader

It’s all for OCC

John R. Schirmer

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Just a Taste

David Bell

Third Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Carroll County Fair

David Bell

Honorable Mention

Pocahontas Star Herald

Splishin’ and Splashin’ Summer

John Allen French, Jenny Tyson

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Boy in Dragon 5

Jeffrey Smith

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Boy in mud

Jeffrey Smith

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Addie Caston at the Fair

Lori Freeze

Honorable Mention

The Leader, Jacksonville

girl painter

Jeffrey Smith

The number of people hospitalized with covid-19 in Arkansas rose above 70 on Monday for the first time in more than a month as the state’s new cases continued to trend upward. The state’s death toll from the virus, as tracked by the Arkansas Department of Health, rose by one, to 11,446. Growing for the second day in a row, the reported number of covid-19 patients in the state’s hospitals rose by six, to 73. It was the first time the number had been above 70 since April 12, which was about a week before the cur- rent uptick in the state’s new cases started. The state’s case count rose Monday by 88. While small- er by 58 than the increase on Sunday, it was up by 14 from the one the previous Monday. Due to slowdowns in test- ing and reporting on week- ends, the state’s new case numbers tend to be smaller on Sundays and Mondays than on other days. Already at its highest level since the week ending March 27, the average daily increase in the state’s case count over a rolling seven-day period rose Monday to 285. With recoveries outnum- bering new cases, however, the number of cases in the state that were considered active fell by 149, to 3,078.

After not changing a

grew by two, to 20.

CASES BY COUNTY Pulaski County had the most new cases, 26, on Monday, followed by Benton County with eight and Faulk- ner County with five. The state’s cumulative count of cases since March 2020 rose to 840,678. The Health Department’s tally of vaccine doses that had been administered rose by 216, which was larger by 48 than the daily increase a week earlier. The most recent increase included 74 doses for people receiving the vaccine for the first time, which was up by 28 from the increase in first doses a week earlier. Growing for the fourth day in a row, the average number of total doses ad- ministered each day over a rolling seven-day period rose to 1,501, the first time it had been above 1,500 since the week ending May 5. The average for first dos- es rose to 351. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 67% of Ar- kansans had received at least one vaccine dose as of Mon- day,

SINGLE SPORTS ACTION PHOTO

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Knockout blow

Mark Buffalo

Second Place

Malvern Daily Record

Hometown Malvern Lady

Leopard Softball

Gerren Smith

Third Place

The Saline Courier, Benton

Terrion Burgess dunk

Tony Gatlin

Honorable Mention

Log Cabin Democrat, Conway

On to the next round

Mark Buffalo

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Duly Noted

Charlie Kaijo

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

One more time

Hank Layton

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Early confidence

Stephen Swafford

Honorable Mention

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Class 4A Championship

Staci Vandagriff

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Getting vertical

Bobby Stapleton

Second Place

Helena World

Barton wilts in second half, falls to Clarendon

Cameron McMath

Third Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Making the play

Missy McBride

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Diving for extra yardage

Charles Chappell

Second Place

Spring River Chronicle

Gage gets the ball

Mitch Sparks

Page 12

Third Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Berryville softball

Charles Chappell

Honorable Mention

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Lady Bears in Action

Donnell Russell

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Backward TD

Kimberly Harper

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Squeezing through

David Scolli

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Carroll County news

Coach big hug

Shootout in Huntsville

tuesday • oCtober 25, 2022

David Scolli

The Berryville Bobcats had their best offensive per formance in a conference game this season on Friday, Oct. 21, but that wasn’t enough to overcome three second-quarter turnovers as Huntsville defeated the visit ing Bobcats 49-28.

Bobcats score 28, but turnovers boost Eagles

By

“You know, we had four turnovers,” Berryville coach Bryan Hutson said, “and a touchdown called back that was a big play, so it’s tough to win when you’ve got four turnovers and a touchdown called back. Not to mention three, maybe four, pass inter- ferenceBerryvillepenalties.” (1-7, 0-5 4A-

1) led twice in the first quarter and was within six points early in the third, but couldn’t get any closer as Huntsville held on for the win. The Bobcats’ offense was successful early, as Nick Utt’s short touchdown ran capped the game’s first pos- session and put Berryville up 7-0 with 10:23 left in the first quarter.

After Huntsville answered with a touchdown to tie the score, Berryville faced fourth-and-2 from its own 47. Quarterback Decimus Ruiz passed to Chet Hud- gens for what would have been a 53-yard touchdown, but a penalty moved the ball back to the Huntsville 34 and the Bobcats eventually were forced to punt. After the punt, the Bob- cats held Huntsville on three plays and forced the Eagles to kick the ball back to Ber- ryville from their own end zone. Ethan Williams re- turned the punt 16 yards to the Huntsville 16 and Tun Oo scored from there. Nay Blut’s extra point put Ber- ryville up 14-7 with 3:47

all the difference as Ber- ryville turned the ball over on three consecutive posses- sions. Huntsville turned two of the takeaways into touch- downs and added a third score as well to take a 34-14 lead with 43 seconds left in the first half. The Bobcats took ad- vantage of the remaining time, however, as Oo broke free for a 42-yard run to the Huntsville 14 and Ruiz threw to Williams for a touchdown. Blut’s extra point got Ber- ryville within 34-21 at half- time. The Bobcats pulled even closer

lead to 34-28 with 9:40 left in the third however,Huntsvillequarter.responded, scoring a touch- down and two-point conver- sion to make it 42-28 with 7:15 left in the quarter and then tacking on another TD at the end of the quarter.

Oo finished with 230 yards rushing for the Bob- cats, whose 28-point output was their most this season except for a 62-0 victory over winless Decatur, which has scored a total of six points in eight games.

“We had 320-something yards rushing

of turnovers were intercep- tions where guys were there. We’ve just got to execute. We can’t do that. But I also looked out there one time in the second half when it was a six-point ballgame and we’ve got six sophomores out there on defense. We’ve got six sophomores on of- fense. We’ve got a bunch of young guys.”

Berryville will travel to Lincoln on Friday. The Wolves (4-4, 2-3) have lost three of their last four games, including a 56-21 loss last Friday at Gentry. But Lin- coln has averaged more than 35 points a game this season, and Hutson said the Wolves are dangerous offensively.

“They sling it every- where,” Hutson said. “We’ve faced a bunch of experi- enced quarterbacks that can throw it. And they’ve got an experienced ballclub and a quarterback that can throw it around a lot. So another team like that to try to face with a bunch of young kids.”

Scott Loftis SLoftis@cherryroad.com

Charles Chappell /

Berryville’s Ethan Williams dives for extra yardage during the Bobcats’ game at Huntsville on Friday, Oct. 21.

SINGLE SPORTS FEATURE PHOTO

Smaller Dailies

First Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

Victorious

Kevin Turbeville

Second Place

The Sun, Jonesboro

A-State season begins ... Kevin Turbeville

Third Place

Malvern Daily Record

Showing PPRD Play on the Golf Course Photo

Gerren Smith

Honorable Mention

The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home Adversity, community support fuel Lady Panthers to state title

Neal Denton

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Eye on the ball

Charlie Kaijo

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

First comes running, then comes marriage

Staci Vandagriff

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

stickball skills

Hank Layton

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Lady Bear Katz 4-Peat

Bobby Stapleton

Second Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Tribute for Tommy Bobby Stapleton

Third Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Mammoth Springs Lady Bears

Donell Russell

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Second Place

Nashville News-Leader

Reese Worthington

John R. Schirmer

Third Place

Nashville News-Leader

Airborne

John R. Schirmer

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Coach big hug

David Scolli

Cabot thumps Conway

Second Place

Clay County Courier, Corning

Their cup runneth over; Rice

Bowl Champs!

Pam Lowe

On Friday evening, the Cabot Panthers and the unde- feated Conway Wampus Cats got into a major catfight for bragging rights in the 7A con- ference. The Wampus Cats were ranked second and the Panthers held the No. 3 spot. But that all changed as the Panthers skinned the Cats, 35-20. The game was highly antic- ipated, with Cabot school offi- cials worrying about reaching maximum capacity, and it was a sold-out game. The district encouraged fans to buy tickets beforehand. As the stadium filled, chants and cheers could be

heard encouraging the teams, the Panther Student Section was exceptionally rowdy and provided major encourage- ment for the Panthers. The first quarter of the game was tense, with each team trying to gain insight into the other’s tactics. Panthers drew first blood with 3:41 left on the first quar- ter clock, with quarterback Abe Owen, #12, running it in. This was followed by the don’t-miss Kade Martin, #84, extra point. Owen once again was able to score a rushing touchdown at the 1:41 mark, his second rushing touchdown of the night. Martin once again followed with a good extra point, leaving the Panthers in the lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Wampus Cats were able to score their first touchdown early in the second quarter.

Bears barely beat Titans, 19-14

The Leader, Jacksonville

Girls crying

Alexia Christman

With the help of Panthers offensive lineman Nicholas Hazeslip, #79, throwing key blocks and creating holes, Owen gained chunks of yard- age. With 3:01 left in the sec- ond quarter, Owen ran in his third touchdown of the night. The Panthers were once again able to rely on Martin for a good extra point, which he delivered.

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Thirsty drinker

David Scolli

Wampus Cats scored their second touchdown of the night at 1 minute 41 seconds left on the clock. The Wampus Cat extra point was blocked by the Panthers, leaving the score 21-13 at Panthershalftime.were the first to score in the second half with 6:15 on the clock, Owen hit his first passing touchdown of the game, with Gavin Reardon, #81, receiving it. Martin once again was able to score the extra point.

Soon after, Wampus Cats attempted to seek redemption by rushing the ball in an excep- tional play ending in a touch- down less than a minute later. Panthers scored the first touchdown of the fourth quar- ter at about the midpoint mark with Evion Jimmerson, #20, rushing it in. The TD was fol- lowed by yet another Martin extra point. The crowd was bursting with excitement as they knew the game was won. This was the only touchdown of the quarter, but it was all that was needed for the Panthers to prove their worth and win the catfight, 35-20.

The Panthers’ next game will be their Homecoming Game next week at Cabot High School against Little Rock Central.

Jackrabbits continue dominating opponents as Heber Springs

On Friday, the Lonoke Jackrabbits came through with a victory against Cave City, 34-21. The ‘Rabbits scored in their first series of downs on offense, going 71 yards for a touchdown. “I was proud of how we opened the game with a trick play from Latrell Burnett to Denham Gooden,” Coach Chris Norton said, adding that he was proud of guys like Kaden Flowers, Pacey DeBord, and Jackson Miller. “Jackson had two huge recoveries on Cave City’s onside kicks, Pacey started at linebacker, and Kaden started at right guard for us, the coach said.

Defensively, Latrell Burnett had 19 tackles and an interception, and really helped the ‘Rabbits contribute to their win.

Coach Norton mentioned a few other players who shined on the offensive side,“Landon Jones, Denham Gooden, and Marquez Jackson Jr. contin- ued to make big plays for us.”

“Winning is gets lost sometimes,” said, “It’s never running the ball and playing. Lots focus, and effort Norton said he team dug in when and that’s how they a win. “We were sively in the first had spots where really well offensively,” coach said. Friday is

week is a huge us,” Norton said, Springs is well has two really, really athletes that can problems. Homecoming distraction that we to navigate.” Coach Norton have a great week tice field. The team to focus on consistency execution during and take that with they hit the field Friday against Heber Springs.

DAVID SCOLLI/Leader photo

Titans’ offensive line coach, Chris Gillian, prepares to give Taquon Sanders a big old hug after Sanders scored a touchdown that put Jacksonville ahead of Sylvan Hills in their Friday night game. The Bears pulled the victory away from the Titans with a late score, making it 19-14, Sylvan Hills. For the Bears it was win number two. Jacksonville remains winless.

Landon Jones said he was excited to win Friday night. “Our next game is going to be difficult, but we’re gonna lock in and focus on what we need to.” Jones said, “We’ll be practicing all week and working on the mistakes that we made against Cave City.” Jones is planning to correct any mistakes that he made so that he can help his team win against Heber Spring in their next game, and make it closer to the playoffs.

Vilonia comeback spoils Beebe homecoming

By JEFFREY SMITH Leader staff writer

The Badgers lost a tough one on Homecoming night, Friday, dropping the game 17-14 to the Vilonia Eagles. Even though the Badgers stopped two major drives of the Eagles they did not con- sistently have an answer for Vilonia’s quarterback, who threw complete pass after complete pass.

The game started slow with the only score through the

20 minutes, an Eagles field goal. A great pass play where Kiandrea Barker pulled the ball down, like a high basket- ball rebound, at the 23-yard line, got the Badgers excited. After two short runs by quarterback Zach Grant, he handed off to Jayden Smith who went 18 yards untouched for the score at the 4:11 mark. An extra point, by Andy Rodriquez, made it 7-3. Rodriquez has only missed

On their possession, Vilonia marched it right down the field and the Eagles quarterback, Wesley McKissack, scored from the three-yard line after faking a handoff to the run- ning back.

On the kickoff, Braydon Sanders pulled in the kick at the 15-yard line, and in a mat- ter of a few ticks, went 85-yards for a touchdown. A good extra point, and Beebe was on top again, 14-10.

quarterback’s arm, headed right down the field, but the drive was stopped by a Brenton Brasfield interception at the 5-yard line. Brasfield took it up to the 29-yard line. That left the halftime score, 14-10, Badgers.

The Eagles brought the ball down to the 15-yard line but couldn’t score. The Badgers had a chance to go 85-yards in the last 22 seconds of the game but couldn’t pull it off.

n Wampus Cats were undefeated until Panthers crossed their path Friday.

2023 Arkansas Press Association Photo of the Year

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock Memorial Day

Thomas Metthe

Hot Springs man gets jail time for defrauding government during pandemic. PAGE 3B ARKANSAS ONLINE www. arkansasonline.com

(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe)

www.

Hutchinson warns to stay vigilant

LARA FARRAR ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

As dozens gathered Monday at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery to honor those who lost their lives in war, Gov. Asa Hutchinson warned that the United States might again be drawn into conflict as the

soldiers for the Monday morning ceremony.

“I think about the change that has occurred in this world since we were last together a year ago,” the governor said.

“With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when we watch people who are dying, whether they are

from a Navy Cross awarded in 1970, for his actions in 1968 during the battle of Hue City, South Vietnam. Canley was born in Union County in the community of Caledonia on Dec. 20, 1937. He was 84.

“He took command of his company after his com-

and we honor them as well.”

“The pain never ends,” Hutchinson said to the families who lost loved ones in conflict. “Please know that America’s gratitude never ends as well.”

Wes Ward, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture who served two tours

Payments ter their resulted $144,749 Arkansas, ing to Auditors tem payments Arkansas

“We to four of the were $23,787. recover avail,” Wednesday of Arkansas Auditors tem ments payroll od for stretches ing to man

“As the delayed tion stopping some ing such Auditors parent the payroll schools

‘Freedom always at stake,’ he says at Memorial Day event

Janice Sutton visits the grave of her parents, Eddie and Shirley Hardy, after the Memorial Day service Monday at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock. Eddie Hardy was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War. More photos at

arkansasonline.com/531memday/.

ARKANSAS

PICTURE PAGE PHOTO ESSAY

Smaller Dailies

First Place

Pine Bluff Commercial White Hall seniors recall achievements

I.C. Murrell

Second Place

Log Cabin Democrat, Conway

Crawl, Drag and Squirt returns

Jordan Woodson

Third Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Talent on display

Al Fowler

Larger Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Wooo, Pig! Sooey!

Chris Swindle

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Pigs on Parade

Chris Swindle

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Rainbows and revelry

Chris Swindle

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Helena World City In Crisis: Parks Deteriorating as Council Opposes Funding

Rick Kennedy, Andrew Bagley

Second Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Fishing derby Staff

Third Place

Helena World Winter blast

Rick Kennedy, Terri Ann Hall, Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Carroll County News, Berryville Tigers, Bobcats get closer to kickoff

Charles Chappell, Scott Loftis

Second Place

Nashville News-Leader

Going to the state finals

John R. Schirmer

Third Place

Clay County Courier, Corning

Local heroes spread Christmas joy

Pam Lowe

Larger Weeklies

First Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

T-ball Action

Lori Freeze

Second Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

High School Baseball

Lori Freeze

Third Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Pool Pics

Jeffrey Smith, Jonathan Feldman

BEST FRONT PAGE DESIGN

All Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Terry Austin

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Steve Watts and Citizen staff

Third Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Smaller-Medium Weeklies

First Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Tammy Curtis

Second Place

Carroll County News, Berryville

Robert Cox

Third Place

Nashville News-Leader

John R. Schirmer, Louie Graves, Don Hall

Honorable Mention

Helena World

Rick Kennedy

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Leader, Jacksonville Staff

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Shannon Hahn, Rod Harrington

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Lori Freeze

News-LEADER

THE NASHVILLE HH HH

www.swarkansasnews.com

Sheriff discusses jail leaks, crowding

By Louie Graves News-Leader staff

For the second month, Sheriff Bryan McJunkins talked with the Howard County Quorum Court about the county’s jail facility which often houses more inmates than it was planned to do.

And in addition, the roof leaks. Last month the sheriff told the court he was reluctant to make the leak correction if a larger construction project loomed.

The jail has a capacity of 40 inmates, a number which is usually exceeded. He told the court Monday, June 20, he had spoken with some jail builders about an expansion that might give the county 18-20 more beds. Last month he cautioned the JPs that an expansion would need more supervisory employees and also incur other operating expenses.

A problem with the crowding is that some persons with misdemeanors who should be jailed are not. The sheriff said that surrounding county jails were having similar problems.

One estimate of the cost of an extension to the existing facility is between $975,000 and $1.2 million. He said he hoped to find a way without raising taxes.

The Nashville Demonstration Organic Garden will offer a Kidz Klub this summer for ages 3-10. It will consist of raised garden beds and will be handicapped accessible.

NDOG said the goal is “to introduce gardening as a fun, hands-on experience through being in ouch with nature and learning gardening skills.”

Children will dig in the dirt, select plants for the garden, plant them and water them. They will also learn about bees, insects and butterflies and their importance to the garden.

IT’S ALL FOR OCC. Vacation Bible School volunteer Abbie Lamb (left) takes a pie in the face from Naomi Sanchez Friday afternoon, June 17, at First United Methodist Church in Nashville. Lamb told the VBS kids that they could slap the pie on her face if they collected $300 for Operation Christmas Child. She added that they could dump cold water on her if they approached $400. The final total was more than $520. Jaylee Hughes poured ice cold water on Lamb. The church held VBS June 13-17.

School

The JPs did approve a motion to begin application for a grant to expand aircraft housing at the county airport. If the county can get 10 hangar tenants it will be eligible for Federal Aviation Agency funds. Currently,

See Jail • Page 5A

to provide student supplies at primary, elementary

By John R. Schirmer News-Leader staff

The Nashville School District again will provide school supplies for primary and elementary students. School board members Monday night approved Superintendent Doug Graham’s recommendation to set aside $40,000 for the supplies, with $25,000 designated for pri-

ing clear backpacks for students “depending on the governor’s commission’s recommendations,” Graham said. Gov. Asa Hutchison has brought back a school safety commission to study the state’s schools. The clear backpacks are about $12 each, Graham said, placing the total cost K-12 at about $23,000. In other business, the board apinsurance

district’s personnel policies and the student handbook for each campus. The News-Leader will review those changes in the June 29 issue.

The district has an operating balance of nearly $6.2 million, according to Graham. “We’re in good shape financially.”

The building fund of about $1.8 million is separate from the operating balance, Graham said.

“We hate to lose Mrs. Nichols. She has accepted a job at Jonesboro,” Graham said. Hannah Topor was named assistant principal at primary to succeed Nichols. The board also hired Kyle Slayton as a bus driver and Ahren Turner as a coach and teacher at junior high. School board officers were named Monday night. Tem Gunter

Kidz Klub offered at Farmers’ Market

News-Leader photo/JOHN R. SCHIRMER

GRAPHIC DESIGN PORTFOLIO

All Dailies

First Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Carrie Hill

Second Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Chris Swindle

Third Place

Malvern Daily Record

Gerren Smith

All Weeklies

First Place

Helena World Rick Kennedy

Second Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View Lori Freeze

Third Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy Tammy Curtis

BEST DIGITAL PRESENCE & AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT

All Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Third Place

The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs

All Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

The Madison County Record Staff

Second Place

Helena World

Ladell Tyler, Rick Kennedy, John Dalencourt

Third Place

Nashville News-Leader

Tracy Denny-Bailey, John Balch, Jon Chambers

COMMUNITY COVERAGE: AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS

All Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Doug Thompson, Ron Wood, Laurinda Joenks

Second Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

Byron Tate, Eplunus Colvin

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Carrie Johnson, Karen Sherrell

Second Place

Wynne Progress

David Owens

Third Place

Helena World

Andrew Bagley, Terri Hall, Chuck Davis

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Nashville News-Leader

John R. Schirmer

Second Place

The Sheridan Headlight

Jacob Palmer, Rachel Goings

Third Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Tammy Curtis

Larger Weeklies

First Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

The Madison County Record Staff

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville

Deborah Horn, Jeffrey Smith, John Hofheimer

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

COMMUNITY COVERAGE: EDUCATION

All Dailies

First Place

Pine Bluff Commercial

I.C. Murrell

Second Place

The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Greg Geary

Third Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Cynthia Howell, Ryan Anderson, Teresa Moss

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Monroe County Argus

Glenda Arnett, Thomas Jacques, Terri Hall

Second Place

Wynne Progress

David Owens

Third Place

Helena World

Candace Williams, Rick Kennedy, Andrew Bagley

Medium Weeklies

First Place

Nashville News-Leader

John R. Schirmer

Second Place

Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Education coverage

Tammy Curtis

Third Place

The Sheridan Headlight

Education Coverage

Millie McClain, Jacob Palmer, Eric Moore

Larger Weeklies

First Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

Second Place

The Leader, Jacksonville Rick Kron, Jeffrey Smith, John Hofheimer

Third Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Ellen Kreth

COMMUNITY COVERAGE: HEALTH AND MEDICAL

All Dailies

First Place

Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette, Fayetteville

Janelle Jessen, Garrett Moore

Second Place

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Third Place

Paragould Daily Press

Steve Gillespie

Smaller Weeklies

First Place

Wynne Progress

David Owens, Dan Brawner

Second Place

Helena World

Andrew Bagley, Miracle Zimmerman

Third Place

Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Medium-Larger Weeklies

First Place

Nashville News-Leader

Don Hall, John R. Schirmer

Second Place

The Madison County Record, Huntsville

The Madison County Record Staff

Third Place

Stone County Leader, Mountain View

General Excellence

Smaller Dailies

First Place The Daily Citizen, Searcy

Second Place Pine Bluff Commercial

Third Place Jonesboro Sun

Larger Dailies

First Place Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville

Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

Third Place Texarkana Gazette

Smaller Weeklies

First Place Helena World

Second Place Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend

Third Place Wynne Progress

Medium Weeklies

First Place Carroll County News, Berryville

Second Place Spring River Chronicle, Hardy

Third Place Nashville News-Leader

Honorable Mention Pocahontas Star-Herald

Larger Weeklies

First Place The Leader, Jacksonville

Second Place The Madison County Record, Huntsville

Third Place Stone County Record, Mountain View

THANK YOU TO MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI PRESS ASSOCIATION FOR JUDGING THIS YEAR’S CONTEST.