The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette each won 10 first-place awards Saturday from the Arkansas Press Association for the newspapers' work during 2016.
The annual awards were judged by the Oklahoma Press Association from 1,654 entries from 50 newspapers. The awards were announced at the Arkansas Press Association's annual convention, which was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won first place in the general excellence category for larger daily newspapers, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette placed second. General excellence is decided on a point system for each first, second and third place award.
The newspapers, both owned by WEHCO Media, Inc., competed in the larger dailies division except in the investigative reporting and editorial cartoonist categories, in which all newspapers were judged together.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporters Lisa Hammersly and Brian Fanney won the I.F. Stone Award for their first-place rank among all newspapers in investigative reporting for their series "Cash & the Court," which examined campaign contributions to Arkansas Supreme Court justices by class-action attorneys.
That series also won first place among larger dailies for in-depth series reporting.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Noel Oman and former reporter Chris Bahn won first place in news story for their coverage of the fall of the Broadway bridge in Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Hunter Field won first place in feature story for his article about Louisiana flooding victims.
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Doug Thompson won in best beat reporting.
In sports reporting, Chip Souza of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won first place in sports feature for "Title Town."
The newspapers won first place in other reporting categories:
• Stephen Steed of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won first place for coverage of business and agriculture.
• Melissa Gute, April Wallace and Stacy Ryburn of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won first place for coverage of tourism.
• Thompson and Dan Holtmeyer of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette finished first for their reporting on health and medical issues.
David Barham of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won first place in editorial for "Another Catch-22."
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Gary Smith won in best humorous column for "A few minutes of your time."
On the visual side, former Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photographer Stephen Thornton won Photo of the Year for his first-place win in the single feature photograph category for "A turn of events."
Thornton also won first place in the picture page/photo essay category for "A turn of events" and "Picture-perfect day."
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette photographer Anthony Reyes won in single sports action photograph for "Faltering home finale," and colleague Jason Ivester won in single sports feature photograph for "Softball students."
Chris Swindle and Megan Lewis-Reed of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette won in best front page design. Swindle, Josh Cook and Blake Drehle won in best sports page design for the Northwest Arkansas-based edition.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Kirk Montgomery won in best graphic design portfolio, and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette cartoonist John Deering won best editorial cartoonist among all newspapers.
Following is the list of first-place winners in each category and division.
NEWS STORY
Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Dana Guthrie, "Just so you could get high." Medium dailies: Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Marisa Hicks, "Fire captain faces DWI, harassment charges." Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Noel Oman and Chris Bahn, "Bridge falls ... after a bit." Smaller weeklies: Villager Journal, Cherokee Village, Lauren Siebert, "Area residents voice concerns." Medium weeklies: The Sheridan Headlight, Millie McClain, "Vandals terrorize Orion." Larger weeklies: Lovely County Citizen, Eureka Springs, Samantha Jones, "Victims of Orlando shooting remembered."
FEATURE STORY
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs, "Vet receives honor 60-plus years later." Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, David Holsted, "I've had a beautiful career." Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Hunter Field, "Flood victims still in it knee-deep." Smaller weeklies: Spring River Chronicle, Hardy, Tammy Curtis, "Private E. Nothing: Mickey 'Pinky' Pinkinston's." Medium weeklies: Blytheville Courier News, Jeremy Hall, "102-year-old World War II vet reflects on service." Larger weeklies: The Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Keith Bryant, "Face first in Little Sugar Creek."
IN-DEPTH SERIES REPORTING
Smaller dailies: Camden News, Amber Conway, "City council addresses nepotism." Medium dailies: Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Marisa Hicks and Jeanette Anderton, "County Clerk indictment series." Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Lisa Hammersly and Brian Fanney, "Cash & The Court." Smaller weeklies: North Little Rock Times, Dale Ellis, "Broadway Bridge fiasco." Medium weeklies: Carroll County News Midweek, Berryville, Scott Loftis, "Ambulance district." Larger weeklies: Stone County Leader, Mountain View, Edie Sutterfield and Lori Freeze, "Century Farms."
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
All newspapers: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Lisa Hammersly and Brian Fanney, "Cash & The Court," IF Stone Award.
BEAT REPORTING
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs. Medium dailies: The Courier, Russellville, Travis Simpson. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Doug Thompson. Smaller weeklies: Washington County Enterprise Leader, Lincoln, Lynn Kutter. Medium weeklies: Nashville News-Leader, John R. Schirmer. Larger weeklies: Lovely County Citizen, Eureka Springs, Samantha Jones.
SPORTS NEWS STORY
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Tony Lenahan, "Hornet Swarm." Medium dailies: Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, David McCollum, "Hudl up and watch this." Larger dailies: The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Bob Wisener, "Love at first sight." Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, Buck Ringgold and George "Clay" Mitchell, "Warner adds to coaching ranks." Medium weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, Harold Coggins, "Early wins No.700." Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Ray Benton, "Sylvan Hills shocked by Chapel."
SPORTS FEATURE STORY
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs, "Ship the Sherbet." Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner, "Southside fifth-grader scores touchdown from wheelchair." Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Chip Souza, "Title town." Smaller weeklies: North Little Rock Times, Donna Lampkin Stephens, "Ryan Spurlock." Medium weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, Harold Coggins, "Anatomy of a road trip." Larger weeklies: The Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Kent Marts, "Marts-ing through the minor league."
SPORTS COLUMN
Smaller dailies: Malvern Daily Record, Eric Moore, "The era of participation trophies." Medium dailies: The Courier, Russellville, Travis Simpson, "Bourbon's final touchdown." Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Josh Richert, "Ump should get bumped from TASO." Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, George "Clay" Mitchell, "Maybe I'm using 'tolerate' wrong in a sentence." Medium weeklies: Carroll County News Midweek, Berryville, Scott Loftis, "Boys in the 'hood." Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Ray Benton, "Muhammad Ali a complex hero."
EDITORIAL
Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Steve Watts, "What some see vividly." Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts, "Community center should unite." Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, David Barham, "Another Catch-22." Smaller weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry G. Hawkins, "Univ. of Opulence." Medium weeklies: The Sheridan Headlight, Byron Tate, "Say yes." Larger weeklies: Madison County Record, Huntsville, "Millage increase could be shot in the arm."
NEWS/POLITICAL COLUMN
Smaller dailies: Times-Herald, Forrest City, Caleb Talley, "The case for cannabis." Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts, "Suicide: my story, my observations." Larger dailies: The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Steven Mross, "A letter from the witness stand." Smaller weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry G. Hawkins, "Thinking Canada? Fuggedaboutit!" Medium weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, John Davis, "US political parties." Larger weeklies: The Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Kent Marts, "Daddy, you always told us."
GENERAL COLUMN
Smaller dailies: Malvern Daily Record, Gretchen Ritchey, "God's beautiful art of spring." Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, Randal Curtman, "What's in a name?" Larger dailies: Jonesboro Sun, Chris Wessel, "Quarter left on headstone could link past to present." Smaller weeklies: Spring River Chronicle, Hardy, Tammy Curtis, "So to speak .. If glass could talk." Medium weeklies: Nashville News-Leader, Louie Graves, "Reflecting." Larger weeklies: Madison County Record, Huntsville, Shannon Hahn, "A story of survival through a donor's compassion."
PUBLIC NOTICE
All dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Jamie Williams, "E. coli found in water sample." Smaller weeklies: Washington County Enterprise Leader, Lincoln, Lynn Kutter, "Prairie Grove High Seeks Charter Status." Medium & Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, John Hofheimer, "Millage."
HUMOROUS COLUMN
Smaller dailies: Paragould Daily Press, Steve Gillespie, "Our clown crisis." Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, David Holsted, "Go ahead, wolf, make my day." Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Gary Smith, "A few minutes of your time." Smaller weeklies: South Arkansas Sun, Hampton, Jeri Shire, "Tales from the Shire - toothpaste." Medium weeklies: Carroll County News Midweek, Berryville, Samantha Jones, "Boiled egg blues." Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Rick Kron, "Today's kids are spoiled."
FREELANCE WRITING
Small & Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Donetta Bradford, "Catholics in the Holocaust." Larger dailies: The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Corbet Deary, "Longpool Rec Area offers stunning photo opportunities." Smaller weeklies: South Arkansas Sun, Hampton, Jeri Shire, "Alzheimer's." Medium & Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Shelby Styron, "Heartfelt nod to the queen."
HEADLINE WRITING
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Saline Courier Staff, "Toadal Upset." Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, David Holsted, "Beam me up, Nabholz." Larger dailies: The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Tom Ritchey, "Fellowship of the wings." Smaller weeklies: Spring River Chronicle, Hardy, Tammy Curtis, "Ha Ha's prevail during loss of ta tas." Medium weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, Harold Coggins, "Dickens of a Christmas." Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Graham Thomas, "Cool hand Lukes."
SINGLE NEWS PHOTOGRAPH
Smaller dailies: Paragould Daily Press, Erik Wright, "Disaster drill." Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, Lee H. Dunlap, "Fully engulfed." Larger dailies: The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Richard Rasmussen, "Water Rescue." Smaller weeklies: Villager Journal, Cherokee Village, Lauren Siebert, "Cave City house fire under investigation." Medium weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, Tom White, "Water woes." Larger weeklies: Lovely County Citizen, Eureka Springs, David Bell, "Candlelight vigil."
SINGLE FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH
Smaller dailies: Paragould Daily Press, Sarah E. Banker, "Truckers honor Lewis with surprise party." Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, Terrance Armstard, "Grass Burner." Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Stephen Thornton, "A turn of events," Photo of the Year. Smaller weeklies: Wynne Progress, Brock Meeler, "Painted by the moon." Medium weeklies: Blytheville Courier News, Tom Henry, "Polar Plungers make big splash." Larger weeklies: Stone County Leader, Mountain View, Edie Sutterfield, "Cowboy on Stick Horse."
SINGLE SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPH
Smaller dailies: Malvern Daily Record, Eric Moore, "In a cloud of dust." Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, Terrance Armstard, "Backhander." Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Anthony Reyes, "Faltering home finale." Smaller weeklies: South Arkansas Sun, Hampton, Sam Hoisington, "Conner Rowland slide." Medium weeklies: Carroll County News Midweek, Berryville, Charles Chappell, "Late-game heroes." Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, David Scolli, "Wolverines worry Panthers."
SINGLE SPORTS FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH
Smaller dailies: Paragould Daily Press, Cole Turbeville, "Lady Hounds advance in regional." Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, Jeff Brasel, "Valley Springs seniors jump." Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Jason Ivester, "Softball students." Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, Aaron Shaffer, "Alma volleyball team celebrate." Medium weeklies: Carroll County News Midweek, Berryville, David Bell, "Youth camps." Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, David Scolli, "A lifetime going 1/8 of a mile."
PICTURE PAGE/PHOTO ESSAY
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs and Ryan Klare, "Fair, Rodeo bids farewell until next year." Medium dailies: Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Kelly Sublett, "Snow Day." Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Stephen Thornton, "Picture-perfect day." Smaller weeklies: Wynne Progress, Mason Addison and Jennifer Wilson, "Congratulations Jackets." Medium weeklies: Carroll County News Midweek, Berryville, David Bell, "More than fair...great!" Larger weeklies: The Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Keith Bryant and Adam Schaffer, "Face first in Little Sugar Creek."
BEST FRONT PAGE
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs. Medium dailies: Log Cabin Democrat, Conway. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Chris Swindle and Megan Lewis-Reed. Smaller weeklies: North Little Rock Times, Jeremy Peppas. Medium weeklies: Nashville News-Leader, John R. Schirmer. Larger weeklies: The Daily Record, Little Rock, Karen Dunphy.
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN PORTFOLIO
Small & Medium dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Kirk Montgomery. Smaller weeklies: North Little Rock Times, Jeremy Peppas. Medium weeklies: Nashville News-Leader, John R. Schirmer. Larger weeklies: The Daily Record, Little Rock, Karen Dunphy.
BEST SPORTS PAGE
Small & Medium dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Bruce Guthrie, Michael Young and Kelley Johnson. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Chris Swindle, Josh Cook and Blake Drehle. Smaller weeklies: North Little Rock Times, Jeremy Peppas. Medium & Larger weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, Harold Coggins.
BEST WEBSITE
Small & Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Guard Staff, GuardOnline.com. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Kristen Doss, TexarkanaGazette.com. All weeklies: Booneville Democrat, Glenn M. Parrish, BoonevilleDemocrat.com.
BEST EDITORIAL CARTOONIST
All newspapers: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, John Deering.
COVERAGE OF BUSINESS/AGRICULTURE
Smaller dailies: Paragould Daily Press, Steve Gillespie and Erik Wright. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, Stephen Steed. Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, Kenneth Fry and Taniah Tudor. Medium weeklies: The Sheridan Headlight, Tanner Newton, Millie McClain and Ethan Tate. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Janelle Jessen and Michael Burchfiel.
COVERAGE OF EDUCATION
Smaller dailies: Paragould Daily Press, Sarah E. Banker. Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, Brittany Williams and Janice McIntyre. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette. Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, Kenneth Fry and Taniah Tudor. Medium weeklies: Nashville News-Leader, Terrica Hendrix and John R. Schirmer. Larger weeklies: The Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Lynn Atkins.
COVERAGE OF TOURISM
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Saline Courier Staff. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner, Lacy Mitchell and Joseph Price. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Melissa Gute, April Wallace and Stacy Ryburn. Smaller weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry G. Hawkins. Medium weeklies: The Sheridan Headlight, Tanner Newton. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville.
COVERAGE OF HEALTH/MEDICAL
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Saline Courier Staff. Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, Yvonne Cone, David Holsted and James L. White. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville, Dan Holtmeyer and Doug Thompson. Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, Kenneth Fry and Taniah Tudor. Medium weeklies: The Sheridan Headlight, Millie McClain and Ethan Tate. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Janelle Jessen and Michael Burchfiel
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville. Smaller weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren. Medium weeklies: Carroll County News, Berryville. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville.
SundayMonday on 07/09/2017