The New Era won three first-place awards in the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for work done in 2016.
The awards were announced Thursday, July 13, at the ONPA’s annual convention, in Bend.
The New Era’s first-place awards, in a division for smaller weekly newspapers, were:
– Best Lifestyle Coverage for a story by Sean C. Morgan in the April 27, 2016 about a Nandina Street apartment owner’s efforts to clean up his property and the effects that had on the neighborhood.
– Best News Photo for a photograph by Scott Swanson in the Feb. 10, 2016 edition of a procession of log trucks coming through the Narrows on Highway 20 in a funeral procession for fellow driver Neil Nightingale, who had been killed in a collision earlier in the month.
– Best Sports Photo for a photo by Sean C. Morgan in the April 13, 2016 edition of softball player Marissa Kurtz stealing second base against Sisters just ahead of the ball.
Other awards for The New Era were:
– Second Place for Best Feature Story for a story by Audrey Caro in the Feb. 24, 2016 edition about Sweet Home High School alum Kimber Parker’s leading role in Oregon State University’s production of “Kiss Me, Kate.”
– Second place for Best Local Column for pieces written by Scott Swanson throughout the year about a hunting trip, public dialogue and political correctness during the presidential election, and being humbled in the local triathlon.
– Second place for Best Sports Story to Scott Swanson for an article in the June 29, 2016 edition about SHHS alumnus Amanda Basham’s exploits in the world of ultra-distance trail running.
– Third place for Best Government Coverage to Sean C. Morgan for coverage in the April 27, 2016 edition of former City Manager Craig Martin’s forced retirement.