Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporters Chad Day and Cathy Frye received a statewide award for investigative reporting Saturday at the Arkansas Press Association’s annual awards luncheon in Eureka Springs.
Day and Frye won the I.F. Stone Award for their nearly year-long analysis of the Phillips County criminal justice system. Their reporting showed that hundreds of accused felons remained free and were never tried because then-Sheriff Ronnie White neglected to serve failure-to-appear warrants issued by judges. The sheriff’s own jailers released inmates who had outstanding warrants that were gathering dust in the department’s files, Frye and Day reported.
The articles, which showed that the sheriff’s practices had contributed to more than a decade-worth of backlogged criminal cases, sparked an audit by the Arkansas Supreme Court, judicial pressure that cleared up much of the court backlog and the appointment of a special judge who continues to work on assisting the county’s courts.
Their award was one of 11 first-place citations awarded to the Democrat-Gazette at the press association’s luncheon.
The Democrat-Gazette won the general excellence category among larger newspapers, and its website, arkansasonline.com, placed first for best Web design among all daily newspapers.
Other first-place honors went to:
Tom Murphy and Andy Davis in the sports news story category for reporting on former University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino.
Lane Kramer in the sports feature story category for a profile of then-minor league baseball player and Cuban native Yem Prades.
Jennifer Christman in the humorous column category for a piece about the Internet application Pinterest.
Paul Sawyer in the headline-writing category for “Creations from the BLACK legume.”
Sarah D. Wire, Bill Bowden, Amy Schlesing and Michael Wickline for coverage of politics.
Cynthia Howell, Evie Blad and Debra Hale-Shelton for coverage of education.
John Deering for a portfolio of editorial cartoons.
Rhonda Owen in the freelance writing category.
Wally Hall, Terry Austin and Mike Smith each placed second in, respectively, sports column writing, best front page and best sports page. Bobby Ampezzan, Eric Harrison, Ellis Widner, Ron Wolfe and Jennifer Nixonplaced second for coverage of tourism.
Third-place certificates went to Benjamin Krain, best single photograph, and freelance writer Eric Francis in that category.
Receiving honorable mentions were newspaper staff members Spencer Willems, news story; Claudia Lauer, feature story; Andy Davis, best beat reporter; Jay Grelen, headline writing; and Benjamin Krain, best single photograph, best single feature photograph and best single sports action photograph.
Members of the Texas Press Association selected the winners from 1,027 entries from 26 daily newspapers and 1,051 entries from 36 weekly newspapers. Here is a list of the first-place winners: NEWS STORY Smaller dailies: Stuttgart Daily Leader, Sarah Morris. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Frank Wallis, Cutting Costswith a Torch. Larger dailies: The Morning News, Springdale, Dave Perozek, Tragedy to Crime. Smaller weeklies: Enterprise-Leader, Lincoln, Lynn Kutter, Police Arrest Principal. Medium weeklies: Nashville Leader, John Balch, Audit Looks at ‘Irregularities.’ Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Jeff Della Rosa, Median Draws Mixed Review.
FEATURE STORY Smaller dailies: Blytheville Courier News, Shannon Spears Harris, Mother of Victim. Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, Kevin Sims, Paws in Prison. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, Becca Martin Brown, A Holocaust of the Heart. Smaller weeklies: Enterprise-Leader, Lincoln, Lynn Kutter, Student’s Smile Shines on Everyone. Medium weeklies: Nashville News, Charles Goodin, On the Cutting Edge. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Jeff Della Rosa, Girls of the Gypsy Camp.
IN-DEPTH SERIES REPORTING Smaller dailies: Daily Siftings Herald, Arkadelphia, Joe Phelps, Three Dead Following Weekend Attack. Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, Taylor Allison, Haigler’s Death Violent. Larger dailies: Times Record, Fort Smith, Veterans Day Series. Smaller weeklies: Dover Times, Elizabeth Brown, Joseph Brown, Robinson Case. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Cassi Lapp, Annexation. Larger weeklies: Stone County Leader, Mountain View, Edie Sutterfi eld, Ed Schuh, Lori Freeze, Drought.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING All dailies, I.F. Stone Winner: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Chad Day, Cathy Frye, Broken Justice: Phillips County. All weeklies: Pacesetting Times, Horseshoe Bend, Karen Sherrell, Officers Called in Property Dispute.
BEST BEAT REPORTER Smaller dailies: Camden News, Jennifer Sheridan. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Josh Dooley. Larger dailies: Benton County Daily Record, Bentonville, Tracy M. Neal. Smaller weeklies: The Times of NortheastBenton County, Pea Ridge, Annette Beard, Police beat. Medium weeklies: Salem News, Richard Irby, Schools. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Sarah Campbell, City beat.
SPORTS NEWS STORY Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs, Coach of the Year. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Neal Deaton, Hook, Finger, Leader. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Tom Murphy, Andy Davis, Petrino on leave. Smaller weeklies: Courier-Index, Marianna, Fred Conley, Howard Signs Letter. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Cassi Lapp, A golden age. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Graham Thomas, A Class Act.
SPORTS FEATURE STORY Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Harrison Keegan, Art Was Escape for Harding’s Wilkes. Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, Jeff Brasel, Twins Anchoring Line. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Lane Kramer, Hope Floats. Smaller weeklies: Enterprise-Leader, Lincoln, Mark Humphrey, Son of a Gun. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Tom Throne, Trekking the Appalachian Trail. Larger weeklies: Carroll County News, Berryville, Chan Davis, Brains of the Operation.
SPORTS COLUMN Smaller dailies: Blytheville Courier News, Aaron FitzPatrick, Time to Re-Evaluate. Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, KevMoye’, The Comment is Far More Complex. Larger dailies: The Morning News, Springdale, Rick Fires, Red Heads Deserve Honor. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge, John McGee, 3 and Oh! Medium weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry Hawkins, Hog Uniforms. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Ray Benton, Fans’ Priorities are Out of Order.
EDITORIAL Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Jacob Brower, Mr. Lincoln. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts, Let’s Dance. Larger dailies: Times Record, Fort Smith, Judith Hansen, No Excuse for Mixing Booze, Minors. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge, Annette Beard, Court Process Should be Open. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Tom Throne, Vistans Deserve Annual Testing. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Garrick Feldman, Jonathan Feldman, Not Helping Jacksonville.
NEWS/POLITICAL COLUMN Smaller dailies: Blytheville Courier News, Andy Weld, Mayor Must Be Straightforward. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts, WM3 is Actually WM6. Larger dailies: The Morning News, Springdale, Doug Thompson, Emperor has No Clothes. Smaller weeklies: Enterprise-Leader, Lincoln, Maylon Rice, Debate Over Fracking Continues. Medium weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry Hawkins, Newtown has no easy answers. Larger weeklies: Madison County Record, Huntsville, Matt Shelnutt, The Right to Rotting Teeth?
GENERAL INTEREST COLUMN Smaller dailies: Evening Times,West Memphis, Ralph Hardin, Remember What You Do. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Donetta Sterling, Broken Promises. Larger dailies: Jonesboro Sun, Maria Flora, At Least They Got a Lesson. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge, Annette Beard, Choose your Words With Care. Medium weeklies: Westside Eagle Observer, Gravette, Dodie Evans, The Number is 34. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Garrick Feldman, Principal is Walking Tall.
HUMOROUS COLUMN Smaller dailies: Banner-News, Magnolia, Kathy Camp, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, David Holsted, Hey Four-Eyes. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jennifer Christman, Pinterest is Perfect. Smaller weeklies: Wynne Progress, David Owens, Til Death Do Us Part. Medium weeklies: Nashville Leader, Louie Graves, My Thanksgiving. Larger weeklies: The Times Dispatch, Walnut Ridge, Vivian Heyl, One of Those Days.
HEADLINE WRITING Smaller dailies: Daily Siftings Herald, Arkadelphia, Wendy Ledbetter, A ‘Foul’ Situation. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Frank Wallis, Sonny Garrett, Cutting Costs with a Torch. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Paul Sawyer, Creations from the BLACK Legume. Smaller weeklies: Glenwood Herald, Danielle Brown, No More Lonesome Whistles. Medium weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry Hawkins, Linda Bates Lambert, The Pain and Loss of 911. Larger weeklies: Lovely County Citizen, Eureka Springs, Kristal Kuykendall, Sweet Sideline.
SINGLE NEWS PHOTOGRAPH Smaller dailies: Times-Herald, Forrest City, David Nichol, Destroyed. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Josh Dooley, Search for Caleb. Larger dailies: Times Record, Fort Smith, Rachel Rodemann, Soldiers Bridge Arkansas River. Smaller weeklies: White Hall Journal, Teresa Bennett, White Hall Celebrates Founder’s Day. Medium weeklies, 2012 Photo of the Year: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Cassi Lapp, Cooler Heads Prevail. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, David Scolli, School Remembers.
SINGLE FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH Smaller dailies: Banner-News, Magnolia, Aaron Morris, Severe Weather. Medium dailies: El Dorado News-Times, Michael Orrell, Veterans Day Parade. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Adam Sacasa, Hope Watermelon Festival. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge, Annette Beard, Is It Over Yet? Medium weeklies: Westside Eagle Observer, Gravette, Randy Moll, Reading Program Expands Outlook. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, David Scolli, Hugs and Kisses.
SINGLE SPORTS ACTION PHOTOGRAPH Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Jacob Brower, Bisons Headed to Playoffs. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Tony McGuffey, Sidney Cowboy. Larger dailies: Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, Samantha Baker, Records Fall at Relays. Smaller weeklies: Courier-Index, Marianna, Fred Conley, Tough Loss. Medium weeklies: Nashville News, Dewayne Holloway, Hanging On. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Melissa Gute, Technical Foul.
SINGLE SPORTS
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH Smaller dailies: Times-Herald, Forrest City, Fred Conley, Watching and Waiting. Medium dailies: Pine Bluff Commercial, William Harvey, First Impressions. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Adam Sacasa, Going Wall to Wall. Smaller weeklies: Dover Times, Joseph Brown, Tug of War. Medium weeklies: Nashville Leader, John R. Schirmer, Homecoming twins. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Melissa Gute, Peraza.
PICTURE PAGE/PHOTO ESSAY Smaller dailies: Evening Times, West Memphis, Ralph Hardin, Gary Meece, Upward Soccer back in play. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Kevin Pieper, Bass Master. Larger dailies: Times Record, Fort Smith, Brian D. Sanderford, Filling a Need. Smaller weeklies: Enterprise-Leader, Lincoln, Lynn Kutter, Battlefi eld Park. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Lynn Atkins, Jenny DeShields, Easter Egg-Xtravaganza. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Melissa Gute, Jennifer DeShields.
BEST FRONT PAGE Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Daily Citizen staff. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Baxter Bulletin staff. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Danielle Dupree, Andrea Miller. Smaller weeklies: Wynne Progress. Medium weeklies: Nashville News, Terrica Hendrix, Charles Goodin, Dewayne Holloway. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Herald-Leader staff.
BEST FEATURES PAGE Small & Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Guard staff. Larger dailies: Times Record, Fort Smith, John Dunn. All weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Melissa Gute, Gary Burton.
BEST SPORTS PAGE Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, Harrison Keegan, Jacob Brower. Medium dailies: Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, David McCollum. Larger dailies: Times Record, Fort Smith, Bill Scott, Jeff Brasher. Smaller weeklies: Dover Times, Joseph Brown. Medium weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, George “Clay” Mitchell. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Melissa Gute, Graham Thomas.
BEST SPECIAL ISSUE/SECTION Smaller dailies: Times-Herald, Forrest City, Times-Herald staff, Fire Destroys Front Street. Medium dailies: Batesville Daily Guard, Guard staff, Community Focus 2012. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Then & Now. Smaller weeklies: White Hall Journal, Teresa Bennett and staff, Founder’s Day. Medium weeklies: Newton County Times, Jasper, Jeff Dezort, 52 Reasons We Love Newton County. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Herald-Leader staff, Hand in Hand.
COVERAGE OF POLITICS Small & Medium dailies: Evening Times, West Memphis, Gary Meece, Ralph Hardin, Mark Randall. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sarah Wire, Bill Bowden, Amy Schlesing, Michael Wickline. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge, Annette Beard. Medium weeklies: Press Argus-Courier, Van Buren, Kenneth Fry, Taniah Tudor. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Jeff Della Rosa.
COVERAGE OF
BUSINESS/AGRICULTURE Small & Medium dailies: Harrison Daily Times, Dwain Lair. Larger dailies: The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Jeff Smith. Smaller weeklies: Atkins Chronicle, Van Tyson, Ginnie Tyson, Beckie Tyson. Medium weeklies: Nashville Leader. Larger weeklies: Herald Leader, Siloam Springs, Herald-Leader staff.
COVERAGE OF EDUCATION Small & Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Josh Dooley. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Cynthia Howell, Evie Blad, Debra Hale-Shelton. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge. Medium weeklies: Nashville Leader, Kimberly Harrison, Emily Alexander, John R. Schirmer. Larger weeklies: Advance Monticellonian, Monticello, Melissa Cason.
COVERAGE OF TOURISM All dailies: Rogers Morning News, Kevin Kinder, Amye Buckley, Misty Gittings, John Gore, Dave Perozek. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge. Medium weeklies: Newton County Times, Jasper, Jeff Dezort. Larger weeklies: Stone County Leader, Mountain View.
COVERAGE OF HEALTH/MEDICAL Smaller dailies: Saline Courier, Benton. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Josh Dooley. Larger dailies: Texarkana Gazette, Ashley Gardner. Smaller weeklies: Courier-Index, Marianna, Courier-Index staff. Medium weeklies: Dumas Clarion, Terry Hawkins. Larger weeklies: Stone County Leader, Mountain View.
EDITORIAL CARTOONIST PORTFOLIO Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, John Deering.
BEST WEB DESIGN All dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com. All weeklies: Ashley County Ledger, Hamburg, David Moyers, ashleycountyledger.com.
FREELANCE WRITING Small & Medium dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy, M.A. Webb, McRae Mayor Subject of Ethics Complaint. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Rhonda Owen, Deep R. Smaller weeklies: Enterprise-Leader, Lincoln, Ben Madrid, Cardinal Boys Sack Saints. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista, Jan Burgess, Leaves on the Tree of Life. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville, Peg Kenyon, JDP Hasn’t Forgotten.
GENERAL EXCELLENCE Smaller dailies: The Daily Citizen, Searcy. Medium dailies: The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home. Larger dailies: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Smaller weeklies: The Times of Northeast Benton County, Pea Ridge. Medium weeklies: Weekly Vista, Bella Vista. Larger weeklies: The Leader, Jacksonville.
Front Section, Pages 11 on 06/30/2013