The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has won first place for General Excellence in the annual Arkansas APME contest for the state's newspapers, accumulating 18 first-place awards included in its 39 total awards.
Leading the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's first-place winners were photographer Stephen B. Thornton, who won three first-place awards for spot news photo, feature sports photo and photographer's portfolio; the team of news reporters Lisa Hammersly and Brian Fanney with two first-place awards for special project-community service and for Service to the Freedom of Information Act; news reporter Hunter Field, who won two first-place awards for news coverage and beat reporting; and sportswriter Bob Holt with two first-place awards for sports story and sports feature.
Others from the newspaper winning first-place awards were: the team of Noel Oman and Chris Bahn for spot news story; Jerry McLeod for headline; Stephen Steed, business reporting; Eric Besson, education reporting; Staton Breidenthal, feature sports photo; staff, for digital; Ron Wolfe, nontraditional news item; and former staff member Bobby Ampezzan, news feature.
Fourteen second-place awards went to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette staff members: Thornton for spot news photo and feature photo; Benjamin Krain, spot news photo and photographer's portfolio; the team of Dave Hughes and Hammersly, spot news story; Jeannie Roberts, news feature; Sandra Tyler, headline; Ryan Tarinelli, beat reporting; Frank Lockwood, political reporting; the newspaper's staff, special project-community service; Jennifer Christman, nontraditional news item; Nikki Dawes, graphics; former staff member Troy Schulte, sports feature; and staff, page design.
The newspaper also won seven third-place awards: Mitchell PE Masilun, spot sports photo and feature photo; Tarinelli, spot news story; Schulte, sports story; Krain, feature sports photo; Jeremy Muck, sports feature; and Celia Storey and John Sykes Jr., graphics.
Behind the Democrat-Gazette in the General Excellence category were the Texarkana Gazette in second place and The Jonesboro Sun in third place.
Division III
Spot News Story
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Noel Oman and Chris Bahn "Bridge Falls ... After a Bit;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Dave Hughes and Lisa Hammersly "Gunfire Kills Sheriff's Deputy;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ryan Tarinelli "Little Rock Officers Kill Man."
Spot News Photo
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen B. Thornton "High-Water Rescue;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen B. Thornton "High Winds at Charcoal Plant Spark 13-Acre Fire Near Oxley;" Third Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Staci Vandagriff "Vehicle Versus Building."
News Feature
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bobby Ampezzan "Rabbit at Rest;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jeannie Roberts "ALS Saps Body, not Spirit;" Third Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Kellie Cobb "More than Faces in a Crowd."
Editorial Writing
First Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Waylon Harris "Bono Lake Project Must be Recreational;" Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Russell McDermott "Disturbing Content;" Third Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Waylon Harris "FOIA Exemption Bill a Threat to Transparency."
Headline
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jerry McLeod "Pie in the sky;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sandra Tyler "Clinton open to uncloaking U.S. UFO files;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Drew Gladden "O Come Ye Manuals."
News Coverage
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Hunter Field "Flood Victims Still in it Knee-Deep;" Second Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Sarah Morris and Keith Inman "Hudson Out; No Settlement Pay - A&P Chair Feels Vindicated with Hudson Gone."
Beat Reporting
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Hunter Field "Military and Veterans Affairs;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ryan Tarinelli "Law Enforcement;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Karl Richter "Firefighters Collective Bargaining."
Business Reporting
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen Steed "Poultry Farms Split Neighbors;" Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Lynn LaRowe "An Awesome Run;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Junius Stone "Electric Cowboy Rides Away."
Education Reporting
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Eric Besson "A Changed Helena to Lead Schools;" Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Aaron Brand "Life Lessons Through Lyrics;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Jennifer Middleton "Taking a Stand Against Bullying."
Political Reporting
First Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Emily Sanders "A City Divided;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Frank Lockwood "By Iowa, Huckabee Bid on Fumes;" Third Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Jeff Bricker "New Voters Soar in Shady Grove."
Health-Related Topics
First Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Sarah Morris "Doctors Warn of Health Woes Linked to Burnings;" Second Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Sarah Morris "8-Month-Old Known as #thefighter;" Third Place The Jonesboro Sun, Jonesboro, Sarah Morris "Double-Lung Transplant Eyed for Bay Native."
Special Project-
Community Service
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Lisa Hammersly and Brian Fanney "Cash & the Court;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Staff "A Killer in the Herds;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Les Minor "Water Woes."
Nontraditional News Item
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ron Wolfe "Autumn's Allure;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jennifer Christman "Super-duper markets."
Column-Hard News
First Place The Jonesboro Sun, Waylon Harris "Transparency a Foreign Concept for ASU Admins;" Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Russell McDermott "Arkansas-Side Ordinance had Nothing to do with Bathrooms;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Les Minor "One Man's Decision Infects Blevins."
Column-Lifestyle-
Human Interest
First Place The Jonesboro Sun, Waylon Harris "A Letter of Hope;" Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Russell McDermott "Too Many People Share Far too Much on Social Media;" Third Place The Jonesboro Sun, Waylon Harris "Bonnie's Legacy Continues."
Sports Story
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt "Hogs Muffle 'Horns;" Second Place The Jonesboro Sun, Cory Clark "JHS Honors First African-American Player Currie;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Troy Schulte "Peak Performance."
Spot Sports Photo
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen B. Thornton "Reigning in Rain;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ben Krain "Starting out Right;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Mitchell Pe Masilun "OBU Capps Long Year with Victory."
Sports Feature
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt "Substance Before Style;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Troy Schulte "Made in McAlmont;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Jeremy Muck "So Long, Red."
Feature Sports Photo
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Staton Breidenthal "Jonesboro Stays Afloat on Maiden Voyage;" Second Place The Jonesboro Sun, Staci Vandagriff "Conference Champs;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ben Krain "Champions Show Resolve."
Sports Column
First Place Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, Josh Richert "Ump Should get Bumped from TASO;" Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Josh Richert "Anti-Doping Agency Makes Some Awfully Dopey Rules;" Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Brian Tyl "He's Outta Here--but for Good Reason."
Photographer's Portfolio
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen B. Thornton; Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Ben Krain; Third Place Texarkana Gazette, Jerry Habraken.
Feature Photo
First Place Texarkana Gazette, Joshua Boucher "Hope Watermelon Festival;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Stephen B. Thornton "A Turn of Events;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Mitchell Pe Masilun "Pumpkin Eye."
Graphics
First Place Texarkana Gazette, Kristen Doss "Phantom Killer;" Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Nikki Dawes "ADG Graphics Dawes;" Third Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Celia Storey and John Sykes Jr. "Graphics a Wrapping Paper Forest."
Digital
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Staff; Second Place Texarkana Gazette, Kristen Doss and Staff.
Page Design
First Place Texarkana Gazette, Staff; Second Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Staff.
Digital Storytelling
No winner.
Service to FOI
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Lisa Hammersly and Brian Fanney "Cash & the Court."
General Excellence
First Place Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Second Place Texarkana Gazette; Third Place The Jonesboro Sun.
Division II
Spot News Story
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, David Showers and Steven Mross "Fire Heavily Damages 70 West Plaza;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Staff "MP Police Chief Injured in Fatal Shootout;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Steven Mross "Civil War Land Mine Prompts Evacuation."
Spot News Photo
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Richard Rasmussen "Fiery Wreck;" Second Place El Dorado News-Times, El Dorado, Terrance Armstard "Fighting the Police;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mara Kuhn "Shopping Center Fire."
News Feature
First Place Pine Bluff Commercial, Knowles Adkisson "Commemoration Held for Tucker Prison Centennial;" Second Place El Dorado News-Times, Haley Smith "Smackover Tradition Recalls Veteran;" Third Place The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Billy Jean-Louis "Heeding the Call."
Editorial Writing
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mark Gregory "For the Roads;" Second Place Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts "Community Center Should Unite, not Divide;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mark Gregory "Standing Ovation."
Headline
First Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Jeanette Anderton "Tap Into the Facts;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Tom Ritchey "Fellowship of the Wings: HSHS Alum to Travel World for Insect Study;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mark Gregory "Collisions Create Big Headaches for Tiny Town."
News Coverage
First Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Jeanette Anderton "Election Preview;" Second Place Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner "Men's Domestic Violence Shelter;" Third Place Pine Bluff Commercial, Ray King "Coverage of Lorenzo Kellon Capital Murder Trial."
Beat Reporting
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, David Showers "Clark Says DHS Email Proves 'Cover- up;'" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs Colbie McCloud "Father: Fatality Victim had Turned Her Life Around;" Third Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Marisa Hicks "Courts/Crime Beat."
Business Reporting
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner "Naked Lady' Light Donated to Museum;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, David Showers "Southwest Hotels President, Former Commissioner, Dies;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, David Showers "Motel Owner Complying with Order."
Education Reporting
First Place The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Billy Jean-Louis "Teaching Money Management: 'You Have to be Responsible;'" Second Place The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Billy Jean-Louis "Back to School: Long and MHPS Staff Welcome Students;" Third Place Batesville Daily Guard, Lacy Mitchell "UACCB Student Perseveres to Maintain Education."
Political Reporting
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts "The Faces of Medicaid;" Second Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Jeanette Anderton "Election May Not Determine County Clerk."
Health-Related Topics
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Jay Bell "Depression is Leading Cause of Suicide;" Second Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Hilary Andrews "Local Couple Thanks Hospital Staff for Life-Saving Efforts;" Third Place Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner "Miracle Treat Day Bring Hope to Girl Battling Rare Disease."
Special Project-
Community Service
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Jay Bell "Transgender Students Add Voices to Public Debate;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Jay Bell "Suicide in Garland County;" Third Place The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain, Home Josh Dooley "Park's Plea Agreement: Three Years Silence, Little Effort."
Nontraditional News Item
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Andrea Bruner and Frank Vaughn "Walking Dead' Obit;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mark Gregory "2016 News Wrap Up;" Third Place El Dorado News-Times, Kelsey Womack "UCAPS Director Seeks Home for Long-Time Residents."
Column-Hard News
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts "Suicide: My story, My Observations;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mark Gregory "Condolences, 15 Years Later."
Column-Lifestyle-
Human Interest
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Angelia Roberts "The Day My Mom Wasn't My Mom;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Colbie McCloud "Riding with the Law;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mark Gregory "What Treasures Await?"
Sports Story
First Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway David McCollum "The Old and the New in Memphis from Liberty Bowl;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Bob Wisener "Love at First Sight: Cupid Gives Baffert Another Rebel Winner;" Third Place The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Neal Denton "Lion Tamers."
Spot Sports Photo
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Kris Caraway "Under the Tag;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Richard Rasmussen "In the Wake;" Third Place Batesville Daily Guard, Batesville Paul Glover "Outfielders Collide."
Sports Feature
First Place Pine Bluff Commercial, Knowles Adkisson "PB Seeing Boxing Renaissance Thanks to Mentors;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Bob Wisener "Racing Festival Begins;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Zach Parker "A Brand New Day."
Feature Sports Photo
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Kris Caraway "Pirates High-Five;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mara Kuhn "End Zone Celebration;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mara Kuhn "Victory Celebration."
Sports Column
First Place Conway Log Cabin Democrat, Conway David McCollum "Completed Pass, Tackle Injury -- Football in Microcosm;" Second Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, David McCollum "Sarah Beth Biggler: An Inspiring Profile of Perseverance;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Bob Wisener "Only Palmer Could be Golf's 'King.'"
Photographer's Portfolio
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Richard Rasmussen; Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mara Kuhn; Third Place El Dorado News-Times, Terrance Armstard.
Feature Photo
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Richard Rasmussen "Learning to Float;" Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mara Kuhn "Parachute Play;" Third Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Mara Kuhn "Holiday Lights."
Graphics
First Place Batesville Daily Guard, Kris Caraway "2015: A Look Back;" Second Place Batesville Daily Guard, Kris Caraway "Battered Men;" Third Place Batesville Daily Guard, Kris Caraway "Highways & Bye-Ways."
Digital
First Place Pine Bluff Commercial, John Worthen; Second Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Staff; Third Place El Dorado News-Times, Staff.
Page Design
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Tom Ritchey "Fire Heavily Damages 70 West Plaza;" Second Place El Dorado News-Times, Bradly Gill and Kelsey Womack; Third Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway Staff.
Digital Storytelling
No winner.
Service to FOI
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, Colbie McCloud "Documents Detail Charges Against Ex-Principal."
General Excellence
First Place The Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs; Second Place Batesville Daily Guard; Third Place Log Cabin Democrat, Conway.
Division I
Spot News Story
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Teen Shot, Killed Monday by Police;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Robbery Suspect Shot, Killed by Off- Duty Officer."
Spot News Photo
First Place Forrest City Times-Herald, Caleb Talley "Hay Fire;" Second Place Blytheville Courier News, Mark Brasfield "Two Arrested in McKeever Murder;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Scary Scene."
News Feature
First Place Blytheville Courier News, Tom Henry "Kenners are True 'Heroes and She- Roes;'" Second Place Blytheville Courier News, Jeremy Hall "102-Year-Old World War II Vet Reflects on Service;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Sarah Perry "Life of Love and Travel: Man Tells Story of 'Perfect' Marriage."
Editorial Writing
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Kelly Freudensprung "ACDI ... Bringing Business Home;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Kelly Freudensprung "Community Newspapers: the Calmer Media;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Let's Make this Newspaper Great Again."
Headline
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "Toadal Upset;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "All I Want for Christmas is Blue."
News Coverage
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "News Coverage of Local Election;" Second Place Camden News, Amber Conway "Vennable Charges."
Beat Reporting
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Lynda Hollenbeck "Beat Reporting: Health;" Second Place Camden News, Amber Conway "Crime Beat - Herring Fraud Case;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Sarah Perry "Beat Reporting: Bryant School District."
Business Reporting
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Day Care in Crosshairs of Business Owner, City Dispute;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Lynda Hollenbeck "Selling Frenzy;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Sarah Perry "Stores Announced for Shoppes of Benton."
Education Reporting
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Sarah Perry "Future is Now;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "Officials: Scores Reflect More than Grade Itself." Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Sarah Perry "Bryant Student Bodies 'Bursting at the Seams.'"
Political Reporting
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Lynda Hollenbeck "93 and Counting;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton Lynda Hollenbeck "Making History;" Third Place Blytheville Courier News, Tom Henry "Burnett Accused of Taking Improper Campaign Money From Local Biz."
Health-Related Topics
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Lynda Hollenbeck "Welcome to the Future;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Lynda Hollenbeck "Heart Hospital Plans To Cease Cardiac Care at SMH;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Sarah Perry "Mother's Day Miracle."
Special Project-
Community Service
First Place Blytheville Courier News, Staff "Heroes Magazine (July 2016)."
Nontraditional News Item
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "Letters to Santa;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "What are You Thankful for This Holiday Season."
Column-Hard News
First Place Forrest City Times-Herald, Caleb Talley "The Case for Cannabis -- a Safer Alternative;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Baby Box: Give the Unwanted Child a Chance;" Third Place Forrest City Times-Herald, Caleb Talley "What Happened?"
Column-Lifestyle-
Human Interest
First Place Blytheville Courier News, Shannon Spears "A Little Birthday Love Letter...;" Second Place Forrest City Times-Herald, Caleb Talley "Money, Power, and College Football;" Third Place Blytheville Courier News, Shannon Spears "Sometimes You Don't Hear the Bullet..."
Sports Story
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Passing of a Legend;" Second Place Blytheville Courier News, Aaron Fitzpatrick "Tigers Win Back-to-Back State Titles;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Back in Black."
Spot Sports Photo
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Justin Manning "Sour Taste;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Tony Lenahan "Super Slam at Little Rock;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Rick Nation "Beast Mode."
Sports Feature
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Overcoming it All;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Calley: Parker Will Never be Forgotten;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Ship the Sherbet."
Feature Sports Photo
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Justin Manning "Wally Hall Toc;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "Throwing Strikes;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Tony Lenahan "What Could Have Been."
Sports Column
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "A Man Named Red;" Second Place Camden News, Patric Flannigan "Time for Razorback Fans to Get Over Malik Monk Choosing Kentucky;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Tony Lenahan "No Bowl for You."
Photographer's Portfolio
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs; Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Ryan Klare; Third Place Camden News, Jackson Keller "Jackson Keller's First Year."
Feature Photo
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "A Walk to Remember;" Second Place Blytheville Courier News, Tom Henry "Polar Plungers Make Big Splash;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Tony Lenahan "Fun at the Park."
Graphics
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs and Tony Lenahan "Hornets 2016 Opponents;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "Election Results;" Third Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs "ASP Members to Join FUMC Choir for Sunday Presentation."
Digital
First Place Blytheville Courier News, Staff "Blytheville Courier's Website and Facebook Page;" Second Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Staff "Digital."
Page Design
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton, Josh Briggs.
Digital Storytelling
First Place Blytheville Courier News, Staff "Heroes Magazine (July 2016)."
Service to FOI
No winner.
General Excellence
First Place The Saline Courier, Benton; Second Place Blytheville Courier News; Third Place Forrest City Times-Herald.
SundayMonday on 05/07/2017