From left to right, Tama-Grundy Reporter Ruby McAllister, Times-Republican (T-R) Editor Robert Maharry, T-R and Tama-Grundy Publisher Terry Christensen, his wife Tam, T-R Advertising Lead/General Manager Rhonda James and T-R Reporter Lana Bradstream pose for a photo at the conclusion of the Iowa Newspaper Association awards banquet at the downtown Marriott in Des Moines on Thursday evening. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE IOWA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION

DES MOINES – Newspapers across Iowa celebrated another successful year during the annual INA Convention and awards banquet at the downtown Marriott in Des Moines last Thursday with staff at both the Times-Republican and Tama-Grundy weekly publications winning several accolades.

“The Iowa Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest is an opportunity for Iowa newspapers throughout the state to showcase their work. I’m extremely proud of the Times-Republican and Tama-Grundy weekly publications. The awards they received were because of their dedication and passion for the communities we serve,” Publisher Terry Christensen said.

The Sun Courier newspaper which covers the communities of Gladbrook, Reinbeck, and Garwin took home four advertising awards in Weekly Class I including first place for Best Ad Featuring Grocery, Food or Entertainment (Omelet Breakfast); first place for Best Ad Featuring Agriculture (Farmland Auction); third place for Best Ad Featuring Grocery, Food or Entertainment (Alaska’s Heart and Soul Tour); and third place for Class I Best of Class for the Omelet Breakfast ad.

North Tama Telegraph

The Sun Courier’s sister paper, the North Tama Telegraph which primarily covers Traer, Dysart and Clutier, took four second places in Weekly Class I including Best Breaking News Story for “Democracy under fire: Geneseo/Clark poll workers save the day,” by Ruby McAllister; Best News Photo for a shot captured by freelance photographer Soren Peterson during Traer’s sesquicentennial celebration; Best Personality Feature for “Dengler’s other domain: Local newspaper columnist drafts new chapter on the farm,” also by McAllister; and Best Continuing Coverage for “Redhawk football and the move to 8-player,” again by McAllister.

A photograph by freelance photographer Soren M. Peterson which recently won second place for Best News Photo in the Iowa Newspaper Association’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest. The photo, which was taken on June 3, 2023 in Traer’s Taylor Park and published in the North Tama Telegraph as part of our sesquicentennial coverage, depicts children of all ages looking up and around with wonder and excitement as paper confetti streams down just after 1:50 p.m. in celebration of the town’s 150th birthday.

Of the personality feature win which focused on the newspaper’s columnist Sean Dengler and his first year at the helm of the family farm, the judges wrote, “In a time when many are assessing life choices in a pandemic world, a story about a creative person getting in touch with his farm roots was a breath of fresh air. And the writing seemed effortless when putting family in competition with recognition and fame. It left a good feeling in your belly that no matter how many things change, some traditions go on. This is good stuff.”

Regarding Peterson’s sesquicentennial photo, the judges commented, “I love the photo and all of the expressions in it. I’m torn because the original is phenomenal and one of my favorites, but I think cropping out the bottom section in the newspaper version was a mistake. I really miss seeing what the kids are grabbing for. I’m not sure I would have if I hadn’t seen the original, but I did and I like that version so much better.”

The Telegraph also received a third place recognition for Best News Feature Story for “State Auditor Rob Sand visits Tama Co. with his mom and bernedoodle,” written by McAllister. The judges’ comments for the story included, “This reporter writes with authority and a keen eye for the details that will resonate with readers.”

Tama-Toledo News Chronicle

It was a banner year for the Tama-Grundy Publishing’s third weekly publication the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle with the paper picking up five first place trophies in Weekly Class II, including a Harrison “Skip” Weber Investigative Reporting Award for correspondent Michael Davis’s coverage of the March 30 traffic stop that ultimately resulted in the resignation of former Toledo Police Officer Kyle Howe and four subsequent federal lawsuits against Howe, the police department and the city.

“Reporting in a small town about alleged abusive behavior by police officers is a challenging exercise in civic journalism. This newspaper didn’t shrink or back down in the face of this challenge, nor did it just rely on the official statements of public or police officials,” the judge’s comments read. “It listened to others in the community who spoke out and told of similar abuses by the same officer and made sure they had a chance to have their say. Tough story to report on, but well done. And it kept digging when it could otherwise have shrunk back and done only the basics.”

The News Chronicle team – which includes McAllister and Tama-Grundy editor Rob Maharry – also won first place in the Coverage of Education and Coverage of Courts and Crime categories, and Davis was recognized as the Master Columnist in his class for his humorous and whimsical tales of life in Toledo.

Maharry’s feature story on South Tama County and Iowa Hawkeye football legend Jon Lazar’s induction into the IHSAA Hall of Fame rounded out the first place winners for the paper, which also took second place for Best Headline Writing, Best Continuing Coverage and Best Newspaper Website and third place for Coverage of Government and Politics.