Record wins 24 statewide awards
Marion County Record won 24 awards in statewide contest results released Monday.
The Record placed first and second in investigative reporting for its coverage of how city officials ignored warnings about troubled former Police Chief Gideon Cody.
It also placed first and second in agricultural advertising and in professional service advertising.
Other first-place winners for the Record were for best news story, best series of stories, best sports photo, best headline writing, and best story about seniors.
In advertising, the Record also won first place for best entertainment, furniture, and political ads.
For a third year in a row, Record ads for Great Plains Federal Credit Union and for AhhsSpas were named best in the state in their categories.
It was the second year in a row that different Great Plains ads also placed second in the same category.
Salutes to National Agriculture Day and local conservation award winners placed first and second in the agricultural ad category.
The contest, sponsored by Kansas Press Association for issues published in 2023, was judged by journalists from another state.
The Record competes against mid-size daily and weekly newspapers, including most neighboring dailies.
Nine of its awards this year were issued across multiple circulation categories, putting the Record in competition with the largest circulation papers in the state.
Here, by category and in alphabetical order, are this year’s award winners.
Because of tight deadlines, the Record did not enter several categories.
NEWS CATEGORIES
First place
Headline writing — “Hats off to Canton,” “Seized but not silenced,” and “Safe fires are his burning desire,” by editor Eric Meyer.
Investigative story — “City was warned before hiring chief,” by reporter Deb Gruver.
News story — “Part mystery, part miracle,” Gruver’s story about how a man subject of a silver alert was found in Marion County.
Series of stories — “Seized but not silenced” and subsequent coverage by Gruver, Meyer, and reporter Phyllis Zorn of police raids on the Record newsroom.
Sports photo — “Facing rodeo realities at county fair,” Nicholas Kimball’s photo of a rodeo rider being dragged with his face in the dirt.
Story about seniors — “Charmer and farmer, he’ll hit 101 next month,” Gruver’s profile of Bob Delk.
Second place
Agricultural story — “Safe fires are his burning desire,” Gruver’s profile of Nathan Brunner.
Editorial writing — “Of tirades and truth,” “Those who live in glass houses,” and “How dare they,” Meyer’s editorials about issues leading up to the police raid.
Feature story — “One man’s find is another man’s treasure,” Zorn’s account of articles found in a home cleanup and returned to the family of a previous owner.
Government / political story — “City refuses to release text cited in recall; executive sessions violated state law,” Gruver’s coverage of city council disputes between David Mayfield and Ruth Herbel.
Investigative story — “More details of Cody’s background emerge,” a follow-up to Gruver’s other investigative story.
Photo package — “Old Settlers Day,” by Meyer and Kimball.
Story / photo combination — “Bizarre crash injures 2,” Zorn’s coverage of an accident March 12 on US-77 south of 140th Rd.
Third place
Feature package — “We needed a humbling experience,” coverage of the Father Emil Kapaun pilgrimage by Zorn and Meyer.
Youth story — “Medals and big meals,” Gruver’s story about wrestling’s allure to 9-year-old Madison Kenney.
ADVERTISING CATEGORIES
All were sold and designed by sales manager Deb Steele and Meyer.
First place
Agricultural ad — “National Agriculture Day.”
Entertainment ad — “Bluegrass at the Lake.”
Furniture ad — “Whose idea was it to invite Frosty?” for AahsSpas.
Political ad — “Volunteer Week” for Marion County commissioners.
Professional service ad — “Scams” for Great Plains Federal Credit Union.
Second place
Agricultural ad — “Conservation award winners.”
Community event ad — “Glow your own way” for Hillsboro Glow Run.
Professional service ad — “Financing made easy,” for Great Plains Federal Credit Union.
Third place
Hardware ad — “Ace will soon have appliances” for Marion County Ace Hardware.