Credits people of Hillsboro
By DONNA BERNHARDT
Publisher, Hoch Publishing Co. Inc.
Hillsboro Star-Journal editor Grant Overstake picked up a dozen awards at the annual Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence presentations held Saturday at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka.
Overstake, 50, who became editor of the Star-Journal in May, received six first-place awards, four second-place awards, one third-place award and one honorable mention in the Nondaily Division 1 category.
In all, his total of 940 points was the most scored by any single journalist at any level in the state.
Overstake's point total put the Star-Journal in fourth place overall in its category, bested only by fully-staffed, suburban weeklies in northeast Kansas, owned by the Lawrence Journal-World.
"All the credit for what we accomplished belongs to the people of Hillsboro and the surrounding area," Overstake said. "They accepted me as a stranger, and entrusted me with the stories of their lives.
"From Day One, I never felt like I was collecting facts about complete strangers, or writing stories for readers I'd never met.
"I'm a richer person today because of the opportunities I've been given," he added. "And I'm talking about the kind of riches that go way beyond professional recognition and awards."
First-place awards were:
— Government/Political Story: "In-town hog farmer spends $3,000 to fight City Hall"
— Education Story: "Driver smiles after 33 years"
— Sports Story: "Dramatic win bumps Trojans to State"
— Youth Story: "After top flight in contest, technicality topples teen"
— Religion Story: "Farmers praise 'Lord of Harvest' for excellent crop"
— Agriculture Story: "Farmers praise 'Lord of Harvest' for excellent crop"
Second-place awards were:
— Feature Story: "Welcome to Kindergarten"
— News Story: "Turmoil at Tabor"
— Local Business Story: "Crafts fair draws crowd despite high winds"
— Column Writing: "Hill-Topics: Daughter Bethany Engaged
Third-place award:
— Feature Package: "Welcome to Kindergarten"
Honorable mention award:
— Editorial Writing: "Committing Journalism; High school classmate Parkinson makes U-turn"
