Recognition received
The National Newspaper Association's publication, Publisher's Auxiliary, is the newspaper industry's oldest newspaper. It serves community newspapers as the most respected source of information.
The latest edition features a page one story, with color photo and full width headline, entitled "Weekly puts out first-ever extra edition." A reproduction of the front page is part of the article..
Stanley Schwartz, respected managing editor, wrote the story which graphically tells details of the devastating fire that destroyed the Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro.
His story not only covered the magnitude of the fire but also the community service provided by the Hillsboro Star-Journal in publishing a free special edition.
Schwartz interviewed Managing Editor Donna Bernhardt of Hoch Publishing Co., which produced the special edition by 8 a.m. the following day.
She told how 6,000 extra copies were eagerly received by the people of Hillsboro.
"We couldn't wait until the next issue," she said. "Too much could happen in between."
Bernhardt was quoted in the article, "We didn't do this for a profit. We did it as a public service."
She added that it wouldn't be right to try and turn a tragedy into a money-making project.
People from across the nation and around the world requested copies of the extra edition. There were three press runs, with the first and second press runs going out fast. A third run was published the following day.
Bernhardt said the tragedy in the close knit community has drawn people even closer together. "As in any small community when something this tragic happens everyone pulls together and makes the best of it."
