Staff at the Seward Newspaper Group earned 26 awards at the Nebraska Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest.
The group includes the Seward County Independent, Crete News, Milford Times, Friend Sentinel and Wilber Republican, all owned and operated by Sweet Tea Media.
The awards were presented during the NPA’s annual convention April 15 in Lincoln. This marked the 150th year of the NPA, one of the first organizations founded in Nebraska.
Staff competed among weekly Nebraska newspapers in advertising, photography and editorial categories, with divisions divided by circulation numbers.
Seward County
Independent
Division D
Advertising
First place – Small Ad: “Goehner VFD Spaghetti Feed” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Nichole Javorsky
Second place – Single Retail Advertising Idea Color: “Garland VFD Soup Supper and Auction” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Nichole Javorsky
Third place – Single Retail Advertising Idea Black and White: “Seward Bowling Center” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Nichole Javorsky
Third place – Use of Computer Graphics Produced In-House: “Fall Sports” by Hayli Frosheiser
Editorial and Photography
First place – Public Notice and Its Promotion: “New law requires schools, county to present budget at joint hearing” by Emily Hemphill
Second place – In-depth Writing: “Rescue calls to be billed” by Emily Hemphill
Third place – Sports Photo of the Year: “Celebration” by Stephanie Croston
Third place – News Photography: “A Family Affair” by Meaghan Stout
Crete News
Division D
Editorial and Photography
Second place – Sports Feature Photo: “Giddy up America” by Keaton Burgess
Second place – Sports Page
Third place – Sports Feature Writing: “Crete grad plays on big stage” by Stephanie Croston
Wilber Republican
Division B
Editorial and Photography
First place – Sports Action Photo: “Reach” by Amy Hausman
Second place – Sports Page
Milford Times
Division A
Advertising
First place – Single Retail Advertising Idea Black and White: “Memorial Health Care Systems” by
Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Nichole Javorsky
Third place – Single Retail Advertising Idea Color: “Edward Jones” by Julie Sulzbach, HayliFrosheiser and Nichole Javorsky
Third place – Small Ad: “Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Nichole Javorsky
Third place – Classified Section: “Milford Times Classifieds” by Hayli Frosheiser
Editorial and Photography
First place – Single Feature Story: “Huber gives Dose of Joy in Milford-based podcast” by Emily Hemphill
First place – In-Depth Writing: “Election Myths” four-part series by Emily Hemphill
First place – Sports Feature Writing: “Eagles fly to top of state standings” by Stephanie Croston
Second place – News Writing: “Three life stories cut short” by Craig Jones
Third place – Sports Feature Photo: “Trickle through the Fence” by Stephanie Croston
Friend Sentinel
Division A
Advertising
First place – Community Promotion Advertisement: “Beaver Daze” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Amy Hausman
Second place – Community Promotion Advertisement: “Exeter Days” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Amy Hausman
Second place – Single Retail Advertising Idea Color: “Kelch Plumbing” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Amy Hausman
Second place – Single Retail Advertising Idea Black and White: “Bartels Body Shop” by Julie Sulzbach, Hayli Frosheiser and Amy Hausman
Editorial and Photography
Third place – Sports Page