Sweepstakes Award
Each year, a sweepstakes winner is named in each of the seven circulation divisions. The winners are determined based upon the number of points received for first, second and third place awards received in each of the contest categories. The Great Bend Tribune is the Advertising Sweepstakes Winner for 2017 in the Daily Division II category.
The Great Bend Tribune’s news and advertising staff earned a total of 49 awards, including 16 first-place awards, in the Kansas Press Association’s 2017 Awards of Excellence contest.
Awards were presented Saturday at a luncheon during the KPA Convention in Topeka.
KPA has seven divisions, based on circulation and whether a publication is considered daily or non-daily. The Tribune is in the Daily Division II category.
Publisher Mary Hoisington noted that websites are not included in the divisions.
“It was nice that our 530News won awards.”Hoisington said.
Introduced last November, 530News is a weekly Total Market Coverage (TMC) publication that is mailed to everyone in the 67530 Zip Code. It won second place for Best Newspaper Website, 530news.net, while the Tribune website, gbtribune.com, won third place.
The 530News has been well received by those in the 67-”530” Zip Code, Hoisington said. It includes local stories that have direct impact on Great Bend residents and their families, as well as trending topic articles on family safety, family relations, child rearing, activities, health and other items that may be of interest to residents.
“We are especially proud of our individual winners,” Managing Editor Dale Hogg said. “We known we have a good team here, but these honors just validate that.”
First-place awards
Tribune reporter Veronica Coons won first place in the Agricultural Story category for “Not Very Ladylike,” a story about Asian lady beetles and a veterinarian who removed more than 30 of them from the roof of a dog’s mouth.
The news staff also won first place for Best Use of Photos and Best Front Page.
In advertising, the Tribune won first place in 13 categories:
Best Grocery Ad, Potent Potables - Hejny Liquor, 530News, by Marcia Dietz and Hugo Gonzalez
Professional Service Ad - Holy Family School, by Diane Lacy-Trostle and Karma Byers
Hardware Ad - H and H Roofing, by Diane Lacy-Trostle and Karma Byers
Fashion Ad - Brown’s Shoe Fit - Black Friday Sale, by Tammy Mason and Daniel Kiewel
Agricultural Ad - Great Bend Farm Equipment - Congratulations, by Tammy Mason and Karma Byers
Ad Series or Campaign - Pep Fan - Wheatland Electric, by Tammy Mason, Hugo Gonzalez and Josh Keller
Community Event Ad - Barton County Fair - Join Us, by Karma Byers and Diane Lacy-Trostle
House Ad - GB2GO 1,000 registered users, by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
Most Adaptable Promotion - Hejny Liquor - Potent Potables, 530News, by Marcia Dietz and Hugo Gonzalez
Online Ad - Static - Babies of 2016 - Show Off Your Pride and Joy, by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
Online Ad - Motion - GB2GO St. Patrick’s Day promo, by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
Online Promotion - Tweet Your Dreams, by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
Special Section - Advertising - Pawnee County Source, by the Tribune staff
Second place
The Tribune news staff also received second-place awards in the categories News and Writing Excellence, Editorial Pages, Sports Pages, and Design and Layout Excellence.
“I am excited to see these,” Hogg said. “These are a team effort and they represent the excellence of work done by everyone on staff coming together as a team.”
Individual news awards:
Series, “Justice Bypassed,” Part 1 and 2, by Veronia Coons.
Government/Political Story, “Robert Bruce: A life turned around,” by Veronica Coons.
Youth Story, “Food for Thought,” by Dale Hogg.
Education Story, “Reality U,” by Susan Thacker.
The Barton County Source, by Tribune staff, won second place in the category Best Magazine.
Second-place awards in the ad department:
Best Furniture Ad, Millers of Claflin, by Tammy Mason and Karma Byers
Hardware Ad, Pride Ag Resources - Ace Hardware, by Tammy Mason and Daniel Kiewel
Automotive Ad, Marmie Motors Section 170, by Tammy Mason and Karma Byers
Specialty Ad, Quality Inn & Suites, by Diane Lacy-Trostle and Karma Byers
Ad Series or Campaign, American State Bank - Ask, by Diane Lacy-Trostle and Karma Byers
Most Adaptable Promotions, Ho Ho Dough, by staff
Online Ad (static), Ag Systems, by Diane Lacy-Trostle and Hugo Gonzalez
Online Ad (motion), GB2GO Valentine’s Day Promo, by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
Special Section - Advertising, Home for the Holidays, by staff
Third place
News Story, “Judge asked to dismiss murder charges,” by Susan Thacker
Religion Story, “St. Paul archives Galatia’s History,” by Veronica Coons
Story/Photo Combination, “Pioneer Day,” by Susan Thacker
News Photo, “Blaze kills,” by Dale Hogg
Sports Photo, Central Plains High School, by Dale Hogg
Grocery Ad, Ellinwood Packing (EPPI) Season’s Greetings, Tammy Mason and Karma Byers
Fashion Ad, Brown’s Shoe Fit - Christmas Ideas, by Tammy Mason and Daniel Kiewel
Automotive Ad, Marmie Motors New Year, by Tammy Mason and Karma Byers
Classified Display Ad, Woodhaven Now Hiring, by Tammy Mason and Karma Byers
Health Care Ad, St. Rose - Holiday Entanglement, by Lacy-Trostle and Byers
Entertainment Ad, Walnut Bowl - Redemption, by Tammy Mason and Daniel Kiewel
House Ad, Extra! Extra! by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
Online Promotion, Barton County Exposed - photography contest, by Mary Hoisington and Hugo Gonzalez
