Dateline: July 24, 2003

Enterprise wins top WTPA honors

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

For the third year in a row The Clarendon Enterprise has won the right to the title of the best small weekly newspaper in West Texas, following the results of the West Texas Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

The Sweepstakes Award was presented to the Enterprise during the WTPA’s 73rd annual convention in Lubbock last Saturday. The local paper received two first place plaques, one second place certificate, one third place certificate, and two fourth place certificates in Division D (weeklies with circulations of 1,800 and below).

The Enterprise received first place in the General Excellence competition with judges from the Gulf Coast Press Association calling the Clarendon paper “easily the best in the division.” The paper also received first place in News Writing with judges ranking local stories as “excellent” in terms of reader impact and reader interest.

Second place honors were awarded to the Enterprise for Photography, Christi Ross’ “On The Mark” column garnered third place, and Editor Roger Estlack received fourth place for his editorials. Ads produced by the Enterprise staff also received fourth place.

Honorable Mention was given to the Enterprise in Sports Writing for its wide coverage of sub-varsity teams.

Sweepstakes is awarded based on an accumulation of points for each first, second, and third place win. The Enterprise won the award last year and tied with the Albany News for Sweepstakes in 2001. The local paper will not compete in the WTPA contest next year since Estlack and his staff will be responsible for conducting the competition.

As a member of the WTPA Board, Estlack helped with the presentation of awards in Lubbock. Copy Editor Helen Estlack accepted the plaques on the Enterprise’s behalf.  Allen Estlack also attended the convention and represented the local paper.