Dateline: May 10, 2007

Clarendon, Canadian tie for top press honor

The Clarendon Enterprise received six first place plaques in the Panhandle Press Association’s 2006 Better Newspaper Contest during the PPA’s 97th annual convention Saturday in Amarillo and tied with The Canadian Record for General Excellence honors.

The local paper also received the Ken Towery Community Service Award in the Division I category for weekly newspapers for coverage of last year’s wildfires and a campaign that raised money for the three local fire departments. The Enterprise has previously received the Towery Award in 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, and 1999.

The tie for General Excellence was an unusual occurrence.

“We battle back and forth with Canadian every year for the top honors,” said publisher Roger Estlack. “Laurie Ezzell Brown and her staff in Canadian consistently produce one of the very best newspapers in the state. To be tied with them means we must be doing something right.”

The Enterprise received first place honors for Feature Photos by Roger Estlack and Kari Lindsey; Front Page Layout; Spot News Photos by Roger Estlack and Kari Lindsey; Best Advertising Initiative by Roger Estlack, Julie Funderberg, and Ashlee Estlack; Best Sports Writing by Sandy Anderberg; and Best Humorous Columns by Carrie Helms Tippen and Roger Estlack.

“Last year was a trying year for the Enterprise when we lost my Dad and our senior staff member Cheryl Johnson left for a new career,” Estlack said. “Our new staff – Ashlee, Julie, and Anndria (Kidd) – have really stepped up, and I’m very proud of them.”

The paper also received second place awards for Headline Writing, Feature Writing, News Writing, and Editorials. Third place plaques were also received in the categories of Spot News Photos and Society/Lifestyles. Helms also received an Honorable Mention for Serious Columns.

Attending this year’s convention and accepting the awards on the Enterprise’s behalf were publisher Roger Estlack, Office Director Ashlee Estlack, Classified Ad Manager Anndria Kidd, and Ben Estlack.