Dateline: July 24, 2008

Enterprise nets first place wins

The Clarendon Enterprise won two first place plaques during the West Texas Press Association’s 2007 Better Newspaper Contest.

The awards were presented to the Enterprise during the WTPA’s 78th annual convention in Fredericksburg last Saturday.

The Enterprise received first place honors for Editorials about Gov. Rick Perry’s cutting funding to the state’s community colleges and Clarendon’s need for a city administrator. Judges at Tarleton State University noted both editorial pieces made strong arguments and were well supported.

Roger Estlack also received first place in Column Writing for pieces about the death of Zell SoRelle and about the lasting advice of his father.

In addition to the first place awards, the local paper received a third place certificate in the General Excellence category for Division D (weeklies with circulations of 1,800 and below). Judges were complimentary of the Enterprise’s appearance, content, and photography.

This year’s Division D Sweepstakes Award went to the Hico News Review, and second place Sweepstakes went to the Eldorado Success.

This year’s convention marked the last for Estlack as a member of the WTPA Board of Directors. Brownwood publisher Bob Brincefield succeeds Estlack as chairman of the board.

Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post co-publisher Cathy Collier hosted this year’s convention and was elected as president of the association on Saturday.

Melissa Perner of Ozona and Mac McKinnon of Dublin assume the roles of first and second vice presidents. Mary Hudson Dudley of Perryton continues as secretary/treasurer of the WTPA.

Attending this year’s convention and representing the Enterprise were Roger, Ashlee, Benjamin, and Elaina Estlack; Anndria Kidd; Michael Newhouse; and Aaron and Amy Kidd.