Dateline: April 2, 2009

Enterprise honored at regional press meeting

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Enterprise received three first place plaques when the Panhandle Press Association announced the winners of its annual Better Newspaper Contest in Amarillo last Saturday.

Winners were announced at the close of the association’s 99th annual convention at the Ambassador Hotel.

The local paper received first place for Feature Photos by Roger Estlack, which judges from the Gulf Coast Press Association called “the very definition of a feature photo.”

The Enterprise also topped the field in the categories of Front Page Layouts and Special Sections with its annual Pioneer Edition of The Donley County Leader.

Estlack and Ashlyn Tubbs picked up a second place plaque for News Writing with coverage of a kidnapping last summer, the city’s teen curfew, and the regulation of groundwater in the area.

A photo of a house fire won second place in the Spot News Photo category, and Estlack and Kari Lindsey also received second place for Sports Photos. Judges also awarded second place to the Enterprise for its Society Page.

Entries from Roger and Ashlee Estlack received third place honors in Feature Writing along with Humorous Columns by Roger Estlack. The newspaper’s website also received a third place award in the Online category. The Enterprise received an Honorable Mention for Editorials.

The Canadian Record took home top honors in Division I.

The PPA was led this year by former Clarendon Press editor Don Richards of Hale Center. He will continue on the PPA Board as Immediate Past President with the following officers: Laurie Ezzell Brown of Canadian, President; Mary Smithee of Canadian, First Vice President; Toby Brooks of Shamrock, Second Vice President; and Ashlee Estlack, Secretary/Treasurer, along with directors Phillip Hamilton of Olton, Jeff Blackmon of Floydada, Amanda Graggert of Canyon, and Grover Ford of Hereford.

Next year, the Panhandle Press Association will return to its birthplace for its 100th annual convention in Canadian.