Published: March 30, 2008 10:42 pm      

Woodward News wins sweepstakes award

TULSA - The Woodward News won the sweepstakes award in Division C at the Associated Press-Oklahoma News

Executives awards program Saturday night.

The News was honored for its Oklahoma Centennial project called "A Century of Memories, Come Home to Woodward."

The project was a 100-page book compiling centennial stories and photos by the Woodward News over the course of 2007, Oklahoma's centennial year.

AP/ONE judges said "The News devoted considerable resources and research to its coverage of Oklahoma's 100th birthday and the result was spectacular. The newspaper took its weekly centennial series and produced a book with excellent writing, good use of photographs and color."

Upon hearing the news, Woodward Publisher, Pam Nelson had one word. “Wow”

Nelson was pleased about the reaction to a publication that was not just about publishing news, but was a labor of passion to Nelson and her staff.

“We are of course proud of our staff and the effort that was put into the Centennial Book. It was a remarkable year for Oklahoma and we are honored that we were a part of it,” Nelson said. “We took this project very seriously because we knew that by producing this publication we were recording history that will be referenced for centuries to come. “

The project also received first place in Division C in best centennial special issue.

In addition, News staff writer Rowynn Ricks won first place for best centennial coverage with her story "Fairview planning 'monumental' birthday cake," features the community of Fairview putting together the largest birthday cake in the state to mark the centennial. Virtually everyone in Fairview took part.

Ricks and editor Johnny McMahan received first place in business spot news reporting for their story on Mutual of Omaha closing its Woodward claims office.

Ironically, months later, Mutual of Omaha decided to stay in Woodward.

In spot news reporting, Ricks was second with her story on the guilty verdict delivered by a Woods County jury to Katherine Rutan Pollard, who was convicted of murdering her son Logan Tucker.

Bridget Bese was third in spot news reporting with a story on Fargo's school board terminating the school's boys basketball coach.

McMahan received a third place for page one deadline layout.

The News swept the website photo category in division C with Bese first for a her picture of a crash that claimed four lives, Ricks second with a photo of a young boy enjoying eating his turkey and McMahan third with a bull riding photo.

In spot news photo, McMahan was second with a picture from a house fire and third with a photo of an oil tank fire.

Ricks was third in feature photos with a picture of a sunrise.