The Herald rakes in Keystone Press Awards
SThe Herald won more Keystone Press Awards than any other newspaper of its size in Pennsylvania, and it was named the best non-daily paper in the state by the Society of Professional Journalists during recent ceremonies in State College.
Herald staff writer Tawnya Panizzi won a second-place Keystone Press award in the general news category for her story about an Indiana Township woman bit by a rabid fox. Panizzi also won a first-place Keystone award in the business category for her story about the new Wal-Mart locating in The Waterworks.
Photographer Louis B. Ruediger won first-place awards in the photo story and sports photo categories. Photographer Jan Pakler won second place in the photo story category. Photographer Justin Merriman won second place in the sports photo category.
Former editor Tom Yerace won first place for the front page design of the Herald. Also, the copy desk staff won first place for page design.
The Herald staff also won first place for its "Our hometown treasures" project.
Herald photographer Jan Pakler also won a first-place award in the Society of Professional Journalists contest in the non-daily feature category for her photo titled "Snow Dance."
Several staff members from Valley News Dispatch, the Herald's sister newspaper, also were honored during the ceremonies.
In the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors contest, Valley News Dispatch staff writer Jennifer Bails won a first-place award for her collection of business stories, "Mega-Marvel," about the Pittsburgh Mills mall under construction in Frazer. The award was in the 20,000 to 75,000 circulation category.
In addition, five Valley News Dispatch staff writers and photographers were honored Saturday night at the Keystone Press Awards banquet.
Staff writer Chuck Biedka won a first-place award in the business/consumer story category for his story called "Racing Revenue" about the proposed thoroughbred racetrack in Harrison.
Staff writer Michael Aubele was given an honorable mention in this same category for his story about a New Kensington man who runs an Internet site promoting corporal punishment.
Also awarded an honorable mention was staff writer Rob Amen for a special project called "Cafeterias serve cash" about the finances of school food-service programs in the Valley.
Photographer Eric Felack's shot of the mother and sister of Kiski Township soldier Staff Sgt. Stevon Booker, who was killed in Iraq, won first place.
Photographer Justin Merriman won an honorable mention in the same category for his photo of a West Deer man digging a grave for his pet dog.
Merriman also won a second-place Keystone award in the feature photo category for "Fun in the Sun," a photo of a New Kensington boy playing in a sprinkler.
