NINA 2002 AWARD WINNERS

Announced Oct. 25, 2002, at NIU

[ Individual Awards ] ... [ Sweepstakes and Special Awards ]

DESIGN

Group I

3rd: The Elburn Herald

2nd: Woodford County Journal

1st: The Woodstock Independent

Group II

3rd: Ledger-Sentinel

2nd: The Doings

1st: Catholic Explorer

Group III

3rd: The Daily Journal

2nd: The Beacon News

1st: The Rock Island Argus

HEADLINE

Group I

3rd: Rich Rostron, The Woodstock Independent

2nd: J.W. Shults, Woodford County Journal

1st: Dean Curtis, Genoa-Kingston-Kirkland News

Group II

3rd: John Etheredge, The Ledger-Sentinel

2nd: Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican

1st: Steve Skinner, Gurnee Press

Group III

3rd: Inger Koch, The Daily Chronicle

2nd: Rick Nagel, The Beacon News

1st: Mike Murphy, The Daily Times

GENERAL FEATURE

Group I

3rd: Matt Hanley, The Elburn Herald, "Fighting for kids in court"

2nd: Paul Rock, Hampshire Register, "She has a way with animals"

1st: Cheryl Wolfe, "Woodford County Journal, "Yours, mine, & theirs"

Group II

HM: John Phelps, Wauconda Leader, "What LyZ ahead"

HM: Roger Matile, Ledger-Sentinel, The Fox now `one with the river'"

HM: Jennifer Cassell, The Doings, "The gift of life"

3rd: Julie Murphy and Brenda Balin-Beitscher, Grayslake Times, "Under the influence"

2nd: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, "Helping hands"

1st: Drew Granger, Grayslake Times, "A good read"

Group III

HM: Dave Wischnowsky, The Daily Times, Ottawa Cadet Corps"

3rd: Frank Abderholden, The News Sun, The river runs wild"

2nd: Benjie Hughes, The Beacon News, "At long last, sergeant comes home"

1st: Mike Ceteva, Steve lord, Dave Parro, Kelley Quinn, The Beacon News, "9/11 generations respond"

FEATURE - PERSONALITY PROFILE

Group I

3rd: Cheryl Wolfe, Woodford County Journal, "Story of a survivor"

2nd: Ruth McGinnis, The Regional News, "Missing Beulah"

1st: Beth Kink, The Regional News, "Wolf man"

Group II

3rd: Owen Phelps, The Observer, "Rockford Priest finds you can go home..."

2nd: Amisu M. Estrada, Catholic Explorer, "Army hero shows others how to fly in the face of adversity"

1st: Ann Piasecki, Catholic Explorer, "Seminarian covers faith bases"

Group III

HM: Judy Masterson, The News Sun, "Terror trail ends Friday"

3rd: Kate N. Grossman, "Chicago Sun-Times, "Second chance"

2nd: Robert Themer, The Daily Journal, "At the Riviera, Rapid Robert is now Bowtie Bob"

1st: Phil Angelo, The Daily Journal, "1 family, son, war, wall"

FEATURE SECTION

Group I

3rd: Staff, Woodford County Journal, With hope in their hearts"

2nd: Richard Parmater, "The Regional News, "Bucking buckthorn is hard to do"

1st: Staff, The Elburn Herald, "Sugar Grove Corn Boil 2001"

Group II

3rd: Staff, Catholic Explorer, "Explorer"

2nd: Staff, Bureau County Republican, "Community"

1st: Dawn Raftery, The Doings, "Images"

Group III

3rd: Penny Falcon and Martin Stockwell, The Beacon News, "Daybreak"

2nd: Staff, Kane County Chronicle, "Lifestyle"

1st: Staff, The Daily Times, "LifeTimes"

COLUMN

Group I

3rd: Paul Rock, Hampshire Register, "Who are you?"

2nd: Cheryl Wormley, The Woodstock Independent, "Heading upstream"

1st: John Daab, The Woodstock Independent, "The 'next big thing'"

Group II

3rd: Peggy Tarr, Evanston RoundTable, L.L.C., "The wind is pink"

2nd: Roger Matile, Ledger-Sentinel, "Harvesting the winter made Chicago great"

1st: Owen Phelps, The Observer, "Taking stock"

Group III

3rd: Joe Hosey, The Herald News, "Plainfield workers see jobs burn up"

2nd: Dan Churney, The Daily Times, "Convicted coach no match for Sister Thea"

1st: Joe Payne, Rock Island Argus, "When Scott met Randy"

EDITORIAL

Group I

3rd: J.W. Shults, The Woodford County Journal, "Don't rush charges against Myers, but pay the bill soon"

2nd: Robert Anderson, Hampshire Register, "Who did it?"

1st: Eileen Millard, The Woodstock Independent, "Woodstock: Home of the good guys"

Group II

3rd: Mary Helt Gavin, Evanston RoundTable, L.L.C., "Hire a student for the summer"

2nd: Roger Matile, Ledger-Sentinel, "Oswego Board needs to put politics aside"

1st: Brian Boyce, The Doings, "Keeping the beauty awake"

Group III

3rd: Bill Wimbiscus, The Herald News, "Suicide story overstepped boundary"

2nd: Craig E. Peterson, The Daily Times, "Living an oath to protect and serve"

1st: Tom Johnson, The Beacon News, "Yes for West"

SMALL SINGLE ADVERTISEMENT

Group I

3rd: Leslie Flint, The Elburn Herald, "Vision Friendy.com"

2nd: Mark Lobo, The Woodstock Independent, "A Timeless Impression"

1st: J.W. Shults, Woodford County Journal, "Gotcha!"

Group II

3rd: Mike Rickman, Catholic Explorer, "Dominican University"

2nd: Julia Fowler and Vicki Anson, Bureau County Republican, "Allen Lumber Co."

1st: Sue Wasielewski and Ed Van Laarhoven, Bureau County Republican, "WAJK, WKOT, WKOT Radio"

Group III

HM: Doug Ostrem and John Sternisha, The Herald News, "Candle Factory Outlet Store"

3rd: Staff, The Beacon News, "NYTel Business Solutions"

2nd: Theresa Dames, Mary Lou Odle, and Andrea Prochaska, The Herald News, "Reproductive Health
Specialists, Ltd."

1st: Karen Lafond and Kate Ehrich, The Daily Journal, "Mobile Communications Corp."

LARGE SINGLE ADVERTISEMENT

Group I

HM: Leslie Flint, The Elburn Herald, "Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing"

3rd: Mark Lobo, The Woodstock Independent, "Congratulations Woodstock Sesquicentennial"

2nd: Mark Lobo, The Woodstock Independent, "Christmas Tree Subscription Ad"

1st: Leslie Flint, The Elburn Herald, "American Tree and Turf/Executive Lawn Care"

Group II

3rd: Sandy Chaba, The Doings, "Adams & Myers Realty"

2nd: Jim Slonoff, The Doings, "American Patriotism"

1st: Mike Rickman, Catholic Explorer, "Gift of Christmas"

Group III

HM: Tracy Keers and Steve Vanisko, The Herald News, "Chicagoland Speedway"

3rd: Tom Goodrich, The Daily Journal, "Dralle Chevrolet and Buick"

2nd: Staff, The Beacon News, "Auto Showcase (subscription ad)"

1st: Christopher Glenny, Jo Ann Bachar, and Lisa Sunn, The Daily Journal, "Today's Farm Home"

ADVERTISING SPECIAL SECTION

Group I

3rd: Staff, Sycamore News, "Progress 2002"

2nd: Staff, The Woodstock Independent, "Sesquicentennial Plus"

1st: Vickie Hunter, Woodford County Journal, "Through the eyes of a child"

Group II

HM: Susan Ryan, The Doings, "Graue Mill: 150 years of history"

3rd: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, "A Guide to Bureau County"

2nd: Staff, Catholic Explorer, "Episcopal ordination"

1st: Marc Jenkins and Brenda Balin-Beitscher, Grayslake Times, "For love of country"

Group III

3rd: Adam McHugh, Dick Goss, Dave Parker, Bill Scheibe, Ron Kramer, James Smith, The Herald News,
"Play ball!"

2nd: Staff, Kane County Chronicle, "Why I Love America"

1st: Staff, The Daily Journal, "Welcome to Bears 2002"
COMMENT: Delightful tribute to the Bears summer camp"

PUBLIC SERVICE

Group I

3rd: Staff, Woodford County Journal, Campaign: The spirit of Christmas

2nd: Staff, Genoa-Kingston-Kirkland, Campaign: Special section devoted to High School Fire

1st: Staff, The Woodstock Independent, Campaign: Coverage of the new Challenger Learning Center

Group II

HM: Staff, Bureau County Republican, Campaign: A salute to Veterans

3rd: Staff, Evanston RoundTable, L.L.C., Campaign: School District 65 Strategic Plan

2nd: Staff, Ledger-Sentinel, Campaign: Local taxation issues

1st: Staff, The Doings, Campaign: Healing after 9/11

Group III

HM: Staff, The Daily Times, Campaign: A column for public discourse by writers recruited from the local
area

3rd: Staff, The Rock Island Argus, Campaign: Remembering African American Civil War Veterans

2nd: Staff, The Herald News, Campaign: Teenage suicide

1st: Staff, The Beacon News, Campaigns: (1) Charity at home after 9/11, (2) The fight against violent crime, (3) Hankes Road improvements, (4) A call for open hearings on local highway, "The Outer Belt"

SPORTS STORY

Group I

3rd: Kathy Jerbi, Hampshire Register, "Another Salinas wins state discus title"

2nd: Mark Moring, The Elburn Herald, "Time slips away from Knights"

1st: Mark Booras, The Woodstock Independent, "Handicap makers, character shapers: The nine that shine"

Group II (Judge's note: The sports writing in Group 2 stood head and shoulders above the other groups in
this category.

HM: Jeff Davis, The Doings, "Near West Side Story"

HM: Marc Jenkins, Gurnee Press, "Champions in class"

3rd: Brad Engel, The Naperville Sun, "A game for the ages"

2nd: Brad Engel, The Naperville Sun, "Saving grace"

1st: Dan Wiederer, The Naperville Sun, "Weather or not"

Group III

HM: Dave Wischnowsky, The Daily Times, "Torn rotator cuff doesn't sideline Vitali"

HM: Dave Wischnowsky, The Daily Times, "What if 'next time' never comes"

3rd: Tim Wagner, The Beacon News, "Sweetness remembered"

2nd: Bobby Narang, The Daily Chronicle, "Northern Illinois' Diem looking to now stand out on the NFL
field"

1st: Jeff Wendland, The Rock Island Argus, At peace without their sports"

SPORTS COLUMN

Group I

3rd: Ryan Wells, The Elburn Herald, "Stop corporate sponsors"

2nd: Jeff Wiseman, Woodford County Journal, "Hard work, dedication leads to four-peat"

1st: Jeff Wiseman, Woodford County Journal, "Sectional streak quite a feat in today's landscape"

Group II

3rd: Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican, "Hall of Fame belongs in Princeton, not Peoria"

2nd: Joe Goddard, The Doings, "Cuttica's backyard ball builds frontline men"

1st: Dan Wiederer, The Naperville Sun, "Neuqua looks to make run at state with coach riding shotgun"

Group III

3rd: Tim Wagner, The Beacon News, "Charlie's Angel"

2nd: Marc Nesseler, The Rock Island Argus, "Mild or wild? Webster to get his fighting fix at Toughman"

1st: Tim Wagner, The Beacon News, "The legacy he left will never die"

SPORTS SECTION
Group I

3rd: Ryan Wells and Leslie Flint, The Elburn Herald

2nd: Jeff Wiseman, Woodford County Journal

1st: Kathy Jerbi, Sycamore News
COMMENT: The Sycamore News sports section scores points for clean design work and good use of color
photos. But the best ting about the section is that it's full of local sports coverage.

Group II

3rd: John Phelps and Staff, Wadsworth News

2nd: Jeff Davis, The Doings

1st: Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican

Group III

3rd: Brian Schaumburg, Kane County Chronicle

2nd: Bill Kindt, The Beacon News

1st: Dick Goss, The Herald News

SPOT NEWS PHOTO

Group I

3rd: Lou Patras, The Regional News, "Stop the removal!"

2nd: Rose Subat, Sycamore News, "Hugs are great medicine"

1st: Sher Gries, Woodford County Journal, "Just a stone's throw away"

Group II

HM: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, "I-80 tanker explosion kills driver"

HM: Lisa Anderson, Bureau County Republican, "Princeton man dies in house fire"

3rd: Amanda Hudson, The Observer, "Higher and higher"

2nd: Ann Piasecki, Catholic Explorer, "Students peer over fence"

1st: Joanne Pleskovich, Ledger-Sentinel, "Oswego candle walk for Sept. 11 victims"

Group III

HM: Holly Lundh, Daily Chronicle, "Stuck in the muck"

HM: Tom Sistak, The Daily Times, "Closed, just robbed"

HM: Wayne Ratzlaff, Kane County Chronicle, "Senior pastor prays"

3rd: Dan Videtich, The Rock Island Argus, "Family members console"

2nd: Thomas Delany, Jr., The News Sun, "Veterans picket downtown store"

1st: Steve Rosenberg, The Beacon News, "House Speaker Dennis Hastert laughs"

GENERAL FEATURE PHOTO

Group I

HM: J.W. Shults, Woodford County Journal, "Sitting at a crossroads"

3rd: Mary Herra, The Elburn Herald, "Filling up on food and fun"

2nd: Rose Subat, Sycamore News, "Our Father"

1st: Rose Subat, Hampshire Register, "Burnin' down the house"

Group II

3rd: Marc Jenkins, Gurnee Press, "Burn victims"

2nd: Steve Stokes, The Doings, "Children delight at magician"

1st: Sandy Bressner, Grayslake Times, "Young remembrance"

Group III

3rd: Rob Barcroft, Kane County Chronicle, "Training ballerinas"

2nd: Steve Rosenberg, The Beacon News, Faces of 2001"

2nd: Doug Larson, The Daily Times, "Fair days"

1st: Dan Videtich, The Rock Island Argus, "Saxophone"

SPORTS PHOTO

Group I

3rd: Ryan Wells, The Elburn Herald, "Raw power!"

2nd: Bobby Davis, Sycamore News, "A week of wins"

1st: Sue Korienek, The Elburn Herald, "With room to spare"

Group II

3rd: Kevin Hieronymus, Bureau County Republican, "It's now you see it, now you don't"

2nd: Scott Hardesty, The Doings, "Bolingbrook's Alex Lagrone"

1st: Steve Johnston, The Doings, "Leap into the arms..."

Group III

3rd: John Patsch, The Herald News, "Fiery escape"

2nd: Robert Sumner, The Herald News, "Battle for a loose ball"

1st: Tom Sistak, The Daily Times, "Wild ride"
COMMENT: The facial expressions say it all for this rodeo coverage. The photographer captured this
moment perfectly through the use of timing, composition and balance of subject matter.

PHOTO SERIES

Group I

HM: Kim Cole, The Elburn Herald, "Mega event means mega fun"

3rd: Rose Subat and Bobby Davis, Sycamore News, "Sycamore shows support for the American cause"

2nd: J.W. Shults, Woodford County Journal, "First rate Fourth"

1st: John Firak, The Woodstock Independent, "Powerful silhouetted figures add to the drama of the photo.

Group II

HM: Scott Hardesty, The Doings, "Driving home a message"

HM: Lisa Anderson, Bureau County Republican, "Coffee talk"

3rd: Scott Hardesty, The Doings, "Fire"

2nd: Lisa Anderson, Bureau County Republican, "Tumbling at Nationals"

1st: Mitch Masilun, The Doings, "United we stand"

Group III

HM: Dan Videtich, The Rock Island Argus, Modern pioneers"

HM: Tom Sistak, The Daily Times, "Mr. Fix-It"

3rd: John Patsch, Scott Strazzante, Steve Buyansky, Rob Sumner, and Liz Allen, The Herald News, "The
Land of Lincoln Highway"

2nd: Liz Wilkinson Allen, The Herald News, "A burden lifted"

1st: Rob Finch, The Beacon News, "Finding Aurora on a Street named New York"

SPOT NEWS STORY

Group I

3rd: Kevin Simpson and J.W. Shults, Woodford County Journal, "Eureka woman murdered"

2nd: Matt Hanley, The Elburn Herald, "Sugar creates sour situation at KHS"

1st: Richard Parmater, The Regional News, "Bridgeview gets through three uneasy nights"

Group II

3rd: Marc Jenkins and Steve Peterson, Gurnee Press, "Possible murder weapon piece found in Wauconda
man's yard"

2nd: Lisa Anderson and Edith Weise, Bureau County Republican, "Spring Valley family escapes fire"

1st: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, "I-80 tanker explosion kills driver"

Group III

3rd: Dan Moran, The News Sun, "Mayor's death shocks city"

2nd: Dan Churney, The Daily Times, "Pols thunder at rally; not everyone stirred"

1st: John Zaremba, The Beacon News, "Murder-suicide: No answers"

IN-DEPTH NEWS STORY

Group I

HM: Richard Parmater, Beth Kink, and Joseph Drogos, The Regional News, "The candidates"

3rd: Robert Anderson, Sycamore News, National Guardsmen leave for active duty"

2nd: Matt Hunley, The Elburn Herald, "Water rates may triple in Elburn"

1st: Earleen Hinton and Vinde Wells, Oregon Republican Reporter, "Oregon native is in NYC during terrorist attack"

Group II

3rd: Ann Piasecki, Kathrynne Skonicki, and Amisu M. Estrada, "Catholic Explorer, "Airport expansion
proposals"

2nd: Owen Phelps, The Observer, "Catholic schools and families facing new cultures"

1st: Edith Weise, Bureau County Republican, "Ecstasy it's here"

Group III

HM: Kate N. Grossman, The Chicago Sun-Times, "Can 'human rehab' plan reach hard-core poor"

3rd: John Zaremba, The Beacon News, "Out of the dark"

2nd: Dustin Lemmon and Stephen Elliott, "The Rock Island Argus, "Inside gangs in the Q-C"

1st: Kelly Quinn, The Beacon News, "Who killed Irma Braun and why?"

NEWS STORY SERIES

Group I

3rd: J.W. Shults, Woodford County Journal, "Sheriff Investigation"

2nd: Staff, The Regional News, "School illnesses"

1st: Rich Rostron and Leo Reyes, The Woodstock Independent, "Below the radar screen"

Group II

3rd: Diane Strand, The MidWeek, "Autism mystery"

2nd: Staff, The Doings, "9/11"

1st: Julie Murphy, Antioch News, "Who pays the price?"

Group III

3rd: Ted Slowik, The Herald News, "Crisis in the clergy"

2nd: Roy Bernard, The Daily Journal, "Kankakee's homeless plight"

1st: Michelle Krupa, The Beacon News, "New York Street"

BUSINESS/FINANCIAL/CONSUMER STORY

Group I

3rd: Paul Rock, Hampshire Register, "Country lanes facing a 7-10 split"

2nd: Beth Kink, The Regional News, "What's it worth"

1st: Joseph Drogos, The Regional News, "Here's looking at you again, kid"

Group II

3rd: Jennifer Thomas, The Doings, "Influx of businesses shaking up LaGrange"

2nd: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, "Biodiesel returns to the farms"

1st: Tony Scott, Kendall County Record, "Dealing with death"

Group III

3rd: Jim Faber, The Beacon News, "Made of steel"

2nd: Bob Okon, The Herald News, "Baby steps taken to help compulsive gamblers"

1st: Jim Faber, The Beacon News, "Seasons of change"

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY STORY

Group I

3rd: Beth Kink, The Regional News, "Spring on the wing"

2nd: Sheri Gries, Woodford County Journal, "Geothermal heats up sales"

1st: Matt Hanley, The Elburn Herald, "Researchers bring Elburn to...the ends of the earth"

Group II

3rd: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, Farming ingenuity"

2nd: Jennifer Cassell, The Doings, "From darkness to light"

1st: Jamie Bickett, Bureau County Republican, "New insulation rooted in farming"

Group III

3rd: Mike Norbut, The Beacon News, "Truly a miracle"

2nd: Jim Faber, The Beacon News, "A peek inside the peaker"

1st: Ray Bacher, The Daily Journal, "Gas, germs at mercy of weather"

INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC

Group I

2nd: Mark Lobo, The Woodstock Independent, Handicap makers, character shapers"

1st: Jim Pearson, The Woodstock Independent, "Graduates"

Group II

2nd: Jim Slonoff, The Doings, "Despite top scores, district keeps working"

1st: Greg Wallace, Bureau County Republican, "Gone fishing"

Group III

3rd: Martha Stockwell, The Beacon News, "Flood of '96: Five years after"

2nd: Nancy Burgan, The Daily Journal, Would landfill become part of county skyline?"

1st: James Smith, Adam McHugh, and Bill Wimbiscus, The Herald News, Field of dreams"

EDITORIAL PAGE DESIGN

Group I

3rd: Richard Parmater, The Regional News

2nd: Staff, Woodford County Journal

1st: Eileen Millard and Staff, The Woodstock Independent

Group II

3rd: Staff, Bureau County Republican

2nd: Jim Slonoff, The Doings

1st: William Schroeder, Marc Jenkins and Staff, Grayslake Times

Group III

HM: Murray Hancks, The Rock Island Argus

3rd: Chris Cashman, The News Sun

2nd: James Smith, The Herald News

1st: Rick Nagel, The Beacon News

SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS
(for overall excellence in circulation groups I, II, III)

Group I (Don R. Grubb Trophy): The Woodstock Independent

Group II (C.V. Amenoff Trophy): The Doings

Group III (James Copley Trophy): The Beacon News

W.E. WILLIAMS AWARD

Sponsored by Star Newspapers for the best single in-depth news story in Circulation Group II.

2002 winner: Edith Weise, Bureau County Republican, "Ecstacy - it's here"

TOM REAY AWARD

Sponsored by Rockford Register Star for the best single in-depth news story in Circulation Group III

2002 winner: Kelly Quinn, The Beacon News, "Who killed Irma Braun and why?"

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