Chronicle wins awards

The Custer County Chronicle brought home 13 awards from the South Dakota Newspaper Association’s (SDNA) Better Newspaper Contest that was held as part of the annual SDNA convention last weekend in Mitchell. Of those awards, eight were first place awards. The Chronicle was entered in the weekly newspapers over 1,300 circulation category.
Ron Burtz won a pair of those first place honors, the first of which was for Best Feature Series. The series focused on the growing pains the county is experiencing as the population grows.
“The wide range of topics showed growth in interesting ways, using facts, figures and personal quotes,” the judge wrote. “Attributing all this growth to a couple’s reply of ‘freedom’ seems lazy to me. There are probably other factors that spur your topic. For one example, the places people are moving from have rocketing housing prices. That said, you painted pictures with good writing and interesting perspectives.”
Burtz’s other first place came in the Best Headline Writing category.
“In a category lacking in originality, these headlines showed a little creativity instead of falling on (mostly) cliches,” the judge wrote. “Good job.”
Chronicle graphic designer Jay Gismondi received one first place award in the advertising part of the awards. The ad was in the Best Use of Local Photography, and advertised the Burning of the Beetle.
“Wow, now that’s an eye-catching background image. This photo certainly brought this ad together and burned its way to first place,” the judge wrote. “Bravo to your photographer and advertising team for a job well done.”
General manager Jason Ferguson brought home four first place awards from the competition, including both of the categories that he entered for his column, “Wednesday Morning Quarterback.”
In winning Best Local Column, judges said Ferguson took on a variety of topics with engaging prose, writes from the heart with intellectual discipline, treats tough issues with equanimity and is willing to admit he doesn’t have all the answers but will keep raising the questions.
“His column on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is one of the best I’ve read,” the judge wrote.
In the Best Sports Column category, judges said Ferguson’s winning entries were interesting and entertaining to read.
“Good reflections, the writing feels conversational to me,” the judge wrote.
Ferguson took another first in the Best Feature Profile Story for his story about a woman returning to Custer to pay the widow of the late Robert “Ski” Kaliszewski for work he had done for her at a time when she couldn’t afford to pay for the work.
“Among the dozen or so strong entries in this category, this had the most emotional punch,” the judges wrote. “Love that it reached into the commonplace situation of paying a bill and made it into such an affecting human-interest story.”
Ferguson’s final first place came in Best Local Government Reporting for his story on the county’s $14.3 million in errors in its audit.
“This is the type of story the category is designed for, I think,” the judges wrote. “Process and details matter and I think the writer did a good job of explaining how the county got in that shape, as well as discussing ways to not be there in the future, i.e., reconciling cash regularly, if not daily.”
The Chronicle’s last first place came when it was named as having the best website among newspapers its size.
Ferguson picked up a second place award in the Best Spot News Story category for his story on the long-awaited arrest of a suspect for the murder of Meshell Will.
“Thoroughly reported and an engaging story,” the judge wrote. “Likely not the fault of the newspaper, but more details about what law enforcement uncovered about Schmitz that made them confident enough to finally charge him would have been insightful.”
Third place awards included Ron Burtz, Best Lede, for his beginning of his story on a woman getting knocked over by a buffalo in Custer State Park during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
“This is a good one: simple, direct, and introduces the story with a statement of fact,” the judges wrote.
Burtz received another third place for his cartoon work in the Chronicle.
“Makes market-reality sense, and clearly drawn,” the judges said.
The final third-place finishes for the Chronicle came for Best Photo Series, which was a number of staff members combining to shoot the Custer County Fair, and in Best Special Section - Issue for its “Best of 2020” piece.
“Love the expressions on the kids’ faces,” the judges wrote about the fair spread. “You told the story of a fun hometown event.”
“Fun, interesting section,” the judges wrote about The Best of 2020. “This section is packed with photos and advertising.”