News-Register earns statewide recognition with NPA awards

The Aurora News-Register was among the top winners in the Nebraska Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, earning first place honors in the competition among the state’s largest weekly publications.
ANR co-publishers Kurt and Paula Johnson accepted the awards Saturday at the conclusion of a two-day convention at the Crowne Plaza in Kearney.
The News-Register earned first place honors in nine categories, including sports action photography, for a Husky wrestling photo taken by Richard Rhoden; feature photography, for a Bands on the Bricks photo taken by Elizabeth Hunter; classified page layout by Paula Johnson; a small color ad layout by Karla Senff featuring a Christmas message from Mars Petcare; a black and white ad layout by Karla Senff featuring a Topsy Turvy “Let’s get a little bit sideways” message from Pueblo Viejo; best reader interaction for a Super Shot hunting photo contest coordinated by Bekah Mead; preserving local history story or series, featuring a story by Ron Burtz on Doc Harold Edgerton’s lasting legacy; news writing by Kurt Johnson based on coverage of the Aurora City Council; best editorial by Kurt Johnson, featuring commentary about a pink postcard public hearing focused on the city’s budget.
ANR received nine second place awards, including best special section, featuring a progress edition -- “Here we grow, Hamilton County” — produced by the entire staff; best sports column by Richard Rhoden, “Seeing green: Scheierman’s dreams now reality;” best sports page layout, by Richard Rhoden; best profile, featuring a story by Ron Burtz on Deryl Hilligas titled “The Voice of Hamilton County;” best entertainment story, a piece written after A’ROR’N Days by the ANR news staff titled “Survey says … hometown fun;” best overall youth coverage, by ANR’s news staff; best creative ad writing, featuring an ad for the Aurora Vet Clinic by Bev Eastman and Karla Senff; best single classified ad, featuring a Danish Oak message by Bev Eastman and Jill Bartling; best personal column by Kurt Johnson, sharing a message on his journey of faith after a pilgrimage to Indianapolis.
ANR received nine third place awards, including a feature series by Richard Rhoden titled “The Legend of Oz” about Aurora native Austin Allen’s success on the gridiron; best personal column, a piece by Ron Burtz titled “Comfort in knowing he’s somewhere I’m going;” best feature photo, an image focused on Baylor Scheierman and his family during the NBA draft titled “From A-town to Beantown;” best sports game coverage, featuring Richard Rhoden’s story after the Huskies netted coach Kevin Asher his 500th win; best feature story profile for a Ron Burtz story titled “Gimpel’s celebration a story of family, faith, community;” best newspaper-sponsored event, for entertainment promotion of the Hamilton County Fair coordinated by Bekah Mead; best single black and white ad, featuring an Aurora Mall ad by Kurt Johnson and Karla Senff titled “Ready for Easter, Bunny;” best specialty sections, for business pages designed and written by Kurt Johnson; best editorial page design, by Kurt Johnson.
The staff at the News-Register includes co-owners Kurt and Paula Johnson; Marc Russell, press supervisor; Karla Senff, graphic design supervisor; Jill Bartling, graphic designer; Bekah Mead, advertising manager; Bev Eastman, advertising representative; Ron Burtz, news editor; Richard Rhoden, sports editor; Elizabeth Hunter, reporter; Jacob Samway, production assistant; Sonja Schaffert, inserter.
Sweepstakes winners in the NPA contest included the weekly Stanton Register and the daily Hastings Tribune. By placing first among all the Nebraska weeklies entered, the Stanton Register is the second recipient of the inaugural Allen and Linda Beermann Community Newspaper Sweepstakes Award.
Categories for both weeklies and dailies were focused on writing, photography, advertising, digital, design and creativity. There were 1,983 separate entries judged by members of the North Carolina Press Association. 
Long-time former publishers and NPA members R.L. “Butch” and Nancy Furse sponsored the print Division A, B, C and D winners, based on circulation: Division A – Stanton Register; Division B – Cedar Valley News; Division C – Bloomfield Knox County News; and Division D – Aurora News-Register.