Courier Wins Four State Press Awards

BUTTE – The Glasgow Courier continues its award-winning tradition.

The Courier won four awards in the 2013 Montana Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest at Butte last weekend, including publisher Jim Orr's first place showing for best headline writing in Division 2.

Also winning for The Courier were retired editor Samar Fay with second place for best feature story, news reporter Bonnie Davidson with third place for best feature story, and Orr with third place for best sports story.

Orr's awards were all about returning to his sports writing roots when The Courier was between sports editors. It was a selection of three sports headlines that won The Courier first:

• “A Four-midable Feat: Historic Scottie Cross Country Girls Win Fourth Straight Crown.”

• “Scotties Clock The Mustangs: GHS Dominates In Top 10 Clash; Running Clock Rule Starts Before Half.”

• “Field Of Dreams Lost: Tourney Outta Here; Eastern A District Games Moved To Billings Due To Outfield Safety Concerns.”

Helping make the headline award possible were two freelance writers from teacher Jill Page's Glasgow High School journalism program. Karissa Liebelt, a familiar and enthusiastic face at The Courier last fall, wrote about the Scotties football team routing rival Malta. Jake Page wrote about the cross country team's amazing championship.

Orr wrote the article about the American Legion district baseball tournament being moved out of Glasgow at the last minute – which earned him third place for best sports story statewide.

Fay's last of many MNA writing awards earned with The Courier showcased her trademark prose. She won second place for best feature story with her account of a mysterious tale about horse thief J.H. Waterous' gravestone being recovered nearly a century after his death.

Davidson won third place for best feature story with her clever take on Art and Becky Johnson's adventures as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. This two-part story, written during Davidson's first month at The Courier, also presented an interview with Santa just for kids.

The awards banquet was held Saturday at Butte's Mining City Center during the MNA's 129th annual convention. The Courier competes in Division 2 for papers with circulations from 1,500 to 3,499.