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Every year, newspapers in Iowa submit their best stories, columns, advertisements and pictures in hopes of winning an Iowa Newspaper Association award.
At the annual banquet Thursday, the top three in each category were announced and the winners given a plaque for their achievement. The Creston News Advertiser placed in the top-three in five awards, winning three. The Adair County Free Press placed in four.
The award the CNA staff was most proud to receive was the Community Leadership Award, an award recognizing overall outstanding contributions to community leadership.
“I was honored to receive that award because I think it’s very important for the newspaper and the community to work together for the betterment of the community,” Creston Publishing General Manager Craig Mittag said.
Testimonials are a big part of the award, and the CNA couldn’t have won without the kind words from Chamber of Commerce Director Ellen Gerharz, UCDA Director Mindy Stalker, Gibson Memorial Library Director Danielle Dickinson Thaden, VFW Post 1797 Commander Gary O’Daniels, Friends of the Library member Kat Seaton and Wendy Edwards.
Gerharz and Stalker spoke about how CNA employees are active in the community. “Both Craig Mittag, general manager, John Van Nostrand, editor and Cheyenne Roche, senior editor, are actively involved in Creston as individuals as well,” Gerharz wrote. “Craig who is a member of the local Kiwanis Club has led the group’s community food drives for a number of years. He is also a member of the Christmas Basket Committee which is a group that provides food for those less fortunate during Christmas for the past 35 plus years.
“John is a member of our local Rotary Club and is currently serving as president. They have done a number of clothing drives to provide items to our local re-run shop. Cheyenne has recently joined the Lead UC Program.”
Stalker provided more information on Lead UC. “Lead UC challenges individuals in all sectors of the community to build capacity for identification of local issues, engagement in positive community change and shared leadership,” Stalker wrote. “This initiative’s goal is to increase community vitality through leadership, engagement and diversity.”
O’Daniels and Dickinson Thaden wrote about how the newspaper helps keep people informed on their groups’ activities.
“The Creston News Advertiser has been very supportive of VFW Post 1797 and the various activities in which the Post is involved in support of the local veterans,” O’Daniels wrote. “The Creston News Advertiser staff are an excellent resource to help keep area veterans informed regarding events and activities that are relevant to them.”
With the library’s pavilion project taking place last summer, Dickinson Thaden said CNA coverage helped generate awareness and support.
“Likewise, we’ve seen a growth in both our circulation and our door count in the past two years,” she wrote. “I attribute some of that to the dutiful coverage of Erin Henze, who attends all our library board meetings.”
The newspaper has also been able to offer aid to the Friends of the Library as the CNA now houses the Friends of the Library book sale year round.
“When our storage space for the annual book sale was sold, CNA stepped in, not only offering space for our books but also providing a permanent location for the sale,” Seaton wrote. “By generously donating their former printing press space, they gave our community more than just storage — they expanded access to books for those who might not otherwise have the means or opportunity to regularly attend sales or visit libraries.”
After the devastating tornado in May, the CNA became a donation site for anyone wanting to help. With the community’s help, rooms filled with toiletries, baby supplies, clothing and food were able to be donated.
“No one ever imagines losing everything they own and have worked for in 10 seconds, but on May 21st my family and I were left with just the clothes we were wearing that day,” Wendy Edwards wrote in her testimonial. “At that point in your life you have no idea where to start or where to turn let alone what you need and how to get it. That is when Creston News Advertiser stepped up and helped. They asked for donations from our community and let our family along with other affected families come in when it was convenient for them, which was the most amazing part. The staff let us come as many times as needed, called and checked on us to see if they could bring us things we needed, and even helped make a list of things we needed and helped get those needs from the community. To say we are grateful for them is an understatement. They went above and beyond in such a dark and difficult time.”
The contest judges were particularly moved by this. “I was so moved by how the staff went above and beyond to serve community members in crisis after the tornado and what you currently provide for the library program,” the judge wrote. “You are making a lasting impact in your community and leaving it a better place.”
Other awards
The CNA staff won two other awards — the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer award won by Cheyenne Roche and the Coverage of Court and Crime award won by Roche and Mandy McDowell.
Last year the CNA placed second in court and crime, but made the win this year. “The experience of the news team shines through in these entries,” the judge wrote. “Taking sometimes complex crime issues and explaining them in a way that a civilian can understand is a great skill for this type of reporting.”
The CNA took second place for breaking news story for the April 28, 2024, piece titled “The path of destruction.” The story was about the tornado that hit Homestead Assisted Living, Union County Conservation Office and Three Mile Lodge.
“Great overage of a devastating tornado,” the judge wrote. “Quick on the ground coverage put this entry into second place in a very crowded field.”
Roche also placed third in the sports columnist category.
In Class I weekly papers, the Adair County Free Press was recognized for opinion writing. The paper placed second in Best Editorial Page, the judges saying the columns are “topical and well-written.”
ACFP Editor Caleb Nelson placed second in master columnist. “Excellent commentary on the impact of the tornado on the community,” the judge said. “Helps give readers a a narrative to make sense of the aftermath of a tragedy.”
The judges also liked Nelson’s stories on the tornado, giving him second place in continuing coverage. “The story line came full circle from the aftermath of the event to the rebuilding,” the judge wrote. “Great job illustrating how the community came together and letting those individuals that were most impacted tell their story.”
Finally, the ACFP placed third in Coverage of Government and Politics. Judges called the submissions “informative and interesting.”
Mittag said he’s proud to bring home so many awards. “I think it shows our dedication and professionalism in the industry,” he said.