The Herald Chronicle and other Lakeway Publishers, Inc., newspapers took home a series of awards on July 21 from the Tennessee Press Association with the Chronicle picking up two of them.

In all, Lakeway publications garnered 33 awards in the organization’s annual press competition.

Keith Ponder, Lakeway’s senior vice president, paid tribute to the company’s newspapers for the strong showing in the annual competition.

“It’s rewarding to see the good work of our teams recognized by industry peers,” he said, adding that newspapers are critical connectors in their respective communities, and telling stories about people is Lakeway’s core mission.

The University of Tennessee System and the Tennessee Press Association distributed top honors to newspapers across the state on July 21 during the 2023 Tennessee State Press Contests award luncheon held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Franklin. The UT System has been a co-sponsor for the event since 1940.

Randy Boyd, UT System president, who presented awards at the ceremony, highlighted why newspapers are so important and why they are so crucial to serving the public.

“News organizations have an increasingly difficult responsibility to tell the stories that impact our lives – the good and, sometimes, the not-so-good,” he said. “We are fortunate in Tennessee to have outstanding reporters, photographers and designers who work with great enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to public accountability, and I truly appreciate the high standards you hold for yourselves in reporting in a fair and ethical manner.”

The Chronicle received a third place award for Best Single Feature and also placed fourth in the Editorials category in the Group II division.

Assistant Editor Linda Stacy had written the feature story, titled “Beautician Jane Smith retires after 50 years,” that was published in the June 14, 2022, edition about a Winchester business woman who stepped away from her career on May 20, 2022, the same day her youngest granddaughter, Jamie, graduated from Huntland High School.

It was as if she were announcing, “I’m not retiring. I am graduating. Today is my graduation day too.”

The story highlighted Smith’s experiences with her customers and how she handled life during the five decades she was a beautician.

The editorial accolades were received for four columns, two each from writers Greg King and Gina Moore.

“No need for tax increase” by King was published in the Jan. 20, 2022, edition.

The editorial focused on how Franklin County has higher tax rates than surrounding counties, with King, a county commissioner at the time, advising his fellow commissioners to hold a tight rein on spending.

“We do not need to compound the hardships our citizens face caused by raging inflation and an unstable supply chain,” King said. “We need to exhibit some fiscal restraint and not increase the tax bills of the Franklin County citizenry.”

King penned another editorial called “Addressing property reappraisals” that was published in the May 26, 2022, edition.

The editorial focused on how the newly appraised property values were shocking residents, and he encouraged them to let commissioners know how they feel about keeping property taxes as low as possible.

The May 26, 2022, edition also featured a second editorial, the latter by Moore, called, “Let the hometown cheering continue,” paying tribute to Hunter “HunterGirl” Wolkonowski who finished as the runner-up in the national “American Idol” competition.

“To our HunterGirl, we want you to know we are nothing but proud of you,” Moore had written. “To say you represented our little community well is an understatement.

“You reminded us that faith, humility and being true to who God made you to be by using the talents he gave you in service to others and for his glory are the ingredients of a winner.

“Your zest for music and life in general has rubbed off on many of us, inspiring us to do what we can to spread joy and hope, reminding us we can get busy doing this together right here at home.

“By stepping out and showing us the power of being authentic and vulnerable as you share your gifts, you’ve ignited a revival of sorts.”

Moore penned another editorial, “The power of Nativity sets,” that was published in the Dec. 15, 2022, edition.

The editorial focused on how Nativity sets are her favorite Christmas decoration items and how they can increase in scope to further tell the Christmas story.

“Although I realize I don’t need to acquire more nativities, I look forward to using each one to share the Christmas story – teaching our grandson a little more each year,” Moore had written. “After all, this wonder-filled story is a gift we continue to unwrap in layers as we grow, study, learn and reflect on all we have to celebrate this beautiful season.”

The Herald Chronicle’s sister paper, The Tullahoma News, received nine Tennessee Press Association awards in Group III.

News Editor Duane Sherrill walked away with second place for Best Personal Humor Column for penning “I’ll release the hostage after Jay Leno.”

“Truth is ALWAYS stranger than fiction,” a judge said about the column. “Thanks for making me laugh.  You have to love those die hard Jay Leno fans.”

Sherrill also took fourth in Headline Writing, fifth in Local Features, with Nathan Havenner and Claire Proudfoot, and third in Best News Reporting, alongside Tullahoma writers Kyle Murphy and Caitlin Able, for the series covering the Think Tullahoma 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

“Thorough coverage of how a plan to guide future development fell apart,” a judge wrote. “Nice work.”

 Former Tullahoma sports writer Erin Douglas snapped up two fifth-place awards, including the Best Sports Photograph and Best Feature Photograph categories. The former was for “Tullahoma grapplers head to sectionals,” an action shot of wrestler Justin Frank, which a judge said was “a unique moment that you don’t see too often in wrestling.” The second fifth-place award was for her photograph, “Class of ’22 walks as 100th graduating class,” which captured a moment where a graduate points out as he walked the stage to receive his diploma.

Former Managing Editor Erin McCullough also picked up third place in Best Breaking News Coverage for “Mayor rushed to the hospital,” and contributor Brad Durham earned fourth place in Best Sports Writing for his “The life and times of John Olive” series.

The judge praised Durham’s series for its great storytelling, good flow and excellent use of language.

“Each article tells a different aspect of an overarching story,” the judge said. “Broken up nicely to leave the reader returning for more.”

The Manchester Times, competing in the Group I division, got first place in Best News Photograph for capturing the Manchester Fire Department’s response to a structure fire at Hillsboro’s Brothers Implement farm-equipment dealership. The Times also received first place for Public Service – Meeman Winner for “Food pantries address food insecurities.”

The Times also placedfourth in Best Education Reporting, third in Best Business Coverage, second in Best Sports Coverage, fifth in Best Sports Writing,  second in Best Special Issue or Section, fourth in Headline Writing and third in Investigative Reporting.

Other Lakeway Publishers, Inc., award winners included the Grundy County Herald, submitting for Group I, which took first place in Best Single Feature for “GCHS sports legend Lewis receives posthumous Hall of Fame honors” and the Elk Valley Times, which placed second in Best Single Feature, third in Best Business Coverage, third in Best Special Issue or Section and third in Best Personal Column for Group II.

The Elk Valley Times also placed fifth in Best Digital Presentation among other publications in Groups I, II and III.

Morristown’s Citizen Tribune also walked away with some awards from the TPA in Group IV, which included first in Best Special Issue or Section for “Wallace 100^th,”, first in Best Feature Photograph for “Her Story,” second in Local Features, third in Best Sports Coverage, Best Single Feature and Best News Photograph; fourth in Best Sports Writing and Best Sports Photograph; and fifth in Headline Writing.

The showing was pleasing to R. Michael Fishman, Lakeway Publishers’ president.

“I’m gratified that our staff has been so well-deservedly recognized, and I want to thank them for the hard work and dedication that have shown to this industry and their communities.” he said. “While it’s nice to be recognized for our hard work, that’s not why we do this job. Community journalism carries an important place in the ecosystem of the community it serves.”