The winners in the 2007 Illinois
Associated Press Editors Association Editorial and Photo Excellence contest:
Division A General Excellence: Chicago Sun-Times
Division B General Excellence: Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Division C General Excellence: The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Division A Editorial Sweepstakes: Tim Novak & Art Golab, Chicago Sun-Times, 'Clout's Sick List'
Division B Editorial Sweepstakes: Matt Hanley, The Aurora Beacon-News, 'Bad Water'
Division C Editorial Sweepstakes: The Register-Mail, Galesburg, 'Poverty Among Us'
Division A Photo Sweepstakes: Fred Zwicky, Peoria Journal Star, 'Tragedy Aftermath'
Division B Photo Sweepstakes: John Badman, The (Alton) Telegraph, 'Summer Storm's Fury'
Division C Photo Sweepstakes: Bill Gaither, The Register-Mail, Galesburg, Photo story from 'Poverty Among Us'
Member of the Year: The (Champaign) News-Gazette
EDITORIAL:
DIVISION A (circulation 40,001 or more):
Investigative Reporting
First Place: Tim Novak and Art Golab,
Chicago Sun-Times, Clout's sick list
Second
Place: George Pawlaczyk and Beth Hunsdorfer,
Belleville News-Democrat, Lethal lapses
Third
Place: Tim Novak, Chicago Sun-Times, Obama and his
slumlord patron
Public Service
First Place:
Staff, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park,
Where is the law?
Second
Place: Stephanie Zimmerman and Eric Herman,
Chicago Sun-Times, Dead people parking
Third
Place: Bruce Rushton, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Freedom of
information series
Enterprise Reporting
First Place: Kate N. Grossman, Chicago Sun-Times, Room
20
Second
Place: Tim Novak, Robert Herguth and Steve Warmbir,
Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago's
first family of clout
Third
Place: Tara Malone, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Without a home
Deadline News:
First Place:
Annie Sweeney, Lori Rackl, Rummana Hussain, Andrew Herrman, Chicago Sun-Times,
High-rise havoc
Second
Place: Staff, Rockford Register Star, Labor Day
deluge
Third
Place: Staff, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park, Cops shot at L-Way central
Non-deadline News:
First
Place: Frank Main, Chicago Sun-Times, Gang bangers
in the ranks
Second Place: Chris Fusco and Dave McKinney,
Chicago Sun-Times, Governor's office kept clout list
Third
Place: Emily Krone, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Blindfolds and blind faith
Features:
First
Place: Amanda Reavy and Sarah Antonacci, The State
Journal-Register, Springfield,
Girl bullies
Second
Place: Janet Rausa Fuller, Lori Rackl and Monifa
Thomas, Chicago Sun-Times, Going green
Third
Place: Jayette Bolinski, The State
Journal-Register, Springfield,
Broken life
Columns:
First
Place: Kristen McQueary, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park
Second
Place: Mary Mitchell, Chicago Sun-Times
Third
Place: Mark Brown, Chicago Sun-Times
General Excellence:
First
Place: Chicago
Sun-Times
Second
Place: Rockford
Register Star
Third
Place: Pantagraph, Bloomington
Sports News:
First
Place: Paul Klee, The News-Gazette, Champaign, Three's
company
Second
Place: Paul Klee, The News-Gazette, Champaign, Memphis
hanging hat on Rose's word
Third
Place: Nathaniel Whalen, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park, Near perfect
Sports Columns:
First
Place: Barry Rozner, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights
Second
Place: Jim Ruppert, The State Journal-Register, Springfield
Third
Place: Randy Kindred, Pantagraph, Bloomington
Sports Features:
First
Place: Joseph Ryan, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Tragedy amid controversy
Second
Place: Paul Klee, The News-Gazette, Champaign, The freshman
Third
Place: John Dietz, Daily Herald, Arlington
Heights, From glory days to the meltdown
Business:
First Place: Mike Fitzgerald, Belleville
News-Democrat, Mid-America on track for success
Second
Place: Mike Comerford, Daily Herald, Arlington
Heights, McDonald's in China
Third
Place: Rowena Vergara, Rockford
Register Star, Cool Rockford
Entertainment:
First
Place: Phil
Luciano, Peoria
Journal Star, Reliving Nov. 8, 1965
Second
Place: Dan Gire, Daily Herald, Arlington
Heights, Who ya gonna call?
Third
Place: Brad Burke, Peoria Journal Star, Amateur
comedians can't stop performing
Headlines:
First
Place: Dean Magnavite, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park
Second
Place: Dean Muellerleile,
Peoria Journal
Star
Third
Place: Tony Waf, Joliet Herald News
Informational Graphic:
First Place: Chris Soprych and Margo
Pearson, Rockford Register Star, Meet the press
Second
Place: Chris Soprych and Kelley Simms, Rockford Register Star,
Flight of the Thunderbirds
Third
Place: Kelley Simms, Rockford Register Star, The
hip thing
Page Design:
First
Place: Linda Fraembs, The State Journal-Register, Springfield, Food -- our
ultimate Easter basket
Second
Place: Dana Croatt, Belleville News-Democrat, Lifestyle
Third
Place: Chris Grimm,
Peoria Journal Star, Truth or fiction
Best Newspaper Web Site:
First
Place: Staff, Rockford Register Star
Second
Place: Staff, Chicago Sun-Times
Third
Place: Staff, Peoria Journal Star
DIVISION B (circulation 15,001-40,000):
Investigative Reporting:
First
Place: Matthew Defour, The Beacon News, Aurora,
Road to riches
Second
Place: John Krenek, The Daily Journal, Kankakee, Through the
cracks
Third
Place: Kevin Caufield, Allison Ryan, Tom Collins,
NewsTribune, La Salle, Operation cop watch
Public Service:
First Place:
Matt Hanley, The Beacon News, Aurora, Bad water
Second
Place: Tom Collins and Yuri Ozeki, NewsTribune, La
Salle, Lasting effects of Sin
City series
Third Place: Kevin P. Craver, Nate Legue,
Jocelyn Allison, editorial board, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, McCullom Lake
brain cancer series
Enterprise Reporting:
First
Place: Matt Hanley, The Beacon News, Aurora, Bad
water
Second
Place: Mary Tallon and Mike Frazier, Herald &
Review, Decatur, Government consolidation
Third
Place: Brock Cooper, Allison Ryan and Kevin Caufield,
NewsTribune, La Salle, A people apart
Deadline News:
First Place: Chris Lusvardi and Mike
Frazier, Herald & Review, Decatur, Twister strikes near Elwin Cafe
Second
Place: Mike Lyons, The Daily Journal, Kankakee, Grisly account
Third
Place: Heather Gillers and Matt Hanley, The Beacon
News, Aurora, We are America
Non-deadline News:
First
Place: Steve Eighinger, Quincy Herald-Whig,
Uprooted lives
Second
Place: Rodney Hart, Quincy Herald-Whig, The main
suspect
Third
Place: Heather Gillers, The Beacon News, Aurora,
The landfill lowdown
Features:
First
Place: Justina Wang, The Beacon News, Aurora,
Mending Mike
Second
Place: Tammie Sloup, Dan Churney, Melissa
Garzanelli, Charles Stanley and Craig Wieczorkiewicz, The Times, Ottawa, Making music
Third
Place: Tammie Sloup, The Times, Ottawa, Preachers and prisoners Honorable
Mention: Steve Eighinger, Quincy Herald-Whig, Ho! Ho! Ho! Who? Who? Who?
Columns:
First Place: Jami Kunzor, Northwest
Herald, Crystal Lake
Second
Place: David Rutter, The News-Sun, Waukegan
Third
Place: Edward Husar, Quincy Herald-Whig
General Excellence:
First
Place: Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Second
Place: The Beacon News, Aurora
Third
Place: Herald & Review, Decatur
Sports News:
First
Place: Troy
Hayes, Herald & Review, Decatur, Finding her voice
Second
Place: Dustin Michael Harris, The Naperville Sun,
The reel deal
Third
Place: Andy Tavegia, The Times, Ottawa, Golf tournament helps others survive
Sports Columns:
First
Place: Chris Sosa, Naperville Sun
Second
Place: Tim Wagner, The Beacon News, Aurora
Third
Place: None
Sports Features:
First Place:
Paul LaTour, Naperville
Sun, Ultimate contradiction
Second
Place: Staff, The Beacon News, Aurora, Countdown to Super Bowl
Third
Place: Matthew Sprague, Quincy Herald-Whig, Our
boys of summer
Business:
First
Place: David Garbe, The Beacon News, Aurora,
Testing their mettle
Second
Place: David Garbe and Andre Salles, The Beacon
News, Aurora, What Aurora could be
Third
Place: Scott Reeder, The Daily Journal, Kankakee, Fly To flee
Entertainment:
First
Place: Jana Thompson, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, Stand-up
for herself
Second
Place: Craig Wieczorkiewicz, The Times, Ottawa, Coffee and jams
Third
Place: Mike Mitchell, The Naperville Sun,
Glocksen's co-workers stand behind her
Headline Writing:
First Place:
Marc Jenkins, The News-Sun, Waukegan
Second
Place: Tim Yonke, The Daily Journal, Kankakee
Third
Place: Robert Themer, The Daily Journal, Kankakee
Informational Graphic:
First
Place: Scott Nychay, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, Rowing:
Front row
Second
Place: Mike Bjorklund, The Beacon News, Aurora,
Road to riches
Third
Place: Missy Wuellnof, The Telegraph, Alton, Gleaming
Page Design:
First Place: Chris Foster, The News-Sun, Waukegan, Memories of
9/11
Second
Place: Johnathon Strube, The Beacon News, Aurora,
Super Bowl posters
Third
Place: Johnathon Strube, The Beacon News, Aurora,
Bad water
Best Newspaper Web site:
First
Place: Mike Weilen and staff, Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake
Second
Place: Staff, The Daily Illini, Champaign
Third
Place: Staff, The Telegraph, Alton
DIVISION C (15,000 or less
circulation):
Investigative:
First
Place: Benji Feldheim and Chris Rickert, Daily
Chronicle, DeKalb, Wogen series
Second
Place: Sharon
Woods Harris and Nick Vogel, Pekin Daily Times, City financial concerns
Third
Place: Sharon
Woods Harris and Elaine Krewer Spencer, Pekin Daily Times, Open Meeting Act
revision
Public Service:
First Place: Peter Krowiak, Casey Toner, Adam Nekola, Patrick Graziano,
Morris Daily Herald, MySpace
Second
Place: Paul Dailing, Kane
County Chronicle, Geneva, Voting
Third
Place: Dave Fopay and Nathaniel West, Journal
Gazette, Mattoon,
On the table
Enterprise Reporting:
First
Place: Staff, The Register-Mail, Galesburg, Poverty among us
Second
Place: JoAnn Hustis and Casey Toner, Morris Daily
Herald, Heroin: Grains of truth
Third
Place: Tom Loewy, The Galesburg Register-Mail, The
big fire
Deadline News:
First
Place: JoAnn Hustis, Morris Daily Herald, Tragedy
plays out for theater group
Second
Place: Peter Krowiak, Morris Daily Herald, I
thought a train derailed
Third
Place: Benji Feldheim, Daily Chronicle, DeKalb,
Prosecutor: No signs man would kill
Non-deadline News:
First
Place: Dan Tackett and Jeff Nelson, The Courier,
Lincoln, Police memo flap
Second
Place: Kate Thayer, Kane County Chronicle, Geneva, Blame absent in
family
Third
Place: Ben Botkin and Tom Loewy, The
Register-Mail, Galesburg,
Heartfelt goodbyes
Features:
First
Place: Cigi Ross, The Register-Mail, Galesburg, A year without
Kyle
Second
Place: Peter Krowiak, Morris Daily Herald, Night
life
Third
Place: Tim Brooks, Robinson Daily News, Sounds
great
Columns:
First
Place: Tom Loewy, The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Second
Place: Dan Campana, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva
Third
Place: Rick Wade, Pekin Daily Times
General Excellence:
First
Place: The Register-Mail, Galesburg
Second
Place: Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva
Third
Place: Journal Gazette, Mattoon
Sports News:
First
Place: Alex Hickey, The Journal-Standard, Freeport, Kings of pain
Second
Place: Kevin Druley, The Courier, Lincoln, Won't forget this Hayes
Third
Place: Kevin Chlum, Daily Chronicle, DeKalb,
Knights pull away from BHS
Sports Columns:
First
Place: Jay Schwab, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva
Second
Place: Alex Hickey, The Journal-Standard, Freeport
Third
Place: Mike Cunniff, Morris Daily Herald
Sports Features:
First
Place: Alex Hickey, The Journal-Standard, Freeport, A Reason to be
thankful
Second
Place: Alex Hickey, The Journal-Standard, Freeport, Blinded by fate
Third
Place: Justin Conn, The Register-Mail, Galesburg, Chief's last
dance
Business:
First
Place: Joanie Stiers, Mike Landis, Ben Botkin, The
Register-Mail, Galesburg,
Winds of change
Second
Place: Jeff Nelson, The Courier, Lincoln, Our
150th year
Third
Place: Chris Rickert, Daily Chronicle, DeKalb,
Fiber-optic triangle
Entertainment:
First
Place: Peter Krowiak, Morris Daily Herald, King
James
Second
Place: Peter Krowiak, Morris Daily Herald, The
circle of life
Third
Place: Peter Krowiak, Morris Daily Herald, Man of
many sounds
Headline Writing:
First
Place Renita Leichty, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva
Second
Place: Laura Stakal, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva
Third
Place: Mark Malone, Morris Daily Herald
Informational Graphic:
First
Place: Anissa Krause, Pekin Daily Times, Seeing
through the haze
Second
Place: Anissa Krause, Pekin Daily Times,
Understanding your property taxes
Third
Place: Anissa Krause, Pekin Daily Times, Youth at
risk
Honorable Mention: Adam Nekola, Morris Daily
Herald, A day with Tom
Page Design:
First
Place: Laura M. Stakal, Kane County Chronicle, Geneva, Bodies found
Second
Place: Anissa Krause, Pekin Daily Times, The red
thread
Third
Place: Inger Koch, Daily Chronicle, DeKalb,
Twinkie twist
Best Newspaper Web site:
First
Place: Adam Nekola and Rob Showers, Morris Daily
Herald
Second
Place: Ken Exum, Register Mail, Galesburg
Third
Place: None
PHOTOS:
DIVISION A (circulation 40,001 or
more):
Features
First
Place: Mark Black, Daily Herald, Arlington
Heights, Little dog big tractor
Second
Place: Fred Zwicky, Peoria Journal Star, Vertical
mowing
Third
Place: Joseph P. Meier, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park, Wingman
General News
First
Place: Fred Zwicky, Peoria Journal Star, Tragedy
aftermath
Second
Place: Gary Krambeck, The Rock Island Argus, Steeple
Third
Place: Fred Zwicky, Peoria Journal Star, Mother's
ultimate sacrifice
Illustration
First
Place: Bill Zars, Daily Herald, Arlington
Heights, Bird flu scare
Second
Place: Jon Giffin, The Rockford
Register Star, Richardson
Third
Place: David Proeber, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Who can you
trust?
Pictorial
First
Place: Joseph P. Meier, Daily Southtown, Tinley Park, The leaning
tree
Second
Place: Paul Valade, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Flash across the sky
Third
Place: Heather Coit, The News-Gazette, Champaign, New Illinois
crop
Picture Story
First
Place: Bev Horne, Daily Herald, Arlington
Heights, Finding family
Second
Place: Steve Lundy, Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, Extreme fighter
Third Place: John Dixon, The News-Gazette,
Champaign, Meningitis victim
Portrait
First Place: T.J. Salsman, The State
Journal-Register, Springfield, P.O.W.
Second Place: Rich Hein, Chicago Sun-Times,
Revisiting the scene
Third Place: David Proeber, The Pantagraph,
Bloomington, Still doing push-ups
Sports Action
First Place: David
Zalaznik, Peoria Journal Star, Tree swing
Second Place: John Dixon, The News-Gazette,
Champaign, Down and out
Third Place: Jon Giffin, The Rockford
Register Star, Superman
Sports Feature
First Place: Dan White, Daily Herald,
Arlington Heights, Inbounds pressure
Second Place: Lori Ann Cook, The Pantagraph,
Bloomington, Mind control
Third Place: Rick West, Daily Herald,
Arlington Heights, Hard loss
Spot News
First Place: Jon Giffin, The Rockford
Register Star, Crash victim
Second Place: Joseph P. Meier, Daily
Southtown, Tinley Park, Car fire
Third Place: T.J. Salsman, The State Journal
Register, Springfield, Train accident
DIVISION B (circulation
15,001-40,000):
Features
First Place: Dan Hollander, The Daily
Illini, Champaign, Strength through silence
Second
Place: Marina Samovsky, The News-Sun Waukegan, Cinco dance
Third Place: Tom Sistak, The Times, Ottawa,
Salsa's siesta
General News
First Place: Margie M. Barnes, The
Telegraph, Alton, Family grief
Second Place: Craig Watson, The Beacon News,
Aurora, Proud marcher
Third Place: Justin Runquist, The Northwest
Herald, Crystal Lake, Good Friday
Illustration
First Place: Justin Runquist, The Northwest
Herald, Crystal Lake, Anatomy of a jump shot
Second Place: Danielle Gardner, The
Naperville Sun, Fall's harvest
Third Place: Thomas Delany Jr., The News
Sun, Waukegan, Would you eat here?
Pictorial
First Place: John Badman, The Telegraph,
Alton, Striking weather
Second Place: Tom Sistak, The Times, Ottawa,
Cloud formation
Third Place: Marina Samovsky, The News-Sun,
Waukegan, Old timer
Picture Story
First Place: Craig Watson, The Beacon News,
Aurora, Undying faith
Second Place: Heather Eidson, The Beacon
News, Aurora, Sylvia's forgotten home
Third Place: Josh Birnbaum, The Daily
Illini, Champaign, Uphill battle
Portrait
First Place: Jim Bowling, The Telegraph,
Alton, Tennis player
Second Place: Jim Bowling, The Telegraph,
Alton, Facing the numbers
Third Place: Craig Watson, The Beacon News,
Aurora, Homeless poet
Sports Action
First Place: Craig Watson, The Beacon News,
Aurora, Not our turf
Second Place: Jim Bowling, The Telegraph,
Alton, Second-base collision
Third Place: Josh Birnbaum, The Daily
Illini, Champaign, In the face
Sports Feature
First Place: Heather Eidson, The Beacon
News, Aurora, Girl out
Second Place: Kristy Ann Mann, The Northwest
Herald, Crystal Lake, Little league warriors
Third Place: Michael R. Schmidt, The Herald
News, Joliet, Time keeper
Spot News
First Place: John Badman, The Telegraph,
Alton, Summer storms fury
Second Place: John Badman, The Telegraph,
Alton, Murder suspect arrested
Third Place: Justin Runquist, The Northwest
Herald, Crystal Lake, Metra fatality
Honorable Mention: Heather Eidson, The
Beacon News, Aurora, Building gets toasted
DIVISION C (15,000 or less
circulation):
Features
First Place: Holly Lundh, Daily Chronicle,
Dekalb, Cowch time
Second Place: H. Rick Bamman, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva, Tuba time
Third Place: Steve Warmowski, Jacksonville
Journal-Courier, Best seat in the house
General News
First Place: Clayton Stalter, Jacksonville
Journal-Courier, Moving memories
Second Place: Ken Exum, The Register-Mail,
Galesburg, The patriot
Third Place: Steve Warmowski, Jacksonville
Journal-Courier, Stoking fires
Illustration
First Place: Bill Gaither, The
Register-Mail, Galesburg
Second Place: Rebekah Raleigh, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva, Daylight savings
Third Place: Adam Nekola, Morris Daily
Herald, Santa Secret Service
Pictorial
First Place: Holly Lundh, Daily Chronicle,
Dekalb, Cloud pond
Second Place: Curtis Clegg, Daily Chronicle,
Dekalb, Lightning near NIU
Third Place: Curtis Clegg, Daily Chronicle,
Dekalb, Carnival rainbow
Picture Story
First Place: Bill Gaither, Register-Mail,
Galesburg, Poverty
Second Place: Bill Gaither, The
Register-Mail, Galesburg, He gave all
Third Place: Bill Gaither, The
Register-Mail, Galesburg, Landon goats
Portrait
First Place: Rebekah Raleigh, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva, Chris Peterson
Second Place: Clayton Stalter, Jacksonville
Journal-Courier, Citizen artist
Third Place: Bill Gaither, The
Register-Mail, Galesburg, Poverty
Sports Action
First Place: Bill Gaither, Register-Mail,
Galesburg, Soccer header
Second Place: Bob Gerrard, Kane County
Chronicle, Geneva, Play at second
Third Place: Ken Exum, Register-Mail,
Galesburg, Safe
Sports Feature
First Place: Bill Gaither, The Register-Mail,
Galesburg, Season ending
Second Place: Ken Exum, Register-Mail,
Galesburg, I'm not going to cry
Third Place: Ken Exum, The Register-Mail,
Galesburg, Pileup near the mound
Spot News
First Place: Steve Warmowski, Jacksonville
Journal-Courier, Stormy bike crash
Second Place: Ken Exum, Register-Mail,
Galesburg, It's all gone
Third Place: Adam Nekola, Morris Daily
Herald, Ignored warning
2006 News and Photo Winners
DIVISION 1 Circulation 40,001 and up
Division A - Investigative Reporting
Third Place, George Pawlaczyk, News-Democrat, Belleville,
“Part-time officials get full-time benefits”
Second Place, Molly Parker, Journal Star, Peoria, “The
Pension Peril: What Can Illinois afford?”
First Place, Scott Reeder, The Rock Island Argus, “The
Hidden Cost of Tenure”
Comments:
You often hear how difficult it is to dismiss bad teachers, but Scott Reeder
has now documented it across the entire state of Illinois (save Chicago). His
series not only shows how few teachers have been dismissed, but convincingly
explains how the power of the teacher unions and weak management produce that
result.
Division A - Public
Service
Third Place,