Republican brings home 10 press contest awards

    The Imperial Republican earned 10 awards in this year’s Nebraska Better Newspapers Contest. The awards were announced during the Nebraska Press Association’s annual convention in Lincoln this past weekend.
    The Republican won three first place awards, three second place awards and four third place awards.
    News Editor Jan Schultz was awarded first place for the  breaking news story on the I-80 accident that claimed the lives of two young people, including Tanner Allen of Imperial.
    Judges said the story took the right tack to reporting on a tragic loss.
    The Republican’s Quest for the Gem reader contest headed up by ad salesperson Jana Pribbeno took first in the building circulation category.
    Judges noted there’s nothing like a good treasure hunt to boost interest.
    The Republican also won first place for best editorial page, which included editorials by Schultz and Co-Publisher Russ Pankonin and columns by Co-Publisher Lori Pankonin.
    Judges credited the paper for balance and selection of editorials, columns and cartoons.
    Second place awards included best classified ad for a 5 Star Tree Service ad by the ad staff.
    Russ Pankonin won second for sportswriting on the girls’ state track championship and  for a series focusing on field pea production.
    Schultz took third place for her breaking news story on the house fire last year at 419 Wellington.
    An ad by Pribbeno, Karen Hayes and Chris Fidler on hail repair for Harchelroad Motors took third for best retail ad and the paper’s annual progress edition was third in the specialty pages category.
    The Republican competes in the Class C Division which includes papers from 1,501 to 2,499 in circulation.

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