The Houston Herald won 21 awards Saturday afternoon in the state’s Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, including top honors for feature photography, coverage of government, business coverage and community service.
The results were announced in conjunction with the organization’s 152nd annual convention in St. Louis. The judging, which included work published in 2017, was conducted by a panel of out-of-state judges.
This is the sixth consecutive year the Herald has won more than 20 awards. Along with four first-place awards, the newspaper received six second-place awards, five third-place awards and six honorable mentions.
“I’m very proud of the skilled way our organization covers our community day after day,” said Herald editor Jeff McNiell. “The mission is never to win awards. We strive to be informative and a voice in the community while doing everything we touch with excellence. It’s rewarding for our peers to honor that work with so many awards.”
Herald publisher Brad Gentry was honored for his work with Downtown Houston in the community service category, one of the most prestigious honors announced by Missouri Press. Gentry is president of the group that works to improve the community. Among its most recent accomplishments is the restoration of the Melba Performing Arts Center.
“The project is certainly valuable to the community,” judges wrote, “and the coverage does an excellent job conveying that to readers.”
The Herald’s Doug Davison took top honors in a pair of writing categories. He topped the field in “best coverage of government” for a pair of stories on the U.S. Forest Service (Flame on and Houston ranger station gets upgrade).
“Really enjoyed this informative story,” the judge said.
Davison also won the top award in “best local business coverage” for stories on a local man who saves barns by repurposing the wood (History in the wood), the saving of Oakwood Golf Club (Oakwood survives) and opening of The Health Food Store in downtown Houston (Health food store opens in downtown Houston).
An underwater photo McNiell captured of Allie Benoist during a swimming meet in Houston was the winner in the “best feature photo” category. The judge wrote, “Eye-catching and fun photo with all the right elements.”
The Herald also took second in the category with a photo Davison took at the county fair and honorable mention with an image of the opening of the Launch Student Center by McNiell.
Second place:
•Best story about rural life or agriculture: Mule Mania, Davison.
•Best news photograph: Flooding at Boiling Springs, Davison. As flood waters of the Big Piney River rage at about 36 feet above normal in late April, people observe what’s left of a house adjacent to Boiling Springs Resort on Highway BB west of Licking.
•Beat feature photograph: Chicken girl, Davison. Aliana Witte, of Houston, keeps a tight hold on her bird during chicken showing competition at the Texas County Fair in late July 2017. 
•Best overall design: staff.
•Best sports feature photograph: Celebrating on the sidelines, McNiell. Houston High School head football coach Eric Sloan celebrates with senior Gavin Alston after his 40-yard touchdown run with 20 seconds remaining Friday night sealed the Tigers’ 24-14 victory against Mountain Grove. The Tigers beat the Panthers for the first time since 2001.
•Best feature story: Surreal strength, Davison.
Third place
•Best information graphic: Gun permits, McNiell.
•Best breaking news story: Prisoner escapes, McNiell and Gentry.
•Best coverage of rural life or agriculture: Rural life in Texas County, Davison (package of three articles about rural life in Texas County: Mule Mania, Take your best shot and The wood sculptor).
•Best photo illustration: Many sides of Tigers, McNiell. Coach Eric Sloan (top) moving Paydon Dixon (left) to running back and Dakota Burchett (right) to quarterback along with a defensive scheme change sparked HHS from a forgettable start to a strong finish to the season.
•Best sports pages, McNiell.
Honorable mention:
•Best page design: Year in review, McNiell.
•Best sports feature story: Master blaster, Davison.
•Best sports photograph: Tackle, McNiell. Houston defenders Aiden Sawyer, right, and Michael Clayton bring down Ash Grove quarterback Chase White in the first half of Friday’s season opener. White got rid of the ball but was penalized for intentional grounding.
•Best feature photograph: Student center opens, McNiell. Confetti falls at the conclusion of the firrst serviceduring May inside the Launch Student Center at Faith Fellowship in Bucyrus.
•Best columnist – serious: Off the Cuff, Davison (a package of three columns: The aviation aide, Basking in the glow of kindness and Appreciation is hardly enough).
•Best story about the outdoors: Flame on, Davison.