Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: West Branch - West Branch Times Entry Title: Master Columnist entry Entry Credit: Gregory Norfleet Judge Comment: I didn’t expect to care so much about IHSAA rules, a varsity coach named Butch Pederson, or Hoover Elementary School, but I certainly do now. Norfleet made each topic interesting and relatable. “Soapbox Philosopher” perfectly encapsulates this column – intelligent and thoughtful with a comfortable, storytelling feel.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Manilla - The Manilla Times Entry Title: THIS AND THAT Entry Credit: Janine Kock Judge Comment: Charming writing style that ambles through an assortment of topics and trivia. Every column really does feel like a letter from home, or like one of the best types of voicemails that grandparents leave on the phone. And the promotion of not only her newspaper but the town and local businesses – great and so natural.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Hartley - The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal Ne Entry Title: Pedley's Ponderings Entry Credit: Nicholas Pedley Judge Comment: Interesting recap of the PAC-12 dissolution, and the shrugging “but what can ya do?” at the end, admitting that he’ll still watch – sad, but true of all fans!
