The Indiana Publisher

December 2020 Page 3 Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award was created through a grant by the Pulliam Trust to the Hoosier State Press Association Foundation to recognize Indiana journalists for outstanding reporting on environ- mental issues. The award was part of the HSPA Better Newspaper Contest for the first time in 2018 and will be presented annually as part of the BNC where Indiana newspaper journalists are honored each year. Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust $1,000 Environmental Journalism Award Hoosier State Press Association Foundation Staff Reports Parke County Sentinel Larry A. Bemis, 63, of Newport, passed away unexpectedly Dec. 5, at his residence. Born January 27, 1957, in Clinton, he was the son of Lennis A. and Mary Alice (Fortner) Bemis. His wife of 34 years, Ronna C. (Heiney) Bemis, whom he mar- ried October 25, 1986 at Rockville Christian Church in Rockville, survives. Larry was the current editor of the Parke County Sentinel having worked there for the past 35 years. He was a member of the Rockville Christian Church, Newport Lions Club and the Indiana State Festival Association. As a member of the Newport Lions Club, Larry was the competition director, public rela- tions director and the voice of the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb. He also was a longtime IHSAA and Collegiate cross country, track and swimming official. He worked at the Little Nashville Opry as sound engineer and as emcee and director for the local queen pageants. Larry served 40 years on the North Vermillion School Corporation Board. He also formerly worked at WAXI Radio and RMS Media Center. Larry loved to joke and tell a good story. He will be missed by many. Other survivors include two sons, Quentin (Renee) Bemis of Bloomington and Jon (Katie) Bemis of Mishawaka; two grandchildren, Lincoln Emerson and Olivia Marie Bemis; along with many close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Linda Brown. Graveside services and burial will be held at 11 a.m., EST Monday, Dec. 21, at Thomas Cemetery, Newport, with Greg Robbins officiating. There will be no visitation. Contributions may be made to Newport Lions Club, P.O. Box 398, Newport, Indiana 47966- 0398. DeVerter Funeral Home in Cayuga is assisting the family will arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.deverterfu- neralhome.com. Larry Bemis, Parke County Sentinel editor, dies at 63 Bemis Mary Jo Harney Parke County Sentinel Most of you know by now that Larry Bemis, our Editor for some 35 years, passed away unexpectedly recently. At this writing, we here at work are still reeling, trying to figure out what to do and when to get it done. Don't misunderstand me, we all have jobs and we do them, and Larry was responsible for his particular things, but the whole complexion of the office has changed. No one is sitting in his office swapping stories, about stuff and sports in particular, to be found in other news- papers. No one is telling us he doesn't have the correct paper work on publication day when we are milling out those 3,000 newspapers. And he is not on his phone, the ever present equipment in his office. How could anyone spend so much time on the phone? We won't ever know, will we? Good guy, known by almost everyone, and a wiz at the history of sports in Parke County. Years ago Jim Bemis a great guy who made life better for others See Bemis, page 5

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