Better Newspaper Contest

Best General Commentary/Category 4 First Denise Freitag Burdette Dearborn County Register (Lawrenceburg) Thoughtful commentary, and the global warming column was a delightful surprise. A strong entry. Second Joe Awad Dearborn County Register (Lawrenceburg) Third Bryce Mayer The North Vernon Sun Best Editorial Writer/Category 5 First Bryce Mayer North Vernon Plain Dealer This was a close call between first and second. The Plain Dealer's editorials were strong takes on national issues, while The Salem Leader wrote thoughtful pieces on important local issues. The Plain Dealer's research provided the slim edge. Second Stephanie Taylor-Ferriell The Salem Leader Third Stuart Cassidy Perry County News (Tell City) Best Business/Economic News Coverage/Category 6 First Suzannah Couch & Sara Clifford Brown County Democrat (Nashville) Building a destination: New music venues in the works for Little Nashville Deeply reported story about a vital industry in Brown County. The reporter clearly understood what was at stake. I'm sure the community appreciated the coverage. Second Sara Clifford Brown County Democrat (Nashville) High spirits? Brewery/distillery working through growing pains Third Sara Clifford & Ben Kibbey Brown County Democrat (Nashville) Charting the future of Helmsburg Headline Writing/Category 7 First Jo Ann Spieth-Saylor & Ross Schulz The Corydon Democrat Eckart to withdraw from bank into retirement RSD fumes over audit bill 'Bee'inspired by honey's versatility The "RSD fumes.." headline was probably the best headline entered. The other two were strong as well, creative, and succinct, standing out especially for saying so much with so few words Second Sara Clifford & Staff Brown County Democrat (Nashville) Play for pay Passing the torch Home or roam Third Staff Brown County Democrat (Nashville) High spirits Forces of nature Mixed signals Division 2 Denise Freitag Burdette Dearborn County Register (Lawrenceburg) "January 2017 was the third warmest January in 137 years of modern record-keeping." - NASA "Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.5°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 0.5 to 8.6°F over the next hundred years." - Environmental Protection Agency. "Melting glaciers, early snowmelt, and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages and increase the risk of wildfires in the American West." - Natural Resource Defense Council. As we reflect on the current winter season, during which high temperatures reached at least 60 degrees 14 times during February, the devastating impacts of global warming come into focus. But there is one tragic consequence that is hitting home in Dearborn County and surrounding areas. It is a consequence you will not hear about on any news programs. It is something most people are even afraid to speak out loud. Yet in the soft whispers among the shadows, the fear is all too real. "If there are no more snow days, the kids are going to have TWO FULL WEEKS of spring break." - Scared elementary school parent. As fear continues to drag down many parents, the corners of student smiles keep going up. At many schools, the first week of spring break is a buffer for possible snow days. Usually there are at least three to soften the blow of that first scheduled week off. But the only snow day some local students received this year was made up on Presidents' Day. The first week of spring break has stayed entirely intact with no significant accumulating snow in the weather forecast. Word on the street is baby- sitters are currently some of the most popular people in the county. Grandparents are being given Power Point presentations on the benefits of spending more time with their grandchildren. Parents are desperately scrolling through Groupon to find discounts on activities that will help the kids burn off some energy. Bryce Mayer North Vernon Plain Dealer We are barely three weeks into the Trump administration and already the White House is rocked by scandal. It's not a minor scandal either; this is a serious scandal that concerns the security of the United States. This after daily doses since inauguration day of mistruths, conspiracy theories, attacks on the press, un-American travel bans and even commercials. As President Trump is overly fond of saying of his staff, of his plans and of his vision: "fabulous," "wonderful" and "incredible." At least one of those words is accurate. It has been an incredibly rocky start for the businessman- reality TV personality turned populist who has loaded his cabinet with billionaires and Wall Street insiders, literally thumbing his nose at the middle-class voters he somehow appealed to last November by claiming that he would turn Washington on its head if elected. This unprecedented president has been anything but presidential. He has been downright scary and, while the stock market may keep climbing, America's trust in the commander- in-chief keeps sinking. The new low came earlier this week with the so-called resignation of Michael T. Flynn, the president's close ally and pick for the vitally important and sensitive job of national security adviser. It's stunning enough that Flynn played footsie with the Russians, reportedly brokering some sort of deal with the sinister Putin regime over then- President Obama's sanctions three weeks before the new president took the oath of office. It gets worse. Flynn then lied to Vice President-elect Pence about the conversation he had with the Russian ambassador on Dec. 29. It gets even worse. The White House learned of Flynn's deceptions on Jan. 26, yet chose to stay with him, showing — here's that word again, but now being used more accurately than ever — incredibly poor leadership. It wasn't until after a story broke in the Washington Post on Monday that the Trump administration felt compelled to act and reportedly asked for Flynn's resignation. Like it or not, and President Trump and his circle refuse to admit it, Russia clearly interfered with the 2016 presidential election through cyber attacks, which America's intelligence agencies have determined. Thus the sanctions that President Obama wisely invoked in late December, along with the expelling of 35 Russian diplomats from the United States. Coping with the unexpected consequences of global warming Incredible For the complete story, visit hspa.com. For the complete story, visit hspa.com. Jo Ann Spieth-Saylor & Ross Schulz The Corydon Democrat Eckart to withdraw from bank into retirement RSD fumes over audit bill 'Bee'inspired by honey's versatility Suzannah Couch & Sara Clifford Brown County Democrat (Nashville) A location has been chosen for the Maple Leaf Performing Arts Center: Chuck Snyder's farm. Snyder signed an offer with the Brown County Convention and Visitors Commission on June 15 to buy 13.75 acres next to the Salt Creek Plaza shopping area, near where the cows graze, behind Brown County Health and Living Community and the Salt Creek Trail. The purchase price is $2 million, said Doug Harden, the principal designer of the proposed building. Even though paperwork to make the purchase has been signed, nothing has been finalized and no money has changed hands. The closing on the sale cannot happen until the project is approved by all governmental entities that will be involved, said Barry Herring, a member of the CVC. The CVC is a group of appointed volunteers who manage the innkeeper's tax revenue. For months, members of the CVC, the Brown Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and select public officials have been informally discussing building a 2,000-seat performing arts center in Brown County. The organizers' vision is for the innkeeper's tax to help make it happen. The projected price of building it — including buying the land but not operating it — is $10.2 million, to be paid off over 30 years. Since 1986, Brown County visitors have paid that 5-percent tax on their room and cabin rentals. For the past six to eight years, 95 percent of that tax revenue has been going to the CVB. The amount the tax is expected to bring in for 2017 is $852,671, said Jane Ellis, CVB executive director. Building a destination For the complete story, visit hspa.com. Page 22

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