Better Newspaper Contest

Page 39 Best News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure/Category 1 First Mitchell Kirk Pharos-Tribune (Logansport) Lumberyard Leveled An artful and skilled use of storytelling and hard news reporting not only draws readers into the article but has them standing right next to the reporter as they are told what they are looking at and the impact of the blaze. The editors get a kudo for add- ing so many elements to the piece. But all the accolades go to Mitchell Kirk for this superior piece. Second Allen Laman The Herald (Jasper) Straight Pride' fliers posted at school It would have been so easy for the reporter to take a subjective tangent from the focus of the report. But Allen Laman did not. He remained balanced throughout, citing live and published sources to ensure the readers could make up their own minds. Great work. Third Mickey Shuey Palladium-Item (Richmond) Breaking news night Solid reporting with a 10 for difficulty. This is how break- ing news is done: get in and get out with the facts from live sources. The separation between these pieces and first and second place was the citing of a news release in the first story and the unclear introduction of alcohol not being a cause of the troopers' wreck. Some good observations, and a big night for the reporter. Best News Coverage with No Deadline pressure/Category 2 First Mike Emery Palladium-Item (Richmond) The idea of volunteerism is dying' This is an excellent series that took some research and work on the part of the writers. I think it examines a national trend as we are seeing less people sacrificing for the common good. Fire services around our state are also dealing with issue, and I think this story explores that dilemma well. Second Staff The News Sun (Kendallville) Funding Our Future? This series really examines the funding issues public school districts are facing. I like the way the package explores where the funds come from, looks at how a decrease in enrollment af- fects those funds, and talks about attracting good teachers and retaining them. Third Elizabeth DePompei The News and Tribune (Jeffersonville) Justice Delayed I like the way this explores the issue of long waits for justice through one family's unique experience. This is well done. Best Ongoing News Coverage/ Category 3 First Steve Garbacz & Barry Rochford The News Sun (Kendallville) West Lakes flooding Well written and covered Second Kevin Kilbane Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Memorial Park Third Julie McClure The Republic (Columbus) Fatal motorcycle crash Division 4 Pharos-Tribune (Logansport) Lumberyard Leveled A Logansport city block was ablaze early Friday as flames tore through a lumberyard that had been in town for more than 100 years. Firefighters responded to Closson Lumber, 815 Erie Ave., at about 4:30 a.m. July 8. Much of the property was engulfed in flames upon first responders' arrival. Loud bursts erupted on nearby utility poles. The blaze billowed out of structures on the grounds, at times creating a heat so intense it drove firefighters back. Firefighters attacked with hoses from multiple angles, including from above with a tower truck. Logansport Assistant Fire Chief Mike Woolington said the circumstances called for battling the fire from the outside. "Exterior firefighting only," Woolington said. "Our chief objective was to try to protect exposures and keep the fire from extending to the other buildings." Fire departments from the surrounding area were called in to assist. Logansport Fire Chief Bernie Mittica estimated about 70 firefighters were at the scene. Much of the fire had been extinguished by about 6 a.m., leaving less intense flames for the firefighters through the hours that followed. Woolington said no injuries were reported to him. View a photo gallery of the fire and its aftermath. Jason Miller, investigator with the LFD, said the cause of the fire could not be determined. He added its area of origin was in the southeast corner of the basement of the showroom building, which stood in the middle of the property along Erie Avenue. "We couldn't rule out all reasonable accidental ignition sources, so therefore it is an undetermined fire," Miller said Friday evening. He went on to say the amount of destruction in the fire's area of origin contributed to the inability to determine a cause. A building at Galbreath Industrial Services west of Closson Lumber and an apartment east of the lumberyard across Ninth Street were scorched by the fire as well. Ed Closson, who owns the lumberyard, said his great- grandfather moved the business to Erie Avenue in 1902. He said "how I'm going to take care of my family" was at the front of his mind as he stood across the street from where the flames raged. Closson had been in the process of closing down the lumberyard and an antique shop he ran on the property. Because Closson was going out of business, he said the property didn't have a lot of inventory. There were cedar boards, veneers and moldings in the lumberyard, he added. Mike Emery Palladium-Item (Richmond) Jonathan Nicholson knew he would join the fire department. No doubt. His father, Charles Nicholson, volunteered for Lynn's department after a fire burned the family's home. When Jonathan was born, the fire department was part of his life. "I've been in and out of that place since I was a little kid, and there was no reason to stop," said Jonathan Nicholson, now the assistant chief for his father, the chief. "There was no doubt in my mind I was going to be on the fire department." He grew up watching his father respond to calls day and night, on holidays, birthdays or any day, and now that's what he does, too. "When my dad's pager went off, he dropped everything and he left," Nicholson said. "He went and helped people, and he got back when he got back. "Now, I drop what I'm doing because somebody obviously needs our help or they wouldn't be calling." Charles Nicholson set the example when his son was young. "I learned at a young age it's the right thing to do, and that's what you want to do." Jeff Himelick also saw the examples of his father and grandfather, Rick Cole's family led him to the fire service, and an employer influenced Dennis Spears. All three now lead Wayne County fire departments as chiefs, and they struggle to find the next generation of volunteers to perform an important community service. "They play a vital role in serving the local community, both providing fire protection for life and property and also assisting with EMS and medical response," said Matthew Cain, director of Wayne County's Emergency Management Agency and a volunteer Lynn firefighter. Indiana has 837 fire departments eligible for Indiana Volunteer Firefighter's Association membership, including 12 in Wayne County, 10 in Randolph County and two in Union County. All face challenges even before they respond to emergencies — they must find enough members and enough money. "We don't have enough volunteers, and I think everybody's fighting that," said Himelick, who leads the Fountain City-New Garden Township department, which has 19 of 22 volunteer positions filled. "It's been going on for a long time, but the last 10 or 15 years it's gotten worse." Lumberyard Leveled West Lakes flooding The idea of volunteerism is dying' For the complete story, visit hspa.com. For the complete story, visit hspa.com. Steve Garbacz & Barry Rochford The News Sun (Kendallville) ROME CITY — Nothing tangible has happened to prevent flooding in the West Lakes chain since high water soaked homes there a year ago. But last year's flood hasn't been forgotten. Efforts to explore and work on long-term mitigation projects still are moving forward to reduce the likelihood of future flooding. It's going to be a slow process, and the risk of flooding never will totally be eliminated from the four- lake chain. But residents and Noble County officials are encouraged by continuing enthusiasm to find some feasible ways to reduce the risks of high water damaging or destroying lakeside homes. Preventing future flood damage likely will need to take a three- pronged approach, consisting of efforts upstream of the lakes, at the lakes and downstream of the lakes, local officials said. Last stop in drainage basin The West Lakes chain — consisting of Jones, Steinbarger, Waldron and Tamarack lakes about three miles west of Rome City — is the end point of a major drainage system in northeast Noble County. Water from about a 125-square- mile area, including Kendallville, Rome City and the Indian Lakes chain in southern LaGrange County, all works its way to the West Lakes. From the lakes chain, all that water then flows into the North Branch of the Elkhart River, which runs west toward Ligonier. A year ago, after nearly 16 inches of rain fell on Noble County from May through July, the lakes were overfilled, rising past the shoreline and flooding several homes. The lakes haven't had any flooding issues this year because there's been much less rain, West Lakes Association secretary Diann Scott said. Northern Noble County has only received about 5 inches of rain since May 1, and only about 2 inches since the beginning of June, according to the National Weather Service. In 2015, 16 inches of rain fell between May and July, with 12 inches falling in June and July. "The main thing that's changed is obviously we're not seeing the flooding this year. We haven't gotten the rain, we haven't had the same problems. I think if we had the rain we had last year, we'd be in the same situation," Scott said. For the complete story, visit hspa.com.

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