PHOTO COURTESY OF THE IOWA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION From left to right, Tama/Grundy Reporter Ruby McAllister, T-R Editor Robert Maharry, T-R and Tama-Grundy Publisher Terry Christensen, his wife Tam, T-R Advertising Lead/General Manager Rhonda James and T-R Reporter Lana Bradstream pose for a photo at the conclusion of the Iowa Newspaper Association awards banquet at the downtown Marriott in Des Moines on Thursday evening.

DES MOINES — Newspapers across Iowa celebrated another successful year during the annual INA Convention and awards banquet at the downtown Marriott in Des Moines on Thursday, and staff at both the Times-Republican and Tama-Grundy weekly publications came home with several accolades.

“The Iowa Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest is an opportunity for Iowa newspapers throughout the state to showcase their work. I’m extremely proud of the Times-Republican and Tama-Grundy weekly publications. The awards they received were because of their dedication and passion for the communities we serve,” Publisher Terry Christensen said.

Perhaps most notably for the T-R, the newspaper won Best in Class Advertising in Class V, which is the largest daily circulation category, for an ad featuring McGregor’s Furniture and Mattress. The same ad also won first place in Best Ad Featuring Furniture, Furnishings, Appliances or Hardware.

“The design and layout sold me. Inventory, pricing and a readers choice award winner,” the judge’s comments read.

The T-R picked up a second place recognition in Special Section Advertising for the courthouse rededication magazine that was published in November of 2022 and a second place in Best Advertising Series or Campaign Featuring Any Service or Merchandise Category for “The ABCs of Christmas 2022.”

On the editorial side, the newspaper placed third in three separate categories — Best Series for stories on the five-year anniversary of the tornado written by Lana Bradstream, Mike Donahey, Sara Jordan-Heintz and Robert Maharry, Best Sports Story for Sports Editor Ross Thede’s recap of the final track and field meet at the old Leonard Cole Field before construction on the new $8 million athletic complex began, and Community Leadership for Maharry and former reporter Nick Baur’s stories about several Ukrainian families who have relocated to Marshall County in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of their home country.

It was a banner year for the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle as the paper picked up five first place trophies in Weekly Class II, including a Harrison “Skip” Weber Investigative Reporting Award for correspondent Michael Davis’s coverage of the March 30 traffic stop that ultimately resulted in the resignation of former Toledo Police Officer Kyle Howe and four subsequent federal lawsuits against Howe, the police department and the city.

“Reporting in a small town about alleged abusive behavior by police officers is a challenging exercise in civic journalism. This newspaper didn’t shrink or back down in the face of this challenge, nor did it just rely on the official statements of public or police officials,” the judge’s comments read. “It listened to others in the community who spoke out and told of similar abuses by the same officer and made sure they had a chance to have their say. Tough story to report on, but well done. And it kept digging when it could otherwise have shrunk back and done only the basics.”

The News Chronicle team also won first place in the Coverage of Education and Coverage of Courts and Crime categories, and Davis was recognized as the Master Columnist in his class for his humorous and whimsical tales of life in Toledo. Maharry’s feature story on South Tama County and Iowa Hawkeye football legend Jon Lazar’s induction into the IHSAA Hall of Fame rounded out the first place winners for the paper, which also took second place for Best Headline Writing, Best Continuing Coverage and Best Newspaper Website and third place for Coverage of Government and Politics.

The North Tama Telegraph, which primarily covers Traer, Dysart and Clutier, took four second places in Weekly Class I: Best Breaking News Story (Democracy under fire: Geneseo/Clark poll workers save the day by Ruby McAllister), Best News Photo for a shot captured by Soren Peterson during Traer’s sesquicentennial celebration, Best Personality Feature (Dengler’s other domain: Local newspaper columnist drafts new chapter on the farm by McAllister) and Best Continuing Coverage (Redhawk football and the move to 8-player by McAllister) along with a third place recognition for Best News Feature Story (State Auditor Rob Sand visits Tama Co. with his mom and bernedoodle, written by McAllister).

Last but not least, the Sun-Courier, which covers the Gladbrook, Reinbeck and Garwin areas in Grundy and Tama counties, took home four advertising awards in Weekly Class I — first place for Best Ad Featuring Grocery, Food or Entertainment (Omelet Breakfast), first place for Best Ad Featuring Agriculture (Farmland Auction), third place for Best Ad Featuring Grocery, Food or Entertainment (Alaska’s Heart and Soul Tour) and third place for Class I Best of Class for the Omelet Breakfast ad.