Iowa APME contest winners

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Winners of the Iowa Associated Press Media Editors contest were announced Feb. 3 in Des Moines.

Fourteen newspapers submitted 659 entries in the contest, featuring news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2016.

The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,400 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States.

Iowa APME contest winners:

Newswriting Sweepstakes

Staff, The Des Moines Register, “Hard Lessons: Schools and Sexual Assaults”

Photo Sweepstakes

Scott Vicker, Creston News Advertiser, “Celebratory Scream after Takedown”

First Amendment Award

Staff, The Quad-City Times, “Demanding Transparency”

Bill Wundram Award for Column Writing

Lee Rood, The Des Moines Register, “Suicide Attempt Raises Questions about Faith-Based Treatment,”

“On Valentine’s: The Romance of a Single Life” and Former students: High school mishandled sex assault reports

Mark Twain Award

The Fort Dodge Messenger

Division III (circulation 20,000 and above)

Newswriting

Business: 1, Kevin Hardy, The Des Moines Register, “Held ’Hostage’ by Tyson: An Iowa Town’s Dilemma”; 2, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Exelon Takes Steps to Close Nuclear Plants”; 3, Tara Becker, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Do Liquor Sales Cause More Crime for Surrounding Neighborhoods?.”

Business Feature: 1, Kevin Hardy, The Des Moines Register, “The Town That Buttons Built”; 2, Amanda Hancock and Jack Cullen, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Food on Wheels”; 3, Amanda Hancock, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “After Leaving Their Home Country, Three Women Open Taste of Ethiopia.”

Lifestyle Features: 1, Amie Steffeneicher, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “Paving the Way”; 2, Alma Gaul, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “The World of Cars”; 3, Thomas Barton, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Cosplay.”

Continuing News Coverage: 1, Barb Ickes, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Cry for Help Goes Unanswered, Suicide Follows”; 2, The Des Moines Register, “Police Ambush”; 3, Alicia Yager and Staff, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Heroin Epidemic.”

Editorials: 1, Jon Alexander, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Cynical Secrecy Plagues Davenport City Council”; 2, Amy Gilligan and Brian Cooper, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Boy’s Plight Shows Need for Medicaid Oversight”; 3, Pat Kinney, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “Gridlock Goes Local.”

General Features: 1, Pat Kinney, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “The Fight for Rights”; 2, Andrew Wind, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “Promise Keepers”; 3, Barb Ickes, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “A Man and a Bridge.”

Interpretive Story or Series: 1, The Des Moines Register, “Murder at the State Fair: Greed, Envy, Lies”; 2, Courtney Crowder, The Des Moines Register, “Trans in Iowa”; 3, Mike Kilen and Donnelle Eller, The Des Moines Register, “The North Raccoon River and Water Quality.”

Investigative Reporting: 1, The Des Moines Register, “Hard Lessons: Schools and Sexual Assaults”; 2, Tony Leys, The Des Moines Register, “How Did a Decorated Veteran End Up Dead in Texas?”; 3, Barb Ickes, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Cry for Help Goes Unanswered, Suicide Follows.”

Spot News Reporting: 1, Kathy Bolten and Daniel Finney, The Des Moines Register, “Police ’Heartbroken’ after Ambush Leaves 2 Officers Dead”; 2, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Exelon Takes Steps to Close Nuclear Plants”; 3, Kathy Bolten, The Des Moines Register, “Des Moines Officers’ Deaths a ’Horrible Loss’.”

News Graphics: 1, Mike Day, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Below the Surface”; 2, Mike Day, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Cubs World Series Poster”; 3, Mike Day, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Eyes to the Sky.”

Sports Enterprise: 1, Brenden West, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Slowing the Arms Race”; 2, Brenden West, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Banwarth’s Road to Rio”; 3, Tim O’Neill, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Conference Call.”

Sports Feature: 1, Courtney Crowder and Michael Zamora, The Des Moines Register, “Iowa’s First Transgender High School Athlete”; 2, Jack Cullen, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “MMA Vet Wants One Final Fight”; 3, Bobby Metcalf, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Mallards’ Axtell Finds Purpose in Coaching 5 Years after Near-Fatal Accident.”

Sports Spot News: 1, Brenden West, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Destination Rio / Olympic Feeling Takes Hold of Banwarths”; 2, Matt Coss, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Wildcats’ Historic Season Takes Another Step - State Tournament”; 3, Tim Gallagher, Sioux City Journal, “From Collision to Blast, WM Has Big Week.”

Photos

Business Photo: 1, Kevin Schmidt, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Window Washer”; 2, Dave Kettering, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Eyes on Security”; 3, Matthew Putney, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “UNI Job Fair.”

Feature Photo: 1, John Schultz, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Fair Families”; 2, Jessica Reilly, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Peek-A-Boo, Dad Had His Coffee”; 3, Kevin Schmidt, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Homeless in America.”

General News Photo: 1, Nicki Kohl, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Blum Shares a Laugh”; 2, Michael Zamora, The Des Moines Register, “Cruz Greeting”; 3, Brandon Pollock, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “Jess Boatright.”

Picture Story: 1, Michael Zamora, The Des Moines Register, “Young & Trans”; 2, Andy Abeyta, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Wish List - Mark Anderson”; 3, Andy Abeyta, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Men of Watertown: From the Streets to the Stage.”

Sports Action Photo: 1, Brandon Pollock, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “Wartburg NCAA Wrestling Finals”; 2, Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal, “Football Northern Iowa at South Dakota”; 3, Jim Lee, Sioux City Journal, “Briar Cliff vs Southern Oregon NAIA Basketball.”

Sports Feature Photo: 1, Andy Abeyta, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Point Celebration!”; 2, Brandon Pollock, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “District Wrestling Tournament”; 3, Brian Powers, The Des Moines Register, “National Sport.”

Spot News Photo: 1, Jeff Reinitz, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “Holmes Verdict”; 2, John Schultz, The (Davenport) Quad-City Times, “Burning Home”; 3, Dave Kettering, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, “Semi Accident.”

Division II (circulation 6,000-19,999)

Newswriting

Business: 1, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “No Rest for the Sticky”; 2, Rebecca McKinsey, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Adair: Home of Iowa’s Best Pizza and Burger”; 3, Scott Levine, Clinton Herald, “Catalyst for Campus Purchase.”

Business Feature: 1, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “No Rest for the Sticky”; 2, John Schreier, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Local Invention Designed to Lock, Protect Motorcycles”; 3, Jake Mosbach, Clinton Herald, “Transactions Continue to Evolve.”

Lifestyle Features: 1, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Searching for Shannon”; 2, John Schreier, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Council Bluffs Boxing Club Teaches Lessons in, Out of ring”; 3, Craig Neises, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Forever Changed.”

Continuing News Coverage: 1, Mason City Globe Gazette, “Proposed Pork Plant Divides Community”; 2, Julia Shumway, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Mounty Union: A Small Town’s Problems”; 3, Stephen Gruber-Miller, Iowa City Press-Citizen, “Alexander Kozak Murder Trial.”

Editorials: 1, Katie Brumbeloe, Iowa City Press-Citizen, “Maybe It Is Time to Suck It Up”; 2, John Schreier, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Confederate Flag Has No Place in King’s Office”; 3, John Schreier, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Legislature Failed at Addressing Water Quality.”

General Features: 1, Jeff Charis-Carlson, Iowa City Press-Citizen, “One Dad’s Wish: To Hold His Son by Father’s Day”; 2, Mike Brownlee, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Pisgah Hopes to Hit Home Run with Revitalization of Historic Baseball Field”; 3, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Searching for Shannon.”

Interpretive Story or Series: 1, Clinton Herald, “From Beginning to End”; 2, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Two People Died That Night’’’; 3, Scott Levine, Clinton Herald, “Clinton Co. Homeless Numbers on the Rise.”

Investigative Reporting: 1, Scott Levine, Clinton Herald, “Clinton Co. Homeless Numbers on the Rise”; 2, Mike Bell, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Council Bluffs Apartment Owner Faces $40,000 in Non-Registration Fines”; 3, Ashley Miller and Meredith Colias, Mason City Globe Gazette, “Mason City School Board Emails: Cite ’Continued Insubordination’ in Contract Early Buyout.”

Spot News Reporting: 1, Rebecca McKinsey, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Justin’s Final Journey”; 2, Andy Hoffman, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Police: Man Killed in Shooting”; 3, Andy Hoffman, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Bank Robber Killed in Fort Madison.”

News Graphics: 1, David Mayberry and John Skipper, Mason City Globe Gazette, “Pork Plant Impact”; 2, Stephen Peters, Clinton Herald, “David Johnson”; 3, Stephen Peters, Clinton Herald, “David Johnson at UNI.”

Sports Enterprise: 1, John Schreier and Mike Brownlee, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “A.L., L.C. Basketball Programs Rally Around Teammates with Down syndrome”; 2, John Bohnenkamp, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “The Perfect Matches”; 3, Jon Gremmels, Clinton Herald, “Clinton, Fans Have Mutual Admiration.”

Sports Feature: 1, Matt Bain, Iowa City Press-Citizen, “Inside Oliver Martin’s Uneasy Life at the Top”; 2, Evan Bland, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Tradition Wears on: Lewis Central’s “Animal” Shirt Carries a Storied, Colorful History”; 3, Matt Levins, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Running Out of Time.”

Sports Spot News: 1, Eric Pratt, The (Fort Dodge) Messenger, “Dodger, Iowa Titan Thorson Passes Away”; 2, Eric Pratt, The (Fort Dodge) Messenger, “Fort Dodge Celebrates the Life of Revered Leader”; 3, Zach James, Clinton Herald, “Saints Close the Curtain.”

Photos

Business Photo: 1, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair Lunchtime Rush.”; 2, Ben Roberts, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Cheryl’s New Dance Studio”; 3, Ben Roberts, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Home Base Iowa.”

Feature Photo: 1, Chris Zoeller, Mason City Globe Gazette, “It’s Raining Hay”; 2, Jared Strong, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Officers Line the Road for Fallen Officer Justin Martin.”; 3, John Lovretta, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “North Hill Park Play.”

General News Photo: 1, John Lovretta, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Vigil”; 2, Chris Zoeller, Mason City Globe Gazette, “Pies for a Good Cause”; 3, Chris Zoeller, Mason City Globe Gazette, “Cross Walk.”

Picture Story: 1, Jared Strong and Rebecca McKinsey, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Justin’s Final Journey”; 2, John Lovretta and Ben Roberts, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Johnson Funeral”; 3, Joe Shearer, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Council Bluffs Police Lt. Ben Roth Laid to Rest.”

Sports Action Photo: 1, Jon Gremmels, Clinton Herald, “Caught in Rundown”; 2, Ben Roberts, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Tri State Rodeo”; 3, David Scrivner, Iowa City Press-Citizen, “CyHawk Touchdown.”

Sports Feature Photo: 1, Ben Roberts, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “Football Celebration”; 2, David Scrivner, Iowa City Press-Citizen, “Iowa vs. Nebraska”; 3, Jeff Storjohann, Carroll Daily Times Herald, “Training Session..”

Spot News Photo: 1, Ben Roberts, The (Burlington) Hawk Eye, “South Gunnison Shooting”; 2, Chris Zoeller, Mason City Globe Gazette, “Rockwell Fire”; 3, Joe Shearer, The (Council Bluffs) Daily Nonpareil, “Five Pets Die in Fifth Avenue House Fire.”

Division I (circulation under 5,999)

Newswriting

General Features: 1, Kelsey Haugen, Creston News Advertiser, “Too Much Brain to Contain’’’; 2, Scott Vicker, Creston News Advertiser, “Farmers Unite to Help Friend”; 3, Larry Peterson, Creston News Advertiser, “Creston Native Graduates from Air Force Academy.”

Sports Feature: 1, Scott Vicker, Creston News Advertiser, “Buddy Runners”; 2, Larry Peterson, Creston News Advertiser, “Fond Farewell.”

Sports Spot News: 1, Scott Vicker, Creston News Advertiser, “I-35 Wins Intense POI Battle with Lenox.”

Photos

Feature Photo: 1, Kelsey Haugen, Creston News Advertiser, “Reflections”; 2, Scott Vicker, Creston News Advertiser, “The Night’s on Fire.”

Sports Feature Photo: 1, Scott Vicker, Creston News Advertiser, “Celebratory Scream after Takedown.”