TRI-COUNTY — The Texas Press Association honored The Big Bend Sentinel this weekend with several first place awards based on the newspaper’s 2024 news coverage, features and photography for the association’s annual “Texas Better Newspaper Contest.”

The Sentinel was awarded in Division 6, which includes smaller weekly newspapers, while other divisions are reserved for newspapers — like the big urban dailies — with higher circulations and more staff.

The Sentinel placed first in News Writing for “Holland Avenue fire prompts building inspection crackdown,” by Mary Cantrell, and ‘It’s no gold mine’: Commissioners consider tolling the Presidio International Bridge,” by Sam Karas.

A team of photographers also took first place for News Photography for: “Alpine community mourns loss of businesses, historic downtown structure in wake of devastating fire” (Mary Cantrell); “Fort Davis ISD raises state allotment from $70K to $1.5M through private, early childhood school partnerships” (Maisie Crow); “Longtime taxidermy business closing its doors” (Jennifer Pittinger); “Blackwell School ribbon cutting provides reflection on importance of new park” (Rob D’Amico); and “Biden administration to roll out ‘parole-in-place’ for undocumented family members of citizens” (Rob D’Amico). 

Of the news photos, a judge wrote: “These photos invite the reader into the story, sharing emotional, engaging perspectives that made me want to learn more. Well done!”

A team of photographers won first place in Feature Photography for: “A tenacious, family-owned printing press brings the news to Far West Texas despite industry decline” (Maisie Crow); “Nonprofit restoring Marfa ISD’s Hunter Gym seeks alumni stories” (Mary Cantrell);  “A place with everything” (Mary Cantrell); “A ‘catastrophe of idiocy’” (Jennifer Pittinger); and “Shafter getting boost in historic preservation, new restaurant” (Rob D’Amico).

A judge noted. “This photography is far beyond the other entries in this category and division. … The Chicken George photo was one of the best and funniest environmental portraits I have seen in a while. The detail shot of the gym was also excellent. It told so much with so little. People often forget those detailed images.”

The Sentinel reporters took second place in Feature Writing with “A tenacious, family-owned printing press brings the news to Far West Texas despite industry decline,” by Mary Cantrell, and “‘Who the hell is H. Allen Smith?’” by Sam Karas. 

Trey Gerfers placed first for Column Writing with his “Our Water Matters” series of columns every two weeks — including “Soil for Water” and “Restoring Riparian areas to improve aquifer health.” A judge commented: “Two great columns about life-sustaining resources and why we

should all care about them. No water = no town. Well written.”

The Sentinel also took second place for Overall Excellence in its division.