Howell County News recognized for investigative work, sports, opinions
Howell County News won a total of 7 awards in the Missouri Press Association’s 2025 Better Newspaper contest. Owners Ron and Amanda Mendez traveled to Wildwood, Mo. To accept the awards on September 13 at the conclusion of the organization’s annual convention.
In the publication’s first recognition for sports coverage, Kacey Blunk earned a First Place award for her Sports Feature Photograph – Lady Eagles Win 10-30-24. The judge said, “Loved this shot because it captures the whole range of emotion: jumping, kneeling, running, hands to the sky. A nice moment.”
The News’ staff earned a First Place award for Best Editorial Pages featuring the publisher’s columns, Speaking Personally. “Publisher Amanda Mendez stands tall against threatening elements warping public debate in Willow Springs, doing so with courage and resolve,” commented the contest judge. Opinion pieces from Laura Wagner featured in the pages submitted for consideration.
The third First Place award was the 2025 Tilghman Cloud Memorial Editorial Award for Mendez’s column about the First Amendment Auditor attack on phone lines in Willow Springs. The judge had this to say, “Though from 2024, this editorial seems extremely timely for the state of the press now. Well written, with background and a forward-facing view. Kudos.”
Mendez also received a second-place award for her column, “The value of local and a print renaissance.”
“Newspapers may no longer be a smart investment she says... with editorials like this, I disagree,” commented the judge.
In news reporting, Mendez was recognized for investigative stories, earning a Second Place for a series about the search for a Willow Springs Fire Chief. She also earned a Third Place for her series on the firing of former Willow Bears football coach Travis Payne, and parents’ efforts to keep him.
For the series on the Willow Springs Fire Department, Mendez earned a second place award in the category Best Reporting Using the Sunshine Law.
“The importance of this investigation became readily apparent when there was an incident involving injuries and damaged equipment. It raises the question: Did a lack of training make a difference? The newspaper was ahead of the news on this one because of an aggressive use of the Sunshine Law to ask difficult questions,” commented the judge.
This year’s awards season also boasts a win for columnist Lonnie Whitaker. Whitaker won his third consecutive first place in the Missouri Writers Guild annual contest in the Best Newspaper Article category sponsored by the Missouri Press Association for "An Ozark Skeptic Journeys to a UFO Convention." This was a three-part article published in the Howell County News on April 24, May 5, and May 22, 2024.
This is the third consecutive year that an article from "The Way We Were" has won first place in the Best Newspaper Article category. In 2024, "Valedictorian, Mizzou Golden Girl, and Professor" about Sandy Davidson (WSHS, 1964) won first-place honors. And in 2023, "Darold Jenkins, All-American won first place.
Prior to the "trifecta," Whitaker second- and third-place finishes. In 2022, "Remembering a Special Veteran," about my father-in-law who was the battalion surgeon at Battle of the Bulge in WWII, won second place. In 2021, "An Ozark Girl's Golf Odyssey" won third place.
In the Better Newspaper Contest, this year’s awards are a personal best for Howell County News under the Mendez family, both in total number of awards and the most first place plaques.
Find all last year's award-winning work here:
First Place - Best Editorial 2025 Tilghman Cloud Memorial Editorial Award
I'll control this conversation by Amanda Mendez
Second Place - Best Editorial
The value of local and a print renaissance by Amanda Mendez
Second Place - Best Investigative Reporting
Search is on
Firefighters hurt
Third Place - Best Investigative Reporting
Bears drop
Parents circulate
Payne remains
Second Place - Best Reporting Using the Sunshine Law
Search is on
Firefighters hurt