Winners of AP Great Plains News and Photo Contest

The winners of the 2018 Associated Press Great Plains News and Photo Contest have been announced.

Twelve daily newspapers in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota submitted 419 entries in the contest. A list of winners can be found at: https://discover.ap.org/contests/great-plains

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

Winners in the 2018 Associated Press Great Plains News and Photo Contest:

DIVISION III

Spot Sports: 1, Sam McKewon, Omaha World-Herald, “Happy Snow Day: Weathering the Elements, Freshman Kicker Comes Through for Seniors”; 2, Jeff Sheldon, Omaha World-Herald, “Nebraska Volleyball Rallies from Two-Set Deficit to Defeat Illinois, Will Face Stanford for National Title”; 3, Brian Haenchen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Long Time Coming: Mors, Yankton Top Harrisburg to Win First Title Since 1978.”

Sports Feature: 1, Chris Heady, Omaha World-Herald, “Noor Ahmed - First Husker Athlete to Compete Wearing a Hijab - Finds Pride in Self-Expression”; 2, Brian Haenchen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Rising Above the Reservation”; 3, Mick Garry, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Choosing Happiness: Amateur Baseball Veteran Stares Down Adversity.”

Enterprise: 1, Steve Liewer, Omaha World-Herald, “In-Flight Emergency”; 2, Lincoln Journal Star staff, Lincoln Journal Star, “Carey Dean Moore’s Execution”; 3, Joe Sneve, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Falls Park Drowning and Non-Existent Audit.”

Sports Column: 1, Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald, “For a Husker Fan and the Bethune-Cookman Kicker, Sometimes the Small Things are the Best Things”; 2, Tom Shatel, Omaha World-Herald, “Nebraska Broadcaster Kent Pavelka Lends Voice to the Quest to End Hoops “Curse”“; 3, Stu Whitney, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “John Daly’s Day in Sioux Falls.”

Sports Action Photo: 1, Briana Sanchez, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Keep Your Eye on the Ball”; 2, Brendan Sullivan, Omaha World-Herald, “Fly Ball Collision”; 3, Brendan Sullivan, Omaha World-Herald, “Up in the Air.”

Personal Column: 1, Cindy Lange-Kubick, Lincoln Journal Star, “20 Years Later, a Lincoln Family Remembers Lessons from their Dying Son”; 2, Matthew Hansen, Omaha World-Herald, “Omaha Man ’Liked’ a Tweet, and then He Lost His Dream Job”; 3, Cindy Lange-Kubick, Lincoln Journal Star, “A Story of Love and Music and War and Hitler and Aldous Huxley and a Baton in a Safety Deposit Box.”

Website: 1, Omaha World-Herald, “NEPrepZone.com”; 2, Omaha World-Herald, “Dataomaha.com”; 3, Omaha World-Herald, “Omaha.com.”

General News: 1, Katie Nelson, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Into Thin Air: What Happened to Ellabeth Lodermeier?”; 2, Joe Dejka, Omaha World-Herald, “Amid Seismic Demographic Shift, Schuyler, Nebraska, School Navigates Change, Challenges”; 3, Christopher Burbach, Omaha World-Herald, “Ousted St. Wenceslaus Priest Faced Sexual Assault Allegation, World-Herald Investigation Finds. It Wasn’t the First.”

Feature Photo: 1, Francis Gardler, Lincoln Journal Star, “Dancing in the Rain”; 2, Nicole Neri, Lincoln Journal Star, “Catch and Release”; 3, Ryan Soderlin, Omaha World-Herald, “Bench Warmers.”

Spot News: 1, Omaha World-Herald, “Raids Rattle O’Neill: Workers Detained as Feds Target Alleged Conspiracy to Exploit Illegal Labor”; 2, Omaha World-Herald, “’’A Monumental Day”: Nebraska Executes Carey Dean Moore in State’s First Lethal Injection”; 3, Michael Klinski and Trevor Mitchell, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “Falls Park Drowning.”

Headlines: 1, Sarah McCallister, Omaha World-Herald; 2, Rich Mills, Omaha World-Herald; 3, Cory Gilinsky, Omaha World-Herald.

Spot News Photo: 1, Brendan Sullivan, Omaha World-Herald, “Flooding”; 2, Kent Sievers, Omaha World-Herald, “Downtown Shooting”; 3, Ryan Hermens, Rapid City Journal, “Fire Destroys Pickup.”

Editorial: 1, Chris Huber, Rapid City Journal, “Living in Capital Part of the Job for SD’s Governor”; 2, Stu Whitney, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “New Strategy Needed in Drug Crisis”; 3, Omaha World-Herald, “Omaha World-Herald Editorials.”

General News Photo: 1, Brendan Sullivan, Omaha World-Herald, “Raptor Release”; 2, Francis Gardler, Lincoln Journal Star, “Welcome to America”; 3, Ryan Hermens, Rapid City Journal, “Snowball Fight at Mount Rushmore.”

Feature: 1, Henry J. Cordes, Omaha World-Herald, “The Return of Scott Frost”; 2, Blake Ursch, Omaha World-Herald, “Bound by Tragedy, Three Families Visit Site of 1970 Plane Crash that Killed Four Omaha Men”; 3, Peter Salter, Lincoln Journal Star, “Heartbreak Motel: Strange Scenes, Sad Stories Fill 133 Rooms Behind Lincoln Adult Store.”

Award of General Excellence: Omaha World-Herald

DIVISION II:

Enterprise: 1, Irene North and Katelyn Lambert, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “Alzheimers”; 2, Rob Nielsen, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “It’s A Different Game”; 3, Randy Dockendorf, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Social Signs: Social Media Changes Law Enforcement.”

Feature: 1, Irene North, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “Out of the Darkness”; 2, Brad Staman, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “Living Donor”; 3, Randy Dockendorf, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Dog Days At Bon Homme School District.”

Personal Column: 1, Rob Nielsen, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Don’t Turn 9/12 Into a Nostalgia Trip”; 2, Kelly Hertz, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Walkout: The Future is on the March”; 3, Luke Hagen, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Another Girl … What do you Think of That?”

Sports Column: 1, Jeremy Karll, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Replay for State Title Games”; 2, Ismael Rodriguez Jr., The North Platte Telegraph, “Death, Taxes and Paxton Hoops”; 3, Jeremy Hoeck, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Hoeck: It’s Trey Time.”

Headlines: 1, Candice Pederson, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “Out of the Darkness”; 2, Greg Awtry, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “Won One!”; 3, Jeff VanPatten, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “When Sheep Fly.”

Editorial: 1, Brad Staman, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, “New Tourism Slogan is a Mistake”; 2, Luke Hagen, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Just Keep Battling, Kernels”; 3, Todd von Kampen, The North Platte Telegraph, “Anti-Groene Flyer Deserves Three Groans.”

Feature Photo: 1, Matt Gade, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “National Champs”; 2, Matt Gade, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Eatin’ Good”; 3, James Cimburek, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “At Last!”

General News Photo: 1, Kelly Hertz, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “A Riverboat Homecoming”; 2, Randy Dockendorf, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Packing Up and Ready to Roll”; 3, Matt Gade, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Field Tear Up.”

Website: 1, Beth Rye and Gary Wood, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan; 2, Maunette Loeks, Brian Nickodemus and Kelly Zwetzig, Scottsbluff Star-Herald; 3, Luke Hagen, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic.

Spot News: 1, Rob Nielsen, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Lawsuit Brings Liberty …”; 2, Randy Dockendorf, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Bon Homme’s Viral Drama”; 3, Luke Hagen, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “City Plans Complaint Against Mayoral Candidate.”

Spot Sports: 1, Derek Noehren, The North Platte Telegraph, “A Semifinal for the Ages”; 2, James Cimburek, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Lancers Complete Improbable Comeback”; 3, Randy Dockendorf, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “At Last!”

Sports Feature: 1, James Cimburek, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Teammates, Rivals and Friends”; 2, Derek Noehren, The North Platte Telegraph, ” ’I Don’t Know Anybody Who Knew More About’ the Huskers”; 3, Jeremy Hoeck, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Coyote Safety Plays ….”

Sports Action Photo: 1, Matt Gade, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Volleyball Spike”; 2, Matt Gade, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Football Pitch”; 3, James Cimburek, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “Irene Rodeo.”

Spot News Photo: 1, Matt Gade, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “House Fire”; 2, Ellen Bardash, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Fatal Crash”; 3, Kelly Hertz, Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, “It’s Pretty Impressive.”

General News: 1, Ellen Bardash, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Pruitt Visit”; 2, George Haws, The North Platte Telegraph, “Finding Room for the Crop”; 3, Marcus Traxler, The (Mitchell) Daily Republic, “Groups Scrutinize Visit.”

Award of General Excellence: Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan

DIVISION I:

Feature Photo: 1, Steve Moseley, York News-Times, “Kid Fisherman”; 2, Kaija Swisher, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Hats off to the Class of 2018!”; 3, Jaci Conrad Pearson, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Kids Spread Their Wings at STEAM Night.”

Editorial: 1, Carrie Colburn, York News-Times, “Free Press is Your Right.”

Feature: 1, Mary Gales Askren, Madison Daily Leader, “Mother’s Day 2018 Brings Reminder of Arduous Journey”; 2, James Farrell, Fremont Tribune, “Fremont’s Own Rock Star”; 3, Jessica Votipka, York News-Times, “Epworth.”

Spot News: 1, Alex Portal, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Man Dies After Rattlesnake Bite at Golf Course”; 2, Tammy Real-McKeighan, Fremont Tribune, “Sitting in the Dark”; 3, Melanie Wilkinson, York News-Times, “K-9 Fire.”

Enterprise: 1, Melanie Wilkinson, York News-Times, “Attempt to Recall Local Mayor”; 2, James Farrell, Fremont Tribune, “Costco Series”; 3, Kaija Swisher, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “City Files Lawsuit Against Spearfish Volunteer Firefighters’ Association.”

Spot News Photo: 1, Eric Eckert, York News-Times, “Car Fire I-80”; 2, Tammy Real-McKeighan, Fremont Tribune, “FHS Locked Down; Two Arrests Made”; 3, Eric Eckert, York News-Times, “Rollover.”

Sports Action Photo: 1, Steve Moseley, York News-Times, “Bronc Rider”; 2, Larry Leeds, Madison Daily Leader, “Prairie Village Bullriding”; 3, Jason Gross, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Jackets Drop Home Opener.”

General News Photo: 1, Mary Gales Askren, Madison Daily Leader, “Native Turkey Species is Reintroduced to Lake County”; 2, Mark Watson, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Branding at the Lazy MW”; 3, Steve Moseley, York News-Times, “Eagle Release.”

Headlines: 1, Steve Moseley, York News-Times, “One Beater Bites the Dust”; 2, York News-Times, “Bam! Whoosh! Ka-Pow!”; 3, Steve Moseley and Steph Peyatt, York News-Times, “Clover Takeover and Adirondack Chair-ity.”

General News: 1, Mary Gales Askren, Madison Daily Leader, “DSU on the Front Lines in Combating Cybercrime”; 2, Melanie Wilkinson, York News-Times, “Dad of Accident Victim”; 3, Mary Gales Askren, Madison Daily Leader, “Madison Audience Shows Support for Billie Sutton.”

Spot Sports: 1, Mark Watson, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Spartans Girls Shut Out Douglas/RCC”; 2, Brent Wasenius, Fremont Tribune, “Move to Track Pays off for Junior”; 3, Brent Wasenius, Fremont Tribune, “Bergan Wins State Title.”

Personal Column: 1, Tammy Real-McKeighan, Fremont Tribune, “God Can Bring Us Much Peace”; 2, Tammy Real-McKeighan, Fremont Tribune, “Dog Story Provides Insight”; 3, Steph Peyatt, York News-Times, “Positivity on Your Pages.”

Website: 1, Jami Albrecht and Letti Lister, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer.

Sports Feature: 1, Mark Watson, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Swim Lessons a Lifetime of Fun and Fitness”; 2, Steve Marik, York News-Times, “Big Blue Nasties”; 3, Jaci Conrad Pearson, The (Spearfish) Black Hills Pioneer, “Aqua Men.”

Sports Column: 1, Ken Kush, York News-Times, “Saying Goodbye”; 2, Steve Marik, York News-Times, “Gummy Bears and Sorbet”; 3, Brent Wasenius, Fremont Tribune, “Seniors Pave Way for Bergan Success.”

Award of General Excellence: York News-Times