Unfragile

Staff Report

BATON ROUGE - Like Darren McGavin’s character on A Christmas Story, the Ville Platte Gazette received a major award when it received the award for Newspaper of the Year in Division 4 at the Louisiana Press Association’s Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 30. This is the first year the Gazette earned Newspaper of the Year distinction
The designation for the Newspaper of the Year is based on the number of points earned in the contest, with awards being given in individual contests for first, second, and third places. The editorial contests range from news story writing to graphic design while the advertising entries were judged based on design, creativity, and effectiveness.
“This award goes to the entire staff of the paper,” said Gazette publisher Garland Forman. “They hung in there during the pandemic and continued to produce a good product twice a week during a stressful time. I’m so proud of their commitment to the paper and the community.”
In total, the Gazette received 19 awards across the various categories.
Editor Tony Marks placed third for the Sam Hanna Award given to the best regular column for “What drives you,” and “Christmas gift ideas.”
Advertising manager Kathy Longino placed second in staff generated ad for The Grinch visiting The Evangeline Bank and Trust Company. She also placed third in the same category for a Top Scholars ad for Wesley LeJeune from Basile High School.
Longino and Composition Manager Monique Ardoin placed first in Best Ad Campaign for a Don’t Drink and Drive page on February 11. Judge’s comments: “Great use of bright eye catching colors. Love the theme of Safe Driving with a different local event: Example: Fat Tuesday, Prom Night, Holiday Buzz Driving. Advertiser ads look nice and great way to showcase them backing the ‘Don’t Drink & Drive Theme.’”
Longino and Ardoin also placed first in Best Multiple Advertiser Page for September 11. Judge’s comments: “Pages invoked feeling. I like that each ad followed the theme of the pages.”
In the same category, Longino and Ardoin placed second for Veteran’s Day.
Former Associate Editor, and current staff reporter, Nancy Duplechain took home a first place award in Best News Story for “Death in the jailhouse.” Judge’s comments: “While unnamed sources are not something newspapers should use often, the loss of a life and a credible eye witness would be difficult for a good reporter to ignore. This entry stood above the rest in terms of news gathering.”
Rhett Manuel, sports editor, won second place in Best Sports Column for “Johnson looks to return LSU Baseball to glory days,” and “Showing confidence in Brian Kelly.” He also won third place in Best Sports Story for “Rags to riches” on LSUE head baseball coach Jeff Willis.
The staff received first place in Best Special Section for its Football Special Edition. Judge’s comments: “Best collection of great local stories. You certainly know these teams and help the community know them just as well.”
The staff placed second in general excellence for the January 3 and May 2 editions. This was the second year in a row the staff placed second in this category.
Also, the staff placed third in Best Front Page for the April 11 edition showing scenes from the Ville Platte Native Plant and Heritage Garden.
Marks earned first place in Best Feature Photo for a picture of Yvonne Dardeau sitting in her chair where she wrote her book One Foot in the Grave, the Other Groping for Life: Lessons for Christians’ and Christianity’s survival in the Twenty-First Century. Judge’s comments: “Excellent attention to detail in setting up this representative shot: iced tea, book, pen and family photo placed just so. And her smile is perfect. Well done!”
In Best Feature Story, Marks placed first for “Lusay’s Tale.” Judge’s comments: “Just a simple story about a man and his mule. The story is engaging and well told. The subject matter, that is quite unexpected, gives this entry the edge in this category.”
Marks swept the Best News Photo category. First place went for a photo of firefighters battling flames and heavy smoke in the front of the residence that caught on fire in Ville Platte. Judge’s comments: “Good action photo of a breaking news event.” Second place went to a photo of Major General Ronald J. Richard sitting atop his grandfather’s tractor that was restored by Tom Klumpp, owner of Klumpp Equipment on the Basile Eunice Highway. Third place went to a photograph of Santa riding atop an antique fire unit from the Ville Platte Fire Department in the Chataignier Christmas Parade.
In Best Headline, Marks placed second for “‘Fore’ the win” on a story about Pine Prairie native Julia Johnson helping lead Ole Miss to the women’s golf national championship.
In Best Feature Photo, Marks placed third for a photo of Billy Joe Fontenot with his mule Lusay Michelle Fontenot. The two have been riding Mardi Gras in Mamou for the past 12 years.