Raising awareness about child abuse and coverage of the prosecution of those responsible for the death four-year-old Chance Mark Jones earned The Clarendon Enterprise recognition by the Panhandle Press Association last Saturday, April 6.
The Enterprise was presented with the Ken Towery Community Service Award during the 103rd annual PPA Convention in Amarillo.
“We are humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Enterprise publisher Roger Estlack. “There are some news events that we wish we never had to cover, and certainly the senseless death of a child tops that list. As a community, we must never forget what happened to Chance Mark Jones; and as a paper we will not relent in our effort to make people more aware that child abuse does exist and that we should do everything we can to stop it.”
The award is named in honor of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Kenneth Towery, who wanted to honor papers who serve their community and who presented PPA with more than $13,000 from himself and other donors to fund the award. Two papers are recognized each year – one small weekly and one large weekly, semi-weekly, or small daily paper – and each paper receives a check for $250.
The Enterprise has donated its award winnings to the Clarendon Lions Club for its project that will purchase playground equipment in Chance’s memory. A memorial 5K Walk/Run is being held this Saturday as a fundraiser for the Lions Club project.
The other community service winner this year was the Moore County News-Press in Dumas for its efforts to raise awareness about bullying.
Also at this year’s annual PPA Better Newspaper Contest, the Enterprise received top honors in its division, earning the General Excellence award along with ten first place plaques in the categories of Headline Writing, Advertising Initiative, Front Page Layout, Spot News Photos (by Roger and Ashlee Estlack), Society & Lifestyles, Feature Stories (by Ashlyn Tubbs and Roger Estlack), Special Sections, Editorials (on the proposed Ten Commandments marker, the role of newspapers defending freedom, and the tone of city politics), Serious Columns (by Roger Estlack), and Best Website.
The Enterprise also picked up third place plaques for Serious Columns (by Fred Gray), News Writing, and Sports Coverage (by Sandy Anderberg and Fred Gray).
The PPA was led this year by Canyon’s Amanda Rogers. She will continue on the PPA board as Immediate Past President with the following officers: Wanda Brooks of Dumas, President; Jeff Blackmon of Shamrock, Vice President; and Roger Estlack of Clarendon, Secretary/Treasurer, along with directors Ashlee Estlack of Clarendon, Debra Wells of Borger, ReDonn Woods of Pampa, Larry Thornton of Muleshoe, and Wayne Hodgin of Post.
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