Following Winter Institute, a review of contest categories and results showed several categories had not been awarded at the banquet. Our review showed that the judging assignments had not been finished and our final list of winners was incomplete.
We now have new awards to announce - all judged independently by our state association partners. Given that these categories weren't properly recognized at our awards ceremonies, each paper that submitted an entry in one of those categories will now be given credit for the value of that entry in our 2017 contest.
Although the majority of these categories came from the Ad Contest, the late results did not change any of the sweepstakes awards in that contest. The list of new contest winners can be found below. Updated tabs, containing judges' comments are posted online. Certificates have been mailed to all winners.
Advertising Contest - Division A
BEST REAL ESTATE AD
1st Place
The Blowing Rocket, Blowing Rock
Brandon Carini, Jordan Eggen
Mountain Construction
BEST MOTOR VEHICLE AD
1st Place
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
Mary Wayt, Pam Bullock
Edenton Motors Winter
2nd Place
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
Mary Wayt and Pam Bullock
Edenton Motors Blowout
3rd Place
The Cherokee One Feather, Cherokee
Amble Smoker
Asheville Chevy
BEST RETAIL AD
1st Place
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
Mary Wayt and Pam Bullock
Pools Unlimited
2nd Place
The Highlander, Highlands
Stephanie Mason
Reign-Easeley Artist
3rd Place
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
Mary Wayt and Pam Bullock
Shutter Factory
BEST USE OF HUMOR
1st Place
The Cherokee One Feather, Cherokee
Robert Jumper
What we really want
BEST NEWSPAPER PROMOTION
1st Place
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
Mary Wayt
Super Hero
2nd Place
The Higlander, Highlands
Staff
16 Newspaper Promo-Hs Ad
3rd Place
Crossroads Chronicle, Cashiers
Zena Lynch
Classified picture sales
BEST RETAIL AD IN A NICHE PUBLICATION
1st Place
The Highlander, Highlands
Stephanie Mason, Josh Smith
Hil Lawn Garden & Wilson Gas
2nd Place
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
Mary Wayt and Pam Bullock
Pig
Advertising Contest -Division B
BEST REAL ESTATE AD
1st Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Joey Robinson, Carol Magnani
Margaret Rudd and Associates REALTORS
2nd Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Linda Lash, Carol Magnani
St. James Open House
3rd Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Joey Robinson, Carol Magnani
Leesa Snyder - Southport Realty
BEST MOTOR VEHICLE AD
1st Place
Ashe Mountain Times, West Jefferson
Meleah Bryan, Jordan Eggen
Ross Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
2nd Place
The Courier-Times, Roxboro
Carol Garrett
University Ford - Ford Truck Month
3rd Place
The Franklin Press, Franklin
Liz Birolin
Ambassador Automotive
BEST COLOR RESTAURANT/ENTERTAINMENT AD
1st Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Joey Robinson, Carol Magnani
Fishy Fishy Café
2nd Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Linda Lash, Mindy Ellinger
Bella Cucina
3rd Place
Up & Coming Weekly, Fayetteville
Sara Smith
Trail of Terror
BEST RETAIL AD
1st Place
The Chowan Herald, Edenton
Staff
WE Nixon's Welding and Hardware
2nd Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Linda Lash, Carol Magnani
The Painted Mermaid
3rd Place
Watauga Democrat, Boone
Brandon Carini, John Goheen
Kudzu Music
BEST USE OF HUMOR
1st Place
The Courier-Times, Roxboro
Sandra Coghill
Eddie & Laura Burton Keller Williams - Real Estate Team with Personality
2nd Place
The State Port Pilot, Southport
Joey Robinson, Ben Frazier
Hippy Chick Granola
BEST RETAIL AD IN A NICHE PUBLICATION
1st Place
The Franklin Press, Franklin
Liz Birolin
Noah's Ark Animal Hospital
2nd Place
Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Ahoskie
Crystal Parker
Ellen's Hair Affair 2
3rd Place
Watauga Democrat, Boone
Meleah Bryan, Rick Tobin
Northern Parker Interiors
Advertising Contest - Division C
BEST REAL ESTATE AD
1st Place
The Mountaineer, Waynesville
Matthew Tucker, Lori Gilbert
Carolina Mountain Sales
BEST RETAIL AD
1st Place
The Mountaineer, Waynesville
Matthew Tucker, Lori Gilbert
Marthalers
2nd Place
The Pilot, Southern Pines
Ginny Trigg, Scott Yancey
Casino Guitars
3rd Place
Mountain Xpress, Asheville
Staff
Grab some new Broo
BEST USE OF HUMOR
1st Place
The Mountaineer, Waynesville
Tristan Collins
Cars 828 4WD
Advertising Contest - Division D
BEST REAL ESTATE AD
1st Place
The Daily Herald, Roanoke Rapids
Linda Foster
Real Estate Marketplace
2nd Place
The McDowell News, Marion
Kasey Wells, Tiffany Coates
Clear Creek Realty
BEST RETAIL AD IN A NICHE PUBLICATION
1st Place
The Shelby Star, Shelby
Matt Blanchard, Lisa Lilly
Ora Market
2nd Place
Tryon Daily Bulletin, Tryon
Staff
Landrum
3rd Place
The Shelby Star, Shelby
Robin Isenhour, Lisa Lilly
Cleveland County Fair
Advertising Contest - Division E
BEST REAL ESTATE AD
1st Place
The Jacksonville Daily News, Jacksonville
Tracy Nisbet, Latoya Cardona, Jennifer Fryer
Realtor of the Week
2nd Place
Hickory Daily Record, Hickory
Kent Boggs, Jennifer Carroll
Realty Executives
3rd Place
The Daily Reflector, Greenville
David Singleton and Jasmine Blount
Bill Clark Homes
BEST RETAIL AD IN A NICHE PUBLICATION
1st Place
The Daily Reflector, Greenville
Pierce Sturgill and Rick Glosson
Baby Bump
2nd Place
High Point Enterprise, High Point
Jack Moriarity
Steak Street for your Wedding
3rd Place
The Herald-Sun, Durham
Meghan Blackwell
Wentworth & Leggett
Advertising Contest - Division F
BEST REAL ESTATE AD
1st Place
News & Record, Greensboro
Terry Savoy, Kristie Kennedy
Allen Tate
BEST MOTOR VEHICLE AD
1st Place
Fayetteville Observer, Fayetteville
Eddie Harris
FO Autos
BEST RETAIL AD IN A NICHE PUBLICATION
1st Place
Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem
Lisa Kennedy
LunasTrail
2nd Place
Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem
Lisa Kennedy
Camilles
3rd Place
Fayetteville Observer, Fayetteville
Eddie Harris
Unfinished Furniture Outlet
Editorial Contest - Division A
SPECIAL SECTION
1st Place
Zachary Morgan II, Kyle Stephens, Angela Harne
The Farmville Enterprise, Farmville
Farmville Central Men's Basketball State Champions
2nd Place
Staff
The Highlander, Highlands
Best of Highlands
3rd Place
Staff
The Roanoke Beacon, Plymouth
First on Scene
Editorial Contest - Division B
SPECIAL SECTION
1st Place
Staff
The State Port Pilot, Southport
2016 N.C. Fourth of July Festival Program
2nd Place
Staff
Outer Banks Sentinel, Nags Head
Sounds of Summer
3rd Place
Staff
Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Ahoskie
Crossroads 2016
Editorial Contest - Division C
SPECIAL SECTION
1st Place
Staff
Independent Tribune, Concord
Cabarrus Game Night
2nd Place
Staff
The Pilot, Southern Pines
City Report
3rd Place
Staff
Carteret County News-Times, Morehead City
Big Rock Daily Line
Editorial Contest - Division D
SPORTS NEWS REPORTING
1st Place
Paul Schenkel
The News Herald, Morganton
Perfection
2nd Place
Justin Epley
The News Herald, Morganton
Wild Bunch Wins
3rd Place
Sarah Bloom
The Daily Herald, Roanoke Rapids
Rebound; February 21, 2016
Editorial Contest - Division E
SPORTS NEWS REPORTING
1st Place
Greer Smith
High Point Enterprise, High Point
Decker builds lead; Hanzel sets pace; Hanzel captures crown
2nd Place
John McCann
The Herald-Sun, Durham
BIG-TIME PLAY: Trubisky TD toss to Howard lifts UNC past Pitt in final 2 ticks
3rd Place
Dennis Davidson
Salisbury Post, Salisbury
Season over for Salisbury, North Rowan
Editorial Contest - Division F
SPORTS NEWS REPORTING
1st Place
Powell Latimer
News & Record, Greensboro
The face of the program
2nd Place
Luke DeCock
News & Observer, Raleigh
Knightdale's Ash stumbles with bronze within reach
3rd Place
Joseph Person
The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte
Crushed: Colo. Avalanche buries Newton with 6 sacks
Editorial Contest - Division O
BEAT NEWS REPORTING
1st Place
Catherine Clabby
NC Health News, Chapel Hill
New Drinking Water Threat Concerns Scientists and Officials
2nd Place
Rose Hoban
NC Health News, Chapel Hill
NC Child Welfare System Failing Children, Families, Reports Say
3rd Place
Lisa Sorg
N.C. Policy Watch, Raleigh
Jeffery Warren