Smethport Correspondent Fran De Lancey captured four awards
during the annual Era Correspondents Awards luncheon Wednesday at
Beefeaters.
Meanwhile, St. Marys and Ridgway Correspondent Gretchen Rokosky
garnered three awards; Johnsonburg Correspondent Tim Hoh and Port
Allegany Correspondent Martha Knight, two awards each; and Ridgway
Correspondent Kathleen Bobenrieth and Duke Center-Eldred
Correspondent Dorothy Shoff received one award apiece.
Also, Kane-Mount Jewett Correspondent Roger Newton gained an
award for his service to The Era, while George Petrisek, who covers
Port Allegany, Potter County and McKean County government, captured
an award for longevity.
All told, 15 awards were handed out during the event.
The contest was judged by The Era’s editors. For their efforts,
each correspondent received a certificate during the luncheon. Era
photographer Francie Long also gave a presentation on photography
to those assembled.
De Lancey received a Best Meeting Report award for his story on
the Smethport Area School Board approving of cuts to the cafeteria
staff; Best Ongoing News Coverage for his series on the initiative
to bring a regional forestry school to Smethport; Special Coverage
for stories contained in a supplement for the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Moving Wall coming to Smethport; and Best News Photo for a
picture of retired U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran George Tufts
kneeling in front of the Moving Wall with arms outstretched in
prayer.
For her part, Rokosky captured Best Feature Story for a tribute
in St. Marys for former local musician Nicholas J. Sinibaldi; Best
Feature Photo for a picture of a wood carver at the Ridgway
Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous; and Political Coverage for her
coverage of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and
Development Commission and a series of federal and state
politicians making their way through Elk County.
Hoh won a Best News Coverage award for a report on a ruling by
the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board which banned the shipment of
wine directly to in-state customers; and Best Feature Photo for
students at Johnsonburg Area Elementary School during Fire
Prevention Week.
Meanwhile, Knight received Best Ongoing News Coverage for her
series of stories on the Burlesons quest to bring development to
Port Allegany; and Best Feature Story for a story on the flying
Mangold family.
A Best News Story award went to Bobenrieth for a wine tasting
event in Ridgway featuring Pennsylvania drinks; and a Best Feature
Story award to Shoff for a Bataan Death March survivor speaking at
the Eldred World War II Museum.
