LANSING, Mich. (AP) Newspapers in Detroit, Flint and Greenville were named the best in the state Sunday in the annual Michigan Associated Press Media Editors newspaper competition. General Excellence awards for 2015 went to the Detroit Free Press in Division III; The Flint Journal in Division II; and The (Greenville) Daily News in Division I. Twenty-nine daily newspapers submitted 1,012 entries in the contest, which featured news and sports stories, features, editorials, columns, graphics and photos from 2015.
Entries were judged by editors from The Courier, Findlay, Ohio and The Kenton (Ohio) Times; Division I; The Lima (Ohio) News and Record-Courier, Kent-Ravenna, Ohio; Division II; The Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio and The Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio; Division III. The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative representing 1,400 newspapers and 5,000 broadcast stations in the United States. Michigan APME winners list in Division III:
General Excellence: 1, Detroit Free Press; 2, The Detroit News; 3, The Grand Rapids Press.
Best Headline Writing: 1, Daren Tomhave, The Detroit News; 2, Andreas Supanich, The Detroit News; 3, Steve Wilkinson, The Detroit News. Best Business Writing: 1, Tom Walsh and JC Reindl, Detroit Free Press, “The Untold Tale of Compuware, Karmanos and a Bitter Breakup”; 2, Shandra Martinez, The Grand Rapids Press; 3, Detroit Free Press, “Detroit Three Auto Contract Talks.”
Best Column: 1, Stephen Henderson, Detroit Free Press, “Stephen Henderson: Through the Doors of 7124 Tuxedo”; 2, Nolan Finley, The Detroit News; 3, Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, “Kids in Freezer Had No Chance at Life.”
Best Editorial Writing: 1, Jen Eyer, The Grand Rapids Press; 2, Zane McMillin, The Grand Rapids Press; 3, Detroit Free Press, “The Case Against Term Limits.”
Best Feature Writing: 1, John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, “At U.P.’s Only Strip Club, Hunters are Big Business”; 2, Charlotte Massey, The Detroit News, “A Family’s Footsteps”; 3, Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, “Kid Rock Before the Fame: The Definitive Detroit Oral History.”
Best Sports Story: 1, Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, “Ex-NFLer Tim Shaw fights ALS”; 2, Tony Paul and Matt Charboneau, The Detroit News, “Allegations Against MSU Softball Coaches”; 3, Robin Erb, Detroit Free Press, “Miracle for Mr. Hockey? Family Defends Stem Cell Choice.”
Best Sports Feature Story: 1, Joe Rexrode, Detroit Free Press, “Williams Has ‘Grown Up A Lot’ Since Suspension”; 2, John Niyo, The Detroit News, “Not-so-Terrible Ted Lindsay is Still Active, Involved”; 3, Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press, “St. Ignace Marches Forward After Homecoming Tragedy.”
Best Sports Column: 1, Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press, “Devon Smiley Gone, but ‘DevoStrong’ Will Always Live On”; 2, Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, “Put the Shirt On is No Hail to the Victors”; 3, John Niyo, The Detroit News. Best Illustration or Graphic: 1, Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, “400!”; 2, Tim Summers, The Detroit News, “Foreclosure Meltdown”; 3, Tim Summers, The Detroit News, “Stumbling Stones.”
Best Spot News Photo: 1, Daniel Mears, The Detroit News, “I-94 Fireball”; 2, Neil Blake, The Grand Rapids Press, “Pileup”; 3, Steve Perez, The Detroit News, “Inconsolable Mother.”
Best Feature Photo: 1, Salwan Georges, Detroit Free Press, “Thanks Dad”; 2, Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press, “Best Friends”; 3, Dale G. Young, The Detroit News, “Steer Wrestler.”
Best Sports Photo: 1, Diane Weiss, Detroit Free Press, “Verlander Oh No”; 2, Emily Rose Bennett, The Grand Rapids Press, “A Mother’s Solace”; 3, Cory Morse, The Grand Rapids Press, “Champions’ Celebration.”
Best Photo Story: 1, Cory Morse, The Grand Rapids Press, “Hollow Park Wiffle Ball Tournament”; 2, Cory Morse, The Grand Rapids Press, “Honor Flight”; 3, Cory Morse, The Grand Rapids Press, “Charlie, the Miniature Therapy Horse.”
Best Video: 1, Brian Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, “Winter Home for Eagles”; 2, Eric Seals and Jim Schaefer, Detroit Free Press, “102-year-old Shipwreck Finally Found”; 3, Eric Seals and Jim Schaefer, Detroit Free Press, “Secret Santa Strikes Again.”
Best Public Service: 1, Detroit Free Press, “We Stand Together”; 2, Bill Laitner and Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press, “Walking Man James Robertson”; 3, Jim Lynch, The Detroit News, “Flint Water System Crisis.”
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, The Detroit News, “Equal Dignity: Supreme Court Legalizes Same Sex-Marriage”; 2, Robert Snell and Chad Livengood, The Detroit News, “FBI Probe of Detroit Public Schools and Education Achievement Authority”; 3, George Hunter, The Detroit News, “Kind Cop Melts Tot’s Police Fears.”
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Robert Allen and L.L. Brasier, Detroit Free Press, “Big Controversy in Tiny Village: Why So Many Reserve Cops?”; 2, Laura Berman, The Detroit News, “Scamming Cancer Doctor”; 3, Joel Kurth and Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News, “Arson in Detroit.”
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, “MDOT Pays $1.1M a Year for Rail Cars it Can’t Use”; 2, Christine MacDonald and Joel Kurth, The Detroit News, “Detroit’s Foreclosure Meltdown”; 3, Chad Livengood, The Detroit News, “State Reps Courser and Gamrat Face Probe.”
Best Full Page Design: 1, James Hollar, The Detroit News; 2, Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press; 3, Kim Storeygard, The Detroit News.
Best Multimedia Storytelling: 1, Detroit Free Press, “Implosion of the Park Avenue Hotel”; 2, The Detroit News, “Foreclosures Fuel Detroit Blight, Cost City $500 Million”; 3, Charlotte Massey, The Detroit News, “A Dangerous, Desperate Journey.”
Michigan APME winners list in Division II:
General Excellence: 1, The Flint Journal; 2, Kalamazoo Gazette; 3, Lansing State Journal. Best Headline Writing: 1, Jessica Havens, The Monroe News; 2, Mary Heath, The (Marquette) Mining Journal; 3, The Flint Journal. Best Business Writing: 1, Lindsay VanHulle, Lansing State Journal, “Back in Gear”; 2, Jessica Webster, The Ann Arbor News, “Hiring Crisis: Ann Arbor Restaurants Struggle to Find Workers”; 3, Stephen Kloosterman, The Muskegon Chronicle, “Muskegon’s Big Coal Freighters.”
Best Column: 1, Julie Mack, Kalamazoo Gazette, “My Experience with White Privilege”; 2, Ben Freed, The Ann Arbor News, “Flight with Blue Angels”; 3, Bryn Mickle, The Flint Journal, “No Room for Racists in Debate Over Gun Violence.”
Best Editorial Writing: 1, Ed Finnerty, Kalamazoo Gazette, “Fixing I-94 Drivers’ Obligation”; 2, Paula Gardner, The Ann Arbor News, “Easthope Needs to Step Down From Bench Immediately”; 3, The Flint Journal, “State Should Pay for its Own Mistakes in Flint Water Crisis.”
Best Feature Writing: 1, Julie Mack, Kalamazoo Gazette, “Taking Off His Mask”; 2, Ray Kisonas, The Monroe News, “We Owe Them”’; 3, Heather Peters, The Muskegon Chronicle, “Heroin Overdose Problem.”
Best Sports Story: 1, Rosemary Parker, Kalamazoo Gazette, “A Storybook Season”; 2, Chris Solari, Lansing State Journal, “Off line: MSU’s One Glaring Weakness…? Major Free-Throw Woes”; 3, Niles Kruger, The Monroe News, “Ida Falls Inches Short.”
Best Sports Feature Story: 1, Eric Woodyard, The Flint Journal, “Teen Father Neshua Wise Balances Basketball with Parenting”; 2, David Drew, Kalamazoo Gazette, “Trash Can to End Zone”; 3, Chris Solari, Lansing State Journal, “Perfect Pitch.”
Best Sports Column: 1, Scott Brandenburg, The Muskegon Chronicle, “Example of Sportsmanship Overrides Result at Volleyball State Finals”; 2, Chris Stevens, Midland Daily News, “We Blink and Look What Happens”; 3, Lee Thompson, The Bay City Times, “Long-Suffering Pinconning Basketball Team Plays on With Love.”
Best Illustration or Graphic: 1, Ron Fonger and Milt Klingensmith, The Flint Journal, “Here’s How That Toxic Lead Gets Into Flint Water”; 2, Selena Hautamaki, The (Marquette) Mining Journal, “State Funding Hike”; 3, Selena Hautamaki, The (Marquette) Mining Journal, “Access to Substances.”
Best Spot News Photo: 1, Mark Bugnaski, Kalamazoo Gazette, “Deadly I-94 Pileup Involves Fireworks”; 2, Jake May, The Flint Journal, “This Has to Stop”; 3, Melanie Maxwell, The Ann Arbor News, “Mirror Urgency.”
Best Feature Photo: 1, Mischa Lopiano, The Muskegon Chronicle, “Early Morning Hunt”; 2, Danny Miller, The Flint Journal, “R.I.P. Jarrett Kent”; 3, Tom Hawley, The Monroe News, “Guest Visitor.”
Best Sports Photo: 1, Brittany Greeson, The Flint Journal, “Down and Out”; 2, Alex McDougall, The Ann Arbor News, “Bloody Lap”; 3, Andraya Croft, The Muskegon Chronicle, “Fight Night.”
Best Photo Story: 1, Jake May, The Flint Journal, “Flint Water Crisis”; 2, Tom Hawley, The Monroe News, “A Love Story”; 3, Rod Sanford, Lansing State Journal, “Life with Zoe Bosanic.”
Best Video: 1, Rod Sanford, Lansing State Journal, “Life with Zoe Bosanic”; 2, Dave Wasinger, Lansing State Journal, “Remembering Ricky”; 3, Melanie Maxwell, The Ann Arbor News, “Remembering the Hurricane.”
Best Public Service: 1, The Flint Journal, “Flint Water Crisis”; 2, Justin A. Hinkley, Lansing State Journal, “Redundant and Required”; 3, Ryan Stanton, The Ann Arbor News, “Crash-Prone Ann Arbor Intersection.”
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, Ron Fonger, The Flint Journal, “Elevated Lead Found in More Flint Kids”; 2, John Counts, The Ann Arbor News, “Woolly Mammoth”; 3, Sam Easter, The Bay City Times, “Gay Marriage in Bay County.”
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Justin A. Hinkley, Lansing State Journal, “State Nurses and Overtime”; 2, Al Jones and Alex Mitchell, Kalamazoo Gazette, “Kalamazoo Guitar Heritage Project”; 3, Justin A. Hinkley and Curt Smith, Lansing State Journal, “Reflections on Ricky.”
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Lynn Moore, The Muskegon Chronicle, “School Discipline Investigation”; 2, Rosemary Parker and Julie Mack, Kalamazoo Gazette, “Daycare Vaccination Investigation”; 3, Steven R. Reed, Lansing State Journal, “Boom or Bust? Enbridge’s 100M-Gallon Tank Farm.”
Best Full Page Design: 1, Jessica Havens, The Monroe News; 2, The Flint Journal; 3, Mariah Prowoznik, Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Best Digital Presence: 1, Lansing State Journal; 2, The (Adrian) Daily Telegram; 3, Kalamazoo Gazette. Best Multimedia Storytelling: 1, Erin Sloan and Andy Taylor, Traverse City Record-Eagle, “Hops Stops”; 2, The Saginaw News, “Historic Homes”; 3, Steve Kloosterman and Joel Bissell, The Muskegon Chronicle, “Muskegon County’s Winding Road to a New Jail.”
Michigan APME winners list in Division I:
General Excellence: 1, The (Greenville) Daily News; 2, Grand Haven Tribune; 3, The Jackson Citizen Patriot. Best Headline Writing: 1, Darrin Clark, The (Greenville) Daily News; 2, Steve Begnoche, Ludington Daily News; 3, Jim Anderson, The (Iron Mountain) Daily News.
Best Business Writing: 1, Ryan Schlehuber, The (Greenville) Daily News, “Legacy of Greenville Plant”; 2, Kelly Rocheleau, Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, “Mt. Pleasant Furniture Store Closing After 38 Years”; 3, Noe Hernandez, Livingston Daily Press & Argus, “Diamonds Purchases Mr. B’s.”
Best Column: 1, Brad Flory, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Reaching for New Heights of Glory at Jackson’s Chili Cook-Off”; 2, Dan Basso, The (Owosso) Argus-Press, “News Isn’t Always Pleasant”; 3, Steve Begnoche, Ludington Daily News, “Chuck Stafford Always Fished For a Reason to Smile.”
Best Editorial Writing: 1, Elisabeth Waldon, The (Greenville) Daily News, “Making Notices Public”; 2, Mindy Norton, Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, “Editorial: College Drinking, Everywhere, Shouldn’t be Ignored.”
Best Feature Writing: 1, The (Greenville) Daily News, “School’s Out”; 2, Ryan Shek, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Trucker Mourns”; 3, Becky Vargo, Grand Haven Tribune, “Helping the Helper.”
Best Sports Story: 1, Keith Shelton, Escanaba Daily Press, “Fedell Asked to Resign as Head Coach”; 2, Nich Wolak, Grand Haven Tribune, “Grand Haven’s Knoll Happy to Still be Playing”; 3, Adam Niemi, The (Iron Mountain) Daily News, “Wolosyn Reaches 1,000.”
Best Sports Feature Story: 1, Matt Wenzel, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Addison’s Alexa Wasylkowski Remembered for Selflessness After Dying on Mission Trip to Haiti”; 2, Seth Stapleton, Huron Daily Tribune, “Courting Title Memories”; 3, Matt Wenzel, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Commitment to Michigan Basketball Further Fuels Onsted’s Austin Davis.”
Best Sports Column: 1, Seth Stapleton, Huron Daily Tribune, “The Coming Home Staple”; 2, Matt Wenzel, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Chemistry at Core of Jackson Football’s Resurgent Season”; 3, Lloyd Wallace, Ludington Daily News, “Looking Back at Ludington’s Greatest Basketball Game.”
Best Illustration or Graphic: 1, Jordan Haenlein, Grand Haven Tribune, “Heritage Fest Map”; 2, Ryan Schlehuber, The (Greenville) Daily News, “Homeless Students”; 3, Ryan Miller, Grand Haven Tribune, “A Kaleidoscope of Color.”
Best Spot News Photo: 1, Becky Vargo, Grand Haven Tribune, “Water Rescue”; 2, Jeff Kiessel, Ludington Daily News, “Scottville Firefighter Takes a Moment”; 3, Becky Vargo, Grand Haven Tribune, “Crockery Fatal.”
Best Feature Photo: 1, Gillis Benedict, Livingston Daily Press & Argus, “Superintendent Makes a Splash”; 2, Alex Doty, Grand Haven Tribune, “Fish Boil”; 3, J. Scott Park, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Wipeout.”
Best Sports Photo: 1, J. Scott Park, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Jump Celebration”; 2, Gillis Benedict, Livingston Daily Press & Argus, “Hartland Regional Soccer”; 3, Matt DeYoung, Grand Haven Tribune, “Historic Win.”
Best Photo Story: 1, Steve Begnoche, Ludington Daily News, “Looking Good, S.S. Badger In Drydock Shows Good Lines”; 2, Holly Berlinski, Escanaba Daily Press, “Acting 101”; 3, Cory Smith, The (Greenville) Daily News, “Despite Technical Glitches, Belding Marching Band Succeeds at State Finals.”
Best Video: 1, Cory Smith, The (Greenville) Daily News, “Soldier Surprises Daughter with Homecoming in Kindergarten Classroom”; 2, Gillis Benedict, Livingston Daily Press & Argus, “Distracted Driving”; 3, Gillis Benedict, Livingston Daily Press & Argus, “Superintendent Makes a Splash.”
Best Public Service: 1, Brad Klosner, The (Greenville) Daily News, “The 3 Percent”; 2, Wayne Peal, Livingston Daily Press & Argus, “Safe to Drink?”; 3, Alex Doty, Grand Haven Tribune, “How Michigan’s Minimum Wage Laws Affect You.”
Best Spot News Coverage: 1, Alex Doty, Grand Haven Tribune, “Coast Guard Station Attacked”; 2, Benjamin Raven, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Faster Horses Festival Suspended Due to Weather”; 3, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Eastbound I-94 Closed Due to Crash Involving Several Vehicles, Semitrailers.”
Best Enterprise Reporting: 1, Brian Mulherin, Ludington Daily News, “A Life Preserved”; 2, Rachel Brougham, Petoskey News-Review, “Rise of the Nones”; 3, Erica Karmeisool, Ludington Daily News, “Bridging the Gap.”
Best Investigative Reporting: 1, Theresa Ghiloni and Danielle Salisbury, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “They Have Blood on Their Hands”; 2, Lisa Yanick-Jonaitis, Mount Pleasant Morning Sun, “Ithaca Superintendent Put on Leave, Then Quits”; 3, Jenny Lancour, Escanaba Daily Press, “Doctor Linked to U.P. Drug Crime.”
Best Full Page Design: 1, Darrin Clark, The (Greenville) Daily News, “2 Men In, 1 Man Out”; 2, Grand Haven Tribune; 3, Steve Begnoche, Ludington Daily News.
Best Digital Presence: 1, Jeremy McBain and Matt Wenzel, Petoskey News-Review; 2, The (Greenville) Daily News; 3, Grand Haven Tribune.
Best Multimedia Storytelling: 1, Grand Haven Tribune, “Coast Guard Festival Parade”; 2, Leanne Smith and J. Scott Park, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, “Michigan’s ‘Woodstock’ Transformed Goose Lake”; 3, Alex Doty, Grand Haven Tribune, “M-231 Pathway Dedication.”