WILDWOOD, Mo. — NEMOnews Media Group newspapers earned five first-place honors and numerous other awards in the 2025 Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. The award luncheon was held Sept. 12 during the 159th Annual Convention and Trade Show.
Among the top winners, the Shelby County Herald’s Marlana Smith received first place in Best Sports Photograph for “Miracle Catch.”
Kahoka Media earned two first-place awards: Mike Scott won Best Editorial for “What would you do if your local newspaper suddenly disappeared?”; Emily Bontrager earned Best Story About Rural Life or Agriculture for “Guiding the Flock: Rex Nelson Shares His Expertise as a Poultry Judge”; and the publication also won second place in Best Overall Design and Best Story About Education for work by Scott.
The Edina Sentinel took home first place in Best News Story for Echo Menges’ reporting on “The Sunshine Trial.” Menges also received first place in Community Service for her story “Weather Spotter Training.” Additional honors for Menges and the Sentinel included:
•Third place in General Excellence (Edina Sentinel Staff)
•Third place in Best Feature Photograph for “Field Dressing”
•Third place in Community Service for “Knox County Candidate Forum”
•Third place in Best Story About Marginalized or Underrepresented Communities for “Deer Hunt”
•Third place in Best Headline Writing for “Sunshine Trial Headlines”
•Third place in Best Reporting Using the Sunshine Law for “The Sunshine Trial”
Separately, Menges was awarded third place in the APME/ AMARK Investigative Reporting Contest for her coverage of the Scotland County Hospital Sunshine Law trial.
In addition to the contest awards, Mike Scott of Kahoka was elected second vice president of the Missouri Press Association for 2026, putting him on track to lead the statewide organization in 2028. Other officers elected include President Bryan Chester of the Columbia Missourian; First Vice President Bryan Jones of the Morgan County Statesman; Secretary Allen Edmonds of The North Cass Herald; and Treasurer Hannah Spaar of The Odessan.
Directors elected to three-year terms are Donna Bischoff of Bridge Tower Media, Jaime Mowers of the Webster- Kirkwood Times, and Tim Schmidt of Westplex Media. Dawn Suggs of The St. Louis American was named the National Newspaper Association state chair.
Continuing on the MPA board for 2026 are Gary Castor, Jefferson City News Tribune; Kimberly Combs, Better Newspapers Inc.; Kenneth L. Garner, Garner Media Holdings; Sandy Nelson, Courier Tribune; and Ron Schott, Wright County Journal.
