Times wins first in general excellence, 11 other awards in statewide contest

The Ozark County Times brought home a big honor this year, earning the 2025 Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest coveted first place award in the “general excellence” category, along with 11 other first and second place plaques.

“We’re just so humbled and proud to be recognized in this way,” Editor Jessi Dreckman said. “We have a wonderful team and the very best readers around, folks who never hesitate to tell us how much their hometown paper means to them. To also be honored on such a big stage, alongside so many talented journalists and other great publications from across Missouri, really does mean the world to us.”

The statewide contest is open to all newspapers in the state of Missouri for work written and published in 2024. The Times is judged against other class 2 weekly newspapers in the state. 

General excellence - first place

The top spot in the general excellence category was awarded after the Times submitted three select issues from last year’s lineup. The category focuses on newspapers as a whole instead of the specific articles or content that the other categories involve. Judges award points collectively based on breadth of news coverage, quality of writing, advertising design and layout, general page layout, use of photos and artwork, the front page, sports page and editorial page, headline language and treatment of public notices.

“[This paper is] chockful of news of record and names and faces and event photos. Strong local Memorial Day story, substantive primary election preview and second-to-none coverage of the popular Hootin an Hollarin festival,” a judge shared about the newspaper’s submission.

While the Ozark County Times placed third in general excellence in 2016 and 2017 and earned honorable mentions in 1961, 1962 and 1989, this is the first time that the Times has earned the first place spot in that category.

Best front page - second place

The Times took second place in the best front page category this year. 

The judges praised the “clean design” of the Times’ front pages, noting that staff are “not afraid to give the centerpieces space.”

While the category focuses primarily on the design of the front page, that isn’t the only element judges look at. The front pages are also judged on consistent quality of writing, layout, design, headlines, white space and other front page elements. 

Best news or feature series - first place

It was Sue Ann Jones’s two-part series celebrating Century Bank of the Ozarks’ colorful 130-year history that won the top spot in the best news or feature series category.

The article detailed the bank’s beginnings in 1894 and the four generations of Harlins to own and operate the bank, including current chairman and CEO Chris Harlin.

“An interesting and fun read. The articles were informative, description and educational. The writer did an excellent job of blending historical history with contemporary milestones. The Harlin family has a rich history in the community,” a judge commented. 

Best special section - second place

A continual front-runner in both Missouri Press’s editorial and advertising contests for the last several years, The Real Ozarks magazine was awarded second place this year in the best special section, magazine or alternative publication category. 

The 100-page magazine-style guide to Ozark County and the surrounding area is published every spring. It features information on natural areas, hiking, floating, fishing, river and lake access information, hunting, historic grist mills, lodging, festivals, places to eat and drink, birdwatching and more. 

One judge remarks that The Real Ozarks is a “wonderful guide to the Ozarks,” and that it has “great use of photos” and is a “comprehensive roundup of things to do.”

Best news or feature obituary - second place

Dreckman’s article titled, “Local community gathers to remember 16-year-old girl who lost life in crash,” published in December 2024 was named second place in the best news or feature obituary category. 

The article focused on the life of Gainesville teen Andrea Winrod, who tragically lost her life in a vehicle crash, and the inspiration her life brought to her family, teammates and friends. 

A judge wrote, “Huge loss. So talented and gone too young.” The category is judged on quality of writing and reporting. 

Best business story - second place

Dreckman also took second place in the business story category for her article profiling Ozark County resident Rachel Klessig and her bakery Petite Patisserie, located on the Mountain Home (Ark.) square. 

“This is a lovely feature on a special local business owner, with engaging details about the work she does in running the bakery.”

Best story about rural life or agriculture - second place

The article, “Love and memories potted up and planted,” by Dreckman won second place in the best story about rural life category. The article featured Gainesville Mayor Gail Reich and her extensive houseplant collection, most of which were given to her as starts from plants of loved ones. Each plant’s story was told, giving details into the bonds and relationships Reich has developed as a lifelong resident of Ozark County. 

A judge commented, “The choice to organize this piece around the different plants and their origins really makes it stand out. The writer clearly approached it with a high level of care for its subject and with careful attention for the stories she had to tell.”

Best story about religion - first place

Jones took another first place spot in the category of best story about religion for her piece on Mike and Gretchen Hatcher. 

The article details the path of divine intervention that led to the Hatchers’ creation of the Briar Creek Retreat in Theodosia. The story says that in 2005, while serving in the Navy in Guam, Mike Hatcher had a spiritual vision directing him to build a retreat for pastors at Theodosia, Missouri, a place he’d never heard of. Two years later, they bought land in Theodosia and were living out that vision. Mike’s wife Gretchen lost her eyesight in 2022, and the couple adapted to the new circumstances - still dedicated to their original vision. 

“This is a jaw-dropping story, a phenomenal example of the kind of story only local news is able to tell, with long-standing, consistent community ties that let the writer draw on almost 20 years of first-hand presence with the story. The twists and turns of the Hatchers’ narrative are laid out in clear, compelling detail with engaging writing and evident care for their lives, their successes and their struggles, great work,” a judge wrote about the article. 

Sadly, Gretchen passed away in August 2024, a few months after the article was published.  

Best story about the outdoors - second place

Dreckman won second place in the category of best story about the outdoors with her summer roundup of Ozark County’s 10 best swimming holes. 

“Punchy writing that translates well for locals, recent transplants and tourists to enjoy these beloved spots. Nice use of the blue to add to the aquatic theme.”

Best military story - first place

The article, “French village prepares to honor American liberators, including a farmboy from northeastern Ozark County,” won first place for best military story.

The article centered around a two-day celebration, held June 22-23, 2024, in the small town of St. Pierre Eglise in Normandy, France, to commemorate the day American soldiers rolled into the village in 1944, ending the Germans’ four-year occupation. Among the Americans who were celebrated was Dora farmboy, 23-year-old John L. Freeman, who was part of that group. Freeman died six weeks later after being wounded in August of that year. 

“It’s clear that quite a bit of time and research went into humanizing and retelling the final days of this World War II soldier whose story would otherwise have been lost to time were it not for the combined efforts of the reporter and a European author documenting the story,” a judge commented. 

The story was judged on quality of writing, lead, significance and presentation, including artwork and photographs. 

Best health story - first and second places

The Times took both first and second place in the category of best health story published in 2024. 

First place went to Jones’ article, “Friends and strangers rush to restart a young man’s heart,” about the resuscitation of 17-year-old Logan Hillhouse July 1, 2024, after his heart unexpectedly stopped while he was working at Pontiac Cove Marina.

The judges noted that the article had “strong detail and [was an] informative yet a well balanced and paced piece.”

Second place went to Dreckman’s article about Gainesville resident Michael Turner finding a way out of drug addiction with the help of the Action Recovery Center (ARC), a residential sober living facility in Gainesville. Turner was the first graduate of the program. The judges said the piece had a “strong narrative and voice [that] feels representative of the community the paper serves. Very detailed.”