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Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

by Sharon M. Wheelock

Thanksgiving, like Independence Day, is a uniquely American holiday. We celebrate Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah with the rest of the world, but they watch us with interest on our own special day.

It began when a hardy, independent group headed for the "new world, searching for freedom from government and religious restrictions. Their dreams took a battering once they found their new home; after they landed at Plymouth, their harsh experiences caused half of the colonists to die within the first year, 1620-1621. But local Indians helped the people and once the fall crops were in, the new Americans decided to set a day aside to give thanks for making it through their first year in America.

Now, in 2002, we look forward to another Thanksgiving and wonder if some of the blessings on our great land is because we put God in the equation right from the beginningdid not take good fortune for granted but named a holiday so as to never forget to give thanks.

Aside from individual reasons, we share our blessings with many. As a country, our history is so short we can almost reach back and know those who fought the battles to make us a strong country; in the Sandhills, it is even more true as it was settled much later. Our intimate understanding of our history and our place in it makes us unique, deeper and richer in understanding.

Land is of huge importance when we give thanks. We, in perhaps "the last frontier, can still live on, and love, the land in a manner unusual to most people, even in other parts of the U.S. It is more than the passion we feel toward it, it is that as long as people own land, they are free; the government cannot control them. When we remember that the colonists came to America for freedom, this may top our list. It is a struggle to keep the land from the government, and they purchase more of it all the time. This year as threats grow, one huge reason to give thanks is because we still own the land, and we must remind ourselves of that importance so it is not sold off"and freedom with it.

Family is always first. We all recall the many wonderful people in our family trees no longer here and are so grateful for their lives and all they accomplished. Then we look around at the many family members of all ages"exciting in their promise"and wonder what gifts and important acts they will impart. Maybe they will hang onto land. Maybe they will speak up for the underdogsfeed the poorminister to those in needinvent the cure to cancerbecome Presidentwrite a bookbe the kind of parents that gives to our world caring, productive, loving, helpful people. Most of all, family is there to love one another, to make the bumps of life easier to take. Helpers, friends, a shoulder to lean on, to cry on, to share joys with"family members are gifts from God and to be thanked for.

Friends are like family members that you get to chose; people who stand by you through thick and thin and without whom we would often give up. Friends must have played an enormous part in keeping those original colonists strong enough to survive the harsh new world. Friends included the Indians, without whom they likely would not have survived; they were wise enough to realize that and made them part of the Thanksgiving celebration. A huge lesson lies in this example; Important people may not be those we first think, and we should never exclude those of different races, faiths or other differences.

Work is a blessing for which to give thanks. It is likely the means that God placed before you to be certain you are fed and have a roof over your head. With that, you can then share with others. Riches of any kind are not meant to be hoarded, but to be shared. Life on earth is short enough and if we sit selfishly on our little pile of money, not only will blessings be withheld here, but certainly beyond.

Peace is of tremendous value. Despite a terrorist attack on our country, through diplomacy and Americans speaking out, we are still at peace over one year later. As long as peace reigns, hearts continue to beat that might have been silenced, and children live with a minimum of fear. Giving thanks for peace is especially important this year, as well as asking for guidance for our leaders and protection for our military people.

Freedom is the overall blessing that our ancestors fought and sacrificed for; we must have the courage to look at the whole picture and defend, perhaps above all, freedom. Freedom to speak, to read the Bible or other religious books, to stand up when we see a threat to this one thing that so defines America. Only as long as we remain free are we truly Americans, which is why it is said that the most American act one can do is dissent. Following anyone along the easy path can lead away from freedom. "Eternal vigilance is required every moment of every day by every American. It takes more than soldiers to keep the country and people free; it takes you and me.

Individual reasons for giving thanks would include anything from books to music to guns or golf club. Our homes "a man,s castle brings us much joy. The excitement of learning, education, is another. Likewise, health and long fulfilling lives. Plus those qualities that came to us via the earliest Americans: character, integrity, honesty, fairness, hard work, strength of will and spirit, idealism, hope, and always the ability to dream dreams and make them come true.

Memories tell us what is of most value as we look over time and usually it is people, in one manner or another. Someone held out a hand to pull you from an abyss. Another lived such an exemplary life so as to inspire others. One stood alone and took the brunt of bruises and slurs for no reason but bias or jealousy"and their purity shone. Some worked hard to make life better for the poor, homeless, orphaned, widowed, sick, forgotten, and unimportant. Some taught, or held, or fed, or nursed; some were servants to communities via health care professionals, firemen, EMTs, police, detectives, F.B.I., researchers, scientists, small business people, ranchers, historians, authors, preachers. For all these, we are thankful.

As Thanksgiving 2002 approaches, we give thanks for all the people and events that have worked to make our world and lives and our country better. It is important, it is patriotic, to remember to give thanks.

We are grateful to live in a nation where busy people set this humble purpose as one of its first acts.

**Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving**

***by Sharon M. Wheelock***
	Thanksgiving, like Independence Day, is a uniquely American holiday. We celebrate Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah with the rest of the world, but they watch us with interest on our own special day. It began when a hardy, independent group headed for the "new world, searching for freedom from government and religious restrictions. Their dreams took a battering once they found their new home; after they landed at Plymouth, their harsh experiences caused half of the colonists to die within the first year, 1620-1621. But local Indians helped the people and once the fall crops were in, the new Americans decided to set a day aside to give thanks for making it through their first year in America. Now, in 2002, we look forward to another Thanksgiving and wonder if some of the blessings on our great land is because we put God in the equation right from the beginningdid not take good fortune for granted but named a holiday so as to never forget to give thanks. Aside from individual reasons, we share our blessings with many. As a country, our history is so short we can almost reach back and know those who fought the battles to make us a strong country; in the Sandhills, it is even more true as it was settled much later. Our intimate understanding of our history and our place in it makes us unique, deeper and richer in understanding. Land is of huge importance when we give thanks. We, in perhaps "the last frontier, can still live on, and love, the land in a manner unusual to most people, even in other parts of the U.S. It is more than the passion we feel toward it, it is that as long as people own land, they are free; the government cannot control them. When we remember that the colonists came to America for freedom, this may top our list. It is a struggle to keep the land from the government, and they purchase more of it all the time. This year as threats grow, one huge reason to give thanks is because we still own the land, and we must remind ourselves of that importance so it is not sold off"and freedom with it. Family is always first. We all recall the many wonderful people in our family trees no longer here and are so grateful for their lives and all they accomplished. Then we look around at the many family members of all ages"exciting in their promise"and wonder what gifts and important acts they will impart. Maybe they will hang onto land. Maybe they will speak up for the underdogsfeed the poorminister to those in needinvent the cure to cancerbecome Presidentwrite a bookbe the kind of parents that gives to our world caring, productive, loving, helpful people. Most of all, family is there to love one another, to make the bumps of life easier to take. Helpers, friends, a shoulder to lean on, to cry on, to share joys with"family members are gifts from God and to be thanked for. Friends are like family members that you get to chose; people who stand by you through thick and thin and without whom we would often give up. Friends must have played an enormous part in keeping those original colonists strong enough to survive the harsh new world. Friends included the Indians, without whom they likely would not have survived; they were wise enough to realize that and made them part of the Thanksgiving celebration. A huge lesson lies in this example; Important people may not be those we first think, and we should never exclude those of different races, faiths or other differences. Work is a blessing for which to give thanks. It is likely the means that God placed before you to be certain you are fed and have a roof over your head. With that, you can then share with others. Riches of any kind are not meant to be hoarded, but to be shared. Life on earth is short enough and if we sit selfishly on our little pile of money, not only will blessings be withheld here, but certainly beyond. Peace is of tremendous value. Despite a terrorist attack on our country, through diplomacy and Americans speaking out, we are still at peace over one year later. As long as peace reigns, hearts continue to beat that might have been silenced, and children live with a minimum of fear. Giving thanks for peace is especially important this year, as well as asking for guidance for our leaders and protection for our military people. Freedom is the overall blessing that our ancestors fought and sacrificed for; we must have the courage to look at the whole picture and defend, perhaps above all, freedom. Freedom to speak, to read the Bible or other religious books, to stand up when we see a threat to this one thing that so defines America. Only as long as we remain free are we truly Americans, which is why it is said that the most American act one can do is dissent. Following anyone along the easy path can lead away from freedom. "Eternal vigilance is required every moment of every day by every American. It takes more than soldiers to keep the country and people free; it takes you and me. Individual reasons for giving thanks would include anything from books to music to guns or golf club. Our homes "a man,s castle brings us much joy. The excitement of learning, education, is another. Likewise, health and long fulfilling lives. Plus those qualities that came to us via the earliest Americans: character, integrity, honesty, fairness, hard work, strength of will and spirit, idealism, hope, and always the ability to dream dreams and make them come true. Memories tell us what is of most value as we look over time and usually it is people, in one manner or another. Someone held out a hand to pull you from an abyss. Another lived such an exemplary life so as to inspire others. One stood alone and took the brunt of bruises and slurs for no reason but bias or jealousy"and their purity shone. Some worked hard to make life better for the poor, homeless, orphaned, widowed, sick, forgotten, and unimportant. Some taught, or held, or fed, or nursed; some were servants to communities via health care professionals, firemen, EMTs, police, detectives, F.B.I., researchers, scientists, small business people, ranchers, historians, authors, preachers. For all these, we are thankful. As Thanksgiving 2002 approaches, we give thanks for all the people and events that have worked to make our world and lives and our country better. It is important, it is patriotic, to remember to give thanks. We are grateful to live in a nation where busy people set this humble purpose as one of its first acts.

Van Ackeren, Howard, Burgess, Anthony, Teahon, and

Wheelock Bring Home Seven NE Press Awards From State

by Sharon M. Wheelock

The Grant County News won seven awards at the annual Better Newspaper Contest, held Saturday night during the Nebraska Press Association (NPA) convention. Every creative or news writer and photographer working for the GCN placed in the highly competitive contest.

More than 300 people were in attendance at the convention, held at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln ,this past weekend.

Winners from the Grant County News were Ruth Van Ackeren and Robert Howard, taking the first place award, in Featured Series for their book, The Big Walk, which ran as a series in the Grant County News from February to mid-June, 2001. The huge volume of their past work is also recognized, including Bob,s early stint as publisher of the Grant County newspaper.

Another first place award was won by the newspaper in a one time only, category of Americans at War. It was to consist of the first front page after the September 11th terrorism attack, and related material that ran that week. The entire front page of the Grant County News was devoted to local and national coverage of the terrorism event, as was Sass and Sentiments by Sharon M. Wheelock, and this made up the winning entry.

A second place award was won in Single Feature Story, "Local Ranchwoman, Gail Nason, by Sharon M. Wheelock. The topic was domestic violence.

Casandra Anthony placed third in Picture Page, Series or Panel , which featured her photos for the "How To Make A Teepee picture essay page.

Bernard Burgess won third place in Personal Column, featuring two The Makings Of An Old Cowboy columns on coyotes and one on breaking horses.

Nathan Teahon won third place in Sports Column, for his From The Skybox column, featuring three random columns.

The final award, also for third place, was won in Lifestyle Section, for the Gracious Living page"featuring writers Stephanie Erickson, Con Bradley, Mindy Jo Wheelock-Tank, and Sharon M. Wheelock, as well as the separate story of Ann Manning Warren,s decorating and collections, written by Sharon M. Wheelock.

Speakers at this year,s convention included Lincoln Mayor Don Wesley; Jeff Zeleny, a Washington Political Writer for the Chicago Tribune; Jim Fowler of the TV series Wild Kingdom; Jeff Schmahl, of Nebraska Husker Vision; and John Walker, UNL,s Women,s Soccer Coach.

Various workshops and trade shows were held Friday and Saturday, as was the Master Editor/Publisher award"presented to Kent Broyhill of the South Sioux City Star"the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an NPA member. Golden Pica awards were presented Saturday at a luncheon to people who have served the newspaper industry for over 50 years.

Saturday evening, the "Oscar night of print journalism, a video presentation of the award winners was presented, and winners announced, after the banquet.

NPA represents 18 daily newspapers, 163 weeklies and 10 collegiate newspapers, and is the state,s oldest trade association. It was founded in 1873.

Sharon M. Wheelock, GCN publisher, said this was one of the best years in regard to awards won. "To have the vast amount of newspaper work that has been done by Ruth Van Ackeren and Robert A. Howard recognized is one of the greatest of all joys. Bob having been a former newspaper publisher in Grant County makes it all the more special and fitting. Both were very deserving. Their win was my ultimate wish.

"I will always be indebted to the Nebraska Press people"and ultimately Allen Beerman, our executive director, who reluctantly, but finally, went against their rules and gave me the information that Ruth and Bob had won something (I still didn,t know what) after hearing how very ill Ruth was. It allowed me to tell Ruth about her win in our last conversation. She asked to tell her daughters, but swore not to tell another soul. She was thrilled at this honor and understood how steep is the state newspaper competition, especially among weeklies which number so high. Nebraska Press folks gave some of us a real high point in life by letting Ruth be informed of her win with Bob, because as it happened, she died the week before the convention and announcements of awards. But how wonderful to be winning awards right up to deathand then, even afterwards.

Ruth did have one humorous, self-depreciating comment: "Not everyone waits until they are almost 97 to get an award. She did have a "few other honors in her life and long writing career, but in her 96th year, she has so far won three newspaper awards, with Nationals yet in late summer and early fall.

"Shortly behind Ruth and Bob, in my wish, department for an award, Wheelock says, "was Casandra Anthony. She has worked for the newspaper for almost a dozen years, often in areas where awards aren,t forthcoming. (Were there an award in circulation/mailing, she,d have it consistently.) This year, she had some outstanding photography that could make this her, year. Still, the competition is so tough at the state press contest"and we,re the smallest paper that competes and have by far the smallest staff"that you never know. What we do know is there will be hundreds of outstanding work judged alongside ours. A win at state is truly a win.

"So, in this first year she has had anything entered, Casandra has won three awards, so far"with Nationals yet to go. It,s almost unheard of to win three awards your first time.

"Topping off the joy was learning that Bernard Burgess and Nathan Teahon each won their first press awards in two of the most difficult categories to win: Personal Columns. There,s so much competition for these, plus they are uniquely you, and depend heavily on writing style, voice, and talent.

"Bernard, who has a book in the works, of some of his writings, is a great win because you never know if western style writings will be understood and appreciated by judges.

"And Nathan, who graduates this year, winning at so young an age and in competition with adults, can put this in his portfolio for his future in sports communication. For the newspaper, it is a special thrill because about the only category the GCN has not won in is Sports Column.

"Then add the writers on the Gracious Living Page: past award winner Con Bradley,s poetry; past winner as Editorial Page columnist and Gracious Living Page poet, Mindy Jo Wheelock-Tank, with two poems featured this year; first year poet, Stephanie Erickson, barely into her teens; and Sharon M. Wheelock,s article on "Funerals of the Past"all of whom were involved in the winning Lifestyle Section, and that makes lots more local/GCN writers among the winning entries.

"Thinking back, almost everyone who has worked for the Grant County News has won at least one Nebraska Press Association award"which is very unusual. It also says something against the nearly universal policy that you must have degrees upon degrees to be on a newspaper staff; you just have to be dedicated, talented, loyal to the work, good, and stay with it. GCN winners since 1991 include Tammy Hansen Gilbert (Column), Anita Meyer (Sports News), Kim Foreman (Investigative Reporting), Hain Manning (Column), Con Bradley (Column), and Ruth Van Ackeren, Robert Howard, Casandra Anthony, Nathan Teahon, Bernard Burgess, and Sharon M. Wheelock, as stated above and others.

"Those included in the winning Editorial Pages were John Yauney for Tickle Grass and Fleas, John Thomas for The Senior Scene, Dan Teahon for Eye On The Future, Ruth Van Ackeren on Bookmarks, Con Bradley on Book Reviews, Mindy Jo Wheelock for Teen Scene and Sharon M. Wheelock for Sass and Sentiments. And winning Gracious Living Page writers included Con Bradley, Mindy Jo Wheelock-Tanks, Kay Heigh, Jayme Wheelock, Linnie Mae Christensen Folgers, Andrea Abbott Berger, Lance Wheelock, Bernard Burgess, Hain Manning, Stephanie Erickson, and Sharon M. Wheelock.

"None of this goes to anyone,s head; all are too busy with next week and next month to think of it more than a couple of days, and almost too tired to think of it long the first day. But it lets us know we are on the level we want to be and that you are getting a quality paper that is comparing well with much larger papers.

"I do hope our local people understand how much these awards say as to the quality of the people writing and taking photos for the newspaper. The most prestigious of the state,s press people from around 160 newspapers are competing for these highly coveted awards. We may be short on time, staff and finances, but the talent, devotion to community, and work ethic are here.

"This has been the most heartwarming of years, Wheelock said. "To be able to tell Ruth about her award, alone, was one of the most precious moments of a lifetime. Then, to see the many writers and photographers"who work so diligently, often thanklessly, year after year"win, is just wonderful.

"God has blessed us.

The 2002 wins make the 12th straight year that the Grant County News has won at the Nebraska Press Association convention awards banquet. The paper also beat their own person best at number of awards per year, with seven, over 1998,s six awards in 1998.

The wins brings the year,s total awards to 22, and its overall awards to approximately 98, since 1991 when the newspaper was computerized and could be in competition. The awards include editorial page, advertising, page design, news writing, feature photography, sports coverage, editing, sports photography, lifestyle, promotion, feature writing, page layout, special series, ag coverage, freedom of information, environmental news, investigative reporting, individual achievement, personality profiles, feature series, single news story, essays, news photography, religion, special section, photo or panel pages, editorials, personal columns"and finallysports column.

Other western Nebraska newspaper to place in the annual competition include the Scottsbluff Star-Herald and Gering Courier with eight awards each; Chadron Record and Hyannis Grant County News with seven awards; Imperial Republican, Hemingford Ledger, Ogallala Keith County News and Valentine Midland News, all with five awards; North Platte Telegraph with four; Valentine Midland News with three; and Rushville Sheridan County Star with two.

**Van Ackeren, Howard, Burgess, Anthony, Teahon, and**

**Wheelock Bring Home Seven NE Press Awards From State**

***by Sharon M. Wheelock***
	The Grant County News won seven awards at the annual Better Newspaper Contest, held Saturday night during the Nebraska Press Association (NPA) convention. Every creative or news writer and photographer working for the GCN placed in the highly competitive contest. More than 300 people were in attendance at the convention, held at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln ,this past weekend. Winners from the Grant County News were Ruth Van Ackeren and Robert Howard, taking the first place award, in Featured Series for their book, The Big Walk, which ran as a series in the Grant County News from February to mid-June, 2001. The huge volume of their past work is also recognized, including Bob,s early stint as publisher of the Grant County newspaper. Another first place award was won by the newspaper in a one time only, category of Americans at War. It was to consist of the first front page after the September 11th terrorism attack, and related material that ran that week. The entire front page of the Grant County News was devoted to local and national coverage of the terrorism event, as was Sass and Sentiments by Sharon M. Wheelock, and this made up the winning entry. A second place award was won in Single Feature Story, "Local Ranchwoman, Gail Nason, by Sharon M. Wheelock. The topic was domestic violence. Casandra Anthony placed third in Picture Page, Series or Panel , which featured her photos for the "How To Make A Teepee picture essay page. Bernard Burgess won third place in Personal Column, featuring two The Makings Of An Old Cowboy columns on coyotes and one on breaking horses. Nathan Teahon won third place in Sports Column, for his From The Skybox column, featuring three random columns. The final award, also for third place, was won in Lifestyle Section, for the Gracious Living page"featuring writers Stephanie Erickson, Con Bradley, Mindy Jo Wheelock-Tank, and Sharon M. Wheelock, as well as the separate story of Ann Manning Warren,s decorating and collections, written by Sharon M. Wheelock. Speakers at this year,s convention included Lincoln Mayor Don Wesley; Jeff Zeleny, a Washington Political Writer for the Chicago Tribune; Jim Fowler of the TV series Wild Kingdom; Jeff Schmahl, of Nebraska Husker Vision; and John Walker, UNL,s Women,s Soccer Coach. Various workshops and trade shows were held Friday and Saturday, as was the Master Editor/Publisher award"presented to Kent Broyhill of the South Sioux City Star"the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an NPA member. Golden Pica awards were presented Saturday at a luncheon to people who have served the newspaper industry for over 50 years. Saturday evening, the "Oscar night of print journalism, a video presentation of the award winners was presented, and winners announced, after the banquet. NPA represents 18 daily newspapers, 163 weeklies and 10 collegiate newspapers, and is the state,s oldest trade association. It was founded in 1873. Sharon M. Wheelock, GCN publisher, said this was one of the best years in regard to awards won. "To have the vast amount of newspaper work that has been done by Ruth Van Ackeren and Robert A. Howard recognized is one of the greatest of all joys. Bob having been a former newspaper publisher in Grant County makes it all the more special and fitting. Both were very deserving. Their win was my ultimate wish. "I will always be indebted to the Nebraska Press people"and ultimately Allen Beerman, our executive director, who reluctantly, but finally, went against their rules and gave me the information that Ruth and Bob had won something (I still didn,t know what) after hearing how very ill Ruth was. It allowed me to tell Ruth about her win in our last conversation. She asked to tell her daughters, but swore not to tell another soul. She was thrilled at this honor and understood how steep is the state newspaper competition, especially among weeklies which number so high. Nebraska Press folks gave some of us a real high point in life by letting Ruth be informed of her win with Bob, because as it happened, she died the week before the convention and announcements of awards. But how wonderful to be winning awards right up to deathand then, even afterwards. Ruth did have one humorous, self-depreciating comment: "Not everyone waits until they are almost 97 to get an award. She did have a "few other honors in her life and long writing career, but in her 96th year, she has so far won three newspaper awards, with Nationals yet in late summer and early fall. "Shortly behind Ruth and Bob, in my wish, department for an award, Wheelock says, "was Casandra Anthony. She has worked for the newspaper for almost a dozen years, often in areas where awards aren,t forthcoming. (Were there an award in circulation/mailing, she,d have it consistently.) This year, she had some outstanding photography that could make this her, year. Still, the competition is so tough at the state press contest"and we,re the smallest paper that competes and have by far the smallest staff"that you never know. What we do know is there will be hundreds of outstanding work judged alongside ours. A win at state is truly a win. "So, in this first year she has had anything entered, Casandra has won three awards, so far"with Nationals yet to go. It,s almost unheard of to win three awards your first time. "Topping off the joy was learning that Bernard Burgess and Nathan Teahon each won their first press awards in two of the most difficult categories to win: Personal Columns. There,s so much competition for these, plus they are uniquely you, and depend heavily on writing style, voice, and talent. "Bernard, who has a book in the works, of some of his writings, is a great win because you never know if western style writings will be understood and appreciated by judges. "And Nathan, who graduates this year, winning at so young an age and in competition with adults, can put this in his portfolio for his future in sports communication. For the newspaper, it is a special thrill because about the only category the GCN has not won in is Sports Column. "Then add the writers on the Gracious Living Page: past award winner Con Bradley,s poetry; past winner as Editorial Page columnist and Gracious Living Page poet, Mindy Jo Wheelock-Tank, with two poems featured this year; first year poet, Stephanie Erickson, barely into her teens; and Sharon M. Wheelock,s article on "Funerals of the Past"all of whom were involved in the winning Lifestyle Section, and that makes lots more local/GCN writers among the winning entries. "Thinking back, almost everyone who has worked for the Grant County News has won at least one Nebraska Press Association award"which is very unusual. It also says something against the nearly universal policy that you must have degrees upon degrees to be on a newspaper staff; you just have to be dedicated, talented, loyal to the work, good, and stay with it. GCN winners since 1991 include Tammy Hansen Gilbert (Column), Anita Meyer (Sports News), Kim Foreman (Investigative Reporting), Hain Manning (Column), Con Bradley (Column), and Ruth Van Ackeren, Robert Howard, Casandra Anthony, Nathan Teahon, Bernard Burgess, and Sharon M. Wheelock, as stated above and others. "Those included in the winning Editorial Pages were John Yauney for Tickle Grass and Fleas, John Thomas for The Senior Scene, Dan Teahon for Eye On The Future, Ruth Van Ackeren on Bookmarks, Con Bradley on Book Reviews, Mindy Jo Wheelock for Teen Scene and Sharon M. Wheelock for Sass and Sentiments. And winning Gracious Living Page writers included Con Bradley, Mindy Jo Wheelock-Tanks, Kay Heigh, Jayme Wheelock, Linnie Mae Christensen Folgers, Andrea Abbott Berger, Lance Wheelock, Bernard Burgess, Hain Manning, Stephanie Erickson, and Sharon M. Wheelock. "None of this goes to anyone,s head; all are too busy with next week and next month to think of it more than a couple of days, and almost too tired to think of it long the first day. But it lets us know we are on the level we want to be and that you are getting a quality paper that is comparing well with much larger papers. "I do hope our local people understand how much these awards say as to the quality of the people writing and taking photos for the newspaper. The most prestigious of the state,s press people from around 160 newspapers are competing for these highly coveted awards. We may be short on time, staff and finances, but the talent, devotion to community, and work ethic are here. "This has been the most heartwarming of years, Wheelock said. "To be able to tell Ruth about her award, alone, was one of the most precious moments of a lifetime. Then, to see the many writers and photographers"who work so diligently, often thanklessly, year after year"win, is just wonderful. "God has blessed us. The 2002 wins make the 12th straight year that the Grant County News has won at the Nebraska Press Association convention awards banquet. The paper also beat their own person best at number of awards per year, with seven, over 1998,s six awards in 1998. The wins brings the year,s total awards to 22, and its overall awards to approximately 98, since 1991 when the newspaper was computerized and could be in competition. The awards include editorial page, advertising, page design, news writing, feature photography, sports coverage, editing, sports photography, lifestyle, promotion, feature writing, page layout, special series, ag coverage, freedom of information, environmental news, investigative reporting, individual achievement, personality profiles, feature series, single news story, essays, news photography, religion, special section, photo or panel pages, editorials, personal columns"and finallysports column. Other western Nebraska newspaper to place in the annual competition include the Scottsbluff Star-Herald and Gering Courier with eight awards each; Chadron Record and Hyannis Grant County News with seven awards; Imperial Republican, Hemingford Ledger, Ogallala Keith County News and Valentine Midland News, all with five awards; North Platte Telegraph with four; Valentine Midland News with three; and Rushville Sheridan County Star with two.

Casandra Anthony Wins First At NFPW;

Marianne Beel Receives Communicator of Achievement

by Sharon M. Wheelock

Casandra Anthony,s work on a Photo Page or Panel in the Grant County News placed first at the national level of the Nebraska Federation of Press Women. The photo page was titled "How To Make A Teepee. All first place work at the state level of Nebraska Press Women was automatically sent on to the national level, but it is an enormous honor to place first at that level and the Grant County News is very proud of Anthony.

This piece of work received three awards this year, also including an award from the Nebraska Press Association. Anthony also received two other photography awards from NPA in their spring convention. This award brings the GCN,s awards to 26 for the year of 2002.

Another Grant County News contributor, Marianne Beel, was chosen as Communicator of Achievement at the 2002 NPW fall convention held in Minden October 4-5. Beel has written for the North Platte Telegraph"where she is also a columnist, for the Nebraska Cattlemen, besides the GCN, and has done other freelance writing and photography. She and her husband live on a Sandhills ranch. She credits her son, Lorin, for her start and interest in photography because he sent a 35mm camera from Vietnam. She has especially enjoyed covering rodeo and anything having to do with ranching or the Sandhills and its flora and fauna.

In 1985, Beel wrote about her desire to win the Communicator of Achievement award"though she didn,t dream it ever would happen. It must be a proud and happy day for this deserving journalist who has spent a great deal of the past 30 years working on her craft. In recent years, much of her work has been in combination with her friend, Joan Burney. Beel has won awards for many years, Anthony got her first taste of winning awards this year"but to make it clear she meant it, she garnered several"so it is a pleasure to honor these two contributing photo-journalists. It reminds us that quality can as easily be found in western Nebraska as anywhere, and the GCN is pleased to feature two of the best.