News: Neillsville - Clark County Press (Award - 1979)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Slaats, Harvey, Lange, Berglund, Lyke, Blanchard, Walch, Mathes

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/17/1979

Clark County Press (Award - 1979)

For the sixth year in a row. The Press walked away from the annual Wisconsin Newspaper Association meeting as an award winner.

The Press took an honorable mention award (fourth place) for its editorial page design and content. There were over 800 entries in the contest, coming from both daily and weekly newspapers in the state.

Judges from the Missouri Press Association stated that The Press editori9cl page was “attractive in its design and carried ‘Hard-hitting editorials.”

Attending the Oconomowoc conclave were Gary and Jane Slaats, co-publishers of the Press, and Robert and Dorene Harvey, retired newspaper owners. Gary also participated as a panelist in a photography session.

In other convention action, Louie Lange, 38, publisher of the Fond du Lac Reporter, was elected into the presidency of the state press group. Joining him as newly elected third vice-president, a first step in moving up the ladder, was Robert Berglund, publisher of the Loyal Tribune-Record-Gleaner. Other vice-presidents include Doug Lyke of the Ripon Commonwealth-Press and Ken Blanchard of the La Crosse Tribune with Jay Walch of the Wisconsin Dells Events and Earl Mathes of the Kiel Tri-County Record filling other official slot.

(Robert Harvey, a former president of the association, was also honored for his efforts in compiling a history of the newspaper group. The recent meeting was the 125th annual gathering of publishers and editors.)