The Pahrump Valley Times took home several Nevada Press Association Awards at its annual awards banquet Saturday night, including the top group and individual awards.
The Times won 10 awards, including five first-place nods, four second-place honors and one third-place recognition in the intermediate daily newspaper division.
The PV Times won the General Excellence award for the first time in its history, which represents the highest award given, reflecting the best of the newspaper industry. The paper’s work, covering the deadly stretch of State Route 160, PUC rate hikes, a coyote warning and political races, were noted as strong points.
“It is such an honor to have everyone that works here recognized for their hard work,” editor Arnold M. Knightly said. “The staff worked through a tumultuous contest year of being sold twice and the retirement of its long-time publisher, so receiving this recognition after all that was very rewarding.”
Reporter Mick Akers was named the state’s Outstanding Journalist, which recognizes outstanding service and performance to the profession of journalism during the contest year. Akers’ work covering the Lamar Odom brothel situation, county health issues, and local business stories netted him the highest individual honor.
Also taking home high honors was reporter Selwyn Harris, who was awarded the Journalist of Merit. The award is designed to encourage journalists of any age with less than five years’ experience in newspaper work to stay in the newspaper industry. It’s the Press Association’s way of saying, “You have a future in this profession.”
Sports writer Vern Hee won a pair of first place recognitions, including best sports story (“Pahrump has cowgirls; they’re just hard to find”), and best sports column, for stories focusing on high school football and the passing of a former PV Times sports editor.
Second-place winners included reporter Daria Sokolova in the best business story category, photographer Horace Langford Jr. in the multiple photo story, page designer Heather Ruth in the best print ad category and Brandy Minnick in the best in-house promotion section.
Knightly won third place for the best local column.
The annual awards banquet was held Saturday at the Casablanca Resort and Casino in Mesquite.