EVANSTON — Herald publisher Mark Tesoro was elected president of the Wyoming Press Association (WPA) during the organization’s annual winter meeting in Casper the weekend of Jan. 19-20.  

Tesoro addressed those in attendance at the Saturday evening major awards banquet, sharing his thoughts on the importance of community newspapers. Tesoro said part of that value is that newspapers provide the historical record of a community in multiple ways. 

To provide evidence of that historical record, Tesoro read from one of the Herald’s morgue books of newspaper copies from 1980, which listed his own name from his time as an elementary school student in Evanston. 

Jim Angell, former executive director of the WPA, who stepped down last weekend after nearly two decades at the helm, said, “Mark has been a great board member for the WPA. He’s been very involved, and he’ll do a great job as president. He’ll be a wonderful influence as we welcome our new executive director, Darcie Hoffland.” 

Tesoro will serve a one-year term as president of the association, after having spent the previous year in the vice president and secretary treasurer positions.

Herald staff were also recognized at the WPA winter meeting, with several earning Pacemaker Award honors for excellence in the large weekly newspaper division against stiff competition from the Jackson Hole News&Guide, Cody Enterprise and Powell Tribune, among others.  

Reporter Sheila McGuire earned a first-place award for column writing. In the three columns she submitted, McGuire tackled topics such as education recalibration, the stark contrast between John Barrasso the senator and John Barrasso the man and the Me Too movement that has given strength to countless victims of sexual assault to share their stories of abuse.

Members of the South Dakota Newspaper Association judged the Pacemaker contest for Wyoming papers. A judge noted on McGuire’s entries for best column that she “dealt with important issues with a deeper perspective than was shown by her competition.”

Sports editor Josh Hall received a second-place award for sports columns. His trio of submissions included his excitement in joining the Herald, EHS golf coach Jerry Carroll’s outspokenness and how it’s good for the team and a column about focusing on local sports.

A judge’s comments included that Hall “understands the nature of a local sports editor and [he] is more interested in the athletes in his community than writing about state or national athletics.”

Editor Bryon Glathar was recognized with an honorable mention in the feature story category for his story about then-county clerk Lana Wilcox and her positive outlook while battling cancer.

“What a great story on a horrible disease,” the judge wrote. “What a great attitude and it was well portrayed.”

Production manager Kae Ellis, along with Glathar and Hall, was recognized with a second-place nod for best website. 

Production assistant Sue Bruynes also earned second place for use of color in an ad. It was an ad for Davis Chiropractic that stood out in the judges’ eyes. “The colors work well together and [they] are very vibrant,” a judge wrote. “The ad definitely stands out on the page and draws my eyes toward the information.” 

Production assistant Kelsie Liechty earned honorable mention for best designed ad. A judge said Liechty used good placement and use of colors in an ad for Darren Bideaux RV.