General Excellence:

1^st Wood River Journal

Judge's comments: "This is a very well-rounded paper with lots of interesting news as well as features and sports. Fun to read and informative."

2^nd Idaho Mountain Express

3^rd The Star-News

1^st Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Suspect in Cody Boyd bicycle fatality says he‐s sleepless‐"

Judge's comments: "Having read the spot news story, this answers my questions. Good to hear the driver‐s side. Would have liked to hear mom‐s reaction to his comments."

2^nd Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"An American runaway in Spain"

3^rd Andrew M. Scutro —Boise Weekly —"Hanging in the courthouse"

1^st Travis Purser - Idaho Mountain Express —"Nine-year-old Hailey cyclist killed in truck collision"

Judge's comments: "Tragic story but insightful and informative. Well-written."

2^nd Staff —The Star-News —"Clinton visits McCall"

3^rd Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Slide buries avalanche expert"

1^st Andrew M. Scutro —Boise Weekly —"Soft serving the news"

Judge's comments: "Thoughtul writing. Clear, easy to follow. Balanced. Good job."

2^nd Carol Ryan Dumas —Ag Weekly —"IBP sale surprises cattlemen"

*no other awards given

1^st Kevin Wiser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Return of the wolf"

Judge's comments: "Thorough and interesting. Gives complete perspective on the issue."

2^nd Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Zoning snow"

3^rd Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Cannon misfire victim"

1^st Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Corduroy, the evolution of Sun Valley‐s grooming"

Judge's comments: "Very good idea for a story. Didn‐t think it would suck me in, but it did."

2^nd Peter Boltz —Idaho Mountain Express —"Secret life of Sun Valley‐s ten pins"

3^rd Mindy Kay Bricker —Boise Weekly —"Clean up your act"

Honorable Mention:

Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Chili, chili, chili"

Laura Cordes —Idaho Mountain Express —"World War II veterans honored"

Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"Daddy made the Dobro"

Christopher J. Ehlers —Wood River Journal —"One-Wheel Appeal —Love of Unicycles runs in the family"

Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"Ed Fecko & daughter journey"

Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Who wants to be a rodeo clown?"

1^st Julie Pence, Bruce Shield & Carol Dumas —Ag Weekly —"Murtaugh: Time of transition"

Judge's comments: "Poignant look at an important community issue and how it not only affects the individuals directly involved but the area as well. Great human touch."

2^nd Greg Moore & Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"A growing Hispanic population feeds Blain County‐s job needs"

3^rd Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Wolf wars"

Honorable Mention:

Roger Phillips —The Star-News —"The changing face of McCall"

1^st Ellie Rodgers —Boise Weekly —"Foothills rancher"

Judge's comments: "Very detailed and informative. This story didn‐t just share Mr. Little‐s story, it informed about a host of environmental issues. Well done."

2^nd Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"Preparing for the hatch"

3^rd Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Wolf flight"

Honorable Mention:

Marylyn Cork —Priest River Times —"A peat fen is a rare and wonderful place"

1^st Jeff Cordes —Idaho Mountain Express —"Picabo: It‐s business, not personal"

Judge's comments: "Very interesting story on Picabo Street. It has a lot of good background and is an excellent profile of what kind of person she is."

2^nd Jody Zarkos —Idaho Mountain Express —"Mr. Shay crosses the finish line"

3^rd Jeff Cordes —Idaho Mountain Express —"Slow start, amazing finish for Wolverines"

1^st Jody Zarkos —Idaho Mountain Express —"A painful knee injury, then new challenges ahead"

Judge's comments: "Nice lead. Good story. Lots of insight into this skier‐s plight."

2^nd Jody Zarkos —Idaho Mountain Express —"Kent Kreitler: A new kind of big mountain skier"

3^rd Peter Boltz —Idaho Mountain Express —"Ukrainian biathletes are straight shooters"

1st Bill Cope —Boise Weekly —"Call to duty; Fowl trip; Somebody else‐s Christmas"

Judge's comments: "Particularly liked the piece on the two moms. ‐Call to Duty—was hard-hitting and well-written. ‐Fowl tip—amusing, nice mix. Nice mix."

2nd Adam Tanous —Idaho Mountain Express —"Possessions—Mystique; Our one true privilege; What is the right decision"

3rd Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"When it comes to haircuts; The telemarketing gambit; Everything Y2K"

Specialty Column

1st Steven Anderson —Idaho Business Review —"Centres, townes, pointes &c. faileth to prouve specialitee (spelling correct); Heinz mines hype for color green in old red sauce; How to beat ‐boot‐- Nicht denken, gucken!‐"

Judge's comments: "Good job, enjoyable reads."

2nd Pat Murphy —Idaho Mountain Express —"Playing political games; Biggest jerk in town; HST & Idaho lawmakers"

3rd Sara Kuhl —Boise Weekly —"Boise tries to legislate morality; Mayor Coles takes potshots at Erotic City in speech; Abortion pill won‐t put end to political debate"

1st Steve Martin —Boise Weekly —"Belles of Boise; To gents falter in Verona; Beasts of absurdity"

2nd Robert Olmstead —Boise Weekly ‐ "Let us now praise famous diners; Reading, writing & remoulade; A sumptuous affair of the plate"

3rd Anna Webb —Boise Weekly —"Under the surface; Needle swansong; Put your hands on the television"

1st Staff - The Star-News —"Stop the madness‐; Decision on vets‐; Valley should make WestRock start over again"

Judge's comments: "Good strong local editorials. They say something and they say it well. The lead of each was particularly good because they out the paper‐s position right from the start."

2nd Pat Murphy —Idaho Mountain Express —"Democratic charade; Justice done; Signs abuse valley aesthetics"

3rd Pam Morris —Idaho Mountain Express —"Our tax cut; Back to the Dark Ages; Don‐t abandon Blaine Manor"

1st Wayne Adair —Wood River Journal —"Gold minors; Old man Newman; Miami advice; Roadless rage"

2nd Ron Soble —Idaho Mountain Express —"Weather outlook: whew! and more whew!; The end of #&@*!; The fox‐s tale"

3rd Steven Anderson —Idaho Business Review —"Java, 10W-30 meet at co-branding alter; Heinz mines hype for color green in old red sauce; Crucial mines mega-hunger for bytes"

1st Tony Barriatua —Idaho Mountain Express —"Bridal Guide; Jazz Jamboree; Northern Rockies Folk Festival"

Judge's comments: "I like the overall feel. Good use of photos, nice and big. Fonts work well."

2nd Tony Barriatua —Idaho Mountain Express —"Arts & Events, August 30, May 24 & February 2"

3rd Dave Goff —Boise Weekly —"BW pick; selection 3"

Honorable Mention:

Wendy Hall —Idaho Mountain Express —"Weekend, March 10; Weekend, February 25, Weekend, July 7"

1st Tim Hohs —The Adams County Record —"Rescue!"

Judge's comments: "Nice lens choice, good sense of tension."

2nd Willy Cook - Idaho Mountain Express —"Boater grounds out at Magic"

3rd Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"Snow Day"

1st Scott Sanders —Wood River Journal —"Kristen Hanggi"

Judge's comments: "Nice moment. Good capture of emotion. Could‐ve cropped microphone out."

2nd Willy Cook —Idaho Mountain Express —"The rise and fall of a wolf pack"

3rd David N. Seelig —Idaho Mountain Express —"Glory of our past"

1st David N. Seelig —Idaho Mountain Express —"Come fly with me"

Judge's comments: "Good moment."

2nd Willy Cook —Idaho Mountain Express —"A ripper"

3rd Jason Hui —Wood River Journal —"Lars Hovey"

1st Brad Talbutt —Boise Weekly —"Roads & Wilderness"

Judge's comments: "Photos tell the whole story. Well-executed and an interesting, eye-catching layout."

2nd Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"On the Joe"

3rd Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"Just another day at the office"

1st Gavin McNeil —Idaho Mountain Express —"May I see your driver‐s license?"

Judge's comments: "Clever idea with policeman."

2nd Gavin McNeil —Idaho Mountain Express —"Salmon solutions"

*no other awards given

1st Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"Candidate‐s resume includes prison"

Judge's comments: "Wow! Made me want to know if he won! Very interesting and well-written. Would have liked to hear what his political opponents had to say, though."

2nd Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Mix dismisses P&Z chair"

3rd Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Stennett in the Senate"

1st Mindy Kay Bricker —Boise Weekly —"Kids on the move"

Judge's comments: "Great idea for a story - very nicely executed. An important topic. The four paragraphs at the top of page fifteen were nice nut graphs to pull you into the story. "

2nd Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Survey blasts Idaho schools"

3rd Christopher J. Ehlers —Wood River Journal —"The future of technology"

1st Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Potential DSL providers stumble over hurdles"

Judge's comments: "Nice explanation of the issue - both what DSL would bring to the local economy and the economic challenges that work against making DSL profitable to providers in the short term."

2nd Steve Martin —Idaho Business Review —"Independents defy drug giants dominance"

3rd Carol Ryan Dumas —Ag Weekly —"Amalgamated forfeits on loan"

1st Mindy Kay Bricker —Boise Weekly —"A tough row to hoe"

Judge's comments: "Nice writing job - good approach to follow these four."

2nd Carol Ryan Dumas —Ag Weekly —"Spud industry fries biotech hopes"

3rd Peter Boltz —Idaho Mountain Express —"No easy answers to aerial crop spraying"

1st Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"No charges filed in Coats shooting"

Judge's comments: "Very dramatic telling of story."

2nd Andrew M. Scutro —Boise Weekly —"Brain Damage"

3rd Greg Moore —Idaho Mountain Express —"Supreme Court hears Blaine domestic violence case"

Honorable Mention:

Ralph Bartholdt —The Gazette Record —"No wedding bells at Jailhouse ceremony"

1st Mindy Kay Bricker —Boise Weekly —"Say Your Prayers"

Judge's comments: "Nicely written, nice lede."

*no other awards given

1st Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"Cyanide solution"

Judge's comments: "This is environmental reporting at its finest. Informative, thorough, and really a shocking situation. Excellent lead, tying historial and present-day perspectives."

2nd Christopher J. Ehlers —Wood River Journal —"Teddy bears or nightmares?"

3rd Greg Stahl —Idaho Mountain Express —"River greenway project gains momentum"

Honorable mention:

Phillip Gomez —Wood River Journal —"Feds announce plans to limit backcountry damage"

1st Andrew M. Scutro —Boise Weekly —"Short sheeted"

Judge's comments: "A good read that blends lifeon the street and one doctor‐s passion to help. It also points out an important problem."

2nd Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Planners play hot potato with Blaine Manor"

Tie 3rd

Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Without equipment, surgeon leaves valley"

Travis Purser —Idaho Mountain Express —"Two left partially blind after eye surgeries"

1st Tyler Rhodes —Teton Valley News —"Driggs drops curfew; A Break from the Mold; Life after Spuds‐.."

Judge's comments: "Good leads and news judgement. ‐Spuds article the best of the three.‐"

2nd Peter Boltz —Idaho Mountain Express —"Refuting a bad rap"

3rd Chad Coleman —The Star-News —"X-C Race; Saving Lake Cascade; Eagle Release"