San Angelo Standard-Times wins awards at Texas APME contest

Alana Edgin, San Angelo Standard-Times
·5 min read

SAN ANGELO — The San Angelo Standard-Times earned numerous awards from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors this week for its work in 2021.

The Standard-Times, a part of the USA Today Network, competed against Texas newspapers in the Class AA division — the second-smallest of four divisions — in the APME contest. Contest entries were judged by journalists from outside the state.

The awards were announced Sunday, May 1, 2022.

The Standard-Times had a total of 15 honors across news, sports, photography and online categories, including three Star awards.

Here’s a look at the work that won awards:

Business Reporting

First Place: John Tufts

Judges Comments: Great job spotting and explaining a unique solution as a nursing shortage and a pandemic ravage the nation. Perhaps, as one source noted, hospitals need to invest in nurses and not machines, but robots can clearly help. This is a well written, solidly reported, interesting read.

See the work:Robot nurse assistants are joining Texas hospitals amid healthcare worker shortage

News Photography

First Place: Colin Murphey

A dog is rescued from flood waters by first responders with the SAPD and SAFD on Knickerbocker Rd. near the intersection of S. Johnson St. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021.
A dog is rescued from flood waters by first responders with the SAPD and SAFD on Knickerbocker Rd. near the intersection of S. Johnson St. on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021.

Judges Comments: The drama and emotion in the faces of the rescue crew make this photo. The photos is tightly cropped, eliminating extraneous elements that would detract from the essential dramatic elements. Well done!

Star Reporter of the Year

First Place: John Tufts

Judges Comments: John Tufts' journalistic skills are evident not only in his depth of reporting and clarity of writing, but also in the impressive breadth of topics he covered in 2021. From the tragic local impact of Covid-19 to the marvels of new cutting-edge medical technology to an internal investigation into police misconduct, John approaches the subject at hand with clarity, integrity and compassion. The Caleb Wallace feature was especially poignant, as John wove a family's heartbreaking personal story together with the pandemic's broader implications for the community.

See the work: ‘He loved his family’: Caleb Wallace dies after battle with COVID-19, pregnant wife says

See the work: San Angelo Police Chief Frank Carter: Officers 'clearly mishandled' Walmart incident

See the work: Robot nurse assistants are joining Texas hospitals amid healthcare worker shortage

See the work: Downtown San Angelo library back to normal, mostly, after car crash forces children's area to move

Community Service

Second Place: Alana Edgin, Rosanna Fraire, Colin Murphey, John Tufts, Paul Harris, Jennifer Guadarrama

Judges Comments: No comments available.

See the work: Follow live: San Angelo winter weather updates

See the work: Don't put up your jackets, next week could bring freezing temperatures to San Angelo

See the work: Bundle up, here's everything you should know for the San Angelo freeze this weekend

See the work: San Angelo breaks numerous records with winter weather

Feature Writing

Second Place: John Tufts and Colin Murphey

Judges Comments: Excellent reporting - the family and their sorrow illustrates the struggle of the pandemic. The data backs up the battle.

See the work: ‘He loved his family’: Caleb Wallace dies after battle with COVID-19, pregnant wife says

News Photography

Second Place: Colin Murphey

Medical staff work on patients during a free dental clinic at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Medical staff work on patients during a free dental clinic at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 5, 2021.

Judges Comments: There was really something different about this entry. I think it was the light and the studious nature of the dentists working on this patient that caught my eye. The photographer took an average assignment and made it something special.

Celeste Williams Star Sportswriter of the Year

Third Place: Amy McDaniel

Judges Comments: No comments available.

See the work: Mother-daughter barrel racers embrace competition at San Angelo Rodeo

See the work: UIL STATE TRACK: Bronte's Bohensky eyes gold medal, state-meet record

See the work: Ozona community supports football coach as he fights to save infant son

See the work: San Angelo Cornerstone Christian finds formula for sports success

News Photography

Third Place: Colin Murphey

Emit Lopez looks over damage to the Elks Lodge on S. Chadbourne St., seen in this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 photo, after pipes in the sprinkler system broke spilling water throughout the building.
Emit Lopez looks over damage to the Elks Lodge on S. Chadbourne St., seen in this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 photo, after pipes in the sprinkler system broke spilling water throughout the building.

Judges Comments: Nice documentation of the cause of a man's despair after his roof caved in from a snowstorm.

Sports Photography

Third Place: Colin Murphey

Athletes compete in a hurdles event on day 2 of the San Angelo Relays on Friday, March 12, 2021.
Athletes compete in a hurdles event on day 2 of the San Angelo Relays on Friday, March 12, 2021.

Judges Comments: Perfect use of blur. Almost too perfect - the background hides the hurdle in the blur. It's implied, so that's not a knock. Well executed, and the athlete's expression makes it even more effective. It's hard to make a blur work in such a way that the most important elements stay on the same horizon, so this is very well done.

Star Photojournalist of the Year

Third Place: Colin Murphey

Judges Comments: This entry showed a ton of versatility to take different approaches and come back with great results with each.

Celeste Williams Star Sportswriter of the Year

Honorable Mention: Charles Bryce

Judges Comments: No comments available.

See the work: San Angeloan Rex Scofield looks back on over a half-century in athletics

See the work: Longtime San Angelo Central Bobcats announcer Cleere leaves behind great legacy

See the work: San Angelo Central leans on 'Bobby' Navarrette to keep things running

See the work: Ex-American Legion baseball players for Ballinger's Post 8 Cannoneers making impacts in college

Celeste Williams Star Sportswriter of the Year

Honorable Mention: Mike Lee

Judges Comments: No comments available.

See the work: Abilene High football coach Mike Fullen keeps battling after cancer diagnosis

See the work: MIKE LEE: Texas high school football history is in good hands

See the work: MIKE LEE: Boys Ranch football team revels in end of state's longest losing streak

See the work: MIKE LEE: West Texas football coaches, players remember playing after 9/11

News Photography

Honorable Mention: Colin Murphey

Becky Jones, lower center in blue shirt and tan hat, mourns during a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, for her husband, Concho County sheriff's deputy Stephen Jones, who was killed Monday night in Eden.
Becky Jones, lower center in blue shirt and tan hat, mourns during a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, for her husband, Concho County sheriff's deputy Stephen Jones, who was killed Monday night in Eden.

Judges Comments: A very collective, poignant moment in the documentation of a community's shared grief.

Sports Photography

Honorable Mention: Colin Murphey

Tai'ja Smith (1) rushes the ball for Frenship during a game against Central in San Angelo on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Tai'ja Smith (1) rushes the ball for Frenship during a game against Central in San Angelo on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.

Judges Comments: The stiff arm can make for a great picture, and this is a good one. Great timing, and the focus is where it should be to have the greatest effect.

Star Breaking News Report of the Year

Honorable Mention: Bill Hancock, John Tufts, Paul Harris, Colin Murphey

Judges Comments: Good hustle and quick work on a small-town tragedy. Moving photos from the vigil.

See the work: Two Concho County sheriff's deputies killed during shootout Monday in Eden

See the work: 'This will only make our town stronger.' Eden mourns lives of slain Concho County deputies

See the work: Vigil in Eden remembers Concho County sheriff deputies

Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Crime and Courts in West Texas. Send her a news tip at aedgin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo Standard-Times wins awards at 2021 Texas APME contest