IR wins for Photographic Excellence

The Thermopolis Independent Record staff brought home several awards from the annual Wyoming Press Association (WPA) Convention Jan. 20-21 in Cheyenne. The IR competes in the small weekly category along with 24 other Wyoming newspapers.

The IR won first place for Photographic Excellence and second place for Best Use of Photographs. With a total of 14 individual Pacemaker Awards, the IR also earned the WPA Foundation’s Sweepstakes award.

Dennis Nierzwicki brought home seven Pacemaker Awards including first place in Sports Action with a picture of a girl goat tying at a Wyoming Junior Rodeo Association event and second place in Feature photo with his picture of an exploding watermelon during a Lights On activity.

In advertising, Nierzwicki won first place in the Small Ad category with an ad for Owl Creek Excavation, first in Merchandise Ad for a chamber banquet ad, second place in House Ad with an IR Friday the 13th sale, second place in Use of Color for a Freedom Run ad and second place in Best Designed ad for a Demolition Derby ad.

Cindy Glasson won second place in the General News category with her story about the search and discovery of a missing hunter.

Lara Love won first place in Wildlife Photo with a picture of Canadian geese gathered on the terraces.

Previous IR employee Durward D. Jones won a second place in Scenic Photo with a picture from Wind River Canyon at night.

The IR staff also won first place in Open Page Design for their Shattered front page sports layout when the Bobcat boys relay team broke a 15-year-old state record. The staff won first and second in Plus Business Advertising Idea.

“I am very proud of the Independent Record staff for bringing home several awards for the second year in a row,” said IR editor/publisher Lara Love.

Advertising sales manager Amber Geis and assistant editor Mark Dykes attended the convention along with Nierzwicki, Glasson and Love.