Times reporter recognized with four state awards

Sundance Times reporter Sarah Pridgeon was recognized on Saturday with four awards from the Wyoming Press Association (WPA). The Pacemaker awards are the individual achievement element of the WPA’s annual contest open to newspapers across the state.

Pridgeon took first place in the category of column writing for her weekly column titled “This Side of the Pond”, which judges described as, “a very humorous column”.

She also took first place in the category of arts, entertainment and culture for a package of three stories on the Old Stoney rejuvenation project; the Sundance Winter Festival; and the Sundance Pumpkin Festival. Comments from the judges included that, “Every word used has a purpose and tells the story wonderfully without fluff.”

Pridgeon took second place in the general news category for her article covering the trial of Marty Smith as an accessory to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.

She also took second place in the feature story category for “The last great race”, an article that followed local man Doug Ramsey’s adventures as a volunteer at the Iditarod. Judges stated that the story “provides a great inside look at an event that many people have heard about but know little about”.

The WPA is the official trade organization representing Wyoming’s newspapers, governed by a board of directors elected by its members. Since 1877, it has been dedicated to the preservation, progression and professional development of its members and works to protect the rights of a free press.