Times staffers, pictured from left, are: Feature Writer Sue Ann Jones, Circulation Manager and Graphic Designer Regina Mozingo, Editor Jessi Dreckman, Owner Norene Prososki, Delivery Driver Lorene Loftis and Advertising Manager Jenny Yarger.
The Ozark County Times newspaper earned 12 first and second place awards, including first place in the top award of general excellence, at the 2025 Missouri Press Associations Better Newspaper Contest. The statewide contest was open to all newspapers in Missouri for their work written and published in 2024. The Ozark County Times was judged against other weekly newspapers in the state.
This is the first time the Times has won the general excellence award. They have placed third twice and earned honorable mention three times.
The category focuses on newspapers as a whole instead of specific articles or content. The judges notes said the paper is …chockful of news of record and names and faces and event photos. Strong local Memorial Day story, substantive primary election preview and second-to-none coverage of the popular Hootin an Hollarin festival.
OTHER FIRST PLACE AWARDS
Sue Ann Jones won three first place awards.
She took first place in the best news or feature series for her two-part series celebrating Century Bank of the Ozarks 130 history.
She won first place in the story about religion category for piece on Mike and Gretchen Hatcher and the creation of Briar Creek Retreat at Theodosia.
Jones also won first place in the best health story category for a piece about a 17-year-old who was resuscitated after his heart stopped while he was working at Pontiac Cove Marina.
The Times also won a first place award in the best military story division for a story about a celebration held in Normandy, France to commemorate the day Americans arrived in 1944 and a 23-year-old from Dora who was part of that group and later died there.
SECOND PLACE AWARDS
The Ozark County Times won seven second place awards. They included best front page, best special section, best news or feature obituary, best business story, best story about rural life or agriculture, best story about the outdoors and best health story.
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