Southeast Missourian takes home 10 APME awards

The Southeast Missourian took home 10 awards at the 2007 Missouri APME contest. Winners were announced June 13 at the annual convention in Lake Ozark, Mo.

In Division II competition, which included newspapers based in cities with a population between 15,000 and 50,000, the Southeast Missourian won first place in spot news and photography. The Southeast Missourian placed ahead of other newspapers in the Division II division such as the Jefferson City News-Tribune, which received seven awards, the Joplin Globe, which was honored with five awards, and the Sedalia Democrat, which won four awards.

Reporters Bridget DiCosmo and Sam Blackwell received first-place honors in spot news for their coverage of convicted serial killer Timothy Krajcir, who confessed to slaying nine women in Missouri, Illinois and southeastern Pennsylvania. Rudi Keller took third place in the category for his coverage of Nathan Cooper, a state representative who is serving a 15-month federal prison sentence for immigration fraud after obtaining temporary documents for foreign-born truck drivers.

Kit Doyle received first-place honors in feature, sports and spot news photography.

In the feature writing category, Peg McNichol won second place for her article about Kent Bratton's retirement as Cape Girardeau's city planner. The Southeast Missourian staff received a third-place honor for a Thanksgiving series.

The news team also finished third in the community affairs category for their coverage of the Rush H. Limbaugh Federal Courthouse construction controversy.

The newspaper's sports staff also fared well in the competition. Toby Carrig placed second in spot news for his coverage of Southeast Missouri State University's NCAA violations and Chris Smith received second place for his feature article on Bill and Kris Cottner, a father and son who have forged a strong bond through adversity and athletics at Perryville High School.