Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: The Northwoods River News Entry Title: PFAS coverage in town of Stella Entry Credit: Heather Schaefer Judge Comment: Excellent ongoing coverage! This writer made the easily confusing content more digestible and relatable and made sure the readers were able to stay up to date on this issue. Great mix of data and practical application of the information. Very well done and this writer is no doubt an asset to this community.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Crawford County Independent & The Kickapoo Scout Entry Title: DNR begins rulemaking for PFAS in groundwater, CSP releases water quality report, NRB approves PFAS in groundwater standard, DAWS testing results released, Citizens express outrage over DNR's approach Entry Credit: Gillian Pomplun Judge Comment: If I lived in this area, this is the writer I would want covering the water quality. Very thorough understanding of the technical aspects of water quality and what goes into testing it. It gets a little confusing with the ongoing initials and lingo, and numbers can be a bit boring and hard to keep the reader's attention, but if I were concerned about my water quality living there, I would find comfort in being able to pour over all of this ongoing information about what's actually going on with the water. Well done.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Crawford County Independent & The Kickapoo Scout Entry Title: FLOW board hears water quality report, FLOW membership hears water quality report, FLOW board discusses legal remedies for nitrate pollution Entry Credit: Gillian Pomplun Judge Comment: Same level of coverage this writer showed in the second place entry, but a little more niche as far as who will pick up the paper to read these articles. Still important reporting, though!
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Crawford County Independent & The Kickapoo Scout Entry Title: Vernon County Energy District Plan is judged to be 'particularly innovative' Entry Credit: Ambrosia Wojahn Judge Comment: Solid information from an important meeting.
