Star photographers, reporter take top awards in press contest

FROM STAFF REPORTS

   For the second year in a row, the Elizabethton Star has demonstrated excellence in news coverage at the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors (TAPME) contest for newspapers in Tennessee.
   The Star took three first-place awards out of six photography categories, a third-place for non-deadline reporting, and the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors Association's highest award for journalism excellence in the state, the Malcolm Law Memorial Award.
   Star photographers Rick Harris and David Boyd swept the News category for the second year in a row in newspapers of circulations up to 10,000. Boyd won first place for "Through The Flames," while Harris took a second place for "The Beast," and third place for "Despair."
   In News Picture Story, Harris took second place for "Siege," while Boyd placed third for "Celebration of Freedom."
   Boyd captured first place in the Feature Photo category with his "One Horsepower Chevy," while Harris placed second with "Beauty."
   In the category of Feature Picture Story, Harris won first place for "Railroad Dreams."
   Boyd took third place in the Sports Action category, while Harris placed second in Sports Feature with "All In The Wrists."
   Kathy Helms-Hughes, now county reporter for the Star, won TAPME's highest award for journalism excellence, the Malcolm Law Memorial Award for investigative reporting, for a series of stories entitled, "Tennessee Valley: A Nuclear Future."
   The Malcolm Law Memorial Award was established in 1973 by the Tennessee Associated Press to honor Malcolm Law, associate editor of The Jackson Sun, who died in December 1972. Since its establishment, the award has become recognized as one of the most prestigious awards given for journalistic accomplishment in Tennessee.
   Helms-Hughes also placed third in non-deadline reporting with "Tennessee Valley: A Nuclear Future," which explored Tennessee Valley Authority's plans to produce tritium for military purposes in its commercial reactors; Nuclear Fuel Services' plans to downblend 33 metric tons of highly enriched uranium at its Erwin facility; and Louisiana Energy Services' plans to build a $1 billion gas centrifuge plant in Erwin, using foreign technology never before tried in the United States.
   Guy Austin, executive editor of the Star, said, "I am extremely proud of our editorial and photography staff for once again being recognized for their quality of work. The Elizabethton Star is a community newspaper focused on the people and events of this area. We will continue to do our best in delivering timely editorial content to all of our readers as they have come to expect.
   "The Elizabethton Star is the overwhelming choice for accurate and informative editorial content in Elizabethton and Carter County -- these awards demonstrate our contribution to this community and for that we are very proud," he said.