Register wins 25 Associated Press awards

SANDUSKY — The Sandusky Register earned 25 award nominations, the most in its division, in the 2022 Ohio Associated Press Media Editors contest. The annual contest honors the best in Ohio newspaper journalism and is judged by out-of-state newspaper editors. The awards cover work done by Register reporters, page designers and editors last year. Award finalists were announced Monday. The Register's 25 nominations represent the most in its division, followed by the Mansfield News Journal (18), the Wooster Daily Record (13), the Dover-New Philadelphia Times-Reporter (9) and the Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier (4.) Collectively, the Register's sports department secured the most awards. Sports reporter Billy Heyen earned five awards, sports editor Brian Kollars earned two awards, and the sports department earned an additional two awards for Best Daily Sports Section and Best Sports Special Section. In news coverage, Register chief photographer Erin Caldwell earned five awards, reporter Andy Ouriel earned four awards, page designer Tim Kaczor earned three awards, reporter Angela LaRosa earned two awards and executive editor Matt Westerhold and reporter Caitlin Nearhood each earned one award. Finalists will learn the winners of the first-, second- and third-place awards in each category during an awards ceremony and banquet in Columbus next month. The Register is a contender for the general excellence award — recognizing the best newspaper in the division — which is determined based on the number of awards received and the final finishes in each category. Here is a breakdown of award finalists: • Best Business Writer: The (Wooster) Daily Record, Kevin Lynch; Sandusky Register, Andy Ouriel; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Jon Baker • Best Columnist: Mansfield News Journal, Mark Caudill; Sandusky Register, Andy Ouriel; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Shams Mustafa • Best Daily Sports Section: Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr; Sandusky Register • Best Digital Presence: The (Wooster) Daily Record; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter • Best Enterprise Reporting: Mansfield News Journal, Mark Caudill, "After 128 years, the red brick portion of Lexington Junior High School will be no more"; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Bryce Buyakie, "Triple Threat"; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Nancy Molnar, "Road to nowhere? Tuscarawas Regional Technology Park nearly vacant 15 years after opening" • Best Explanatory Reporting: Mansfield News Journal, Lou Whitmire, "Long waits, high rents: Mansfield renters face obstacles even with government assistance"; Mansfield News Journal, Zach Tuggle, "Library books controversy"; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Bryce Buyakie, "How to navigate a roundabout" • Best Feature Photo: Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, Lisa Scalfaro, "Watching Dad"; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Andrew Dolph, "Dog training"; Mansfield News Journal, Jason Molyet, "Winter Walk" • Best Feature Writer: The (Wooster) Daily Record, Kevin Lynch; Mansfield News Journal, Zach Tuggle; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Nancy Molnar • Best Full Page Design: Sandusky Register, Tim Kaczor, "Farewell, Chief Donald"; Sandusky Register, Tim Kaczor, "Forever 27"; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Scott Lanter • Best Headline Writer: The (Wooster) Daily Record, Veronica Van Dress; Sandusky Register, Andy Ouriel; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Jeanine Kendle • Best Illustration or Information Graphic: Sandusky Register, Tim Kaczor, "Governor's Race 2022" • Best Investigative Reporting: Mansfield News Journal, Lou Whitmire, "Four firefighters terminated after squad run incident"; Sandusky Register, Angela LaRosa, "Quarry dive related to cold case"; Sandusky Register, Matt Westerhold, "Family seeks justice in jailhouse death" • Best News Photo: Sandusky Register, Erin Caldwell, "Car vs. train"; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Andrew Dolph, "Car fire"; Mansfield News Journal, Jason Molyet, "Regret" • Best News Writer: Mansfield News Journal, Mark Caudill; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Derek Kreider; The (Wooster) Daily Record, Bryce Buyakie • Best Photo Story: Sandusky Register, Erin Caldwell, "Ironman comes to town"; Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, Lisa Scalfaro, "Dad Brews"; Sandusky Register, Erin Caldwell, "Green thumbs give" • Best Photographer: Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, Lisa Scalfaro; Sandusky Register, Erin Caldwell; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Andrew Dolph • Best Public Service: Sandusky Register, Angela LaRosa, "Honoring our PACT with veterans"; Sandusky Register, Andy Ouriel, "Fostering a better future"; Mansfield News Journal, Lou Whitmire, "Mike Noser attempted suicide and lived: 'I wanted the easy way out. I thank God it didn't work.'" • Best Special Sports Section: Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr; Sandusky Register; Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr • Best Sports Columnist: The (Wooster) Daily Record, Art Holden; Sandusky Register, Billy Heyen; Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr • Best Sports Enterprise: Sandusky Register, Billy Heyen, "Girls wrestling ahead of the curve"; Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr, "MNJ Scholar Athlete Awards"; Sandusky Register, Billy Heyen, "Set up for success?" • Best Sports Feature Writer: Sandusky Register, Billy Heyen; Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr; Sandusky Register, Brian Kollars • Best Sports Photo: Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier, Lisa Scalfaro, "Like the Wind"; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Andrew Dolph, "Wrestling"; Sandusky Register, Erin Caldwell, "Vaulting to victory" • Best Sports Writer: Sandusky Register, Brian Kollars; Mansfield News Journal, Jake Furr; Sandusky Register, Billy Heyen • Best Spot News Coverage: The (Wooster) Daily Record, Staff, "June storm surprise"; The (Dover-New Philadelphia) Times-Reporter, Jon Baker, "Newcomerstown fire kills family of 6"; Sandusky Register, Caitlin Nearhood, "Derailed"