Carson Now brings home 11 Press Association awards for news coverage, investigative reporting
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Wed, 09/27/2023 - 10:40am
Each year, the Nevada Press Association holds a contest determining the best of the best in reporting, advertising, magazines, and more.
This year, Carson Now was selected for 11 awards on news coverage, from Investigative Reporting to Political Reporting, Feature Writing, and everything in between for the rural regions.
Check below to see our award winning stories of the past year.
First Place Investigative Reporting: Carson Pines Apartments evicts 23 families with 6 days notice for problem they’ve been aware of since June 2021
Dozens of people are facing an eviction notice from the Carson Pines Apartment complex on David Street in Carson City with as little as six days notice to move.
The problem is that the apartment complex’s upper floors have become significantly damaged and deteriorated to the point of being structurally unsound — an issue management has known about, and been to court for, since at least June 2021.
First Place Explanatory Journalism: How Carson City Open Space is tackling burn scars - and restoring native species in the process
The Prison Hill Fire of 2021 swept across 171 acres of land following a dry lightning storm which started multiple fires in a the span of only a few minutes. The burn scar can still be seen — including how close it came to the houses in the area.
However, that burn scar will disappear with time if the plans initiated by Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space are successful.
First Place Business Feature Story: Miller Wellness Center is unique, women-owned Carson City startup; hosts March 11 grand opening
Eddie Miller of Eddie Miller Counseling only moved into the offices above Eve’s Eatery on Telegraph Street in downtown Carson City less than five months ago, but since then, she has brought together several women-owned businesses in a wellness startup with one goal in mind: providing a holistic experience for clients, businesses and the community at large.
Second Place Political Government Enterprise Reporting: How much is your safety worth? Lyon County fire asks for taxpayer's help on Question 1 Ballot Measure
Is the safety of your family or your home worth less than $15 a month? That’s the question Assistant Fire Chief Ryan McIntosh asks residents to think about as they head to the polls during the next few weeks.
“If no one contributes to their community — you have no community.”
Second Place News Enterprise Reporting: Man living inside Children's Museum with stockpile of weapons, drugs arrested for child neglect after toddler wanders into traffic
A 41-year-old Carson City man was arrested on five felony weapons charges and one gross misdemeanor of child neglect and danger after allegedly living in the Children's Museum and stockpiling weapons.
According to the arrest report, deputies were dispatched to the Children’s Museum on report of a 2-year-old child in need of supervision. Dispatch advised that this was the second time deputies were responding to an incident involving the parent, Wilbert Calhoun, and the child, and that Calhoun was “highly agitated” and known to have firearms.
Second Place Investigative Story: ‘I feel so betrayed:’ Parents complained to Children’s Museum board weeks prior to July 1 incident
On Friday, it was revealed that a family of 7 were living inside of storage rooms within the Northern Nevada Children’s Museum in Carson City with weapons and drugs after the father of the family, Wilbert Calhoun, was arrested for suspicion of child neglect.
While the Children’s Museum Board stated it must have been a very recent development, and that they had never received any complaints and had no knowledge anything at the museum was amiss, parents have a different story.
Third Place Coverage of Underserved Communities: It's been 6 months since Anna Marie Scott was found murdered in trunk of burning car on I-580 freeway
Next week will mark 6 months since the body of 23-year-old Anna Marie Scott was found inside the trunk of a vehicle left on the highly-trafficked bridge between Carson City and Reno. Just after 4 a.m., the car was set on fire and abandoned. There were no witnesses and, though there are cameras set up along the I-580 freeway for traffic reasons, those cameras apparently do not record but instead only relay a live-shot to those watching.
It was later determined that Scott had been fatally shot before the car was set aflame.
Since that time, updates regarding the case have been almost nonexistent. Carson Now has reached out since the incident for updates and received no new information.
Third Place Headline Writing: Exactly six years after the death of Sierra Ceccarelli, her suspected killer has been arrested for murder — again
Exactly six years after Sierra Ceccarelli, a 29-year-old mother of two who grew up in Carson City, was murdered in the home of Robert Paul Eikelberger, her alleged killer has been arrested.
After the case was transferred from Washoe County to Lyon County due to a potential conflict of interest, Lyon County determined not to file charges against Eikelberger, who, until now, has been living as a free man.
Third Place News Enterprise Reporting: 'Financially unstable' Wolf Pack Meats to close; ranchers fear for future of Nevada agriculture
Wolf Pack Meats, the only USDA-certified meat processing facility for the region, will be temporarily stopping operations beginning Oct. 31, 2022.
According to Shauna Lemieux, Director of Marketing for UNR’s College of Agriculture, the closure is occurring due to financial instability, and the University will be attempting to secure an outside vendor to take over the production operation.
Third Place Feature Writing: Happy ending found in Northern Nevada for puppies, mother dog rescued from abusive breeder
The Nevada Humane Society recently assisted in a large scale rescue effort of nearly 300 abused dogs and puppies in Nye County.
While many rescued dogs were taken to different parts of the country to rehabilitate or be adopted, many found their forever homes in our local region of Northern Nevada.
Thank you to all our readers for your continued support of free, independent, local journalism.
