"SO LONG, PEARL," a Monitor cover story from last August, drew praise for photographer Jim Scolman, writer Polly Keary, and designer Rhonda Dicksion. Judges wrote, “So Long Pearl is a lovely illustrated tribute to a grand old lady, tracing in words and pictures her life from young girl to middle age and finally to centenarian and death. Excellent layout and composition. Touching, well done.” Photographer Jim Scolman won a first place award for his photo of Pearl White. .

It was another stellar year for the Monroe Monitor at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest. In all, the paper took 17 awards home, including eight awards for writing, one for layout, and five for photography, including every single award available for best black and white sports action photograph.

Polly Keary

Editor Polly Keary won four first-place awards in some of the contest’s most competitive categories, and a total of 10 awards overall.

She won first place in Best News Story for “The Troll Under the Bridge,” a story about a sex offender released homeless and ordered to live under a bridge.
“Stunning, simply stunning, that government can (perhaps with locals’ support) tell people to live under a bridge,” wrote a judge. “This story should outrage every person who reads it.”

She also won second place in Best News Story for “A New Life Ends,” a story about a young Mexican family that perished in a fire that consumed their older mobile home just four days after they bought it. “Sad tale well told,” wrote a judge. “Should remind many of what too many take for granted.”

Keary won first place in government reporting for “Key to Gridlock,” a story on ongoing traffic woes in Monroe.

A story called “Warmth,” about a disabled teen who collected hats knitted by inmates and distributed them to the homeless won first place in Best General Feature Story-Long.

And a personality profile of muralist David Hose, entitled “Painting the Town,” took first place in Best Lifestyle Feature Story-any length.

Keary also won second place in Best Business Story for “Fall of a Giant,” the story of the bankruptcy of Monroe’s manufacturer Cyrk, and third place in Best News of the Weird for “Asleep on the Job,” the story of two thieves who swiped camping goods from Fred Meyer, only to be discovered by police not far from there, asleep on top of the stolen goods.

Keary also took second place for Best Editorial for “Gangs No Joke,” a column about her early experience with unaffiliated youth gangs. “Interesting, informative piece,” wrote a judge. “You are a gifted writer.” Keary was also a finalist for News Writer of the Year and for Feature Writer of the Year.

Jim Scolman

Jim Scolman, freelance photographer who covers the entire upper valley as well as many events in Monroe, won three awards, including third place in Best Sports Photo, Action-Black and White for “Explosion falls to Chinooks 129-127 in OT.”

He also took first place for “Rave Draws Kids to Monroe,” which illustrated a story about a rave held in the library. And Jim Scolman also won First Place for Best Feature Photo-color for “So Long Pearl,” which illustrated a story about the life and death of a Monroe woman who lived for more than 100 years.
The judge praised the team effort of Rhonda Dicksion, who created the layout, Jim Scolman, who took the main photo of the woman, and Polly Keary, who wrote the story about her.

“So Long Pearl is a lovely illustrated tribute to a grand old lady, tracing in words and pictures her life from young girl to middle age and finally to centenarian and death,” commented a judge. “Excellent layout and composition. Touching, well done.”

Dan Armstrong

Long-serving freelance photographer Dan Armstrong took second place in the category for “MHS blasts by Kamiak 10-1.”“I can hear the crack of the bat in this shot!” a judge praised.

He also took third place for Best Photo Essay, Black and White for “Flood Nears Historic Levels.”

Rhonda Dicksion

Rhonda Dicksion, who is responsible for the Monitor’s front page layout and design, won second place in Best Front Page Design for “Key to Gridlock: Monroe Citizens Vote on Troublespot Fixes.”

“The graphic is very helpful,” wrote a judge.

Adrian Johnson

Adrian Johnson, long-time photographer of Monroe High School sports, especially football, won first place for Best Sports Photo, Action-Black and White, for “Turks Make History.”

“Johnson captured Nichols defying gravity!” exclaimed a judge.