By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The staff of the Carter County Times brought home a number of awards during this year’s Kentucky Press Association (KPA) conference and 2024 Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers awards banquet. For the second year in a row the Carter County Times was recognized for our Editorial Page, with editor Jeremy Wells and columnist Keith Kappes taking home silver mint julep cups in the category for weekly newspapers. The Times also brought home the first place award for best website in the Weekly 1 category, for design and layout work from Nicole Wells and continuing maintenance and upkeep by Miranda Holbrook-Lewis.
Editor Jeremy Wells also brought home a first place award for General News story, for his coverage of the Carter County School District police chief’s debunking of threat hoaxes circulating on social media.
“This story clearly lays out the circumstances surrounding a threat of violence at a local school,” the judges wrote, “then provides helpful context of the potential consequences of spreading such threats.”
The paper also brought home a second place certificate for use of social media, for their coverage and updates of officer related shootings in Grayson, and second place in feature stories for their story on the lavender growing operation at Whippoorwill’s Holler farm.
Local government reporter Charles Romans also brought home a second place win in the breaking news category for his coverage of the Carter County Tourism financial embezzlement and the resignation of treasurer Renee Stewart.
The Carter County Times also brought home several awards in 2023, winning first place for their editorial page, breaking news coverage, extended and ongoing news coverage, and best feature photo, second place for best editorial writer, and third place for best photo essay. In 2021 the paper brought home a first place award for best advertising series, second place wins for columnist and holiday ad series, and third place for sports feature story. The Times did not submit entries for the 2022 or 2020 contest season.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
