KC Press Club honors News Tribune staffers' work

The Jefferson City News Tribune reporting staff brought home a dozen awards from the 2012 Heart of America Awards presented by the Kansas City Press Club on Saturday.

A gold award went to Stephen Brooks for his sports photo of a Vienna hurdler "at the perfect moment to show the lead runner's winning form and extension," the judge's comments said.

Brooks also earned silver and honorable mention awards in sports photography, for a Jays second baseman making a diving catch and for a Helias basketball battle for a loose ball, respectively.

And Brooks brought home one more award with a bronze in the feature photo category of icicles forming during a freezing rain on the statue of York at the Capitol grounds.

Gerry Tritz earned a gold award for his public service entry "Fallen through the cracks - For some, personal choices make homelessness the only option." Tritz also received a bronze award in entertainment coverage for a preview of David Cassidy's performance at the Isle of Capri.

Michelle Brooks received two bronze awards - one in business reporting for "Rehab on the menu - Old Tremain café gets new use with old name" and the other for faith-based, beat reporting.

Jeff Haldiman received both bronze and honorable mention awards in deadline reporting for code violations regarding fire hazards and "Navy seahawk crashes here."

Madeleine Leroux accepted her first award for work with the News Tribune with a bronze public service project entry, "Is annexation a money maker?" Judges said, "good, clean news writing on an issue many people tend to overlook."

Richard McGonegal's editorial "City sales tax extension stumbles at the gate" also earned a bronze award.