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June 25, 2009
Mission Valley rallies to battle cancer at relay fundraiser
By Kelly Moore
Valley Journal
Another year of Relay for Life in Lake County went down in the history books last weekend,
raising a ton of money for the battle against cancer.. The 13th annual event went off without a hitch and only a little rain June 20 and 21.
According to Lake County Relay for Life Committee Member Heidi Trytten, the event grossed about $59,000 – a bit less than last year’s relay, but organizers are still pleased with the turnout.
“Overall we think we did really well. We’re happy with what we did,” Trytten said.
In addition to drawing 89 survivors for honoring ceremonies, local families, businesses, and organizations put together 29 teams that raised funding for the American Cancer Society.
The all-night event was packed with food and activities for people of all ages. Teams and individuals competed in games and activities, all while raising donations to further local efforts in cancer research, education, advocacy and services.
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Valley Journal earns General Excellence award
Becky Jo DuMont photo
Valley Journal staffers show off the Montana Newspaper Association General Excellence award. Front row Mickele Schultz, production manager, left, Melea Burke, south county reporter, Kelly Moore, mid county reporter, Linda Sappington, graphics artist, Summer Goddard, partner and advertising sales, Jim Blow, partner and editor. Back row Aaric Bryan, sports reporter, left, Leslie Bartschi, copy editor, Raelynne Peterson, office manager, Trish Sivak, advertising sales and Berl Tiskus. Not shown is partner and advertising manager Boone Goddard.
The Valley Journal capped off an award-winning weekend with five first-place entries among 24 awards earned by the newspaper for its writing, photography, advertising design and overall coverage.
The annual awards were presented at Saturday’s Montana Newspaper Association’s banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell. The 2008 Montana Better Newspaper Contest was judged by members of the North Dakota Newspaper Association. Entries were divided into four categories, based on the size of the newspaper.
Within each category, newspapers competed in 45 categories that included news and advertising content, as well as design. Awards went to individuals in some categories, such as best spot news coverage, and to the newspaper as a group, such as the General Excellence award, which the Valley Journal won.
“Great photos. Great layout. Great sports section. Great ad designs. Great range of editorial copy. What can I say? This is a great newspaper,” the judge commented on the Valley Journal.
“If I were to pick one award to win, the General Excellence award would be it,” Valley Journal editor Jim Blow said. “Though the sweepstakes awards are coveted, I’ve always viewed the General Excellence category as the most critically judged award for the entire newspaper. Every bit of the newspaper is judged and compared to other publications as a whole. And when you look at other fine publications in our division, like the Flathead Beacon (Kalispell) and Belgrade News, it really makes this award extra special for us. Best of all, it’s a team award that reflects the hard work everyone on our staff puts into producing a quality community newspaper every single week.”
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Fishing without barriers
Aaric Bryan/Valley Journal
A wheelchair sits unoccupied on the docks at Woods Bay Thursday after its owner went out on Flathead Lake on a boat ride, part of the 16th annual Fishing Without Barriers Day.
By Aaric Bryan
Valley Journal
Landn Benner loves to talk about fishing. As the Mo Fisch charter boat headed out of Woods Bay Thursday he talked about how the spoon lure was invented, he talked about the 34-inch pike he caught ice fishing on Blaine Lake and he talked about the 5-foot pike he’s going to pull out of the slough near his house.
There’s only one thing that Benner likes more than talking about fishing – catching them. When Sherman Quiram handed him a pole with a lake trout on the end of it an instant grin spread across his face. Benner’s smile lasted long after he had reeled the fish to the boat, proudly displayed his catch to his father and bumped fist with boat captain Bob Orsua.
“That was cool,” an exhilarated Benner said after his plus 20-inch mackinaw was put in the cooler.
The 23-year-old from Columbia Falls doesn’t get many opportunities to experience the thrill or reeling in a fish since a mishap with a .45 caliber pistol nearly five years ago left him with a brain injury and the left side of his body partially paralyzed.
Benner, who was participating in his second Fishing Without Barriers Day, said the day is the only time of the year he actually gets to go out on the boat and fish, but this year the day was the first time he had the chance to fish at all. It’s not any physical barriers that have been keeping him away from the water it’s been time constraints as he plans his upcoming wedding to Amber, a woman he met at brain injury rehabilitation treatment.
“She’s a keeper,” Brenner said, using a fishing term to describe his fiancé.
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