Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Winona Post Entry Title: Squires columnist Entry Credit: Sarah Elmquist Squires Judge Comment: When I read the first column, I use a word to remind me of the content before moving on. I wrote, "strong." Strong is how I would define Sarah, When talking about an issue, she is strong. When getting personal: Strong. It isn't a cooking column. It is a strong story and you'd better read it.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Preston-Fillmore County Journal Entry Title: One Moment, Please... Entry Credit: Jason Sethre Judge Comment: Jason has a way of giving you some common or not-so-common knowledge in a very friendly chat. You know he's right, so you'd better listen.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Blaine, Spring Lake Park, Columbia Hgts, Fridley Entry Title: Paige Kieffer columns Entry Credit: Paige Kieffer Judge Comment: Paige is a good writer who just happens to be up close and personal. (They aren't always) Her columns aren't afraid to show you who she is whether it is her favorite movies or just an insight to who she was growing up. She's good, very good: read her.
Competition Comment: By this time, I knew what to expect . . . quality writing, and Minnesota didn't disappoint. In their own style and manner all three of these individuals give their newspapers very good columns. Good enough to hold a reader or even buy the paper, just for their column As a publisher for a couple of community newspapers, I would love to have had any one of them in Michigan. Enjoy all of them.
