I was so pleased to see Jessie Stensland being named the News Writer of the Year by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2012 Better Newspaper Contest!

To also be awarded the first place in Best Investigative Reporting for the jail interview story and second place for the Best News Story makes her a valuable member of the Whidbey News-Times, and I suggest she get a raise!

Photographer Justin Burnett always has winning photos, because he has a real feel for our community, and I was happy he got fist place for a series of stories under General News Photo division. The Whidbey News-Times did well with other reporters, Rebecca Olson and Nathan Whalen winning awards. Even in the advertising division, you received awards.

It was good to see that in the special sections division, the News-Times and South Whidbey Record staff earned first place in the best Tourism Guide for the 2012 Whidbey Islander. That guide affects businesses throughout the island.

So, congratulations to all, and let’s hear it for the winners!!! Hip, hip hooray!

Helen Chatfield-Weeks

Oak Harbor