T-PT makes it 5 in a row

We know there’s important news going on in the world this week. The state Legislature is dealing with a budget crisis, the Saints’ future is still unknown with its top management, two top players sidelines and Drew Brees’ contract at issue and, locally, salvinia and hyacinth are overtaking our waterways.

But, for one issue, please indulge us.

Once a year, newspaper types dress up nice, gather in a hotel ballroom somewhere across the state and applaud our collective effort. The best of the best are chosen and acknowledged as the best in the state.

On Saturday, the Louisiana Press Association handed out Newspaper of the Year honors at the

132nd annual LPA Convention in Marksville. By now, you’ve deduced the Tri-Parish Times is quite tickled to have been named the state’s top weekly in our division.

In all, 79 newspapers, publications and college/university student newspapers submitted nearly 4,000 entries – stories, page designs, photos and graphics – for consideration.

Our paper was awarded our division’s fifth consecutive editorial sweepstakes award – the big enchilada for newshounds keeping score at home. Our paper also earned the advertising sweepstakes, a first in the Tri-Parish Times’ history.

It’s a tremendous honor and a reminder that our craft does require a multitude of skill to do well.

It also requires a number of people.

Major kudos are extended to our news team – Eric Besson, Casey Gisclair, Mike Nixon and Claudette Olivier and contributors Howard Castay Jr., Doug Cheramie and Tom Aswell. Congratulations are also due to Alyson Showalter for layout and design.

And while it’s generally the reporters and top brass who, for better or worse, get the most attention, we’d be amiss if we didn’t include the rest of the Tri-Parish Times team in the celebration.

These are the folks many readers will likely never meet in person, but who help keep this train running on time. This includes Jennie Childs and our sales team on the street, Harold Cancienne,

Celeste Adams and Linda Dupre.

Forgive us this week if we seem a bit big headed, but we promise you all we do is with you, our readers, in mind. We’re looking forward to continuing to improve our product, hone our news skills and to deliver you an informative, reliable newspaper. After all, we’re beginning to like the sound of hearing, “Newspaper of the Year … the Tri-Parish Times.”

In the meantime, we look to you, our partners in this relationship, to join the effort. Know someone you’d like to see featured among our pages? Have a tip on a news story? Want an outstanding player or team included in our sports coverage?

Whatever is happening in your neighborhood, let us hear from you. The Tri-Parish Times is available online and on Facebook. Our email addresses are listed to the left in the masthead, and our phone line is always available.

With your help and your continued readership, we vow to work just as hard this year to deliver the quality news you’ve come to expect.